As the image of Stussy's alluring, seductive face flashed through Dragon's mind, he instinctively clenched his molars.

He wasn't the type to be easily swayed by beauty, but come on—who didn't appreciate a beautiful woman? And in the New World, Stussy's name was synonymous with beauty and charm. There wasn't a pirate alive who hadn't heard of her.

When the hell did Daren get involved with her?

Daren didn't pay the slightest attention to Dragon's inner turmoil. He simply looked down at the Den Den Mushi with a faint smirk and said,

"You reaching out to me first... That's a rare sight."

A slightly annoyed, sultry voice bit back from the other end,

"Just answer me—are you coming or not!?"

"Of course I am. How could I turn down a beautiful lady's invitation?"

Daren chuckled and ended the call.

The moment he looked back up, he was face-to-face with Dragon—whose forehead now sported a very obvious slipper-shaped red mark.

"...Didn't you say you weren't hiding anything from me?"

Dragon stared at him blankly, voice low and accusing.

Daren: "..."

What, now I have to report my love life to you?

He rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed.

"You're not seriously going, are you? With the way things are right now, can you really trust that woman?"

Seeing Daren about to get up, Dragon frowned, concern flashing in his eyes.

After all, the two of them—or rather, mostly Daren—had just killed the leader of the World Government's God's Knights. The Five Elders were no doubt fuming and already plotting retaliation.

Until Daren's wounds were fully healed, staying put in Wano was the safest, smartest option.

On one hand, Wano's geography made it naturally fortified—easy to defend, hard to invade—and its long-standing isolationism meant no news was leaking out anytime soon. No way the World Government would think Daren was hiding here.

On the other hand, Kaidou and the Beasts Pirates controlled the territory. Even if news did somehow get out, the government wouldn't act rashly with Kaidou in the equation.

Not to mention the top-tier medical and research teams on standby.

Honestly, if it weren't for the mountain of military duties waiting for him back at the Freedom Fighters, Dragon himself would've stayed a few extra days.

"Relax. The government's way too busy right now to come looking for trouble."

Daren waved the Den Den Mushi lazily and grinned.

"Besides, turning down a lady's invitation? That's just bad manners."

...

New World.

Pleasure District.

Top floor suite of a luxury hotel.

As the Den Den Mushi slowly closed its eyes and drifted into sleep mode, Stussy sat still in silence, unmoving for a long time.

A slim cigarette burned steadily in the ashtray, its minty smoke curling upward, cloaking her mature, seductive face in a haze of mystery.

But at this moment, those elegant brows of hers were tightly furrowed, her expression flickering between thoughts.

After a long pause, she suddenly reached out with a pale, slender hand, picked up the nearly spent cigarette, and took a deep drag.

The leader of the God's Knights had died by Daren's hand, and now the Five Elders had issued her a final ultimatum.

On one side, there was the need to win the trust of the World Government's top brass to better protect Dr. Vegapunk.

On the other, there was that bastard—who constantly manipulated her with secrets, infuriating her to no end.

She had to make a choice between the two.

It shouldn't have been a hard decision.

In fact, the answer was obvious.

But for some reason, despite the simplicity of the situation, a strange uncertainty and hesitation gnawed at Stussy's heart—something she'd never experienced before.

Because this time, making that choice meant… betraying that bastard.

That bastard with that ever-present smug grin, that shameless, vulgar, incorrigibly lecherous bastard.

The smoke wavered before her eyes, and Stussy's gaze grew distant.

At that moment, memories surged in like a tide—dozens of scenes flashing through her mind, vivid and clear.

Their flirtatious, provocative first meeting.

The wild, reckless night in that abandoned warehouse at Marine HQ.

The absurd twist when the bet was revealed.

The joy she couldn't suppress as the flying warships of the North Blue Fleet descended from the skies to escort her…

The flood of memories tangled together, finally settling into the image of a young man's handsome face beneath his unruly black hair.

Without thinking, Stussy gently lifted the hem of her dress and looked at the string of strange black letters etched into her skin.

There were four in total—or rather, three and a half.

The first three characters were fully formed. The last one, however, was missing its final stroke.

Stussy didn't even know why she hadn't erased those damned markings.

Was it fear of that man?

No… it wasn't.

She was certain—she had never feared Daren.

Then what was it?

What made her willingly "obey" his words?

Could it be…

Her heart skipped a beat.

Her expression changed. She bit her own arm hard.

Pain flared, jolting her back to reality—eyes suddenly filled with panic.

This is insane!

"No way!"

She shook her head violently.

"There's no way I've actually fallen for that bastard!"

"Get a grip, Stussy!"

"This might be your best shot at getting away from him!"

She slapped her reddening cheeks hard, trying to shake off the thoughts clouding her head.

But just as she was trying to steel herself, her gaze unintentionally landed on her thigh again.

Her expression shifted, and her hand clenched into a fist.

"This is the last time."

It sounded like she was searching for justification, trying to convince herself.

"It's not that I'm reluctant or anything—it's just… that incomplete stroke is messing with my OCD."

The moment she said it, her heart felt lighter.

She stood up briskly.

Walking into her dressing room, she opened a glass-panel wardrobe, revealing rows of meticulously tailored gowns and dresses. To one side, a vertical cabinet held a dazzling collection of jewelry and accessories.

Stussy carefully made her choice: a flowing lavender gown with a black lace-cut waist, paired with a diamond necklace and onyx earrings.

At last, she approached the shoe cabinet.

Her eyes skipped over the many pairs until they landed on a single pair of black peep-toe heels.

"This is… the last time."

She stood silent for a few seconds.

Then she picked them up.

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