Stussy was practically losing her mind.
She had only come to deliver a message from the World Government to the Old Geezers Pirates…
How the hell had she run into Michael here!?
Had this guy just quietly returned!? And why was he on this pirate ship!?
Could it be…
"Michael… don't tell me this so-called 'Golden Thief' is you!"
"You've seen the mask—can't you figure it out? You're kinda lying to yourself at this point," Michael said with a laugh.
"Even though we had some misunderstandings back then and fought… I did spare your life, after all. You're Vegapunk's person, aren't you?"
"Hold on, don't say anything yet—let me sort this out." Stussy waved her hands frantically, trying to realign the flood of information in her brain.
"So… after your return, you didn't announce it within the Angel Alliance, but instead became… a pirate!?"
"Correct."
"In that case, whether it's stealing gold from Alabasta's royal palace or killing the stationed vice admiral at Enies Lobby… those were probably just disguises, right?"
"More or less."
"Then… holy shit!? Those old pirates who kinda looked like Garp, Sengoku, and Zephyr…"
"That's them."
Michael was completely open with Stussy, holding nothing back.
Now that he was face-to-face with one of his own, there was no need for secrecy.
"You… just how big of a mess are you planning to stir up this time?" Stussy asked with a bitter laugh.
"Becoming a pirate yourself is one thing… but dragging all those old-timers into it too? How the hell did you convince a former Fleet Admiral, the Hero of the Marines, and a former Admiral to go along with this?"
"Those old geezers? The moment Michael returned, their hearts were already itching for action… Right now, they're just a bunch of retired old-timers living out their golden years," a voice called out from inside the ship's cabin.
"Even though you're just a clone… I still have to say—long time no see, Stussy."
Stussy froze.
That voice… was completely unfamiliar.But her Lineage Factor inherited from Ms. Buckingham clearly told her...
This was undoubtedly the most familiar voice of her lifetime.
She turned around and saw a middle-aged man with hair and beard the color of Holy Light walking toward her.
"R-Rocks!?" Stussy exclaimed in shock, "H-how is this possible!? Didn't you disappear years ago during the God Valley Incident!?"
Although Stussy was Vegapunk's mole, having stayed in Mary Geoise long-term as a CP0 agent, she actually knew little about many things within the Angel Alliance.
Let alone about Rocks who had been living under an assumed name.
Even if she heard the name, Stussy would only think it was someone with the same name, never imagining that the person serving as the "Pirate Affairs Advisor" in the Angel Alliance was the real Rocks.
Rocks' appearance shocked Stussy even more than Michael's had.
After all, as an ally, Stussy naturally knew that Michael would eventually return.
While surprising, she had some psychological preparation for it.
But Rocks... this was completely unexpected.
"What's wrong? Feeling that instinctive fear when you see this face?" Rocks tilted his head, well aware of how harsh he'd been with his subordinates during his days dreaming of becoming the "King of the World."
"It seems Vegapunk's Lineage Factor technology has come remarkably close to the lost Lunar Technology of old."
"Huff!" Stussy didn't answer immediately, instead taking deep breaths in an attempt to calm her racing heart.
Michael and Rocks...
The sudden appearance of these two nearly short-circuited her brain.
But as a veteran undercover agent with years of experience, Stussy's mental fortitude was exceptional.
Within mere minutes, she had completely regained her composure.
This display earned continuous applause from Rocks.
"Hard to believe that as a clone, you're superior in every way to the original Ms. Buckingham... If it were her, she'd probably have wet herself by now."
"Well, unfortunately, she's past the point of wetting herself," Michael shrugged awkwardly. "She died several years ago."
"What? Dead?" Though Rocks showed some surprise, there was no trace of regret.
"Weak as she was... Ah well, dead is dead... But who took her out?"
"That's a long story... You know how Stussy and Gloriosa were always competing, right?"
"Ah yes, those two girls were always trying to claim Newgate for themselves."
"Ms. Buckingham succeeded."
"...Holy shit? She slept with Newgate?"
"Not quite. She obtained Whitebeard's Lineage Factor, combined it with her own, and cloned a child bearing both their bloodlines... But she didn't treat the child well. So when I brought the child back to Whitebeard, I encouraged him to kill Ms. Buckingham."
"What a bizarre tale," Rocks patted his chest before continuing, "So where's this child now?"
"Naturally in the Whitebeard Kingdom—the 2nd Division Commander."
"...That guy?" Rocks was genuinely shocked. "I thought... he was just another of Whitebeard's adopted sons, obsessively imitating his father..."
The two continued gossiping about Whitebeard's romantic history, speculating whether Gloriosa might eventually win him over.
All while leaving Stussy completely ignored.
But Stussy... didn't dare move!
Literally didn't dare move!
Both men exerted an intimidating bloodline pressure over her...
Just before her patience ran out, Michael finally remembered her presence.
"Since you came to me as CP0... I assume the World Government, or perhaps even the Celestial Dragons, have something to convey?"
"Correct."
Stussy exhaled deeply.
Finally back on track!
"The World Government wishes to recruit you to their side."
"Expected." Michael seemed to have anticipated this. "I assume they've approached other major pirates too?"
"Indeed... Yamato, Red-Haired Shanks, Wang Zhi, and Blackbeard were all approached. They even tried recruiting Whitebeard and Charlotte Linlin during the Angel Alliance's early formation," Stussy shrugged.
"But ultimately only Blackbeard accepted their offer."
Michael wasn't surprised by this outcome.
However...
For the World Government, Blackbeard's allegiance alone was more than sufficient.
After all, Blackbeard was essentially a mass-production machine for Devil Fruit Users.
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