Stussy's eyes widened a fraction as she tried to make out the identity of the newly raised statue.
It was still unfinished—only a crude outline carved in stone. The face hadn't been sculpted yet, leaving no detail to seize onto, no features to confirm. No matter how she searched her memory, she couldn't match that silhouette to any Celestial Dragon she'd ever seen in the Holy Land.
That was what unsettled her most: the familiarity without a name.
The vague recognition tightened around her chest like a band.
She drew a shallow breath, curled her fingers into a restrained fist, and forced herself upward, step by measured step.
The towering statues along the staircase gradually fell behind her. She pushed down the instinctive fear of hidden CP agents and the old reflex to keep her head bowed. Finally, she reached the summit of the Stairway to Heaven.
Pangaea Castle stood before her—majestic, baroque, and crushing in its solemn authority.
Beneath the watchful gaze of two lines of silver-armored guards, Stussy approached in her white CP uniform dress. She bowed lightly before the great doors of the Chamber of Authority, her voice controlled and respectful.
"Cipher Pol Aegis 0 operative Stussy requests an audience with the Gorosei."
Silence.
Then, from beyond the doors, a voice like dry, ancient bark.
"Enter."
Creak… creak…
The heavy doors swung open inch by inch, and Stussy once again faced the five old men who had haunted her dread for years.
Bright sunlight at her back made the chamber's interior seem even darker. For a moment, her eyes struggled to adjust. The Gorosei sat in the shadows like demons in a den, their gaze scraping over her skin with cool scrutiny. It felt as though five devils were watching her from the depths of hell.
Stussy steadied herself with a breath and stepped inside.
"Gorosei Excellencies," she said.
As her vision cleared, she noticed someone else.
A tall, slender figure lounged on a leather sofa to one side of the Chamber of Authority, as if he owned the room.
Hair curved like a blood-red crescent. A rapier rested at his hip. His expression carried an effortless, contemptuous ease.
Saint Figarland Garling—the man about to assume command of the Knights of God—sat there with legs crossed, a cup of hot tea in hand, watching her with a faintly amused smile.
Stussy froze for the briefest beat, then inclined her head.
"Greetings, Saint Figarland Garling."
Garling took a slow sip and waved it off with lazy grace.
"No need for formalities."
His eyes lingered on Stussy as he appraised her, then he turned to the Gorosei with a grin that cut.
"You old codgers really do have an eye for talent. I never imagined CP0 would be hiding such… exceptional material."
He made the word exceptional sound like an insult.
Saint Warcury's brow tightened.
Saint Nusjuro paused his cloth on the blade for the space of a breath, then resumed as if nothing had happened.
Saint Peter's golden brows lowered.
Saint Mars didn't move at all.
Only Saint Saturn, beneath his flat black hat, answered—cold and clipped.
"You're about to become Commander of the Knights of God. Don't let it swell your head, Garling. Show restraint."
Garling shrugged, smiling wider.
"I didn't realize you valued this woman so highly. I was even thinking of giving her a chance to become my wife…"
Stussy's pupils pinched.
Before she could react—
Shriiiing!
A vicious, cutting sound ripped through the air.
It was like a blade of Haki had cleaved the space itself, a sudden gust shrieking through the chamber.
Stussy only caught a blur—
Clang!
Metal screamed as sparks burst in a bright shower, briefly lighting Garling's face.
"These kids," he murmured, mouth curling. "So full of vigor…"
His rapier—engraved with a griffin crest—was already drawn. He held it one-handed, casual, the tip braced against something that wasn't visible to the eye.
Dust motes swirled, light refracting through them.
Stussy's heart jolted.
"That's… the String-String Fruit?!"
A near-invisible thread—hardened with Haki—had been stopped in midair. Where that single strand had passed, the marble floor split cleanly as if shaved by a razor, a hairline fissure cutting across the chamber.
From the shadows came a low, chilling laugh.
A figure stepped into view.
Golden hair. A face twisted with malice. A swagger that reeked of contempt for everyone in the room.
Colorful capri pants. Pointed shoes. A pink feathered coat. Exaggerated sunglasses.
Platinum-blond hair shone like a crown.
One hand stayed tucked in his pocket; the other flicked lazily through the air, as if plucking invisible strings. His grin was sharp enough to draw blood.
"I didn't crawl all the way from the New World to this filthy place just to listen to your pointless drivel," he said, voice dripping disdain. "Especially yours, Commander."
Garling's eyes gleamed with amusement.
"This woman is my rival," the blond man continued, smile widening. "I'm not letting you lay a finger on her."
"Oh?" Garling asked, entertained. "And why is that?"
Doflamingo let out a manic laugh.
"Heh heh heh… Because I want to kill her myself!"
Garling shrugged, already bored again.
"Suit yourself."
Only then did Stussy truly react, the name ripping from her in shock.
"Doflamingo?!"
She stared at the golden-haired young Celestial Dragon as if her eyes had betrayed her.
"What are you doing here?!"
Her thoughts crashed into each other.
Doflamingo—Darren's godson. The exile. The one whose hatred for the Gorosei had burned hot enough to scorch the world.
So why was he standing here, inside Pangaea Castle, in the Chamber of Authority?
Was he betraying Darren? Was he using this as a ladder back into the Holy Land?
The possibilities hit her like cold water. Her stomach sank as she took in his sneering, arrogant face.
"I'm a Celestial Dragon," Doflamingo said, looking at her as if she were slow. "Isn't it perfectly natural for me to be in the Holy Land?"
He clicked his tongue, amused.
"But even I didn't see this coming. The infamous Underworld Empress of the New World… the Queen of the Pleasure District…"
He let the words savor themselves.
"…turns out to be a Senior Agent of the World Government."
"Heh heh heh… No wonder you've been thriving out there, Stussy."
To be continued...