Boom!!!
That casually spoken phrase was like a bolt from the blue, exploding in Stussy's mind!
In that instant, the composure, disguise, and cunning she prided herself on were utterly shattered! Her pupils constricted violently as the shock took hold. All the blood in her body seemed to flow backward in an instant, leaving her face pale and her heart racing. This man... how could he possibly know? This was the deepest, darkest taboo buried in her heart! It was an absolute secret unknown to the vast majority of people even within the high-ranking CP0 Agents! She was a clone, an illegal creation of Vegapunk and the other scientists of MADS!
If this secret were exposed to the public or the World Government, she would no longer be a noble CP0 Agent, but an "experimental sample" that could be destroyed at any moment to cover up the scandal!
Kill him! She must kill him right now!
It was an almost instinctive reaction; murderous intent surged in Stussy's eyes like a physical force. Using the turn of her body as cover, she swiftly twisted out a delicate tube of lipstick—a special hidden weapon crafted from highly pure Sea Stone specifically designed to neutralize powerful targets.
"Die!"
A cold glint flashed, swift as lightning, stabbing fiercely toward Kane's throat! If it were an ordinary Navy Rear Admiral, they would undoubtedly be instantly killed by such a close-range surprise attack without any chance to react.
However... Clap.
The Sea Stone lipstick, powerful enough to instantly paralyze a Devil Fruit user and pierce through bone, stopped exactly one centimeter before Kane's Adam's apple. A large, powerful hand firmly clamped down on Stussy's slender wrist.
Completely immobile!
"What's wrong? Did I hit upon your secret, and now you're lashing out in shame and anger?" Kane looked down at the utterly astonished Stussy, his tone as relaxed and teasing as if he were flirting at a high-end bar.
"This... how is this possible?!" A massive wave of disbelief surged in Stussy's heart. She desperately tried to pull her hand back, but she found the opponent's strength unbelievably great, as if her wrist were caught in a hydraulic press.
Failing the first strike, Stussy did not retreat; instead, her primal ferocity was fully aroused. Since one hand was restrained... Whoosh!
A phantom image of a pair of pitch-black bat wings suddenly appeared behind her—her Zoan-type: Bat-Bat Fruit ability instantly activated! Stussy lunged forward with animalistic speed, her cherry lips parting to reveal her hidden nature. Her two originally cute canine teeth instantly elongated, turning into sharp, predatory fangs that shimmered with a chilling cold light.
She disregarded everything and bit toward Kane's neck. If she pierced even a little bit of his skin, the numbing toxins would cause him to fall into a deep sleep, leaving him at her mercy!
"Clang!"
A crisp sound, like metal striking metal, rang out through the silent room. Stussy felt as though her teeth had bitten into an indestructible steel plate, jarring her dental nerves and sending a shock of pain through her jaw.
Kane's neck was covered by an invisible, flowing barrier of will, which had appeared without her even noticing. It was the advanced application of Haki, used with effortless precision.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Kane felt the sensation on his neck, and instead of getting angry or defensive, he flashed a playful, mocking smile.
"So passionate? Are you in such a rush to give me a love bite right after meeting for the first time?" Kane chuckled softly, his eyes mocking her desperation. "This method of courting is a bit too wild, Auntie."
That single word, "Auntie," was the final straw that broke the camel's back. Just as Stussy was about to struggle desperately and unleash her full power, a vast, terrifying surge of Conqueror's Haki erupted from Kane's center!
Rumble—!
The air itself seemed to grow heavy and stagnant. All the glass in the room instantly shattered into a thousand shards, expensive wine bottles exploded into pieces under the sheer pressure of his will, and fine red wine flowed across the floor like fresh blood.
Stussy's mind went completely blank. The suffocating feeling of facing a top predator completely extinguished any thought of resistance she had left. Her legs went weak, and her body uncontrollably collapsed under the weight of his presence.
She dropped directly to her knees on the ground, still restrained by Kane gripping one wrist. It was a posture both humiliating and helpless, stripping her of all her dignity as the Queen of the Pleasure District.
"Impulsiveness won't solve your problems." Kane used his other hand to cup Stussy's delicate chin, forcing her to look up and meet his cold, unfathomable eyes.
In his gaze, there was no pity for a beautiful woman, only naked, calculated threat.
"The World Government has eliminated quite a few insiders to completely conceal the 'Lineage Factor,' a technology capable of overthrowing the world's order." Kane spoke slowly, making sure every word sank in. "Tell me, if they found out there was still a perfect 'living proof,' which is you, alive and well, holding a high position in their intelligence agency..."
Kane paused, the curve of his lips growing increasingly cruel as he watched the light fade from her eyes.
"Who do you think would be the first person they silence to protect the secret? After all, only dead people can keep secrets forever. Am I right, my Clone Miss?"
Stussy's body began to tremble uncontrollably against the cold floor. It wasn't just the fear of death, but the despair of being completely seen through, her entire fate firmly grasped in someone else's hands.
She was finished. The moment this man uttered the name "Buckingham," she knew she was utterly finished. Her greatest secret, her greatest reliance, had now become the sharpest guillotine blade hanging over her head.
And the person holding the rope was the seemingly harmless Navy Rear Admiral standing before her. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she dared not let them fall, knowing this man cared nothing for her tears.
"What... what do you want?" Stussy's voice was hoarse and tinged with a sob, completely lacking her previous composure and world-class charm.
"I want things." Kane's reply was simple and crude, filled with undisguised greed.
He released Stussy's wrist but continued to hold her chin, his thumb gently stroking her trembling red lips in a gesture that was more about dominance than affection. Kane held up two fingers to outline his demands.
"First, starting today, twenty percent of Pleasure Town's annual revenue, which amounts to seventy billion Berries, must be transferred to the secret account of the G-5 Branch. As for how you balance the books to hide it from the government, that's your problem, but I believe it won't be difficult given your capabilities as an agent."
Stussy bit her lip and nodded, her face pale as she calculated the loss. Seventy billion... although it would make things incredibly tight and difficult to manage, it was still within her tolerable limits to stay alive.
"Second." Kane leaned closer, his eyes becoming incredibly sharp and piercing.
"You, and your entire worldwide intelligence network, also belong to me now. I will be the Pleasure Town's... Shadow Master."
It was overbearing, savage, and completely unreasonable. This was no longer a negotiation or a deal; it was blatant, high-level plunder! This was turning her, Stussy, and the entire infrastructure of Pleasure Town into his private property!
But dared Stussy refuse? Looking into those cold, calculating eyes, she knew that if she dared to say "no," tomorrow's headline across the world would be: "Shock! The Queen of Pleasure Town is Actually a Clone!"
"...I agree." Stussy closed her eyes, and two lines of clear tears finally streamed down her face.
She looked like her spine had been removed, slumping completely on the ground, appearing utterly submissive to his will.
[Ding! Detected that the Host leveraged core secrets to coerce and entice a high-ranking CP0 Agent, successfully and illegally seizing core assets of the World Government!]
[The means are extremely despicable! The conduct is utterly shameless!]
[Assessment: Ultimate Maneuver! This is scumbag-level extortion, even among the most ruthless pirates!]
[Congratulations, Host! You have gained a massive amount of discipline points: 100,000 points!]
Listening to the beautiful System notification sound ringing in his mind, especially the evaluation of "scumbag," Kane felt it was like the music of the heavens. This trip to Pleasure Town was absolutely worth it!
In high spirits, he plopped down onto the luxurious leather sofa that was now stained with red wine and crossed his legs comfortably. Looking at the queen who was once high and mighty but now pitifully vulnerable on the floor, Kane issued his first command in the tone of a master.
"Stop kneeling. The floor is cold."
"Now, go change your clothes and pour me the best wine in your collection."
"Then, tell me every last detail you know about the latest movements of all forces in the New World."
Stussy wiped away her tears and slowly stood up, her legs still feeling a bit weak. She took a deep look at this terrifying man and lowered her proud head in total defeat.
"Yes... Master."
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