Upon hearing Imu's voice, the Five Elders trembled, their expressions filled with unmistakable shock.
They had not dared to rest for days, waiting in silence without receiving a single word from Imu. Yet the moment Lloyd arrived, Imu-sama spoke immediately, even instructing them to send Lloyd to him.
Send, not bring.
For beings who had served Imu-sama for centuries, this distinction carried immense weight. At this moment, their importance seemed inferior to Saint Lloyd, a man they still regarded as little more than a half-grown youth.
Indeed, from the perspective of these elders who had lived for over a hundred years, Lloyd could only be seen as such.
They exchanged glances before turning toward Lloyd, their expressions complicated and layered with unspoken thoughts.
Although Lloyd had not heard Imu's voice, he could easily deduce what had occurred from their reactions. Imu had undoubtedly issued an order regarding him.
This did not surprise him.
When it came to confronting Joy Boy, his strength was indispensable. From the era of Gol D. Roger to the current age of the Yonko, Lloyd had already proven himself beyond doubt.
A faint smile touched his lips as he spoke,
"Everyone, it has been a long time."
Saint Saturn steadied himself before responding,
"Saint Lloyd, your arrival is timely. We… no, Imu-sama wishes to see you."
Feigning mild surprise, Lloyd replied,
"Is that so? What a coincidence. I also came to report something to Imu-sama. I was just about to ask for your assistance in arranging an audience."
His words provided a subtle sense of reassurance to the Five Elders.
At the very least, Lloyd still acknowledged their role.
Saint Warcury hesitated briefly before asking,
"Saint Lloyd, what is it that you intend to report to Imu-sama? Would you be willing to tell us?"
Before Lloyd could respond, Saint Nusjuro frowned sharply. Turning toward Warcury, he rebuked him in a stern tone,
"Saint Warcury, you have overstepped."
Warcury's expression shifted immediately. Without hesitation, he lowered his head.
"My apologies. I allowed my anxiety to get the better of me."
After speaking, he stepped back, falling silent.
Saint Nusjuro withdrew his gaze and stepped forward alongside the others. Standing before Lloyd, he turned slightly and gestured with respect.
"Saint Lloyd, without delay, we shall escort you to Imu-sama. This way, please."
Lloyd nodded calmly and followed.
Surrounded by the Five Elders, he exited the council chamber and proceeded toward the Flower Room deep within Pangaea Castle at Mary Geoise.
As they emerged, the surrounding Celestial Dragons were stunned by the sight.
To see the Five Elders accompanying Lloyd with such deference was beyond comprehension. Those quick to react immediately lowered their heads in respect.
Outside Mary Geoise, such a scene would have been unimaginable.
Upon reaching the Flower Room, the Five Elders came to a halt. Saint Nusjuro turned to Lloyd and spoke,
"Saint Lloyd, please wait here for a moment. We will announce your arrival…"
Before he could finish, Imu's voice echoed from beyond the grand doors,
"Let Saint Lloyd enter. The five of you will remain outside."
Saint Nusjuro froze briefly, a flicker of awkwardness crossing his face.
Without delay, he and the other elders knelt, leaving a clear path between them.
Lloyd glanced down at the kneeling figures, then stepped forward, passing between them as he approached the massive doors.
They opened on their own.
Once he entered, they closed just as silently.
Throughout the entire exchange, the Five Elders remained kneeling, unmoving.
This was not Lloyd's first visit. Compared to before, he carried himself with greater composure.
He walked forward steadily until he stood before the Empty Throne, his gaze lifting toward the slender figure seated upon it.
At that moment, Imu was already watching him.
Their eyes met across the vast hall, and for an instant, the air itself seemed to freeze.
The cloak draped over Lloyd's shoulders shifted slightly as he raised a hand to his chest and spoke in a measured tone,
"Imu-sama."
As his voice echoed, the suffocating tension in the chamber eased.
Imu slowly moved his hands from the armrests, folding them before his abdomen.
"Saint Lloyd, it has been over twenty years since your last visit, has it not?"
Lloyd nodded.
"Twenty-four years."
A brief silence followed.
Then Imu asked, seemingly without preamble,
"Would you like to experience sitting in this position?"
Lloyd paused, momentarily caught off guard.
Before he could respond, Imu continued,
"Perhaps not. It is not yet time."
A faint trace of something resembling weariness lingered in Imu's voice, causing a flicker of confusion to pass through Lloyd's mind.
For a fleeting moment, an absurd thought surfaced.
Was Imu implying a transfer of authority?
He dismissed it immediately.
Such a notion was almost laughable.
His gaze shifted briefly toward the Empty Throne before he spoke,
"Imu-sama, I came to discuss Joy Boy."
Imu inclined his head.
"That aligns with my intentions. Not long ago, I sensed Joy Boy's presence. Unlike before, it was overwhelmingly strong. It is likely that his will has fully awakened within Monkey D. Luffy."
Lloyd's thoughts stirred, though his expression remained unchanged.
"That matches the information I received. After escaping the encirclement in the East Blue, Joy Boy fled to Zou and has completely taken over Monkey D. Luffy's body."
A sharp glint appeared in Imu's eyes, a rare hint of surprise surfacing.
"Oh? Rather than choosing a successor, he seized control directly. That is unexpected. Where did you obtain this information?"
Lloyd answered evenly,
"Two members of the Mink Tribe opposed Joy Boy's actions in inciting Zou toward war. They fled and delivered this information. The matter of possession was spoken by Joy Boy himself on Zou."
A soft chuckle escaped Imu.
Though faint, it did not escape Lloyd's notice.
A subtle shift appeared in his expression.
The voice carried a tone that was unexpectedly reminiscent of an older sister, a detail that only deepened the mystery surrounding the figure before him.
===
Read chapters ahead on Patreon, with every chapter organized into collections.
P-a-t-r-e-o-n.com/_Zeph.