Could it be that her Three-Eye Tribe bloodline had awakened?
Before Stussy could think it through, Pudding had already kicked off her shoes and climbed onto the bed, using both hands and feet.
"Begin."
Tenma gave the order calmly.
Under Stussy's puzzled gaze, Pudding stretched out her small hand and slowly reached toward Stussy's temple.
Out of instinctive caution, Stussy's body tensed for a split second. But seeing Tenma right beside her, she forcibly suppressed her unease and maintained a stiff smile.
Is she… giving me a massage?
The thought had barely formed when a searing pain exploded in her mind. Her consciousness instantly snapped—then plunged into endless darkness.
Pudding's little hand froze in midair. She blinked her innocent, wide eyes and looked toward Tenma.
"I'd better handle this personally. It's safer."
Tenma withdrew the mental shock of his Conqueror's Haki and gestured.
"Go ahead. Modify it according to plan."
"Got it!"
Pudding answered obediently. Her small hand reached into Stussy's mind, pulling out a long strip of memory film as if extracting photographic negatives.
The Memory Fruit—terrifying beyond belief.
Not only could it read memories, it could edit, splice, and even fabricate them out of nothing.
Stussy's life experience was far too rich; completely brainwashing her was unrealistic and would easily produce logical inconsistencies that she herself might notice. Especially for a top-tier agent—any sense of dissonance would immediately trigger suspicion.
What Tenma wanted was a double agent, so Stussy's memories as a CP0 operative had to remain intact.
But at critical nodes, a slight adjustment was enough to shift a person's allegiance.
Thus, under Pudding's manipulation, fragments of memories tied to her blind loyalty toward the Celestial Dragons were quietly implanted with false "truths" of betrayal and exploitation.
At the same time, fabricated memories about Tenma were inserted—admiration, affection, and the unforgettable intensity of this night.
Imperceptibly, the object of her loyalty had been replaced.
Watching Pudding busily edit memories like cutting a film, Tenma nodded in satisfaction and patted her head.
This was precisely why—even though she was only six years old—he insisted on keeping her by his side.
Good or evil didn't matter. She followed orders, and her slightly dark, calculating personality was perfectly suited to his purposes.
...
The sun was already high in the sky.
Light streamed through the gaps in the curtains, landing on her face—slightly dazzling.
"Mmm…"
Stussy let out an annoyed murmur and rolled over groggily.
Suddenly, her eyes flew open. She sprang upright in bed.
The sheets beside her were already cold. The room was empty except for a beautiful maid standing quietly at the doorway.
As an agent, sleeping this deeply was a disgrace to her entire career!
And worse—it was on someone else's turf!
Yet strangely, an inexplicable sense of security enveloped her. The vigilance she should have felt simply wouldn't rise.
Last night…
Wasn't it that little girl named Pudding who gave her a massage, and it felt so comfortable that she fell asleep?
Stussy slapped her forehead in frustration. Too careless.
"What time is it? Where is Lord Tenma?"
The maid bowed slightly.
"Miss Stussy, it's nearly noon. The General is currently receiving the King of Germa in the audience hall. Lunch has already been prepared for you."
Noon?!
Stussy's heart jolted.
First, shock that she had slept so long—was this some kind of aftereffect from Tenma being too strong?
Second, the maid's attitude. She was directly telling her Tenma's whereabouts, which meant she was already being treated as one of their own.
She took a deep breath and quickly regained her composure.
"Prepare washing supplies for me. I won't be eating."
The intelligence side must be getting anxious.
Looking at herself in the mirror—her complexion glowing, her eyes brimming with springlike warmth—she looked like a flower that had been thoroughly nourished, her allure even greater than before.
Thinking of the man who had taken everything from her, Stussy felt her cheeks heat up and her heart race uncontrollably.
What was this cursed flutter in her chest?
Forcing down the strange feeling, she tidied herself and quickly left the General's manor.
Back in the secret room of Pleasure Street's branch, after dismissing everyone else and confirming there was no surveillance, she carefully took out a white Den Den Mushi.
"Buru buru…"
The call connected. Silence on the other end.
Stussy lightly tapped her fingers on the tabletop in a specific coded rhythm.
Tap tap… tap-tap-tap…
Soon, a matching sequence came back.
Confirmation complete.
"Elders of the Five."
The aged, authoritative voice responded.
"Stussy. What's the situation?"
Stussy inhaled deeply, her tone solemn.
"I did not fail your trust. I've successfully infiltrated the inner circle and gained preliminary trust. Further penetration will take time."
She knew full well—once there was a first time, there would be countless more.
A clear sound of relief came from the other end. They clearly hadn't expected things to go so smoothly.
"Well done! As expected of you!"
Praise spilled freely from the Five Elders' voice.
"This operation will be fully under your command. All CP resources are at your disposal. Once it's done, you will become the true 'Shield of the Celestial Dragons'!"
"Understood."
After hanging up, Stussy felt none of the excitement she had imagined.
The honor she once dreamed of now felt oddly hollow.
More disturbingly, when she thought of the plan to destroy the Skyborne Kingdom "once it was complete," a trace of resistance welled up from deep within her heart.
The very idea of betraying the organization frightened her.
Am I… going insane?
...
The annual revelry finally came to an end.
Guests departed one after another, every face carrying an air of lingering satisfaction.
News of Stussy not returning all night spread quickly. Many underground giants whispered in the shadows.
That aloof Queen of Pleasure Street had ultimately climbed into the General's bed for the sake of benefit.
Some envied the massive profits she was about to gain. Others coveted the enormous cake that was the Skyborne Kingdom.
With Totto Land combined with the foundation of Wano, this was undeniably the fattest piece of meat in the New World.
Of course, some left in dejection.
For example—Judge.
Germa's snail fleet quietly sailed away from the waters.
Inside the laboratory, Judge clenched a small piece of memory alloy in his hand, his expression dark.
He had traded his pride and his ancestral Lineage Factor technology… for only this much.
That world's strongest man had no interest in Germa's power, nor any intention of helping him restore his kingdom.
Still, with the memory alloy and combat suit technology, dominating the North Blue should be enough.
Judge could only console himself that way.
Little did he know, in Tenma's eyes, this bit of technology was nothing more than extra teaching material for the research institute.
As for letting Germa return to the North Blue—it was merely a casual move on Tenma's chessboard, meant to trouble the World Government and plant a nail in the North.
...
Time flowed on like water.
In the blink of an eye, the wheels of history rolled forward, and the calendar turned to Year 1512 of the Sea Circle.
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed.Part One is officially complete — and it's now available
Go check it out and dive into the full experience.
Claim early access here: [email protected]/voidink08
🔓 You hold the keys to bonus chapters:💬 10 reviews unlock 1 bonus chapter🔷 100 Power Stones summon another
🔥 Your power determines how fast the tale unfolds.