One Way Home, Chapter 20.

Chapter 20: What’s In Her Mind? 1.

—OoOoO—

It never occurred to Lucci that the first thing he’d see when he opened his eyes would be the blue sky with clouds swimming freely. Even in the worst disguise, he always slept in the right place, not lying on the hard concrete ground. Unfortunately, after being defeated and knocked down by the enemy leader, he didn’t have the luxury of choosing where he’d fall.

“You’re finally awake, huh?”

A feminine voice caught his ear, making the long-haired man automatically turn his head to the side. A beautiful woman in a soaked white dress was sitting cross-legged beside him with her hands supporting her body.

“Stussy?”

"I am," replied the woman.

The woman's smell of sea water was so thick that Lucci furrowed his brows. Although it contributed to his curiosity, it wasn't what he wanted to know.

“How was the mission? Don’t tell me you lost Nico Robin?”

A bitter smile appeared on the beautiful face, accompanied by a heavy sigh.

“We lost. Not just Nico Robin, but we lost everything. You can’t even call this place Enies Lobby anymore,” Stussy replied sadly.

Lucci's eyes widened, and his mouth gaped wide. He reflexively wanted to get up from where he was lying. However, every cell in his body seemed to scream for him to stop moving.

“Get some rest. Even if you push your body, nothing will change,” the blonde woman advised.

“Easy for you to say that!!”

Lucci screamed loudly, even to the point that his neck muscles thickened and fresh blood came out of his mouth. His breath seemed to pant, with his eyeballs almost falling out of their sockets.

“What do you mean, boy?” the woman replied, narrowing her eyes.

The long-haired man, who was bare-chested, was no less fierce in his eye contact. His gaze didn’t look away even though he was currently lying helplessly. Determination, no, it wasn't. His anger was what fuelled him to continue forcing his body even though his muscles felt like they were being torn apart.

“To you, this might just be another bad day at work. Moreover, you aren’t risking your life at all because I know CP0 like you would never want to work under CP9!”

Lucci paused his words, his breath starting to slow.

“But for me, it was everything. This life, this job, and this opportunity! I always wanted to be a part of something bigger! But with the failure to capture Cutty Flam and Nico Robin, coupled with the destruction of Enies Lobby. My dream is now gone!”

That was probably the longest sentence Stussy had ever heard from Lucci. The man who always appeared stoic no matter the conditions now let out all his emotions and frustrations that could no longer be contained. What he had built had been destroyed, and what he believed in had been lost. Nothing was left of the man but the darkness that began to lead him astray.

“You’re a skilled agent and always honest and sincere with your mission,” Stussy said.

Lucci turned his head, trying to look at the woman's face as she looked at the horizon. However, he couldn't see her expression clearly because of the bright sunlight that dazzled his eyes.

"I didn't really want to tell you this. However, seeing you so desperate left a bad taste in my mouth. So, do you want to hear my advice?" the woman asked, looking at the man still lying beside her.

“What? You mean you can fix this mess?”

Stussy shook her head slowly when she heard the question.

“What has happened can’t be undone. And what I’m about to say will not erase your sins and failures. However, there’s always a way to do damage control and save your own face.”

“You mean you told me to lie to the World Government?” Lucci replied with a fierce glare.

Stussy sighed as she shrugged her shoulders indifferently, feeling completely unperturbed by the unpleasant look her conversation partner was giving.

“You said it yourself, didn’t you, that you still want to continue being involved with something bigger? Besides, you must know that for agents like us, our existence is nothing more than a tool that can be replaced at any time. In other words, if you want to continue being on the main stage, you have to find a way to survive, whatever it takes.”

Stussy's eyes remained fixated on the destroyed Enies Lobby. The scent of despair could be clearly smelled from every corner, which even the sea breeze couldn’t drive away.

“With such a humiliating failure, being locked up in Impel Down is probably the cheapest price you can pay. However, if you can salvage your image just a little bit, you will survive, and most likely be able to get your revenge on the Straw Hats in the future,” the woman continued her words.

The flames of anger in Lucci's eyes seemed to fade as his breathing became regular. He listened intently to his interlocutor's explanation without missing a single word. His mouth opened, but he immediately closed it tightly, as if the words about to come out were swallowed back.

“What about you? Are you also going to make up excuses?” the man asked.

"Me? I don't need to do such things," Stussy replied casually, "From the start, I already told the Five Elders, urging them to kill Nico Robin instead and explaining why Spandam’s ambitions would most likely fail. Although I also share some of the responsibility, technically, this mission's main command is with CP9."

The blonde woman studied Lucci closely. Behind her friendly gaze, she learned her fallen companion like a hawk eyeing its prey. Although the man's reaction lasted only a moment, it was enough for her sharp eyes and instincts to catch a strangeness. There was a subtle unease that crept into Lucci's eyes. His lips twitched, but it was barely noticeable. That slight distortion, though subtle, told more than a million words.

And Stussy knew it was the perfect moment to exploit the doubts beginning to creep into Lucci's mind.

“Besides, I also have another more important mission that I have to do. It’s something bigger than capturing or killing Nico Robin.”

The veins on Lucci's temples twitched as he heard Stussy's words.

'Something bigger, she said?'

His hands clenched tightly. Even his palms were dripping blood from the pressure exerted by his nails. His jaw tightened, followed by the muscles in his neck thickening. Stussy's words triggered something, something he had longed for a long time. However, after working hard for dozens of years, he was still stuck in CP9 without any increase in status at all.

'Even if you think about it, how could a useless man like Spandam get his position, while I, who worked so hard, only ended up being his lackey?'

“Hey, Stussy,” the man muttered.

Lucci has finished with his loyalty to Spandam. Moreover, he also heard people around him whispering that the man was found dead. His journey as CP9 may soon be over following his failure today. However, his ambition, anger, and bloodlust continue to burn fiercely.

“Tell me, how did you get to where you are now? Tell me, how did you become an elite among elites?” the man continued.

Stussy smiled sweetly. Even her eyes seemed to be giving a similar smile.

“It’s not difficult, but it’s not easy either. Even among CP0 members like me, we have our own ways. One day, you too will find your own way and path. However, the hardest thing is knowing where to start, especially if you have just experienced a downfall.”

The blonde woman deliberately paused her words to get Lucci's attention to fully focus on her.

“Therefore, I will be happy to help you turn over a new leaf in your story. You just need to follow what I say, and after that, you’re free to do whatever you want.”

—OoOoO—

Enies Lobby was a majestic place, one of the symbols of the World Government's might that has endured for centuries. It was a stronghold with impenetrable defences, guarded by thousands of trained soldiers who were even ready to die to defend its legacy. Countless whirlpools served as a natural fortress that prevented anyone from entering the coastline of Enies Lobby at will. Moreover, with Cipher Pol acquiring the place as their headquarters, Enies Lobby has a deeper layer of defence.

However, every beginning always has an end. Something that blooms will surely wither one day, and the story that has been eternal for hundreds of years has collapsed along with the rubble that no longer shows the splendour that has always been glorified.

The sea of ​​fire that devoured every building on the island showed no signs of giving mercy. Corpses were strewn in every corner, and unclear body parts of who owned them were scattered. Pools of blood that had almost dried still left a pungent smell that pierced the spine. As far as the eye could see, nothing could describe the place other than a hell full of wailing.

“A thorough search and evacuation have been completed. For now, 6,203 are confirmed dead, 2,784 injured, and 1,013 others are unaccounted for. The current hypothesis is that those who disappeared drowned in the sea and were trapped in debris.”

A man stood with a piece of paper in his hand. His whole body seemed to tremble when he read the words written on his report. However, he tried to suppress his emotions as hard as possible, maintaining his professionalism in front of the Admiral sitting at his desk.

“How many casualties did our side suffer due to our attacks?” the Admiral asked.

However, the aide seemed hesitant to explain his findings. He even glanced at the female officer standing beside him but didn’t get the expected results.

“I am sorry, Your Excellency, but we do not have any data on that.”

“Buster Call is a high-intensity, indiscriminate attack. Just mention how many victims weren’t identified because their bodies were mangled or something.”

“That is….”

The officer seemed still hesitant to answer his superior's question. A moral burden and guilt made his words stuck in his throat. However, he forced himself to swallow his saliva and doubts roughly.

“We have not finished verifying it, but there are about fifty percent of victims who cannot be identified.”

Kuzan took a deep breath. Although he tried to hide it, his flat face clearly showed mental exhaustion.

Buster Call wasn’t just an ordinary operation used to eradicate evil. It was an attack that could end a civilisation and an era. Its massive attacks aimed to besiege an area and levelling it without leaving a single life. At least, that was the original purpose of the Buster Call operation.

However, what happened in Enies Lobby was not an attempt to fight injustice. They didn’t only put their opponents in a hell of despair. In fact, they didn’t even give their comrades who were still recovering on the island a chance to evacuate themselves. Worse still, let alone destroying the enemy, the victims who fell due to the attack were all from their alliance.

"I see, you can go," said Kuzan.

“Yes, sir!”

The officer saluted one last time before turning and leaving the room. Meanwhile, the long black-haired woman standing there all this time seemed unmoved and had no intention of leaving even though the leader had given his orders.

"And you? What brings you here? I don't remember calling you here," the man said, his eyes narrowing sharply.

Instead of answering the question immediately, the long, black-haired woman flashed a thin, meaningful grin. Her gaze was sharp, almost challenging, while her dark eyes radiated a piercing calm. The Admiral's pressure, enough to make people think twice before speaking, seemed to have no effect on her.

With a relaxed attitude, the woman looked at the man as if there was no hierarchical distance between them. Every movement of hers, from how she stood to her calm expression, implied that she saw them as two equals.

“What a bad day, isn't it?” the woman said.

Kuzan narrowed his eyes even further when he heard the unfamiliar voice. However, the face before him was unmistakably one of his subordinates.

“Who are you?”

Again, the woman didn’t answer the question directly. She deliberately played with the feelings of one of the most respected people in the Navy. Her expression, which seemed filled with worry and anger, made it hard to believe that he was the cold-hearted figure who had brought destruction to Enies Lobby.

However, she was forced to end her entertainment when she felt Kuzan's pressure was getting worse.

With a slow movement, the woman touched her face. Without hesitation, she pulled the skin as if it were just silicone. The action surprised Kuzan. However, his eyes widened perfectly when he saw the face hidden behind it.

“You’re… an agent of CP0, Stussy!”

“Should I give you some credit for guessing correctly? Well, but someone like you already knows who the members of my unit are, though,” the woman replied.

Stussy threw the synthetic skin with black hair on the floor as if giving a pretty gory impression if someone else saw it without knowing anything. Her free hand combed her blonde hair, which felt tangled because it was wrapped tightly by her disguise. As such, she turned her head to the right and left to untangle the blonde mane.

“You were on a mission to capture Nico Robin. And from the reports I received, you drowned in the sea along with one of the Straw Hats.”

Kuzan paused his words as he stared at the woman closely from head to toe.

“Though, you look like you’re doing fine, without the slightest bit of guilt even though your mission just failed miserably and you were humiliated by a rookie.”

Stussy smiled faintly while shrugging her shoulders indifferently as if she wasn’t bothered by the subtle sarcasm.

“As long as everything goes according to plan, isn’t that a small price to pay? Just like you. Destroying the entire Enies Lobby just to save two people,” the woman replied casually.

Kuzan's breath hitched momentarily as a tense expression crossed his face. However, the Navy veteran was able to regain his composure quickly.

“What do you mean?” asked the man.

“Don’t you have another chair in your room? Geez, you should be more considerate. What if an important guest visits you?

Instead of answering the high-ranking officer's question, Stussy played around with her words again. No, it didn't mean she wasn't afraid of Kuzan killing her. However, just by looking at the man's expression momentarily, she knew she had taken control of the negotiation table.

“First of all, you’re not my guest, but an intruder. Then, stop playing around with me. Even if you’re a CP0, you know I can kill you easily, right?”

"Oh, my. That's a frightening threat, Mr. Admiral. Please spare my helpless self!" Stussy replied in a fake tone and expression like she was scared.

However, a sly grin quickly spread across the beautiful face. It was apparent that she was mocking the man.

“Honestly, if you really intended to kill me, or at least cripple me, you would have done it a long time ago.”

Stussy said as she walked casually towards the desk. Her gaze was straight into Kuzan's eyes like a snake that had ensnared its prey. With a sensual yet venomous movement, the woman leaned her body over the desk, looking at him with her chin resting on her hand.

“However, the fact that you know who I am, makes you unable to act recklessly, right?” the woman continued.

In terms of strength, Kuzan was superior to her, and Stussy was well aware of that. Challenging the Admiral without any preparation was clearly the same as leading her life to death. It didn’t mean she could get out alive, even if she had made preparations. However, Stussy knew what cards she should play in every situation.

“I immediately attacked you with a deduction, where you sacrificed your troops to save two people from your own attacks. If I die right after I say that, it will put you in a worse situation after your failure. Moreover, you need to make sure whether this conversation is recorded or not.”

Stussy sighed softly after giving the long explanation. However, that wasn’t all she wanted to say. At least, the real conversation was about to begin.

“Please, rest assured, Sir Aokiji. I did not come here to threaten you or make an enemy of you.”

“I know you're trying to find an ally after your fatal failure,” Kuzan quickly replied.

After hearing those words, the woman's smile disappeared. However, her expression remained the same: indifferent.

“We're back to this point, huh?”

Stussy slowly straightened up, pulling herself up from the Admiral's desk. She took a deep breath, then twisted her body slightly to the left and right, stretching her waist, which was still stiff after her fight with Maki.

Without saying a word, the woman walked towards the round window on the side of the room. Her gaze was fixed on the landscape outside, on Enies Lobby, a once magnificent place full of authority. The superb buildings that once stood firm had now turned into a stretch of rubble decorated with smoke and shadows of destruction.

The sea breeze blew gently through the gaps in the windows, bringing a salty scent mixed with the ruins' dust. Her expression was indeed flat, and her eyes were blank. However, inside her, Stussy felt flashes of emotion and dilemma, which she had to always suppress as best she could just for the sake of her mission.

“You know what, Sir Aokiji? I’m very curious as to why you, of all people, gave Spandam the golden Den Den Mushi. It would make more sense if it was Sir Akainu. However, it’s hard to understand why you’re the one who took the initiative first.”

Stussy reopened the conversation while shifting the view from the remaining ruins of Enies Lobby. Her eyes stared straight at the tall man sitting in his seat. However, there was no cunning or deceitful gaze radiating from those eyes.

“I’m an Admiral. It’s my duty to take the best possible precautions.”

“And yet you let them escape even though you alone could freeze the entire waters of Enies Lobby in the blink of an eye,” Stussy quickly retorted, successfully silencing Kuzan.

The woman sighed and turned her body to face the man fully. With her arms folded across her chest, she leaned her body casually against the wall.

“Considering your nature and ideology, your actions were very contradictory. However, I tried to understand it from another perspective,” Stussy continued, “And that was when I remembered that you were also in the Buster Call operation for the destruction of Ohara. Interestingly, there was one person who survived at that time, and that was none other than the Devil of Ohara, Nico Robin.”

Kuzan narrowed his eyes as the blonde woman began to discuss his past. However, he remained silent, allowing her to finish her words, which made the woman smile at his understanding. Or perhaps it was just the Admiral's attempt to assess the situation before taking action? Who knows, but either way, Stussy didn't care.

“If there is one similarity, it’s the presence of Nico Robin in both stories. Furthermore, we also have Monkey D. Luffy, the grandson of the Hero Garp, who was also your mentor. If you think about it carefully, isn’t that reason enough for you to let them escape?”

Kuzan snorted lightly at the deduction and leaned back in his chair casually.

“Stussy, you’re just trying to fit something in, nothing more. Making a conspiracy to escape from your punishment.”

"Are you sure about that?"

“If I wanted to let them live from the start, I’d never have given the golden Den Den Mushi to Spandam.”

The defence didn't seem to bother the blonde woman as she just gave him a flat smile in return.

“That's exactly why you did that, Sir Aokiji," the woman said calmly, "No matter what happens, the open invasion of Enies Lobby will be punished with a Buster Call in return. Only then will the World Government not lose face in the eyes of the international community. Otherwise, the world will scoff if they don't send their strongest fleet, even if it's just a bluff."

Stussy stopped her words as her lips curved into a faint smile that was hard to guess the meaning. With light steps but full of confidence, she walked slowly towards the Admiral. Her eyes locked on the man's figure as if to strip him of his thoughts. The Marine uniform she wore as a disguise also rustled softly every time her heels touched the floor, sounding a rhythm that was almost inaudible and yet implied hidden danger.

Kuzan, sitting in his power seat, followed the woman's every move with a sharp and alert gaze. His eyes did not blink as if his instincts knew how poisonous her charm was. The aura Stussy radiated felt so thick when the woman was beside him. Her soft fingers touched the Admiral's shoulders, trying to disrupt his solid concentration. However, Kuzan was a veteran who wouldn’t be shaken by mere sensual temptations.

Stussy smiled at the reaction. Her prank was fruitless. However, she leaned forward, bringing her plump mouth close to the man's ear.

“If the one who carried out the operation was Sir Akainu or Sir Kizaru, it’s certain that they would not give Straw Hat any room to breathe. Eventually, their deaths would be undeniable. That is why you gave the Golden Den Den Mushi to Spandam. You need to make sure that the one who receives the mission is you, not another Admiral.”

Stussy pulled her body to give Kuzan some distance. She walked to the end of the empty table. Without any hesitation, the woman immediately sat on the table with her right leg crossed over her left leg.

“You sure have guts to say all that nonsense right in front of me,” replied Kuzan, trying to stay calm.

“Oh my, not this back-and-forth conversation again,” Stussy replied with a tired sigh.

Of all the responses that could be given, the woman was quite disappointed with what Kuzan said. Rather than confront her directly, he preferred to beat around the bush and stall for time. However, it was understandable because if his true intentions were revealed, the consequences wouldn’t only be stripped of his rank or execution. The people behind him, who supported all his political moves, would suffer the consequences as well, and it wouldn’t be cheap.

“If you still think I’m doing this to find a scapegoat for my failures, you’re wrong,” Stussy said in a serious tone, “Even if you insist on that idea, technically, I did propose Nico Robin’s execution on the spot, but Spandam managed to convince the Five Elders to capture her alive.”

“Then why?” Kuzan asked.

Stussy didn’t answer the question directly. However, she didn’t try to play around with Kuzan like before. Her brain was working hard to weigh the possibilities that’d occur. From here on, it’d be a gamble that could destroy everything she had built. However, if everything went smoothly, she’d gain an ally who’d be very useful in the future.

With a deep breath, the blonde woman strengthened her resolve.

“Because just like you, I want Nico Robin to stay alive.”

Kuzan's eyes widened as Stussy dropped those words. He had anticipated all the possibilities that could happen, but that one had never even crossed his mind.

“Don’t you dare play around with me. You even suggested to the Five Elders to kill Nico Robin on the spot,” Kuzan retorted with narrowed eyes, “Is this some kind of new trick to trick me into saying things you want? You agents are master con artists, after all.”

“If you want to stop the whole world from chasing her, wouldn’t the most effective way be to make her appear dead?” Stussy quickly retorted.

The blonde woman changed her sitting position. She lifted her right leg and placed it underneath, resting her left leg on top of it.

“I have been using all my resources to monitor Nico Robin all this time while completing various missions,” Stussy continued, “When I confirmed that Nico Robin had joined the Straw Hats and was heading to Water Seven, I intentionally spread the information anonymously to everyone, especially Spandam.”

Kuzan listened to the explanation carefully. His mind began to put the puzzle pieces together and got a rough idea of ​​where the conversation was headed. However, he remained silent and let the woman finish her words.

“Given Spandam’s nature and his personal project to uncover the weapons left behind by Tom the Fishman, he must be ambitious to capture Nico Robin alive to complete the puzzle piece he needed. That way, this case will be handed over to CP9 and prevent other agents from CP0 from participating.”

Even though they were in one agency, the secret agents still had egos and self-respect. When Spandam proposed a joint operation involving all divisions in Cipher Pol, CP0, the highest division directly under the control of the Five Elders, wouldn’t accept a mission where they had to work under an incompetent person like Spandam. That way, Stussy could reduce troublesome variables while she could be directly involved in the mission as a representative of CP0.

“Well, because you gave the Golden Den Den Mushi to that guy, I had to adjust my plans a bit," the woman explained.

“You said that killing Nico Robin was the best way to stop everyone from chasing her, but you involved Spandam who wanted to capture her alive. There’s a contradiction in your words.”

Kuzan emphasised his last sentence while glaring at the woman sitting at his table impolitely.

“That’s the best way, but that doesn’t mean I’m relying on just one method, right? Either way, I’m fine as long as she can stay alive.”

“You’re fine even though you have to take a rather complicated and roundabout solution,” Kuzan said flatly, "In other words, you're not working alone, are you? Or perhaps there's someone more powerful behind you?"

The courage and guts that the woman showed weren’t ordinary. Even though there was a significant difference in strength, Kuzan was made uncomfortable by her presence. If what she said was true, revealing all of that in front of him was a bold act, even though it could be said that the woman was also holding him hostage with the deduction she had.

However, an agent of CP0, even the best in her division, turned out to be a spy and dared to play around right behind the Five Elders. She was like dancing in the burning flames crazily. If one wrong move were made, her life would be over.

“That question, I will let your imagination answer, Sir Aokiji.”

The black-skinned man took a deep breath with his eyes closed, trying to release the tension in his body.

“Let’s say I believe you and what you say about me is true. Then what will you do? What is your reason for coming to see me?” the Admiral asked.

“Now, we speak the same language, huh?”

Stussy smiled sweetly while tilting her head as if there was no burden that the woman was carrying.

“Even if I don't admit your accusations, you’ll use any means to drag me into your game,” Kuzan replied with a small sigh.

“And remember, you have no room to kick me out either since I recorded this entire conversation. No matter what defence you come up with, the fact that you failed to capture a small group of rookie pirates will not change.”

“In other words, you’re holding me hostage, aren’t you? No matter whether your confession just now was real or not, it’ll ultimately be useful to attack me,” the man added.

Kuzan turned his chair and faced Stussy, who was sitting at her desk casually. His eyes stared straight at the pair of crystals, which radiated incredible confidence, even though the figure she faced was one of the strongest beings in the world.

“Fine, I’ll listen to what you have to say, Stussy.”

The man, nicknamed Aokiji, still couldn't fully trust the woman. As an Admiral, the opponents he faced weren’t only criminals who roamed the seas freely. In some ways, his greatest threat came from fellow officers in the Navy. Differences in political views, ideologies about justice, and visions about the future were reasons enough for people to try to strip him of his position.

Moreover, rumours that the Fleet Admiral would announce his retirement in the near future would practically leave three strong candidates as his successor. Those who dislike Kuzan would try to find the slightest loophole to prevent him from filling the highest seat in the Marines. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising if some people even wanted to kick him out of the organisation.

'In that case, I doubt they can deploy CP0 to trap me, but I still need to be alert. However, if what she said is true, then….'

“Tell me, what’s your purpose in coming to me?”

Stussy smiled faintly when she heard the question.

“It’s nothing difficult. I just want you to write your report according to my instructions.”

“Why?” Kuzan asked again.

“Just as it seems unreasonable to you how the Straw Hats could have escaped your grasp, I need to explain why I let Nico Robin escape my grasp, especially how I could have lost to a Rookie.”

At first glance, it sounded like the woman sought an excuse to cover up her failure. However, she was the best agent the CP0 had, and Kuzan wouldn’t ignore that fact. If her reason for coming to see him was only for that shallow purpose, she wouldn’t have bothered to record the conversation. After all, with the embarrassing failures experienced by both the Cipher Pol and the Marines, a conspiracy wouldn't hesitate to be carried out.

'Besides, I've come this far to save them,' the man thought.

“Once we arrive at Marineford, I’ll head straight to Mary Geoise to meet the Five Elders. Thanks for the ride, anyway," Stussy chirped.

However, the woman's expression changed in an instant. The cheerful and energetic face was replaced by a flat, tense expression.

“For your information, aside from capturing Nico Robin, I have another mission from them, a mission that even the other Cipher Pol divisions don’t know about.”

“And that is?” Kuzan asked.

Stussy snorted weakly with the corner of her lips pulled up.

“I can’t say. Not now, at least.”

“Fine, just continue with what you’re saying.”

Kuzan didn't seem too bothered even though his interlocutor was still blatantly hiding something. Even so, he wouldn't let it go that easily. After all, he had his own resources and intelligence network. They might not be on the same level as the woman, but he could rely on them to gather the information he wanted.

"Thank you for understanding," Stussy replied, closing her eyes with a smile.

“So, after I match the contents of my report with the report you’ll give to the Five Elders, what next?”

“For now, nothing.”

“Nothing?” Kuzan repeated.

“At least for me, I will not do anything while monitoring the situation.”

Kuzan let out a long sigh. He leaned back in his chair while massaging his temples.

“After saying all that nonsense, you say you won't do anything?”

Stussy shrugged nonchalantly at the question.

“Well, I’m an agent. Unlike you, I do not take direct action without any basis or order,” the woman said in defence.

“Okay, I understand.”

Kuzan adjusted his sitting position. His head was supported by his right elbow, which was leaning on the armrest, while his right leg was crossed over his left leg. His bored gaze signalled to the blonde woman to immediately return to the main topic.

“The Five Elders’ focus will be on Nico Robin and the other mission I have. Although my plan to take Nico Robin away didn’t go as I had hoped, for now, we can say that she’s safe. However, the most important thing is my secret mission.”

“You won’t tell me, and you say it’s the most important thing?” Kuzan asked.

“I understand what you mean. But as long as you match your report with mine, I’ll make sure to cover up your conspiracy today.”

Even though they had exchanged words for quite some time, the Admiral seemed unable to put his trust in the woman. His mind was still busy considering all the possibilities that could happen. However, having an ally who was an inside person of CP0 itself was a very tempting offer.

“How can I know you won't betray me?”

Stussy snorted softly, her lips curled into a slight smile. Her eyes were closed, trying not to show her amusement at the question. Her head was lowered, as if to hide her facial expression, which was starting to crack from the laughter that was about to burst out. Her shoulders shook slightly, indicating how hard she was holding herself back.

The atmosphere lasted a while, and the blonde woman remained silent to calm herself down. Seeing this, Kuzan felt his self-esteem was slightly tarnished. However, before he could complain, the woman raised her head again and stared at him intently.

“As long as you don’t stray from your path, Sir Aokiji, I will do my best to help you. I will be your eyes, sharing information that even Akainu does not have. But of course, I also hope to receive feedbacks that only you as a high-ranking officer can get.”

Stussy finally got off after sitting at the table for a long time. However, she left a small Den Den Mushi where she had been sitting.

“It contains important information that you can use if you want to remove Akainu from the race for the next Fleet Admiral position.”

“You think I need these dirty things just to defeat Sakazuki?” the man snapped quickly.

Despite the curt reply, the woman didn't seem to mind it much. She shrugged her shoulders indifferently, taking another silicon mask from her pocket.

“Well, just think of it as a token of gratitude from me. How you use it is none of my business.”

The woman appeared to have worn her disguise again, but this time, she chose to be an old woman, complete with wrinkled skin on the parts of her body that were visible to the eye.

“Anyway, please take good care of it because I have asked my acquaintance to modify the Den Den Mushi so that it can be used to communicate secretly,” she continued her words.

Kuzan stared at the object that Stussy had left behind, which was now in his grasp. No, he wasn’t tempted at all by the information contained within. However, the fact that one Den Den Mushi could’ve two functions quite amazed him.

For a long time, the magical snails were used to communicate by modifying their frequencies. In fact, over the past few years, new methods of use, such as recording scenes, sound, and even broadcasting, have been developed by utilising the basic functions of the Den Den Mushi. However, as far as he knew, one Den Den Mushi only had one use. In other words, whoever worked with the woman must not be just anyone, considering they could maximise two functions in one device.

'That's a big clue to track down who's behind it. However, I doubt she’d be this careless unless she did it on purpose.'

Kuzan pulled away from the unique red snail and looked at Stussy, who was already at the doorway.

'Is she saying that I’ve to come myself if I want to know who's behind her?'

“Oh, right, I almost forgot,” Stussy said as she turned around.

The two elites' gazes met, but the blonde woman seemed to deliberately delay her words. She smiled lightly, savouring her last moments of gazing at the Admiral's annoyed expression.

“If you want to fix your reputation after this, I suggest you don't take your eyes off Blackbeard.”

“Blackbeard? Who?” Kuzan asked with pure curiosity.

“A former crew member of Whitebeard. It’s very hard to track his background because he’s been living under the radar all this time. However, he suddenly left the group after killing Thatch, the Fourth Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.”

The man narrowed his eyes after hearing the familiar story.

“I see. So, he calls himself Blackbeard, huh? Wasn’t Fire Fist Ace assigned to chase him?”

“That’s why I said you need to watch him,” Stussy replied with a sigh, “Whitebeard is very careful about any information that comes out of his ship. However, I have heard rumours that Blackbeard had stolen a Devil Fruit.”

At first, Kuzan wasn't too interested in the topic. But, considering that the information Stussy brought would be related to the strongest man in the world, he couldn't hide his curiosity. Moreover, he didn't find any mischief or playfulness in the woman's eyes.

“So, you’re saying that a clash between Fire Fist Ace and Blackbeard is inevitable? Even so, based on statistics, isn’t there no chance for this Blackbeard to win against Ace?” Kuzan said.

“Do you really think it’s going to end like that?” Stussy quickly retorted, “For someone who’s been laying low under the radar his whole life and suddenly making a big leap, do you really think Blackbeard doesn’t have a plan to deal with Fire Fist Ace?”

The woman immediately changed her expression, giving a sweet smile to remove the tension that had been etched on her face. It was enough for her to enjoy Kuzan's troubled expression. Moreover, the ship he was on had started sailing from Enies Lobby.

“Very well. See you next time, Your Excellency.”

—To Be Continued—

Author Note: Hello, long time no see, even though it's not long.

In this chapter, Stussy takes the spotlight by showing her true purpose of being in Enies Lobby. Likewise, the next chapter will still focus on Stussy. Actually, I wanted to make this chapter and the next into one complete chapter. However, I had a high fever and was forced to be bedridden for three days, which messed up my pace.

Back to the topic. So, why does this chapter happen? First of all, I don't mean to complain. However, I want to say that in canon, Luffy and his friends managed to escape the Buster Call while Kuzan was there, which is a bit unsatisfying. Judging from the Battle of Marineford, Kuzan could have easily captured them at that time. However, why did they escape?

Yes, to satisfy my dissatisfaction, this chapter was born.

Well, that's all from me. What other tricks will Stussy pull in the next chapter? Stay tuned to find the answer.

See you in two weeks. Stay safe and be healthy guys.