I really wished to complete this chapter last weekend, but I came up with a sudden case of procrastination. ;P I couldn't make this chapter within a month after I complete the translating, I'll try to make up for it. I also ended up with a lot less free time than I thought once my class started and the little free time I have, I spend it RPing... I'm sorry for the wait

The only part I'm really satisfied is the first one with the Marines. I couldn't get in the right mind or I forced myself to write the rest. Still, I'm really hard when judging myself, so it shouldn't be that bad.

Si vous pouvez lire le français, je vous conseille vivement ma version francophone. Le style de l'écriture est bien meilleur et j'ajoute des détails. Ce présent chapitre devrait être disponible sous peu, alors patience. ;)

Disclaimer! And that's everything for now!


Lloyd the renegade

Chapter 9

The briefing room was filled. Wanting everyone opinion, Jackoms didn't halt himself into simply calling the top-grade officers to this meeting. Everyone that wanted to speak could have his chance. That's is why Petty Officer or even the common Seaman where standing in the back of the room, leaving the chairs to their superior. The case of Lloyd leaved no one insensitive and everyone wanted to tell their opinion on how to act.

Jackoms was listening quietly, giving an equal value to everyone's opinion and formulating his own during this time. He was acting like the Rear-Admiral would do, not using his authority to force a decision, but leading everyone toward the best course of action. It was a hard job, leading while the tempest was about to strike. The Admiral had put him in a tough situation, but he will prevail and show him that he is worthy of his trust.

The first topic of their reunion was the fortification of the headquarter. This base was already an amazing military facility, probably impossible to siege in normal condition. However, their opponent wasn't to be taken "normally". He had an in-depth knowledge of this place and might known some flaws that he could exploit. But the most problematic was his Devil Fruit ability. From what he heard, from Mihawk and the survivors of the Firmament cruise boat, he was able to manipulate object at distance. This could be troublesome, since he could stop the artillery shots or even fly right above the walls. They had to find some alternative mean and some good ideas were share.

Once they were ready to start the preparation, they moved to the next subject. How will they impede him during the next month so he couldn't gain a massive strength? With the elimination of Senotakai, they were incline to believe that Lloyd would keep seizing all the pirate's crews that he would encounter. They had to make sure that he wouldn't be able to unite too much men or they will soon turn out outnumbered.

Jackoms believed in Lindroff, but he couldn't blindly count on the reinforcement from Marineford. There was this rivalry between the Marines of the Grand Line and those from the four Blue. The first always looked down on them and rarely agreed to help. So, he had to make the most with what he currently had.

As they were discussing about the best course of action, a Lieutenant-Commander declared: «Why don't we just go beat the heck out of this guy!» That was Ikaru, well know for his hot-headed temper and solving his problem with his fists.

Jackoms already had an answer and said calmly: «We cannot risk such a thing. Must I remind you that he killed Nishikiori while he was probably already injured. I don't think that there's nobody beside myself and the Rear-Admiral that can stand a chance against him. That remind me, I want no one playing heroes and challenging him. He's coming at us and we'll fight him at full force, all together, at this occasion.» Ikaru seemed to understand this point of view and didn't add anything.

One of the young Marine then added: «If we can't go fight him ourselves, maybe a pirate hunter could do it. With a high enough bounty, we could attract…»

«Fool!» He was cut off by the Commander Koshiro, one of the oldest officer that was still active in the headquarter: «We already said that Lloyd was someone that no ordinary man could vanquish. It would need a Shichibukai and the only one that could be interested in Lloyd is the Hawk-Eyes Mihawk… And he's already planning to be here on the day of the offensive. So, no, we shouldn't try to go and attack him directly. I think what we really need to control is the flow of informations.»

The young man quietly went back to his position while Jackoms praised the foreseeing of his comrade: «You made a nice point Koshiro. If we can't bind him directly, then we should be at least one step ahead. That's why I think we shouldn't create his bounty yet.»

«What's for! Everyone should know how dangerous he is!» Said Ikaru.

«But that's exactly what he want, don't he?» Said Koshiro to Jackoms.

«Indeed. If people hear of what he had done and what he his planning, then the other pirates are more likely bound to join him. By leaving him unknown, we can be sure that he won't use his acquired prestige to recruit even more people.»

«Oh, I see… It's pretty smart, I gotta admit.» Said Ikaru with an impressed tone.

«Thanks, but it doesn't mean that we should stay here doing nothing. There has to be ways to mess with Lloyd's plan… Any suggestion?»

They then started a long discussion on what could be accomplished. With Koshiro cunning, Ikaru pragmatism and everyone pitching in, they managed to come with a plan they would hope effective. Jackoms couldn't help but smile when he saw everyone working together so efficiently. They represented justice and order, they would use those as their strength.

They cogitated all day. It had been long, but they managed to delegate the position of everyone under the best of their ability. It was once night had firmly set himself over their heads that they announced the final version of their plan. Jackoms stood up and went over the points a final time: «So, this is how we will proceed. The most important task would be to monitor Lloyd's position. We'll need to be sure to know exactly where he is at any time. We will use all of the Marine's base spread across this Ocean to transmit this information. It won't be enough since he will probably evade them, though there is a possibility that he assault them. Still, he should certainly keep all his energy for the grand battle at this headquarter. To provide a wider search array, we will dispatch men across the unprotected islands and aboard the merchant's boats as escort. This way, we should have our eyes everywhere. Once we find the location of Lloyd, do not engage him! Simply sent the information to the closest base so it can be communicated here.»

«What we are bound to do is to drive away any other pirates crew in that location. We will lead expedition aboard our three biggest battleships. Understand that it his a dissuasive manoeuvre. Do not try to completely eliminate the opposing force. It would be better if they run away, since we want to make sure they do not encounter Lloyd. Since we will not allow any information to come out, none shall be aware that Lloyd is currently looking for people to join his crew. As such, we will stop his recruitment and limit his battle power.»

«This is how the units would be dispatched. There will be three corps; The engineering corps, the expeditionary corps and the logistic corps. Engineering will take care of fortifying this position. I will give the commands to Lieutenant-Commander Ikaru. Expeditionary corps will lead the three battleships that will drive away the pirate's crews. I will take the command of one of those ship, along with the Commander Collin and Lewis. Logistic will be handled by Commander Koshiro. They will control the flow of information and monitor Lloyd's position. I also want you to crypt a new communication code. If Lloyd hijack us, he would recognise the ancient code. You have up to tomorrow morning, we can't lose any more time before starting.»

Jackoms putted his hands on his desk, then make a long circular look while there was a proud smile on his face. He was honoured to work with such dedicated men, he felt like Lloyd would have no chance now: «Any objection?» His men simply answered with a determined nod: «Good, you can now dispose!»

They were the carrier of Justice in that part of the world. They will show that it was absolute and that no pirate could stand up to them. They were Marines, the rampart that was protecting the innocent against the unlawful. They were Marines, harbinger of respect and order. They were Marines, proud, strong and united!


After waking up, Lloyd stiffly putted himself back on his feet. Sleeping on the wooden floor wasn't something you should made a habit from. He snapped his neck before rubbing his shoulder. Though his body seemed more battered than before, this rest had done some marvel on him. Emitting a loud yawn, he deducted by the position of the sun, that was beaming through his destroyed windows, that it was already late in the afternoon.

He was now getting quite hungry. He only took a bite from the Marine ship reserve before arriving at Sombrel island. He looked at Yoru that was on the ground near where he had slept, but he decided to go around unharmed. Finally feeling a little less groggy, he went out of his cabin and walked out on the deck.

He was surprised by the lively atmosphere that he stumbled upon. The crew was loud, chaotic and pretty much useless when it came to directing a boat. They were too busy in brawling between comrades or gambling over a game of cards if not simply too drunk for standing straight. Still, Lloyd was very happy to see such lively folks enjoying themselves. He was sick and tired of the perfect order of the Marine and how they absolutely needed to find the best course of action. The pirate way of life suited him a lot better, he could sit back and simply let himself get carried by the flow for once.

«Oî! Capt'n, did ya have a nice sleep?» Fitz greeted him from the upper-part of the quarterdeck. His familiar tone was way better than the stocked-up one employed by the Marine on duty.

«Yeah, thank for asking.» He climbed the stairs that leaded to his first mate and saw that he was manoeuvring the wheel: «Well, it's good to see that someone is doing his duty.»

«Well, Yluseff wasn't damn better than those slackers.» He took a long drink from the sake's bottle he had in hand: «So, I always ended up leading the ship. We have a good wind, so I don't think ya'll need to make your trick for some time.»

«Why didn't you try to become the captain if Senotakai really was that useless?»

«Well, it was flattering the old fool, being capt'n and taking the fame. Plus, it would'd been hard to overthrow the geezer because of his nasty immortality… Well, partial immortality. Should have thought about the crushing before.»

«Drowning would have work too.»

«Yeah… But I like the feeling of flesh being torn by the blade of my scythe.» Lyrald had a dark smile while saying that.

«There a certain thrill of taking care of thing up-close and personal indeed.» Lloyd paused for a moment while looking at the horizon: «Say, Fitz, why did you join me?»

«For the same reason I joined Stretcher back then. I respect strength. However, it wasn't long before I was deceived by him. With ya, I got this feeling that you aren't all talk. You better stand up to your claim, if ya understand what I mean.»

«No worry. I don't intent to deceive you. We can always test who is the strongest of us both.»

«I'm on with that offer, but first… I'll wait for the sake effect to worn off.» He took another long gulp of his bottle.

«Fine by me. I'll prefer to keep my full strength until I destroyed the headquarter.»

«Alright, then challenge accepted.» He said with a cocky smile: «So, capt'n, where's next? We've been sailing aimlessly for the whole day.»

«Well… I planned to pay a visit to an old acquaintance. Head toward Ohara.» (The only town in West Blue that we actually know something about.)

«Good, the ruined city of knowledge and demon-child, Ohara it is then.»

He made vigorously spin the wheel and set the new course. They were almost facing the wind, so Lloyd used his power to proceed forward. The crew removed the sails so it doesn't impede their speed and the Yugure Kumori still followed quietly behind them.


The forest of Cadrion, which gave a eerie silent feeling the first time Heather crossed it, was now brimming with life. The animals that stayed quiet until then claimed back the land, just like the inhabitant of this island once the dangerous beasts had been defeated. The wide trees were now giving a safe feeling and the clearing in which Heather currently was really seemed like a soothing haven.

The young woman was not, however, the kind of girl to sit back and enjoy some peace. Breathing heavily, she was tightening her grip on the wooden stick that she turned into her practice weapon. She rushed once more while lifting her blade. Once she had closed in, she increased the speed of her footwork in order to surprise her opponent.

She thought that she caught him off guard, but he managed to lift his stick at the last moment and block her attack. With the other head of the staff, he tried to sweep her. She sidestepped, but he already sent another hit that she repelled with her wooden sword. Quickly spinning on himself, he went for a stab with the tip of his stick. She moved her upper body to dodge it and riposted with a swing at the midsection.

His face twitched in pain, but his smile quickly flashed back once the feeling went numb. Heather had the conviction that Mordecai couldn't possibly have an angry face. In the entire two weeks she had been here, never have she seen him lost his temper. He was not an ever-smiling idiot too, no, he was able to turn very serious… And not only during those little sparring they were having here and there.

He was having a calm demeanor and was hardly disturbed by anything. Even if he could seem cold with that attitude, he was actually really cheerful and acting like the young adult he was. Heather quickly took a liking to him and the moment of weakness that she showed to him when Mihawk left only created a strong bound between them. He was a nice company and Heather was glad that she met him.

But now was not the time for spacing out as he reminded her with a strike on her right shoulder. This is where Lloyd deeply wounded her and it was still very sensible. After those two weeks, she knew from the look of it that she would kept a big scar. So, when he awakened the pain with that hit, she felt a wave of anger lifting in her and she riposted violently. After a flurry of hits that went to the spot, Mordecai took a step back and Heather did the same in order to leave some room. With a silent agreement, they charged their power.

«Ghostly Parade Said Heather

«Volta de Aegis Called Mordecai at the same time.

Heather lunged forward will bending very low and disappeared in a trail of blurry lines. Mordecai started to make spin his staff really fast all around him. The boy kept his focus thigh, keeping track of the fast circles she was doing around him, until the young woman appeared once more in front of him. She tried to took him by surprise, but he was the one that was already attacking her. She disappeared in a blink and kept turning around him until she saw an opening.

They kept this going for some time until Heather was totally exhausted. She stopped her rapid movements, putted her stick on the ground and was panting heavily. Mordecai also stopped, some sweets rolling on his face, but not as much than Heather. He walked to her and putted his fist on her forehead. She swiftly grabbed it and tried to remove it, but she was too exhausted for that. Mordecai had a little mocking grin before making his hand run through her hair, getting her even more frustrated, but she didn't say anything: «I've told you already, you have to calm down and balance your energy. It's not use burning it all up for nothing.» Though he was lecturing her, he had a gentle tone. She couldn't decide herself getting angry at him: «Come on, let's go.» He shoved his staff on his shoulder and went back to the village.

After a worn out smile, she followed him with her head down. She wished to become stronger, but she had the feeling she wasn't making any progress. Still, Mordecai was a good sparring partner, but she will need something more if she really wanted to improve.


The palace at the top of Marineford was really impressive. Though they used this place as a template for the headquarter in West Blue, they definitely didn't put as much energy into comfort. The meeting room he currently was in showed an exuberant decoration and overflowed with crafted furniture and vibrant painting. Those invited inside this room had to see all the splendor and might of the Marine.

Lindroff had arrived three hour ago and after trying to get an audience with the Head-Admiral or at least one of the three Admirals, he was politely asked to go to this room. People were regularly sent to ask if everything was fine, if he wanted some more tea or maybe read the newspaper and, most of all, repeated over and over again that it wouldn't be long before he get an audience.

It's a good thing that the Rear-Admiral shook off his anger during the trip on the Grand Line. He managed to regain his absolute calm and he needed it if he wanted to face the bureaucratic. The Grand Line Marines already had enough problem of their own with the world most dangerous pirates, they didn't have time to mess with potential threat from a weak sea. Lindroff knew that, yet he couldn't help folding the metal plate they served his tea on in order to temper his irritation.

A man entered the room while he finished folding a lotus flower with his steel plate. He was a slim man, black of hair with a small beard and that gave the strong feeling that he could blend in any crowd. He was wearing no uniform, but a suit with several medals was pin on his chest. Lindroff understood that they finally deemed to send him someone important. He dropped his steel lotus and stood up to meet the probably high-ranked man. He presented his hand that they shook.

«Head-Administrative Naotoko D. Akui. Pleased to meet you.» He had a sophisticated accent and a slightly hissing voice.

«The pleasure his mine, Akui-san. I am the Rear-Admiral Duncan Lindroff, in command of West Blue headquarter.»

«Well, Lind-kun… I can call you Lind-kun, right?»

The under-graded Marine had a displeased grin for being called so familiarly. Still, he couldn't act rude with this man. His presence didn't mean that they will listen to his problem yet. In fact, he was probably the key for gaining a real audience. Influence in the headquarter was all about knowing the right people, so it was his duty to get on everyone good side. So, he swallowed his displease and went along: «Sure… Do I also need to give you a nickname?» He hated being diplomatic, though it was quite a weird form of politeness; having to ask for a nickname in order to be more polite.

«That won't be necessary.» He said while weaving the air with his hand.

«Good. Then, may I know what does your presence concretely signify.» Lindroff had already lost enough time, he wouldn't spent more being tactful and he got right into the subject. His superior officer had a little smile and nodded in approval.

«A man of few words and that privilege acting. It seem the report weren't wrong on you.»

«And how come there's actually report about me?» Asked Lindroff with suspicion.

«It is the duty of a Cipher Pol Head-Administrative; Knowing everything that happen everywhere… And before you worry, no, I do not lead the CP9.»

«So, let me reiterate my question… What are you doing here?»

«Isn't it clear enough, Lind-kun? Helping you, of course.»

«And your price?»

«And quick-witted, the report did mentioned that too… No much, really. Only a promise of mutual support. It wouldn't be bad for me to increase my influence in West Blue.»

«And it won't be bad for me to benefit from your knowledge, I have it right?»

Akui smiled: «I have a feeling that we will understand each other nicely.»

«Allow me to doubt this, but it seem we'll have no choice but to give our best at it.» He held out his hand once more, confirming their little deal. Akui's smile gave him an unpleasant feeling, but he brushed away this feeling for necessity.

«Then, let me tell you something that you might find useful. The Fleet-Admiral, along with the three Admirals, are currently concluding some important official business concerning the Council of Kings over at Mariejois. They won't be here before a good two days in the best of case, so you shouldn't be wasting more of your time in this room. Come, I'll introduce you to some peoples.»

Lindroff had no choice but to follow so he could prepare the ground for the coming battle. But the hardest battle probably wouldn't be against Lloyd, but acquiring the necessary support from the higher-ups. He would have to do his best to make sure that he don't seem weak and that they see the real threat Lloyd could represent. The peoples from the Grand Line had this mentality that no one was dangerous when they were still acting on the four lesser seas. As such, it was really hard to get their attention set on the problem coming from the lower authority. Also, It wasn't the first time that he had to discuss the importance of a main headquarter in the lesser seas and each time the council barely approved its existence. They wouldn't mind much if it was disappearing.


After long days of sailing across almost all of West Blue, using their sails when the wind was good or his own power when it wasn't, Lloyd and his crew managed to get to Ohara in a record time. The travel had been incredibly peaceful, too much for Lloyd's liking. The only thing he saw was merchant boats that preferred to keep their distance. Other than that, it seemed like everything on this sea was purposely avoiding him. Lloyd had traveled a lot, he knew this sea was quite active... Something was going on.

He suspected the Marines to be related to this. As worthless and weak they might be, they could probably manage to put something together. They probably feared that he recruit even more pirates for the assault, but depending on what will happen on Ohara, he might not even need reinforcement. The flat chunk of land was getting closer. Lloyd remembered the time when there was a gigantic tree that was casting its shadow all over the island and that held one of the world's biggest library. Everything had been raze by the Marines through a Buster Call. Though Lloyd laughed of their incapacity most of the time, he admitted that deeply inside of him, he was impressed if not simply scared by the Marines full power. Still, he had a smile on his face "It would be too easy if all the enemies were fools." He thought with a feeling of excitement.

Once they got close to the shore, they noticed a small boat that was anchored. Its surface was covered in cushion and books... Piles and piles of books. It was surprising that the jolly-boat was able to float with such a freight and the water was really on the edge of the boat. Fitz asked him while giving a perplexed look to the boat:

«It's that your man?»

«Indeed, it seems that she is here.»

«She? Don't tell me we've been sailing non-stop so ya could pay yourself some good time with a babe!»

«In this case, she wouldn't be the kind of woman that I would be looking for... She's crazy, but I only like that when it's the dangerous kind.» He said that with a straight face.

«You sure have weird taste capt'n...» Fitz answered with a puzzled look.

Lloyd laughed while he jumped on the shore. Lyrald observed the man with the black-edge sword getting smaller as he walked off. The island wasn't very big, so by squinting and shielding his eyes from the sun, he managed to see another figure standing alone and Lloyd was walking toward it.

She was really enthralled by her book, so she didn't heard him coming even though he was hitting the ground loudly with his boots. He stopped next to her, but she wasn't reacting. He lifted his hand with the attention of taping her shoulder before stopping his move. He first took a look at what she was reading: Espionage for beginners. He then turned around and putted himself back to back with her, Yoru pressing against her shoulder blade. She didn't even react:

«Is it good?» He asked.

«Thrilling.» She answered simply while scrolling a finger on her page and speed-reading it in a instant. She then picked a game's card, the six of hearts in this case, and used it as a bookmark. «It's such a shame they burned this library... All this knowledge lost.»

«Well, when you have too much knowledge, you can start to think by yourself. That is something that the government absolutely doesn't want. No?»

«Not for the commoners and definitely not the highers-up.» She had a little smile while answering. «So, how've you been doin', Zephian-kun?»

«Fairly nice, starting to do thing by my own, Rika Joyce-chan.»

They turned toward each other and he could take a good look at her. She was putting back a eye-patch over one of her grey eyes with a mischievous glint. A derby hat tilting backward was resting on top of her blond hair and most of them was sent behind her ears and down to her shoulders. She was wearing a light-purple sleeve-shirt with a leather waistcoat over it. Black pants and high heel shoes. Her nails were painted black and she was wearing a heart-shaped choker... Lovely as always.

«I know... You succeeded in acquiring the Kokuto Yoru I see. You had no complication?»

«It went as smoothly than I planned... Except that I ran into Dracule Mihawk.»

«Yes... the Rear-Admiral sent this request directly to him, so it was too late once we discovered about it.

«What a lame information agency you make. Still, I had a lot of fun. A real fight is always welcome.»

«Well, we at the CP4 doesn't have much networks in this part of the ocean... Though we are working on that.» She had a secretive smile

«Anyway, have you made the arrangement I asked?»

«All done, a merchant boat is carrying a load of dangerous materials. It would be bad if they fall in the wrong hands... Here's the itinerary.» She handled him a letter in light-pink paper and covered in kawai drawings.

With an embarrassed face, Lloyd asked: «Wait, isn't that...»

«A love letter? Yes...» She hided it behind her back while blushing: «Don't make yourself idea, it's not for you...» She was looking down: «Nor did I secretly tried to have your opinion before I show it to him.» She was scrapping the floor with her shoe.

Lloyd sighed heavily before using his power to snatch the letter from her hands and bring it to his. She looked at the phenomenon with curious eyes, but they turned toward his face to decipher his expression. When he opened the letter, a long roll of text went all the way down to the ground. That didn't started well. Lloyd quickly tried to scam through parts the first paragraph: "Bright sun of my life, my heart is pounding a thousand time for... The spaces between your fingers were created so that another's could fill them in, as such... Roses are red; violets are blue; sugar is sweet, and so are you, thus..." He didn't even finish the first sentence that didn't even make senses since it was just full of classical love quotes put one after the other. He didn't even discovered to who it was addressed through all this.

Lloyd launched the letter on the ground and the wind quickly blew it away. Rika looked at it flying away with a shattered face: «Noooo! What have you done! My precious letter! I spend hours editing it!» She tried to run for it, but Lloyd putted his hand on her shoulder.

He walked back in front of her while keeping his hand on her shoulder. He stopped close to her face and she slightly blushed: «No need for pulling it long and hard when you have honest feeling. Here's a simple trick that should do.»

He closed in even more and she made a little gasp of incomprehension. Then, he dropped a kiss on her lips. She fidgeted and she could fell him smile at her reaction. His hand skidded all the way up her back to her neck and lost itself in her hair. His other hand was dragging on her side and it went to her back. He then pulled her tighter against him, not breaking his embrace for minutes.

On his ships, captured Marines and pirates were looking at the scene and they all started to tilt the head slightly: «The bloody bastard, I knew it!» Raged Fitz while slamming his fist on the wall.

He finally let Rika go. She was totally taken agape and stayed frozen. Lloyd made the letter that held the itinerary slid from her pocket and grabbed it. He then turned around and while holding the paper above his shoulder, he said: «Thanks for everything, Rika-chan.» He was proceeding to his ship.

«I'll be seeing you, Lloyd-kun.» She shouted in his back while waving frenetically. She lowered her arm, her bright happy face turned to a cold serious one and she returned to her old, real self. "Definitively interesting. I have to proceed to the examination of those feelings. Why couldn't I move or try to push him back? No, that's just some futility. The point is why didn't he acted like I expected him to be? I'm never wrong when it come to reading someone, so where did I misinterpreted something... Hum, his attitude felt more genuine than ever. He has been playing a role for ten years, it's normal that you start to believe in it yourself. He can now be totally himself and act freely as he please." She stood there wondering for some time before having a quiet laugh: «Gnihihahaha! I'll definitively keep an eye on you...» She removed her eye-patch. «And the good one.»

Fitz was standing with his back on the outer wall of the quarterdeck while crossing his arms. When Lloyd jumped back on the deck of his ship, he greeted him with a dark scowl. Lloyd answered back with a look that could mean 'What's the matter?', to what Fitz replied by turning his head around. Tired of all this non-verbal act, Lloyd asked directly: «What is this all about?»

Lyrald pushed himself off from the wall with his shoulder: «You said there was nothing between you and that babe. How come you've been kissing her then?

«'Cause I wanted to. This crew cruelly miss some feminine presence, I guess I wanted to enjoy her company the most I could.»

«That's no valid answer!»

«What? Don't tell me... How much time has it been since you got intimate with a woman?»

«That's not your business!» He said getting on the defensive.

«Oh kami-sama... Don't tell me your virgin.»

«Not at all!» His answer wasn't fill with the rage of someone that is feeling ashamed and that try to hide it. Under Lloyd's scrutinizing look, he added: «Ever since I joined Senotakai's crew three years ago, not a single woman wanted to get close to me.»

«3 years! How come?» Asked Lloyd, very intrigued.

«Well, Yluseff had a very bad reputation with women. He stank like dirt and... Well, have you ever heard of a worm that was firm? Then, this reputation felt on his man and no women wanted to get close to us. That was a pain, dude...»

«I feel so sorry for you Fitz. I wish we could stop to some brothel on our way, but...» He handed him the itinerary of the merchant boat: «We really need to intercept that boat.»

«What's for, anything special in it?» He opened it and studied the plan, already setting a course while Lloyd answered.

«The Marines made me the gift of a Devil's Fruit and Yoru. It would be very impolite to come back to them without a gift of my own.» He then started to chuckle sinisterly and Fitz soon joined him.


(Note on Lloyd's laugh: To have an idea of what his laugh sound like, look for "Alucard laugh" on youtube. Thia anti-hero that set the standard for psychotic-vampire since 2001 is a great inspiration for Lloyd.)

And that complete this long-awaited chapter. Next time, there will be some other stuffs before the part one of the headquarter-battle.

New characters make their apparition. Naotoko D. Akui and Rika Joyce are parts of an arc that I will add to this story, so it will be longer than what I originally planned. I'll definitely make more than a 100,000 words.

I'm not going to give a deadline that I am unsure that I could complete, but I definitely try to make it within one month once I complete the translation. So, hope to see you next time and please tell me your impression of this chapter (though I don't fully like it. ;'J )