Stussy had completely given up and decided to go for it.
She lay flat on the high-end leather sofa, her hip-hugging skirt showing off her perfect curves, like a perfect painting slowly unfolding.
Anyway, this wasn't the first or second time this had happened, so she was already used to it.
What was even more ridiculous was that Stussy found that she had no physical resistance to Daren's lecherous behavior... She even found it somewhat... irresistible.
If she had to say that she was resisting, it was purely because she was frustrated that everything was being manipulated by that bastard Daren.
She would just have to endure it a little longer. Once this was over, with the help of that bet, she would be able to get rid of this bastard!
At that time, once she had pushed Doflamingo into the position of Shichibukai, she would be able to turn the tables and completely trample this damn guy underfoot!
Trample, trample underfoot...
When Stussy thought of this, she didn't know what kind of image appeared in her mind, but her face turned slightly red, her breathing became rapid for no apparent reason, and she was filled with the charm of a beautiful woman.
Her ten toes rubbed against each other involuntarily in her fishtail high heels, and the dry, sticky feeling lingered for a long time.
"Are you sure?"
With her eyes tightly closed, Stussy heard the low voice of the Vice Admiral in the Marines in her ear.
The words were spoken softly, accompanied by warm breath that brushed against her ear, making her feel tingly.
Stussy's body trembled slightly.
She felt that Daren was very close to her.
His palm, covered with thick calluses, slid across her cheek with a very light touch, as if a feather was brushing against her skin.
"Don't, don't talk so much."
Stussy didn't dare to open her eyes and gritted her teeth.
She didn't want to see Daren's teasing gaze, which made her feel inexplicably ashamed.
"Then I'll have to set up the Den Den Mushi first. After all, you lost the bet just now."
The Vice Admiral's amused voice rang in her ears again.
Stussy didn't say a word.
But her tightly clenched fists and red, burning ears completely betrayed her inner tension and turmoil.
Suddenly, there was a rustling sound.
"That bastard... He's actually setting up the Den Den Mushi to record..."
Stussy's heart was pounding, and her palms were sweating from clenching her fists.
She didn't expect Daren to be such a pervert!
Should she really agree?
But she had lost the bet...
However, if she agreed... This recording would definitely become a way for that bastard to blackmail her again!
Damn it!
For a moment, Stussy's heart was in turmoil, her brain was a mess, and she had no idea what to do.
As the Queen of the Pleasure District, she had been trained by the World Government and was well versed in the theory of all things related to pleasure. With her charming personality, she had seduced countless powerful and influential men.
She asked herself, what kind of situation had she not seen in her life?
She had never seen a situation like this with Daren before.
He was getting closer...
It was as if an image Den Den Mushi had been set up, and Stussy could hear the Vice Admiral's footsteps getting closer and closer.
With every step he took, her heart beat faster and her breathing became hotter and more rapid.
Feeling the masculine scent approaching, Stussy bit her back teeth hard, her whole body stiffened, and she even subconsciously held her breath.
The next second, she suddenly froze.
Because she felt a rough, large hand gently touch her cheek, and then...immediately withdraw.
"Hahahaha, just kidding."
"I told you, keeping my word is my way of life... I won't do anything to you until that bet is over."
The Vice Admiral's laughter suddenly echoed through the luxurious suite, then quickly faded away.
"Get some sleep. I won't let anything happen to you, my favorite toy."
Joking…
Joking!?
Stussy realized something and suddenly opened her eyes.
In the hotel suite, the figure of the Vice Admiral had already disappeared.
She was alone, sitting on the leather sofa, breathing heavily, her expression blank.
She had been tricked again!
Damn it!
Stussy quickly realized what had happened and gritted her teeth again, the grinding sound of her molars sharp in the air.
She had prepared herself for the worst and put herself in such a shameful position... only to be met with a lighthearted tease in the end!
What kind of joke was this!
Stussy clenched her fists, feeling an inexplicable wave of anger surge up inside her.
But she quickly came to her senses, and her expression shifted.
Wait—what was this emotion!?
What exactly was she mad about?
He was just joking... wasn't that a good thing!?
She hated that bastard anyway!
It was just that she had been forced to comply under threat!
And that perverted guy even went as far as setting up a Den Den Mushi—
Huh?
Stussy was taken aback.
On the coffee table next to her, instead of the image Den Den Mushi she had expected, there was a cup of steaming tea.
The tea leaves were a specialty from a small country in the New World, known for their calming and sleep-inducing effects.
Recalling Daren's parting words, Stussy stared at the steaming tea. For a moment, the resentment that had been boiling inside her seemed to dissipate, and her expression slowly calmed.
"Keeping my promises is my way of survival..."
"I won't let anything happen to you..."
"You're my favorite toy..."
Somehow, Daren's confident voice replayed in her mind, sending ripples across the calm surface of her heart.
After a long silence, Stussy pursed her lips, picked up the teacup, and took a sip.
It was bitter at first, but a sweet aftertaste lingered.
Subconsciously, she raised her hand to touch her cheek.
Her skin was still slightly warm, and the tender touch of that man's rough hand seemed to have left a trace that refused to fade.
Stussy's mood grew increasingly complicated.
Staring at the empty hotel suite, she felt an absurd sense of emptiness settle inside her.
"No, don't let that bastard fool you!"
Stussy suddenly slapped her own cheeks hard and gritted her teeth.
"He's just indulging in his twisted sense of humor!"
She set the teacup down, angrily clenching her fists, her vampire-like fangs slightly exposed.
"I won't lose that easily, Daren!"
...
New World, aboard a patrolling warship.
"Vice Admiral Borsalino, it's already been three days... Are we seriously going to keep circling like this?"
Arthur looked anxiously at the Vice Admiral lounging on a beach chair, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth.
Three days.
For three whole days, their warship had sailed the same route three times.
The ship's navigators had become so familiar with the path they could navigate it with their eyes closed, without even checking the compass.
Bored out of their minds, many soldiers had started playing cards and fishing on the deck.
Meanwhile, the temporary commander, Vice Admiral Borsalino, didn't seem to care at all, acting as if everything going on outside was none of his business.
Arthur had fought under Admiral Sengoku and served with many commanders before—he thought he had seen all kinds of commanding styles.
But he had never seen a commander like Vice Admiral Borsalino!
Three days!
He hadn't left that beach chair for three whole days!
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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