"I'm quite adept at reading a man's eyes," Stussy murmured, her fingers brushing gently along Darren's jawline. Her crimson nails traced a path down his cheek, soft as silk but tinged with dangerous intent. "The way you looked at me the moment I walked in… that wasn't the gaze of a stranger."
Darren chuckled softly, a wry smile touching his lips. "As expected of the Queen of the Pleasure District—the sharpest woman in all the seas. And here I thought I was keeping my poker face intact."
He lifted a finger, tilting her chin upward with playful ease. "Then again, I suppose it's only natural. You are, after all, the dream of countless men."
He let the words linger before his smile deepened.
"So… would you say we've found ourselves in a moment of mutual admiration?"
Stussy giggled sweetly, the sound curling like perfume through the air. "It certainly seems that way, Mr. Darren."
Her hips swayed as she stepped closer, the motion hypnotic. Darren's gaze drifted instinctively—down the lines of her waist, the curve of her hips—before returning to her eyes.
"But I must admit," she purred, her fingers feathering over the still-bandaged wound on his ribs, "I'm terribly curious..."
"With your current strength and position, what kind of monster could leave you in such a state?"
"Dozens of broken bones, ruptured organs, massive blood loss... It's the kind of damage that should have killed any ordinary man."
Her cherry lips parted as she gently bit down on his finger, her eyes half-lidded.
A warm, wet heat enveloped his skin as she began to suck lightly—slow, deliberate, suggestive. Darren could feel every nerve ending flare awake beneath her touch, as if his senses had been peeled bare.
Looking down, he saw her flushed cheeks, her eyes shimmering with an emotion that hovered between mischief and desire.
This woman… she's a siren.
She knew exactly how to push a man to the brink, how to spark the flame—and pull back just before the burn.
"Mr. Darren..."
She released his finger with a soft pop.
A glistening strand of saliva clung from her lips to his fingertip, catching the light like a silk thread.
Darren's eyes darkened for a moment, caught off guard by the surreal beauty of it. A flicker of longing ghosted across his expression before he buried it beneath a smirk.
Not missing the look, Stussy smiled and murmured in a low, coaxing voice, "Who was it that left you like this?"
"You invaded Snack Island just yesterday. Was it Big Mom?"
"If it was her... she's wanted you for so long. She wouldn't have the heart to let you die."
"But if not her, then who?"
"Whitebeard? Shiki? Roger, perhaps?"
She rested her cheek against his shoulder, her fingernails tracing slow circles across his chest.
"I'm dying to know, Mr. Darren..." she whispered, every syllable like a lover's plea. "Won't you tell me?"
For just an instant, her mask slipped. Beneath the sultry tone and practiced charm, a gleam of cold calculation flickered in her eyes.
Because Rogers Darren was no longer just a powerful Marine—he was a living threat.
His lightning strike on Snack Island had sent shockwaves across the seas. The live broadcast of Swollen Town crumbling to ruin had ignited terror in pirate crews and underworld factions alike.
The mere possibility that Darren could drop from the sky, blade in hand, and erase an entire city without warning had silenced the boldest of enemies. Even whispers now carried fear.
And yet, here he was—injured, vulnerable. A full day had passed since the broadcast. No word had come from the World Government. But Stussy, with her access to the highest channels of intelligence, knew the truth.
Marine Headquarters had entered a silent state of wartime readiness.
But not because of an official campaign.
No—this hadn't been an order. It had been Darren's decision.
Which meant… whatever he'd faced in Wano had been personal.
What was his goal?
Whom had he fought?
If she could extract that answer first—before the elders, before Cipher Pol—then she might just tip the scales of power. After all, information was the world's sharpest weapon.
"You want to know badly, don't you?" Darren's voice was low and lazy, tinged with amusement. His eyes were half-lidded, like a man enjoying the attention of a beautiful woman.
Stussy's heart skipped slightly. So this is the fearsome monster of the Marines? Just another man after all, she thought smugly.
"Yes, Mr. Darren," she whispered, breath warm against his neck. "I'm absolutely dying to know..."
Darren puffed up his chest slightly, nodding with mock grandeur.
"I see."
And then his smile turned razor-sharp.
"But I'm not going to tell you."
Stussy froze.
Before she could react, his arms snapped around her waist like steel cables, drawing her firmly into his chest. The strength in his grip stole the breath from her lungs.
His voice turned low and cold. "Stussy, I've been completely open with you. But you… you've been playing a different game. Spying. Hiding your true identity."
"Isn't that a bit unfair?"
Stussy's pupils shrank.
Not from fear—yet—but from pure surprise.
He shouldn't have this kind of strength. Not so soon.
Her thoughts raced.
How is he moving like this? How has he recovered so much strength in minutes?
What kind of body does he have? What kind of monster heals like this?!
She tried to break free—but couldn't move.
Still, she didn't panic.
Instead, she smiled, her voice sweet as sugar.
"Hehe... Vice Admiral Darren, you've caught me."
"The titles 'Queen of the Pleasure District' and 'Dark Empress of the New World' are just masks. I work for the World Government's intelligence network... technically, that makes us colleagues."
She rubbed her cheek against his neck, her voice a soft purr.
"This bad little spy knows she's been naughty. But surely you won't punish me too harshly… will you?"
She lingered on the word punish, her tone dripping with implication.
Darren's hand slid lower, teasing along the swell of her breast.
"Punishment," he murmured, "is unavoidable."
"But that's not the identity I'm talking about."
His voice turned colder still.
"The one you're truly loyal to… isn't the World Government."
He leaned close, smirking. "It's Dr. Vegapunk, isn't it?"
Time froze.
Stussy's pupils contracted to pinpricks.
No one should know that.
She didn't hesitate.
With a flicker of motion, her body twisted. Her back split open, and from beneath her skin burst massive black wings. Her golden eyes bled into crimson, and sharp fangs emerged from behind her lips.
The seductress vanished.
In her place stood a vampire.
With a hiss, she lunged—mouth open, fangs gleaming. She drove her bite into Darren's neck, confident in her victory.
He was too slow, too injured.
This would be over in one bite.
And then—
Snap!
Pain exploded in her mouth.
Her eyes went wide.
Two of her razor-sharp fangs cracked—and shattered.
Stussy: ???
She reeled back, dazed, lips parted in disbelief.
Did I… just bite into Sea Stone?!
To be continued...