Worried that Lloyd might go too far, Doflamingo quickly summoned his threads to pull Vergo and the others who had fallen unconscious from the ground, dragging them along firmly behind him.
After they passed, the street slowly returned to its usual stillness, save for a few bodies lying motionless on the cobblestones.
Inside their houses, the frightened civilians waited a long moment before daring to step back out. They glanced around cautiously and murmured among themselves.
"Who was that person just now? Even Doflamingo was so afraid of him."
"I could not see clearly, but thank goodness he showed up. Otherwise we would never have known what Doflamingo would have done."
"Why do I feel like that person looked a bit like Admiral Black Dragon…"
"Don't joke. How could an Admiral appear in a place like ours?"
...
Doflamingo dragged Vergo and the others forward, following in Lloyd's wake the entire way. Eventually Vergo stirred and opened his eyes. He looked around in a haze, then stared at Doflamingo running ahead.
"Doflamingo…"
Upon hearing Vergo's voice, Doflamingo brightened instantly. He released the threads connected to Vergo and said,
"You're awake, Vergo, hurry up!"
Vergo was still dazed. He shuffled to Doflamingo's side and said,
"Doflamingo, what happened? It looks like I passed out."
"Forget that for now, wake up Torrepol and the others too!"
Vergo had wanted to ask who the figure walking ahead was, but at Doflamingo's urgent command, he did not question further and hurried to rouse Diamante and Pica.
Torrepol was still too deeply unconscious. With no other choice, Vergo slung him over his shoulder and followed closely behind Doflamingo.
The three who had awakened glanced toward Lloyd's fading back and whispered,
"Doflamingo, who is he?"
Doflamingo's expression turned serious, and he spoke in a calm voice,
"He is Saint Lloyd."
"What?! Lloyd…"
Vergo and the others' pupils shrank in fear, and Pica even let out a strangled cry.
Lloyd halted and turned his head, his gaze sweeping over Pica. The mere look was enough to freeze Pica in place, and with a trembling voice he stammered,
"Saint Lloyd…"
Vergo and Diamante finally saw Lloyd's face clearly, but neither dared meet his red‑glowing eyes. Both quickly lowered their heads in respect and fear.
Diamante blurted out,
"Doflamingo, shouldn't we kneel?"
They had all learned of Lloyd's identity from Doflamingo earlier, and Doflamingo had described Lloyd as the "Celestial Dragon among Celestial Dragons." It sounded bizarre, but it was the most direct way they could express what they believed to be the immense nobility of Lloyd's position.
Not to mention that Lloyd held not only that lofty status but also the identity of an Admiral, and not long ago had "forced Whitebeard and Roger into a desperate situation."
Doflamingo's own Family name was even derived from Lloyd's standing in the Navy, meant to show unwavering allegiance.
Because of that, although the Darkside Family had never met Lloyd before, they worshipped him like a god.
Lloyd turned his gaze to Doflamingo and the three trailing members and asked,
"Don't you have any others under you?"
Doflamingo replied quickly,
"Currently, there are over three hundred people in the Family. These three are the only executives right now. I am preparing to recruit more talented people to join."
Lloyd's brow creased slightly. After all that, only these three original members remained.
But as he thought more on it, Doflamingo was only thirteen years old. His body had only just developed enough to look like a spirited young man.
It was impressive for someone so young to have founded a gang at all.
Considering that, Lloyd's gaze softened slightly as he said,
"Doflamingo, subordinates should be refined, not merely numerous. Do not put the cart before the horse."
As he spoke, Lloyd glanced toward Torrepol, still being carried on Vergo's shoulder.
Of Doflamingo's subordinates, Lloyd admired Vergo the most, and loathed Torrepol more than anyone else.
Though Torrepol had shown early foresight and had recognized Doflamingo's potential from the start, joining him as an original member, his later abilities did not measure up to his status.
Doflamingo himself was stunned that Lloyd addressed him directly by name, freezing in place.
Lloyd's gaze scanned Doflamingo before he asked a question calmly,
"Doflamingo, do you desire power?"
Doflamingo blinked, startled, then nodded vigorously.
Lloyd smiled faintly, then flicked his wrist. In his hand, a dark purple sphere appeared — a Devil Fruit.
Seeing this, Doflamingo and the others gasped in surprise,
"A Devil Fruit?"
At this point in time, Devil Fruits were not something common or easily traded at auctions like they would be in later years.
The only extra fruit they knew of was the String-String Fruit Torrepol had, which Doflamingo had received when he returned from the Holy Land three years ago.
Torrepol himself had not initially understood what the fruit's powers were. In his mind, he only knew that consuming a Devil Fruit was the fastest way to gain great ability, so he had handed it to Doflamingo.
Doflamingo had taken it without hesitation as a gamble, and later gained the String Fruit's power.
It was fortunate that Doflamingo was the one who ate it. If someone else had gained the String Fruit first, they might have simply used it for tailoring or similar craft.
Devil Fruits like the String-String were Paramecia types, generally falling into categories like creation or control — meaning they were not purely powerful on their own but held utility and strategic value.
Doflamingo stared at the fruit in Lloyd's hand, hunger shining behind his red sunglasses.
In his mind, any Devil Fruit Lloyd produced would surely be top‑tier.
He could not help but ask,
"Saint Lloyd, what is the name of this Fruit?"
Lloyd's lips curved in a slight smile as he answered in his cool, aloof voice,
"The Float‑Float Fruit. Its previous user was Golden Lion Shiki."
Doflamingo's eyes widened so far they almost popped out from behind his lenses. To him, the fruit in Lloyd's hand seemed almost shrouded in a faint golden glow.
===
Just finished a Presentation, and I low-keyinely think I flopped it 😭