"Oh?" Rhett looked at her with interest, "For example?"
"For example..." Stussy slowly raised her hand, her eyes brimming with hope, pointing out the window, "The Admiral of the Navy Headquarters is already on his way."
As if to confirm her words, a warship could be seen smoking in the distance on the horizon.
Kizaru!
Rhett wasn't the least bit flustered, the smile on his lips deepening, "Ah, so you just noticed? Kizaru actually arrived shortly after I killed him. Maybe the ship ran aground, look at that big smoke on the ship. Seems like it won't be here anytime soon. When will it arrive? Hard to guess."
Stussy's finger froze mid-air, the hope in her eyes gradually extinguishing.
The golden light in the distance indeed remained stationary on the sea surface, and even the outline of the warship could be faintly seen—but just as Rhett said, the ship showed no sign of approaching.
Her heart sank.
Then her immediate reaction was Vegapunk... had also abandoned her.
The Gorosei had never intended to save her, and might have even coordinated with Kizaru to "conveniently" arrive late. She was merely a pawn to quell Rhett's wrath.
"Heh... heh..." Stussy suddenly chuckled softly, her laughter tinged with madness. She slowly withdrew her hand, her nails digging deep into her palm, blood dripping between her fingers.
"So that's how it is..." she murmured to herself, "I was naive enough to think... I was important..."
Rhett tilted his head to look at her, blood mist swirling around him, obscuring his face. The Dragon King's mouth twisted—this was a lie.
Stussy took a deep breath, suddenly—
"Thud!"
Her knees hit the ground heavily, her forehead pressed against the cold floor, her voice trembling yet clear:
"Lord Rhett... I am willing to submit."
Rhett raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"
Stussy looked up, her eyes no longer filled with charm or calculation, only the anger of being abandoned and the purest will to survive.
"I know all the secrets of the World Government, the deployments of CP0, the plans of the Gorosei... even the defensive weaknesses of Mary Geoise." Her words came out rapidly, fearing Rhett would turn her into blood in the next second, "I can become your most loyal pawn, just... let me live."
Rhett stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed.
"Interesting." He slowly crouched down, the blood mist coalescing into a sharp dagger at his fingertips, gently lifting Stussy's chin, "But didn't you just say the World Government wouldn't compromise?"
Stussy's breath almost stopped, Rhett's overwhelming presence nearly suffocating her,
But she forced herself to meet Rhett's gaze, "They will... as long as the stakes are high enough."
"For example... you." Stussy gritted her teeth, "I am a top agent of CP0, the intelligence network of the Pleasure District spans the entire world. I will secure the greatest benefits for you, the World Government will negotiate."
Stussy was now desperately trying to prove her worth.
Rhett narrowed his eyes, seemingly weighing the truth in her words.
She was a clever woman, even now she hadn't leaked a bit of information about Vegapunk. The current situation was that she couldn't stay with the World Government, but staying by Rhett's side might still be of some use.
After a moment, he chuckled softly, withdrawing the dagger, the blood mist slowly dissipating.
"Alright, I'll give you a chance." He stood up, looking down at her from above, "Now, call the Gorosei."
Stussy trembled all over, but quickly composed herself. She tremblingly pulled out a golden Den Den Mushi from her chest—a direct emergency communication device to Mary Geoise.
The moment the call connected, Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro's icy voice came through:
"Stussy, how did things go?"
Stussy's fingers trembled slightly, but her voice was unusually steady, even carrying a hint of cold sarcasm, "Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, things... didn't quite go as you expected."
There was a brief silence on the other end, then Saint Nusjuro's voice suddenly turned dark, "You betrayed us?"
"Betrayed?" Stussy chuckled softly, her gaze sweeping over Rhett's amused expression, then slowly stood up, though her knees were still weak.
She took a deep breath, her tone suddenly sharp, "No, the World Government never treated me as one of their own, did they?"
The Den Den Mushi mimicked Saint Nusjuro narrowing his eyes, "Do you know what you're saying, Stussy?"
"Of course I do." Stussy sneered, "The Gorosei sent me to the Pleasure District, ostensibly to control the underground intelligence network, but in reality, I was just a disposable pawn."
"Like tonight—" her voice carried suppressed anger, "You could have sent Kizaru for early support, but you didn't. Because to you, my life or death doesn't matter, what matters is testing Lord Rhett's limits!"
A cold snort came from the Den Den Mushi, "Foolish woman, Rhett can create illusions, do you think siding with pirates will save you?"
Stussy froze, looking at Rhett,
Rhett gave her a ??? smile!
"Whether I live or die isn't up to you." Stussy's gaze turned to Rhett, then a cold smile curled at her lips, "It's up to Lord Rhett."
She no longer concealed her stance, her voice clear and firm, "Now, I represent my Lord Rhett, to negotiate terms with the World Government."
Stussy knew from the moment she made this call, there was no turning back,
The Den Den Mushi's expression froze for a moment, then Saint Nusjuro's suppressed fury came through, "You—"
"First." Stussy interrupted him directly, her tone leaving no room for doubt, "The World Government must immediately cease all suppression of Crimson Dawn's industries, including but not limited to naval purges, underground interference, and economic blockades."
"Second, the Pleasure District belongs to Crimson Dawn from today onwards, and the World Government must not interfere in any form."
Rhett looked at her with newfound respect, she had guts, still trying to secure her position, but what did it matter? Rhett liked capable people, just like Doflamingo.
A heavy thud came from the Den Den Mushi, as if Saint Nusjuro's staff had slammed onto the table, "Preposterous! Who do you think you are?!"
Stussy didn't back down, "I am the Queen of the Pleasure District, one of CP0's top agents, holding the entire layout of the World Government in the underground world."
Her voice lowered, carrying a threat, "If you refuse, I don't mind selling this information... to the Revolutionary Army."
The Den Den Mushi fell silent.
Stussy knew she had hit the Gorosei's most fatal weakness—the World Government's greatest fear was never the pirates, but the Revolutionary Army who knew them inside and out, because Rhett had given the Revolutionary Army a clearer ideological framework than in the original storyline.
Especially... when the Revolutionary Army grasped the World Government's dirty dealings in the underground world, the nobles of the affiliated countries would surely laugh.
A few seconds later, the Den Den Mushi's expression changed, now mimicking Saint Saturn's voice, "Stussy, you dare threaten us."
"No, I'm giving you a choice." Stussy sneered, "Continue to clash head-on with Crimson Dawn, ultimately letting the Revolutionary Army reap the benefits, or take a step back temporarily, maintaining the balance of the seas?"
The Den Den Mushi fell silent once more.