The grand banquet hall was now a scene of utter disarray.
Shreds of an exquisite purple fishtail gown lay scattered across the floor, mingled with fragments of a glittering diamond necklace. The air was thick with the mixed scents of perfume and spilled gourmet dishes.
Daren buttoned his crisp suit jacket, a freshly lit cigar between his lips, adjusting his tie in the reflection of the floor-to-ceiling glass.
Once he finished tidying up, he exhaled with satisfaction, feeling completely refreshed. Turning around, his gaze fell on the graceful figure sprawled across the banquet table. A smirk of amusement tugged at the corners of his mouth.
"So, my Queen... What do you think of this 'Giant's Body' I trained just for you?"
Stussy's delicate form was still trembling slightly. Her once-perfect hairstyle was in complete disarray, clinging damply to her sweat-slicked forehead. Her face remained flushed, eyes glazed and dazed.
"Y-You... bastard..."
She muttered weakly, her voice barely audible.
Her long black bat wings were folded tightly against her back, her vampire fangs still faintly visible, and the limp black devil's tail hung down over the table's edge.
"Oh? Still got some spirit left in you?"
Daren strolled over with a grin, reaching out to gently stroke her cheek.
The instant his rough fingers brushed her skin, Stussy trembled again, as if jolted.
"You know, that's not what you were calling me just a moment ago."
Daren teased, his smile growing wider.
"Wanna say it again?"
Stussy's cheeks instantly turned crimson.
"I-I won't..."
"Really? Well then..."
With a feigned sigh, Daren reached down, carefully removed one of her peep-toe heels, and cupped her smooth, delicate foot in his palm.
With his other hand, he pinched her tail.
Stussy's pupils quivered.
"N-No..."
She turned her face away, unable to meet his teasing gaze. Swallowing her shame, she murmured softly under her breath,
"M-Master."
Her voice was like liquid velvet—gentle, seductive, and utterly intoxicating.
Daren burst into hearty laughter.
In that moment, an overwhelming sense of triumph surged through him.
...
In the adjacent private banquet lounge.
Senor stood frozen, barely daring to breathe as his young master's expression grew darker by the minute.
Five hours.
They'd been sitting there waiting for five full hours.
Ten fruit platters, four bottles of red wine, a mountain of cigarette butts in the ashtray, and between the two of them, eight trips to the restroom.
Senor had watched it all—watched his young master's mood shift from amused patience to simmering frustration, and now to a brooding, dangerous silence.
He knew full well: Doflamingo was not someone known for his patience.
If the one they were waiting on weren't Daren-sama, his young master would have already torn the entire building apart.
But the look on Doflamingo's face now made it clear—he was right at the edge.
Senor felt cold sweat forming at the back of his neck.
And just then—
The door to the lounge creaked open.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Doffy."
A tall, imposing figure strode in, a cigar between his teeth and a smug grin on his face. It was Daren.
Senor recognized that expression all too well.
The Donquixote family also ran their fair share of pleasure businesses—though nowhere near the scale of the Pleasure District, they still ranked among the top in the New World. As an executive, Senor had been involved in managing those operations and knew the look of a man walking out of such a place.
That face of Daren's—filled with a certain pride and smug satisfaction—was unmistakable. It was a look only men understood.
What the hell...
Instinctively, Senor turned his eyes to the woman behind Daren.
There stood Stussy—the Underworld's shadow empress, the Queen of the Pleasure District—now dressed in an elegant black gown that accentuated her graceful curves. Her golden hair hung loosely, and on her feet were a pair of diamond-encrusted peep-toe heels.
Senor quickly noticed the flush in her cheeks, the faint daze in her eyes, and the unnatural sway in her step.
Did she get hurt? Was it a failed negotiation that led to a fight between her and Daren-san...?
He quickly reached his own conclusion.
"You must've waited a while, Doffy. Apologies. The Queen and I were... deep in discussion. I lost track of time."
Daren dropped into the leather sofa and poured himself a glass of wine.
Stussy followed quietly, settling down on the opposite end, her face calm and composed—on the surface, at least.
"But we did manage to reach a final agreement."
Daren raised his glass toward Doflamingo with a cheerful smile.
"The generous Queen here is willing to gift you 30% of the Pleasure District's shares. A show of good faith to kick off long-term cooperation with the Donquixote family."
Doflamingo was stunned.
Daren's words landed like a pleasant surprise, instantly blowing away his simmering irritation.
He glanced at Stussy.
Stussy was seething inside, but all she could do was force a polite smile.
"Indeed. Daren-san will serve as a witness to our alliance."
"Fufufufu... so that's how it is."
Doflamingo blinked, then chuckled with satisfaction.
"Then I must thank Her Majesty for her generosity."
He poured a glass of wine for Stussy and raised his own.
"To Godfather Daren-sama and Her Majesty—may your friendship be everlasting!"
He downed it in one gulp.
Daren mirrored the motion, clinking his glass with Stussy's and giving her that damn smug look.
Stussy nearly ground her molars to dust, but she forced herself to raise her glass, clink it hard against his, and chug the whole thing in one go.
...
Half an hour later.
In a luxury suite atop the hotel.
"Have they left?" Stussy asked coldly, staring down at her kneeling subordinate.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The man in the black suit tried hard to suppress his excitement.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty. Not only did you successfully subdue Rogers Daren, but you also forged a partnership with the Donquixote family."
"Truly, your foresight and brilliance never cease to amaze me!"
He had seen it.
The look on the Vice Admiral's face as he left the banquet hall—full of satisfaction. The exact same expression those poor fools had worn after Stussy erased their memories in the past.
As for the 30% of the Pleasure District? It had to be part of Stussy's plan!
She must've offered a portion of the business to lull Doflamingo into complacency, win his trust, and then, when the time was right—devour the Donquixote family's operations in one clean sweep.
She had used this tactic more than once, and it had always worked.
"Get out."
A cold voice snapped him from his thoughts.
"Pardon, Your Majesty?"
He looked up in confusion.
Only to see Stussy's face dark as ice, her gaze murderous.
"I said... get out!"
The man paled and fled the room at once.
Outside, he leaned against the wall, gasping for breath, his face pale.
"What... what's wrong with Her Majesty?"
"Isn't everything going exactly according to plan?"
...
Inside the suite.
Stussy took a long drag of her cigarette, her expression shifting unpredictably.
One moment cold as frost, the next flushed with shame. Her legs fidgeted restlessly.
At one point...
She slowly reached down and lifted the hem of her black dress.
Higher and higher—from her shapely calves to her slender knees—until, faintly visible on the smooth, pale skin of her thigh, was a drawn "正 (I am rightly yours)" mark.
In her mind, the Vice Admiral's low, magnetic voice echoed again, laced with an almost unnatural charm.
"Don't let me find out you washed it off... or you'll be severely punished..."
Stussy's face went crimson. She crushed the cigarette with her bare fingers and growled through clenched teeth.
"What a vulgar, filthy, shameless bastard!!"
"Daren... just you wait!!"