Kuzan was still visibly excited, as if he'd stumbled upon some incredible secret. His eyes sparkled as he muttered to himself,
"So this is the secret to Daren's strength!
The Pleasure District! Why didn't I think of that? What could be better for recovering from exhaustion and revitalizing the spirit than a good fight followed by drinks and watching pretty girls dance?
I've got to write this down!"
Just as Kuzan reached for the notebook beside him, ready to record this newly acquired "knowledge" for future reference, Staff Officer Tsuru appeared in front of him with a cold, expressionless face.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru?"
Without a word, Tsuru snatched the notebook out of his hands with a scowl.
"Kuzan, this isn't some kind of secret training method."
That bastard Daren is just a hopeless pervert!
"It's not?"
Kuzan scratched his head, puzzled, then looked over at his teacher, Garp.
Garp burst out laughing.
"Actually, if you really wanted to, it's fine to unwind every now and then—"
Before he could finish, Tsuru shot him a glare sharp enough to kill.
A chill ran down Garp's spine. He quickly straightened up and corrected himself:
"—Absolutely not allowed!"
He puffed out his chest, putting on a righteous air, and said firmly,
"Kuzan, remember this well. That kind of thing only wears down our resolve and corrupts our spirit!"
Kuzan scratched his head again, still confused.
"But Vice Admiral Garp, that's exactly what Daren does..."
Garp's mouth twitched.
The others, upon hearing that, looked like they had just swallowed something awful.
"Ahem, Kuzan... let me put it this way."
Under Tsuru's death glare, Garp's brain shifted into overdrive. He straightened up, face serious, and said in a low voice,
"If Daren hadn't indulged in that kind of stuff so much, he'd already have reached Admiral-level combat strength."
"I see..."
Kuzan nodded in sudden realization.
...
While that little side scene played out, Sengoku was still frozen in place. The corners of his mouth twitched as if he'd lost his soul, completely oblivious to everything happening around him.
The Marine Headquarters had scrambled to prepare for battle, worried sick about Daren's safety. Sengoku himself had been running in circles trying to coordinate everything...
And yet that bastard had quietly slipped off to the Pleasure District for fun?
Sengoku's expression kept shifting. His fists clenched and unclenched. His eyes were practically shooting flames, and it looked like he was grinding his teeth to dust.
The other Marine generals, seeing his increasingly twisted expression, quickly tried to calm him down.
"Ahem... it's really not that bad. He's young, full of energy. Understandable, right?"
"Yeah, yeah... Vice Admiral Daren's been in constant combat. He just pulled off a surprise attack on Totto Land. Letting off some steam is normal."
"After fighting for so long, can't he enjoy himself a little?"
"Exactly, it's understandable, totally understandable..."
"..."
Everyone chimed in, trying to smooth things over. Sengoku's expression gradually eased.
He forced out a smile, gritting his teeth.
"Since Vice Admiral Daren is safe, let's stand down the military alert."
He turned toward Kong.
Kong let out a long sigh and gave a nod.
"Dismissed."
Everyone straightened and raised their hands in salute.
What no one noticed was—
At the very back of the group of generals, Gion, wearing her Commodore's cape, stood silently. Her head lowered, she was quietly wiping down her golden Meito, her eyes narrowing with a dangerous gleam.
…
New World, Pleasure District.
Luxurious private room.
The banquet table in the hall was piled high with a colorful spread of delicacies, rich in aroma and flavor.
Daren and Stussy sat facing each other at opposite ends of the long table, both now properly dressed.
Steak from the East Blue, red wine from the South Blue, oysters from Fish-Man Island, assorted seafood sashimi... every ingredient was high-end, clearly worth a fortune at just a glance.
Exquisite silver cutlery, fine white porcelain dishes, premium wine... It should've been an indulgent meal, but Daren couldn't enjoy a bite. His heart was in turmoil.
Who the hell would believe this?!
The famed Queen of the Pleasure District, Stussy... was actually a virgin?!
Daren wracked his brain, but no matter how he thought about it, it didn't add up.
It was awkward. He couldn't bring himself to meet the eyes of the elegant, poised blonde beauty across the table.
None of this made any sense!
Who the hell teaches a virgin to seduce men like that?!
That sultry charm, that teasing tone, the way she set the mood with just the right amount of lewd banter... If he hadn't seen that splash of red with his own eyes, he wouldn't have believed it for a second.
It couldn't have been some scratch or trick of the light—Daren could tell the difference.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Daren sat uneasily, the feast before him completely unappetizing.
How should he even begin to process this?
If Stussy were an experienced courtesan, Daren wouldn't have felt any pressure at all.
You're the Queen of the Pleasure District—it'd be natural for you to serve someone like me, right?
Besides, she made the first move—hell, she went straight to third base.
But a virgin?
Now that was pressure.
"What's wrong, Daren-san? Having second thoughts already?"
Stussy suddenly put down her knife and fork, then elegantly picked up a handkerchief to dab the corner of her mouth. She looked at the Vice Admiral with a teasing, half-smiling gaze.
"Well, this really is a surprise… Didn't you say you were the Navy's biggest scoundrel, Daren-san?"
"Ahem…"
Daren shifted uncomfortably and forced a smile.
"You… how could that possibly be…"
"Be what?"
Stussy tilted her head innocently, her eyes shimmering like ripples on water.
Daren's eyelid twitched.
".. your first time."
"Fufufu… What else would it be?"
Stussy let out a soft, sultry laugh and shot Daren a sidelong glance, her tone carrying a faint hint of resentment.
"Daren-san, you really didn't show me the slightest bit of mercy…"
She picked up a glass of milk, set it before her, then slowly sipped through a straw. Her red lips moved with such deliberate rhythm it made Daren's mouth go dry and his thoughts scatter.
Daren: …
She's doing this on purpose!
With technique like that, who the hell would've guessed she was a virgin?!
Daren screamed internally in frustration.
Even the seasoned noblewomen and queens of the North Blue weren't this skilled!
"Fufufu…"
Stussy seemed to relish Daren's awkwardness, covering her mouth as she laughed. Her eyes gleamed with a victorious glint.
Thinking back to how rough that bastard had been earlier made her grit her teeth.
But what infuriated her even more...
Even after half an hour, that wild, animalistic madness and overwhelming intensity still clung to her body and skin like an electric current… impossible to shake.
Stussy had never experienced anything like it in her life.