Violet had never imagined that a simple visit to a bar to unwind would lead to an encounter with a figure as legendary as Fleet Admiral Lloyd.
Lloyd casually gestured toward the wreckage behind him and spoke in an even tone,
"Earlier, I heard you mention that you are the Minister of Justice of this country. Good. Send someone to deal with this place later."
Violet nodded stiffly, still processing the situation. Her expression remained dazed as she asked,
"Fleet Admiral Lloyd, what brings you here so suddenly?"
Lloyd's gaze shifted slightly, his voice indifferent.
"Do I need to report my movements?"
"N-No, of course not. It is just that someone of your stature appearing here without warning is quite unexpected..."
Before she could continue, Lloyd raised a hand and cut her off.
"That is enough. I was merely passing through. We are heading to the royal palace."
With that, he called out to Wanda and Carrot and strode toward the exit without hesitation.
Violet shook her head, forcing herself to regain composure before quickly following behind.
Along the way to the royal palace, they encountered a patrol unit. Violet immediately stepped forward, issuing orders for them to handle the situation at the bar and ensure that no unnecessary commotion spread throughout the city.
The patrol captain acknowledged her command and led his squad away without delay. Once they were gone, Violet wiped the faint sweat from her brow. Standing beside Lloyd placed an invisible burden on her chest. The pressure emanating from him, the sheer intensity of his Conqueror's Haki, was deeply unsettling.
Lloyd noticed her unease but did not dwell on it. Instead, he spoke,
"The current king of Dressrosa is Rosinante, correct?"
Violet was momentarily startled that he addressed her directly. She responded quickly,
"Yes. Although Lord Rosinante refuses to acknowledge it himself, he is officially recognized by the World Government as the king of this affiliated nation."
Lloyd gave a slight nod. He was already aware of this, but the conversation served its purpose.
Doflamingo had been reassigned by Lloyd to oversee Wano Country, leaving Dressrosa under Rosinante's rule. This arrangement aligned perfectly with Lloyd's intentions, which in turn reflected the will of the World Government.
Regardless of Rosinante's reluctance, the blood of the Celestial Dragons ran through his veins. Combined with his inherently gentle nature, he was well suited to maintain stability.
After all, his predecessor had already reshaped the surrounding region through force and manipulation.
Lloyd glanced at Violet again, his tone shifting slightly.
"You were once the princess of this country. Have you never considered reclaiming it?"
The question struck her immediately. Violet's expression stiffened, and panic flickered across her face.
"N-No..."
Lloyd leaned forward slightly, his eyes locking onto hers.
"If you intend to lie to me, understand that the consequences are severe."
A faint crimson glint appeared in his eyes. Violet felt a chill run through her entire body. She immediately lowered her head and bowed.
"I apologize! I did think about reclaiming the country from Doflamingo. But I realized it was impossible, because... because..."
Her voice faltered as she hesitated.
Lloyd's interest was piqued.
"Because what?"
Violet took a breath before continuing,
"Because I learned that you were backing him. I only discovered this after the incident involving Kaido. At the time, I could not understand why Doflamingo remained so composed even when facing a Yonko's threat."
She exhaled softly, her thoughts flowing more steadily now.
"I once considered leaving with my father and my sister Rebecca. But I could not abandon this land. This is our home."
Lloyd continued walking, his voice measured.
"Yet you stayed and became Minister of Justice. Aside from tonight's disturbance, Dressrosa has remained stable. Reaching this point required effort on your part."
The unexpected acknowledgment caused Violet's face to flush. She lowered her head again.
"You give me too much credit. None of this would have been possible without your influence. If not for you, Dressrosa might have already fallen under Kaido's control. That would have been true ruin."
Lloyd's expression remained unreadable.
"Is there such a difference between the two outcomes?"
"Yes," Violet replied firmly. "Kaido is utterly unrestrained. He would not care for the lives of the people here."
"And Doflamingo?"
She hesitated briefly before answering.
"His methods were ruthless, and he often resorted to violence without hesitation. However, I must admit that during his reign, Dressrosa became far more prosperous than it was under my father. The neighboring nations that depended on weapons grew weaker through constant war and were eventually absorbed by him."
Lloyd's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Then you no longer wish to oppose his rule?"
Violet's expression grew uncertain.
"I do not know. I once believed his rule would collapse once expansion reached its limits. But with your support, Dressrosa's future is secure at the very least. And now that Rosinante is king, everything has changed. He is a genuinely kind ruler. Under him, I have no desire to reclaim the throne."
Behind them, Wanda and Carrot remained silent, absorbing every word. Carrot, in particular, was visibly shaken.
Her simple perspective had grasped one undeniable truth. Lloyd's influence surpassed anything she had imagined.
Without lifting a finger, merely the weight of his name was enough to make a former princess abandon resistance and accept a new order. More astonishingly, that same name could guarantee a nation's prosperity.
And this was no small territory, it dwarfed the Mokomo Dukedom many times over.
Carrot could not help but recall how Joy Boy had once warned the Mink Tribe about Lloyd, describing him as a looming threat that could bring disaster upon Zou if discovered.
Now, witnessing Dressrosa firsthand, she reached a firm conclusion.
Joy Boy had been completely wrong.
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