As soon as Lloyd finished speaking, everyone immediately took their seats. Their movements were disciplined and orderly, no less precise than those of the Navy.
The Figarland Family had always been different from the other Celestial Dragon families. Aside from the servants, nearly every member possessed a certain degree of combat ability.
Lloyd and Garling walked toward the head of the table. Garling directly sat beside the main seat, deliberately leaving the position of honor for Lloyd.
The meaning behind this action was unmistakable.
Seeing this scene, the hearts of everyone present trembled. Only after Lloyd had taken his seat did Garling slowly speak.
"Before the banquet begins, I have an important announcement."
As he spoke, Garling swept his gaze across the hall before finally turning toward Lloyd.
"From this day onward, Saint Lloyd Figarland shall become the head of the Figarland Family."
Although everyone had already anticipated this outcome, the announcement still caused visible shock throughout the hall.
Garling remained strong and vigorous, far from the age when one would normally relinquish authority. Yet he had chosen to pass the position of family head to Lloyd at this moment.
Not only was this major news within the Figarland Family, but throughout all of Mary Geoise, it would undoubtedly become an explosive topic.
However, no one questioned Lloyd's qualifications.
Over the years, the influence and status of the Figarland Family had risen to unprecedented heights, and much of that achievement was directly connected to Lloyd.
After a brief silence, Carlos, captain of the First Guard Division, became the first to stand.
He immediately knelt on one knee.
"Greetings to the new Family Head, Saint Lloyd!"
The others finally recovered from their shock. One after another, they rose from their seats and knelt respectfully.
Monet gently nudged Shalria beside her.
"Saint Shalria, don't lose yourself in thought. You're Young Master Lloyd's fiancée."
Shalria suddenly returned to her senses. She gratefully glanced at Monet before leading Monet and the other women in kneeling toward Lloyd.
Amid the unified voices filling the hall, Lloyd slowly rose from his seat while holding a glass of red wine.
As he stood, the entire hall gradually fell silent.
A faint smile appeared on his face as he looked upon the kneeling figures.
"Everyone gathered here is a member of the Figarland Family. Since Uncle Garling has entrusted this position to me, I will not disappoint his expectations. Under my leadership, the Figarland Family shall stand at the pinnacle of the world."
Buzz.
An immense wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted from Lloyd's body.
The tables and chairs throughout the hall trembled slightly beneath the pressure. Yet unlike an ordinary release of Conqueror's Haki, none of those present experienced discomfort.
Instead, every member of the family felt their blood surge with excitement.
Their faces flushed as their emotions ignited.
A trace of surprise appeared in Garling's eyes as he looked deeply at Lloyd.
Lloyd raised his wine glass and drained it in one motion.
"Everyone, rise. Let us drink to the future of our family."
The crowd immediately stood.
They raised their glasses together and drank the wine in a single gulp.
Even Shalria and the other women abandoned their fruit juice and joined in drinking the red wine. After finishing their glasses, their cheeks became noticeably red.
Encouraged by the effects of the alcohol, the women looked at Lloyd with unconcealed affection.
The dignity and authority radiating from Lloyd at this moment surpassed even the strongest liquor. It was enough to intoxicate the hearts of those around him.
After the banquet concluded, Lloyd left the main hall accompanied by Monet and the other women, preparing to return to his residence and rest.
Everyone had consumed quite a bit of alcohol that evening.
Under the influence of the wine, the women's courage had increased considerably.
Among them, Hancock underwent the greatest change.
Normally, she was the shyest whenever she stood before Lloyd. However, after drinking, the pride and majesty associated with her Conqueror's Haki seemed to emerge fully.
Before they had even walked halfway through the corridor, Hancock loosened part of her clothing, exposing her fair shoulders as she leaned against Lloyd with slightly hazy eyes.
Shalria, whose strength was practically nonexistent, attempted several times to move closer to Lloyd, only to be pushed aside by Hancock each time.
In the end, she could only follow beside him with an aggrieved expression.
Monet and Sugar, the sisters with the strongest tolerance for alcohol, remained surprisingly composed.
One held Lloyd's left arm while the other held his right.
From time to time, Sugar rubbed her face against his sleeve while giggling softly.
Behind them walked Olvia, Robin, and Pudding.
Looking at Lloyd being surrounded by the other women, Pudding quietly muttered,
"At this rate, will Sister Galette even have a place in the future?"
Olvia glanced toward her.
"Pudding, what are you talking about? Which sister?"
Pudding had always respected Olvia and answered honestly.
"I mean Sister Galette."
"Galette? You mean the current Sweet Commander?"
"That's right. Sister Galette's title was personally granted by Saint Lloyd. As for her feelings toward Saint Lloyd... well..."
Seeing Pudding's meaningful expression, Olvia quickly understood.
Apparently, Galette also harbored feelings for Lloyd.
This did not surprise her.
Almost every woman who spent enough time around Lloyd eventually found herself drawn toward him.
Olvia understood this feeling better than most.
As that thought surfaced in her mind, her face suddenly became warm.
Robin, who had been walking beside her, looked at her mother with confusion.
"Mom, your face is really red. Did you drink too much?"
Olvia instinctively waved her hand before hurriedly nodding.
"Yes, I suppose I drank a little too much. It's been a long time since I've had this much wine, so I lost track of myself."
Robin tilted her head.
She clearly remembered that Olvia often drank beer after finishing her research work in the library. Her alcohol tolerance had always been among the best.
Robin herself had inherited that tolerance. Although she had also consumed a considerable amount tonight, she remained completely unaffected.
Feeling Robin's gaze upon her, Olvia suddenly felt guilty.
She coughed lightly before changing the subject.
"Robin, I heard you've been hiding several books in your room."
The moment those words were spoken, the embarrassed person immediately became Robin.
She hurriedly denied it.
"All my books are on the bookshelf. I haven't hidden anything."
At that moment, Sugar turned around and whispered mischievously,
"Sister Robin, just admit it. Aunt Olvia already saw them."
Robin's eyes instantly widened.
She stared at Sugar in disbelief.
"Sugar!"
Sugar simply laughed before turning back around and once again leaning against Lloyd.
Seeing her acting so innocently made Robin roll her eyes in frustration.