As the queen of the underworld, Stussy was certainly not a business tycoon with a clean, upright image.
In the Grand Line, without strength, one couldn't take a single step.
Being able to establish Pleasure Districts in multiple locations across the Grand Line naturally involved a fair share of conflict.
The Pleasure District wasn't just a simple entertainment and commercial street. The taverns and bars within it also served as hubs for information exchange and underground transactions.
It was a place that straddled both the light and dark sides of the world—that was the true nature of the Pleasure District.
After listening to Anne, the person in charge of the Pleasure District on this island, Stussy, who had been silently accompanying them, finally spoke.
"Alright, Anne, you can leave now."
"Mr. Sig and I have important matters to discuss."
As she spoke, Stussy sat upright on the couch across from Sig, her posture elegant and composed.
Her voice carried a cool, detached tone, and her eyes, slightly lowered, were deep and unreadable.
At this moment, she seemed to revert to her demeanor as the queen of the underworld, which made Sig's eyes light up slightly.
When Sig first met Stussy, she had been a captive of the Revolutionary Army.
Despite being captured, she had remained calm and composed, which was why Sig had always been deeply wary of her.
But for so long, Stussy had always presented herself as humble and obedient in front of him, never showing this dark queen persona again.
Sig's guard immediately went up.
When something seems off, there's always a reason.
"What's going on? Why is Stussy dropping the humble act now?"
Sig's mind raced, and the virtual panel quickly appeared in front of him. He was ready to activate the Iruma card at any moment.
As Anne left, the door to the private room closed once more.
The two of them sat on the couches, facing each other, their expressions calm but tense.
"What do you want to say, Stussy?"
Sig asked in a low voice.
His heartbeat quickened slightly.
Being alone in a room with Stussy was genuinely thrilling.
Even with the Iruma card in hand, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.
The private room was spacious, but if a fight broke out, there wouldn't be much room to maneuver.
The atmosphere grew heavier.
Stussy's first words sent a shock through Sig's heart.
"Mr. Sig, I'll just lay it all out."
Stussy raised her head slightly, her gem-like eyes shining as she looked directly at Sig.
"The World Government, or rather CP0, has been secretly contacting me, instructing me to feign obedience to you and gain your trust."
"In other words, they want me to be a spy."
Sig's heart raced. Stussy's words were completely unexpected, and for a moment, he couldn't think of how to respond. He remained silent, pretending to be calm.
"So, you've known about this all along, haven't you?"
Stussy let out a self-deprecating laugh, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
"Was it from the night I boarded your ship? When I was secretly communicating with CP0, you already knew everything, didn't you?"
"All this time... I've been putting on a terrible act."
A hint of gloom appeared on her beautiful face.
He neither confirmed nor denied.
Because, at this moment, he was completely lost.
He couldn't see through what was happening. Why had Stussy suddenly decided to reveal everything?
Sig thought back to everything that had happened since they landed on the island and entered the Pleasure District, but he couldn't find anything out of the ordinary.
"Also, back in Loguetown, I did pass on some information to Vice Admiral Tsuru..." Stussy continued.
"Including your connection to the Revolutionary Army, what you did in Loguetown, and that move you used to defeat Hawkeye..."
This made Sig's heart skip another beat, though he maintained a calm expression on the surface.
He had already tested Stussy about this after leaving Loguetown.
So, he was somewhat prepared and could still maintain his composure.
"You don't need to tell me this."
"Every move you've made has been under my watch."
Sig looked directly at Stussy, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Otherwise, why do you think I've kept you by my side all this time?"
"If I really wanted to kick you off this ship, do you think you could stay?"
Sig was now fully engaged in his usual bluffing.
He wasn't entirely sure what he was saying, but as long as he flipped the script, it should be fine, right?
Hearing this, Stussy's eyes grew even darker. After a moment of silence, she spoke again:
"Actually, there's one more thing."
Her expression grew more serious.
"While you were in the treasure map shop, CP0 contacted me again."
"CP0's orders were... to go all out in gaining your trust."
"To that end, they're willing to hand over the Pleasure District on this island, which I've managed for years, to you."
A trace of barely concealed resentment flashed across Stussy's beautiful face.
"To the World Government, the Pleasure District in the New World is the true core, the central hub for gathering intelligence on the underworld."
"This Pleasure District on the island at the entrance of the Grand Line is just a bargaining chip to gain your trust. They want me to give up this hard-earned territory with a single command."
"In front of CP0, I have no choice."
A shadow passed over Stussy's face.
"If things continue , even if everything goes smoothly and the World Government successfully eliminates you through my espionage, my identity as a CP0 agent will most likely be exposed, and I'll no longer be able to remain the queen of the Pleasure District."
The identities of an underworld ruler and a CP0 spy were, of course, incompatible.
The day Sig died and Stussy's identity was exposed would be the day she was stripped of her title as the queen of the Pleasure District.
Stussy's words were frank and open, but he still couldn't fully grasp her intentions.
"What are you trying to say?"
Sig asked expressionlessly.
The two of them sat in silence for a moment.
Stussy's eyes were shrouded in shadow, making it hard to read her expression.
After a long pause, Stussy's lips curved into a captivating smile.
"Mr. Sig, let's stop testing each other and just lay everything out on the table."
"In front of the World Government, I have no choice. But with you in the picture, things are different."
"After traveling with you for so long, I'm not blind. I've seen enough of your actions to understand."
"Cooperating with the Revolutionary Army, contacting the remnants of the Pirate King's crew, stealing from the Celestial Dragons' vault... Everything you've done is aimed at shaking the foundations of the World Government..."
Stussy's expression showed a hint of understanding.
So, I'm shaking the foundations of the World Government again...
Sig didn't voice his inner thoughts but instead smiled faintly.
"Talking to a smart person really saves effort. So, what's your plan?"
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check out link in the SYNOPSIS