"Why are you all kneeling?"
At the front of the dozen burly men stood a thin man in a well-fitted suit named Ott, clearly their leader. His usual responsibility was escorting captured victims to the slave market, and he was used to scenes of fear and resistance.
Before he could finish his sentence, Lucien interrupted him coldly.
In the next instant, more than ten burly men dropped to their knees in a neat row, cold sweat soaking through their clothes as terror filled their faces.
Damn it.
He is a monster.
I misjudged him completely.
"This guest, no, this customer, it is all a misunderstanding," Ott said quickly, his voice trembling despite his forced composure. "Our backing is Her Majesty, the Queen of Pleasure. Please give us some dignity. We are willing to compensate anything."
Ott revealed their trump card without hesitation. In the past, simply mentioning that name had resolved every problem.
The Queen of Pleasure was one of the rulers of the underworld. The entire hotel district from zones 70 to 79 was essentially a hidden red light district, and nearly two out of every ten hotels operated under her authority. Anyone with even a little influence on Sabaody Archipelago knew this. Of course, she was not the only underworld ruler with businesses here, but she was among the most feared.
"Queen of Pleasure, Stussy?" Lucien said, surprised.
He had not expected to run into her territory so casually.
Stussy was not only an underworld ruler, her true identity was also a CP0 agent of the World Government, and she had close ties with Big Mom. He had only intended to save a few lost girls, yet somehow it had escalated into involving such a significant figure.
Was he simply destined to attract trouble?
"Yes, yes," Ott replied quickly.
"Is she on Sabaody Archipelago?" Lucien asked, exhaling smoke slowly.
"I do not know, but our boss might," Ott said carefully.
Years of surviving on the edge had taught Ott how to read people. This man showed no reaction at all upon hearing Stussy's name. That meant he either had terrifying strength or an even more frightening backing. In situations like this, passing responsibility upward was the safest choice.
Street-level criminals with strong survival instincts often lived longer for a reason.
"Call your boss," Lucien said calmly.
One of the burly men, finally able to move again, rushed out of the room without hesitation.
Five or six minutes later, a charming woman arrived, accompanied by three men in suits. Their posture and demeanor made it obvious they were managers or high-level enforcers.
Before the woman could speak, Lucien spoke first.
Her expression changed instantly.
With a dull thud, she dropped to her knees uncontrollably.
The three suited bodyguards behind her followed in the exact same posture.
Ott and the others felt their hearts nearly stop.
This was Lady Lilith, one of the Queen of Pleasure's trusted managers, and those three men were all formidable fighters. Yet now, none of them could even stand.
"May I ask who you are?" Lilith asked, forcing herself to remain calm.
She wore a red bandeau dress that accentuated her curvaceous figure, her mature charm unmistakable despite her current situation.
"Is the Queen of Pleasure on Sabaody Archipelago or not?" Lucien asked flatly.
Lilith hesitated, her eyes flickering.
Everything about this man felt dangerous. The moment Stussy's name was mentioned, he showed no fear. That alone made it clear he was not someone they could afford to offend.
"In situations like this, we usually prefer to resolve matters peacefully," Lilith said cautiously. "We do not know Lady Stussy's current whereabouts. Since we have offended you, please state your demands."
"Are you the one in charge of this section of Sabaody Archipelago?" Lucien asked, flicking ash from his cigarette.
"Yes."
"Then you should have enough influence," Lucien said calmly. "Contact the Queen of Pleasure and tell her to come here."
Lilith stiffened.
Lucien briefly considered how to phrase it. He needed a reason to draw Stussy out and make her his subordinate. If successful, it would place a hidden nail inside both the underworld and the World Government.
A fortunate gain born from coincidence.
"Just connect the Den Den Mushi," Lucien continued. "I will speak to her myself."
As soon as he finished speaking, the invisible pressure restraining Lilith vanished.
After a brief hesitation, she pulled out an elegant Den Den Mushi decorated with lipstick marks and dialed the number.
"Buru, buru."
Roughly thirty seconds later, the call connected.
"Hello," came a clear, mature, authoritative voice.
"Queen of Pleasure, Stussy," Lucien said calmly. "A CP0 agent of the World Government."
Far away, in the Pleasure District, Stussy's expression changed sharply.
"Who are you, sir?" she asked coldly.
"Come to Sabaody Archipelago," Lucien replied. "I am waiting for you. You have one day."
Without waiting for a response, he ended the call.
Lucien then glanced at the rows of kneeling men and spoke indifferently. Lilith was left behind while everyone else was ordered to leave the room.
…..
The next day at noon, the Queen of Pleasure arrived even faster than Lucien had anticipated.
Very few people knew her true identity. Those who did were usually either CP0 members or already dead.
This time, she did not come alone. She brought a colleague.
On the rooftop of the hotel, Lucien sat beneath a sun umbrella, sipping coffee while Lilith stood nearby, serving silently.
The sound of high heels and heavy footsteps approached. The rooftop door opened, and two figures stepped into the sunlight.
"Lady Stussy," Lilith said, visibly relieved upon seeing her.
Stussy ignored Lilith entirely, her sharp gaze fixed on the man seated with his back to her, legs crossed, calmly drinking coffee while looking into the distance.
"You actually came," Lucien said, setting his cup down as he stood and turned around.
His amethyst eyes locked onto Stussy, scanning her openly.
Though he knew her true age was far from young, her appearance was that of a breathtaking beauty. Golden, curly shoulder-length hair framed her face, a white rose hat resting elegantly atop her head. Her large blue eyes shimmered like water, her red lips soft and enticing. With a full chest, slender waist, and long, well-shaped legs, she embodied mature charm at its peak.
"How do you know my identity?" Stussy asked, her voice cold.
If Lucien could not give her a satisfactory answer, this encounter would end in blood.
Lucien did not respond. Instead, his gaze shifted to the masked individual standing beside her.
The attire was unmistakable.
CP0.
In the next instant, the CP0 agent vanished.
He reappeared seven meters away in a blink, a dagger already in his hand as he thrust it straight into Lucien's neck. The speed was lightning fast.
Lucien did not dodge.
Blood splattered across the rooftop as the blade pierced his neck. At the same time, the CP0 agent was lifted into the air. Three black thorns erupted through his throat, heart, and torso. Within moments, his body shriveled, leaving only his strange outfit behind.
Lucien tilted his head slightly and pulled the dagger free. The wound regenerated almost instantly.
Stussy and Lilith stared in horror.
They had clearly seen the blade pierce his neck, yet his flesh and blood regenerated before their eyes.
Even more shocking was the fact that Lucien had chosen to trade blows directly, killing the CP0 agent instantly.
That agent was at least Vice Admiral level, yet he died without any chance to display his strength.
A sharp sound cut through the air.
Stussy flicked her finger, her red-painted nail releasing a Flying Finger Pistol. The compressed air bullet pierced straight through Lucien's forehead.
Lucien could have avoided it.
He chose not to.
He leaned back slightly, took a step, then straightened again to face her.
A bloody hole pierced his forehead, revealing the scenery behind him, yet it healed within a breath.
---