Pleasure District.
The top floor of a hotel, a luxurious private room.
Daren casually flipped through the new list of Shichibukai candidates in Stussy's hand, a faint smile playing on the corners of his mouth.
There were indeed many new names on the list, including Gecko Moria and Dracule Mihawk.
Everything was going according to plan.
The only surprise was that Fisher Tiger was not on the new list.
But that was normal.
At this point in time, Fisher Tiger was not a pirate, but a legitimate adventurer.
The "selection" criteria for the Shichibukai were powerful Great Pirates who could intimidate other pirates, and Fisher Tiger did not fit that criteria.
He had never demonstrated any powerful fighting ability, so it was only natural that he was not considered by the government.
"So, do I have to go to Fish-Man Island?"
A thought suddenly flashed through Daren's mind.
If it were someone else, Daren wouldn't have cared so much.
But Fisher Tiger was highly respected among the Fish-Man race and had the strategic advantage of Fish-Man Island, the gateway to the New World, behind him.
Although the Fish-Man race had always been oppressed by humans in the original storyline, the Fish-Man warriors were still quite powerful.
Daren had wanted to obtain the strength of the fishmen for a long time.
Although the North Blue fleet had been successfully established and air superiority had been secured, he had not yet conquered the deep sea.
In this vast and endless sea, control of the seas was undoubtedly extremely important.
If he could form a diving force with fishmen warriors at its core, and coordinate with the North Blue flying fleet's air strikes... there would be no military organization or force in this sea that could fight against him!
Just thinking about it was enough to make one's heart race.
With large-scale air strikes by the flying fleet and underwater coordination with the submarine fleet, no army, no matter how powerful, could withstand simultaneous attacks from the sky and the deep sea.
There would be no need for boarding battles.
Before the enemy could even react, their warships would be sunk, and then it would be time to reap the rewards.
Even if one day they were to find themselves at a disadvantage or in a desperate situation, these two independent fleets could simply disappear from the world's view and exist as a deterrent force.
This... was the blueprint for hegemony that Daren had conceived in his mind!
"Let's go take a look first, Fisher Tiger..."
Daren mused silently to himself.
He put down the top-secret documents in his hands, raised his head, and couldn't help but smile.
He saw Stussy sitting restlessly on the leather sofa, her brow furrowed, smoking one cigarette after another, surrounded by smoke.
Next to her, cigarette butts had piled up into a small mountain in a crystal ashtray.
"You look worried."
Daren lit a cigar, his tone somewhat gloating.
Stussy glanced at him but said nothing.
However, her tense body was enough to reveal her anxiety and worry at that moment.
The Five Elders had their suspicions about her…
This was undoubtedly fatal.
Stussy had infiltrated the World Government and become a member of CP0 in order to gain the trust of the World Government's top brass and better protect Dr. Vegapunk in secret.
But now, the highest authority of the World Government had become suspicious of her.
If she didn't handle this well, she might lose her life and even drag Dr. Vegapunk down with her.
"I don't think you need to be so nervous. It's normal for high-ranking officials like the Five Elders to distrust you."
"It might even turn out to be a good thing for you."
Daren smiled, stood up from the sofa, walked over to Stussy, and sat down beside her, expertly wrapping his arm around her waist.
Stussy's body trembled slightly, but she didn't show the same resistance as before.
"What do you mean?"
She turned her head sharply toward Daren, her expression tense.
Deep in her eyes, she hid a glimmer of hope that she would find a way out of this predicament.
Her soft hand even subconsciously grabbed Daren's arm, like a drowning person trying to grab a lifeline when there was no one else around... She knew the chances were slim, but she still clung to the last shred of hope.
Stussy knew very well that if there was anyone in this world who could help her escape from this crisis, it was this despicable and shameless guy in front of her.
He was very familiar with this kind of political game.
Moreover, with his ability to play the unfathomable Five Elders like a fiddle, he would definitely be able to do something!
Feeling Stussy's grip on his arm, Daren smiled secretly.
Under normal circumstances, this woman would not be so panicked.
It was just that this matter might involve Vegapunk's safety, and she was so concerned that she couldn't see it at first.
"Don't worry, this is just their daily test for you. As long as the candidates on the new list don't get hunted down like last time, you'll be fine... No, you're even safer than anyone else."
Daren stroked Stussy's beautiful and charming cheek as he analyzed the situation.
His tone was calm and confident, filled with an inexplicable persuasiveness.
"As long as the Five Elders confirm that the previous list was not leaked from your hands, they will confirm that you are trustworthy, and they will rely on you even more in the future."
"This also means that you will have access to more secrets and confidential information."
"It's a crisis, that's true, but it's also an opportunity."
The Vice Admiral of the Marines looked intently at the queen in front of him, gently raising his hand and lightly brushing a few strands of hair from her cheek.
"An opportunity to take you one step further and completely enter CP0, no, the power center of the World Government!"
"Then, won't you be able to better protect Dr. Vegapunk?"
Upon hearing this, Stussy's eyes lit up.
Yes!
As long as she got through this dangerous situation, the Five Elders would only trust her more.
"Then what should I do?"
She blurted out subconsciously.
But as soon as the words left her mouth, she froze, her face turning red little by little.
Because she saw Daren's malicious smile.
This bastard!
The prerequisite for gaining the trust of the Five Elders was that nothing unexpected would happen to the people on the new list.
And the so-called "accidents"... weren't they decided by the guy in front of her?
She was being blackmailed again!
Stussy gritted her teeth, her expression changing for a few seconds, and finally, as if accepting the cruel reality, she closed her eyes, lay down on the sofa, and said fiercely:
"Do whatever you want!"