Inside the dimly lit office, tension hung thick in the air.
Morgans' heart nearly leapt out of his chest.
He had absolutely no idea how on earth did this woman show up here, of all places?!
And worse, that slip of the tongue earlier...
He'd shouted something he definitely shouldn't have.
The word "Young Master."
A word no ordinary person would ever use.
Unless... you were addressing your master.
Stussy's eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze sliding back and forth over Morgans like a predator studying its prey.
"So, President Morgans," she said softly, voice dripping with amusement, "you're one of Vice Admiral Ezra's men, then?"
Morgans froze. His feathers practically stood on end.
He cursed inwardly as expected!
His gaze darted toward Ezra D. Vale, and that single, panicked movement told Stussy everything she needed to know.
Her crimson lips curved. There was no longer any doubt.
This birdman truly was under Ezra's command.
Ezra raised a hand to his forehead, a sigh escaping his lips.
Wasn't Morgans supposed to be clever? The man ran the entire World Economic Journal, for crying out loud!
And yet right now, he looked like an idiot caught red-handed.
"Alright, Morgans," Ezra said wearily. "Step aside for now."
Relief washed over Morgans like divine salvation.
He bobbed his head rapidly, muttered a "Yes, sir!" and shuffled into the far corner of the room.
There, he began scratching circles on the wall with one talon, mumbling to himself in misery
his very own little "self-isolation zone."
Ezra's lips twitched. He decided to ignore the ridiculous sight.
Instead, he turned his attention to the elegantly dressed woman before him.
"Miss Stussy," he said evenly, "to what do I owe this visit?"
Stussy's smile deepened, her tone silky smooth.
"Well, Vice Admiral Ezra, I came here for two reasons."
"The first one is this..."
From her luxurious handbag, she withdrew a delicate envelope
an invitation sealed with golden wax.
Ezra's brow lifted in surprise.
Big Mom's private tea party invitation.
Now that was unexpected.
After all, he had supposedly killed three of her sons.
And yet, despite that blood feud, she still had the gall to invite him to a tea party?
But then he noticed the faint smirk playing at Stussy's lips
and suddenly, it all made sense.
"So," he asked casually, "why is Miss Stussy going out of her way to help Charlotte Linlin?"
Her smile didn't falter. "Vice Admiral Ezra," she replied, "that's exactly why I'm here for the second reason."
"After all, by helping Linlin invite you, I earned myself the chance to meet you privately."
Ezra leaned back slightly, folding his hands together atop the desk.
So that was it. Her goal had never been Big Mom.
From the start, she had come for him.
He set the invitation aside, his crimson eyes now fixed on hers.
Their gazes met sharp, unflinching.
But in that moment, Stussy realized something terrifying.
From his eyes... she could read nothing.
No warmth, no emotion, no thought.
Only coldness.
Only cruelty.
An unshakable chill crept up her spine.
Why... why am I afraid? she thought.
I'm CP0.
But even that proud thought couldn't stop the trembling deep within her chest.
No matter how much she told herself otherwise
her body refused to believe it.
Then his voice cut through her fear like a blade.
"Stussy," Ezra said calmly, "I don't have much time to waste entertaining you."
The words snapped her back to reality.
She gasped, realizing she had been holding her breath.
Her pulse thundered in her ears.
What just happened to me?
Why did I me, a CP0 agent feel fear... toward a Marine?
She bit her lip, forcing herself to breathe evenly.
Slowly, she smoothed her expression and lowered her gaze, no longer daring to meet his eyes directly.
"Vice Admiral Ezra," she said after a moment, her voice steadying, "this second matter... is a personal request."
"Speak."
"I want to ask you something."
Her tone softened. "Does Vice Admiral Ezra have... any connection to the World Government?"
Ezra's brows knitted slightly.
What kind of question was that? What was she trying to imply?
Before he could reply, Morgans nearly had a heart attack.
Are you insane?! he screamed internally.
Lady, do you have a death wish?
You don't just ask that kind of thing out loud!
And if you do don't drag me into it!
Morgans was practically in tears, feathers puffed up like a hedgehog.
Was this really the Queen of the Pleasure Districts?
Because right now, she was acting like a complete fool!
"Stussy," Ezra said at last.
His tone was calm but the word lacked any hint of respect. No "Miss." No politeness.
Just her name.
"That kind of thing," he said coldly, "can't you find out on your own?"
She didn't seem to notice the change in his voice.
Still smiling faintly, she asked, "Vice Admiral Ezra, what do you mean by that?"
A dangerous smirk curved his lips.
And the words that followed made Stussy's heart nearly stop beating.
"You're not CP0's intelligence officer?" he said quietly.
"If you really wanted to know... I'm sure you'd find your answer soon enough."
Stussy froze her pupils dilating in shock.
And for the first time in a long while...
the infamous CP0 agent felt utterly, completely powerless before one man.
_______________________
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