A luxury suite on the top floor of the hotel.

The air was thick with the scent of perfume and the vivid fragrance of blooming heather. Clothes lay strewn across the room, a once-elegant lavender gown now torn to shreds, with fragments of a diamond necklace scattered like stardust.

Snap!

A flame burst from the lighter, igniting a fresh, gold-trimmed cigar. The light scent of tobacco mingled with the smoke as Daren took a deep drag, eyes narrowing in satisfaction. It felt as if every pore on his body opened up, leaving him completely at ease.

"Why so eager today?"

He cast a sidelong glance at the trembling blonde beside him, lips curling into a smirk he could barely suppress.

Her figure was graceful and curvy, her skin pale as snow. She was still catching her breath, cheeks flushed, lips slightly parted. From where Daren lay, he had a perfect view of the curve of her back. Nestled between her shallow waist, a slender black devil's tail slowly coiled back, vanishing beneath her skin.

Alluring in every sense.

The sight stirred a powerful sense of triumph in Daren's chest—so intense that, for a moment, it felt even more satisfying than killing Michael, the leader of the God's Knights.

"You said… just once…"

Stussy's unfocused eyes slowly regained clarity. Hearing Daren's infuriating words, she gritted her teeth and snapped back.

Daren exhaled a puff of smoke without a care, shrugged, and smiled.

"Don't sell yourself short, my Queen."

Stussy shot him a glare and took a while to steady her breathing. Then she reached for a black nightgown hanging nearby, sat up in bed, and slipped it on with elegant ease.

Daren watched her movements with open appreciation, his gaze unashamed in its intensity.

Some women were simply born to captivate.

Toki's beauty was like cherry blossoms in full bloom—breathtaking enough to bring nations to their knees.

Gion's allure was that of a thorned rose—dangerous and proud, yet impossible to resist.

Stussy's beauty, however, was more complicated.

Inherently seductive, yet sometimes tinged with an unexpected innocence.

Like a perfectly ripened peach—richly sweet with just enough tartness to make you crave another taste.

"What have you been busy with lately?"

Stussy walked over to the coffee table and poured herself a cup of tea. Raising it to her lips, she used the rim to mask the casual question that followed.

"Healing."

Daren took another drag from his cigar and replied offhandedly.

"Just took out Michael, the commander of the God's Knights. That bastard was absurdly strong—an awakened Zoan with Mythical Zoan powers. I almost didn't make it."

Stussy's long lashes trembled.

"Your injuries…"

She quietly examined Daren's bare torso. Sure enough, crisscrossing scars still marred his skin, many of them freshly healed.

"Almost fully recovered."

Daren smiled, unconcerned.

Stussy fell silent.

She stared into her teacup, the clear surface reflecting the faint furrow in her brow.

Seeing her like this, Daren's eyes flickered. He didn't speak—just waited, calmly and quietly.

Five seconds.

Ten seconds.

"Actually..."

Stussy clenched her fists, as if steeling herself for something serious, and said through gritted teeth,

"I came to see you this time because the Five Elders gave me an ultimatum. They ordered me to uncover your secrets at any cost... They're desperate to learn about the new power you've gained—the one that let you defeat, even kill, Saint Michael of the God's Knights."

"I know you're someone who never forgives betrayal... I'm not asking for much. Just... if there's ever a chance, please rescue Dr. Vegapunk from the World Government's control... I'm begging you."

She let it all out in one breath, then collapsed into the sofa like someone resigned to her fate. Her eyes closed as if she were quietly awaiting judgment.

"Go ahead… do it now."

Silence.

A stillness as heavy as death filled the suite.

So quiet, you could hear the rapid thump of Stussy's heart.

As seconds dragged on, her composure began to crack. She grew more uneasy, a fine sheen of cold sweat forming on her brow.

Until—

"My Devil Fruit awakened."

Daren's deep voice slowly echoed through the room.

"But unlike most Paramecia-types that project power outward, my Jiki Jiki no Mi awakened in the opposite way. It acts inward—on the body itself."

"By accelerating the magnetic field within my body, I can draw out a force far beyond my limits… I call it Magnetic Field Rotation."

"With Magnetic Field Rotation, I beat the commander of the God's Knights—the so-called 'strongest Celestial Dragon'—like a dog."

Stussy jolted.

Her lashes trembled as she slowly opened her eyes.

But instead of facing Daren's lethal three-fingered dragon claw, she saw his usual annoyingly smug, handsome face.

"You didn't need to hesitate. If you want to know something, just ask."

Daren grinned and gave her a wink.

"The way you were fumbling and stammering, I almost thought you were going to tell me you were pregnant."

Stussy was stunned.

The teasing tone she knew so well filled her with an unexpected warmth.

"You... you're not going to kill me?"

She asked in disbelief.

Daren stepped up to her with a soft smile.

"If you want to protect Vegapunk, then stay alive and protect him yourself."

Stussy blinked, clearly still confused.

"You… you're not angry?"

Daren let out a light chuckle.

"Of course I'm angry. Furious, actually."

"But not because you tried to get information out of me. You came clean in the end, didn't you?"

"What really pisses me off… is that the one time you took the initiative to see me, it wasn't because you actually wanted to."

He placed a hand on his chest and feigned heartbreak.

"That really hurts, you know."

Then, before Stussy could respond, Daren gave her cheek a pinch, got up, threw on his clothes, and headed for the door.

Watching his retreating back, Stussy suddenly felt a wave of panic she couldn't explain.

"...Actually, I did want to see you!"

The words slipped out before she could stop them, and her face turned scarlet the moment she realized what she'd said.

Because right then,

That bastard Daren turned back with a teasing smile that said, "Took you long enough to admit it."

...

For more chapters, feel free to follow me on P@treon.

(100 Chapters Ahead)

[email protected]/PinkSnake

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.