Leno was thinking.
So was Stussy.
At first—
She had considered using the Pleasure District's resources…
Deploying the top courtesans she had painstakingly cultivated—
To "corrupt" Leno a little.
But the moment she saw the women around him—
Hancock, Domino, Robin…
She instantly abandoned that unrealistic idea.
What a joke.
Where was she supposed to find women—
More beautiful—
More elegant—
Than them?
This was simply impossible!
At this moment—
Leno wasn't in a hurry to get down to business.
Since he was already here—
He might as well enjoy himself.
If you came to the Pleasure District—
And didn't indulge a little—
What was even the point?
As for the women here—
He had no interest.
Compared to his own crew—
They weren't even worth a fraction.
He leaned lazily against a soft cushion.
Took a sip of wine.
"How about relaxing a bit?" Leno said casually.
"Otherwise, when we start fighting later and this place gets wrecked…"
"You won't even get the chance."
Hancock, Domino, and the others—
Didn't like this place at all.
The atmosphere—
Too vulgar.
Too tainted.
But they understood Leno.
He wasn't here just to play.
After all—
With them around—
Would he really need anything else?
One or two—
Was already more than enough.
After a brief "enjoyment"—
Leno lost interest.
Compared to life on the ship—
This place was lacking.
Time to get to the point.
(If he went too far off-track…)
Hancock and the others might just drag him into a "dark room" and drain him dry.
Stussy had been waiting the whole time.
She knew—
An Emperor wouldn't come here for no reason.
As for her earlier guess—
That he came for her—
The moment she saw Hancock—
That idea vanished completely.
Now—
She had no clue what his goal was.
And that uncertainty—
Made her uneasy.
"Stussy."
Leno set down his glass.
His gaze calm.
"Yes, Lord Leno."
She immediately put on a perfect smile.
"Where is Moden Island?"
Leno directly stated the location Tsuru had given him.
The moment she heard those words—
Stussy's heart skipped.
Her perfect smile—
Froze for a split second.
That place?!
And he just—
Said it outright?!
She quickly suppressed her shock.
Adjusted her expression.
"Moden Island?"
"I'm sorry, Lord Leno… I've never heard of it."
"Perhaps you're mistaken?"
She tried to play dumb.
At that moment—
Hancock, sitting beside Leno—
Lightly touched her lips.
Her breathtaking face—
Shifted into a pitiful, delicate expression.
Her eyes shimmered like autumn water—
Filled with soft pleading.
"Don't you really know…?"
"Please don't lie to me…"
Her voice—
Gentle.
Soft.
In that instant—
Everyone in the room—
Except Leno—
Fell into a daze.
"So beautiful…"
"I'd do anything for her…"
Domino and Robin—
Having been warned beforehand—
Barely resisted.
They shook their heads.
Instinctively pressed their chests—
Then exhaled deeply.
"Close… that was close…"
Almost got turned…
They immediately stared at Leno—
Reaffirming their loyalty.
Meanwhile—
Stussy—
Who was directly targeted—
Felt her mind go blank.
An overwhelming urge—
To grant Hancock anything—
Surged within her.
"I… I know where…"
She almost blurted it out.
But suddenly—
She bit her tongue.
Pain.
Blood.
It snapped her back to reality.
She looked at Hancock—
Terrified.
Cold sweat drenched her back.
She had thought—
As a woman—
She'd have resistance.
But Hancock's beauty—
Combined with the Love-Love Fruit—
Was overwhelming.
Terrifying.
Leno watched her calmly.
"Since you already slipped…"
"Just take us there."
"No need to suffer unnecessarily."
Stussy panted heavily.
Her mind raced.
She scanned her surroundings—
Looking for an opening.
But her instincts screamed—
Move, and you die.
"Can't fight… wait, isn't this my territory?!"
She made her decision—
Then spoke seriously:
"Leno… what exactly do you want?!"
"I can tell you clearly—"
"Dr. Vegapunk is NOT there!"
"You'll just waste your time!"
She tried to make him back off.
But—
She misunderstood completely.
Leno's target—
Was never Vegapunk himself.
It was—
His research.
He trusted Tsuru.
She wouldn't risk her granddaughter's life—
By giving false intel.
As for Egghead Island—
Of course Leno knew.
But in his view—
Its defenses in the original story—
Were absurdly weak.
There was no way—
The World Government would leave it that exposed.
Compared to that—
This "temporary lab" made far more sense.
Like Punk Hazard.
Marines.
World Government agents.
Heavily guarded.
Seeing Stussy still resisting—
Leno sighed.
The next second—
He vanished.
Stussy's pupils shrank.
Before she could react—
A cold, powerful hand—
Wrapped around her throat.
Lifted her effortlessly off the ground.
"—!"
She struggled.
Breathing became difficult.
Her face filled with shock.
So fast!
Leno looked at her calmly—
As her face turned red from suffocation.
Emotionless.
"Well?"
"Wouldn't it be easier…"
"To just cooperate?"
His tone was almost gentle.
But she knew—
Refusal meant death.
Her body trembled uncontrollably.
"I… I'll lead… the way…"
She forced the words out.
Leno released her.
She collapsed to the ground—
Coughing violently.
Eyes filled with fear.
"Lead."
She didn't dare hesitate again.
Struggling to her feet—
She obediently walked ahead.
Guiding them—
Toward Moden Island.
Meanwhile—
On Moden Island—
Kizaru looked at rows of cultivation tanks.
And sighed.
"Vegapunk…"
"You're a complete madman…"
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