"How unexpected. Buried that deep… Heh heh heh…"
Behind his sunglasses, Doflamingo's grin sharpened as he looked Stussy up and down.
What is he playing at?
He clearly knew she was CP0 through Darren, yet now he was pretending otherwise.
Stussy's eyes narrowed. Then the point clicked into place, and a cold, amused curve touched her lips.
"Even if I was hiding," she said lightly, "I'm nowhere near your level, Doflamingo… Or should I address you as Saint Doflamingo, Excellency?"
"Heh heh heh… Don't throw that disgusting title at me," Doflamingo snapped. Then, as if remembering where he was, he turned to Garling and spread his hands. "My apologies, Commander Excellency. That wasn't aimed at you."
Saint Figarland Garling only shrugged, as though he couldn't care less. Inside, he sneered.
He could see through Doflamingo's petty theatrics at a glance. The earlier outburst, the talk about "protecting his prey"—all of it was just a flimsy excuse.
The real goal was obvious: to challenge the Commander of the Knights of God in front of the Gorosei.
Tch. What a grudge-holding brat.
Garling's mind flicked back, unbidden, to the day Doflamingo dragged his father's severed head up to Mary Geoise and begged to be restored. Garling had opposed it. But the final word had never been his. It belonged to the five "immortals" in this room.
"Enough, Doflamingo," Saint Warcury cut in, tapping his cane once. His walrus mustache barely moved as he spoke, the rasp in his throat like sand over stone. "We didn't summon you here to watch childish antics."
His gaze shifted to Stussy. "Stussy. You know why you were called to the Holy Land."
Stussy spared Doflamingo a brief glance, then lowered her head and bowed. "Yes, Excellencies."
"The task you assigned me last time… I have completed it."
The Gorosei's eyes brightened—at the same time.
"Are you certain?"
"This is not ordinary intelligence."
"We are not fools you can deceive."
"You know the consequences of lying to us."
Their voices layered over one another, calm and merciless. The air itself seemed to tighten. Stussy felt their scrutiny sink past skin and bone, probing for weakness.
Saint Saturn went further. His "Evil Eye" stirred—pupils blooming with a deep, ominous red, as though the killing power behind them could be loosed at any moment and pop her skull like fruit.
A chill shot through Stussy. Cold sweat prickled along her spine.
She kept her head down and made her voice even more obedient.
"This subordinate would never dare."
"Ever since Your Excellencies issued the order, I have worked without rest—mobilizing everything under my command and coordinating with the various Cipher Pol branches—to identify the latest abilities Rogers Darren acquired."
"From the traces at Saint Michael Excellency's death site, I concluded Rogers Darren possesses a technique that allows him to unleash terrifying combat power in short bursts."
"A technique that overwhelming—enough to kill Saint Michael Excellency so decisively—must carry severe side effects or lingering repercussions."
"After that battle, Rogers Darren vanished from the Sea. He likely retreated to a concealed location to recover."
"Using Underworld channels and the merchant convoys I control, I finally confirmed where he is hiding."
The Gorosei's breathing hitched. Their killing intent turned sharper without them meaning to, like steel sliding free of a sheath.
"Where?"
Stussy forced herself to endure the pressure flooding the room. Gooseflesh rose along her arms. She steadied her breath and answered:
"The New World. Wano Country."
She paused.
"More precisely—the Beasts Pirates' main stronghold. Onigashima."
Onigashima…
To Stussy's surprise, the Gorosei's hostility faltered for a heartbeat, as if the name itself had snagged something in each of their minds.
Their expressions shifted—subtle, private, unreadable.
Stussy's stomach tightened.
Nearby, Doflamingo lounged with his cheek propped on his palm, watching with a faint, knowing smirk, as if he was already turning the situation over in his head.
Several tense seconds passed before Saint Saturn finally spoke again, his hoarse voice packed with restrained anger.
"Onigashima… Would Kaido tolerate that brat Rogers Darren licking his wounds on his doorstep?"
Stussy shook her head once, grave. "This subordinate cannot confirm the details, Excellency. They seem to have reached some form of agreement—perhaps a temporary truce—after a violent clash. Possibly a trade."
"In fact, one of the Beasts Pirates' top executives, 'Plague' Queen, is reportedly treating Rogers Darren's injuries using his bio-modification expertise."
The Gorosei frowned at that. The other four turned instinctively toward Saturn.
As the Warrior God of Science and Defense, Saint Saturn nodded, eyes cold. "Queen was once a member of MADS. In bio-modification and virology, his talent and knowledge rival even Vegapunk's."
"When MADS was dismantled, that man triggered a laboratory explosion and escaped in the chaos. He later joined the Beasts Pirates and became Kaido's right-hand man."
"With his skill, injuries that would stump ordinary doctors are within his reach."
He paused.
Then Saint Saturn's mouth curved—thin, sharp, unpleasant.
"Still… how did you obtain this information, Stussy?"
Stussy's lashes fluttered once. She didn't hesitate.
"Reporting, Saint Saturn, Excellency: a trade convoy under my control has been dealing directly with the Beasts Pirates. They observed the Beasts Pirates recently stockpiling large quantities of experimental equipment and medical devices—most of it related to magnetic-field research."
As the last words left her mouth, the suffocating pressure around her mind vanished.
Stussy let out a sharp, silent breath.
To be continued...