Chapter 143

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Stussy felt her heartbeat quicken as an inexplicable current coursed through her.

Being a sharp CP0 agent, she immediately sensed something amiss and quickly withdrew her fangs, leaping back to maintain a safe distance from Zyhark.

An ability user?

Stussy licked her red lips with her tongue, her eyes reflecting Zyhark's figure, her expression no longer as relaxed and disdainful as before.

Their brief skirmish, where she had gained no advantage, spoke volumes. If she continued to underestimate him as a newcomer to the Grand Line, she might lose!

"Be careful, Miss Stussy," Zyhark said, his hands gripping his swords with renewed strength. He didn't intend to give Stussy time to think and judge the situation.

After a gentlemanly reminder, Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri were immediately covered in the black sheen of Armament Haki.

The battle with Kaido hadn't led to a dramatic awakening of Advanced Armament Haki, but it had undeniably improved his skills and prowess as a swordsman.

No longer an amateur, Zyhark was now a true swordsman, even without the powers of the Goro Goro no Mi!

Now was the perfect time to showcase his two-sword style!

Zyhark's gaze turned sharp and domineering as he bent slightly to gather strength. In an instant, he charged at Stussy like a raging beast.

Moving at high speed, the two black blades drew arcs in the air.

Due to his incredible speed, continuous afterimages appeared around Zyhark, making him look like a swordsman cloaked in black.

"Two-Sword Style: Sixty-Four Strike Starburst Stream!"

As he reached Stussy, sixty-four rapid slashes converged, creating a dazzling display of blade light and a roaring shockwave!

Facing a fierce oncoming threat, Stussy unleashed her Observation Haki, trying to find a flaw in the barrage of strikes.

Too fast, it's too fast!

Stussy's pupils contracted slightly.

She wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but she seemed to catch fleeting arcs of electricity within the slashes!

"Tekkai: Kō!"

Realizing she couldn't evade the attack, Stussy made a quick decision. Her slender, seductive body tightened, becoming as hard as steel.

Clang!

The sixty-four overlapping slashes landed, mercilessly striking Stussy, producing the sound of clashing steel!

After the attack, Zyhark, now two body lengths away from Stussy, slowly sheathed his swords.

Click.

As the blades slid into their sheaths, a line of red shot out.

Stussy, no longer in her vampire form, wiped blood from the corner of her mouth, covering her white coat stained with red.

On her abdomen, two cross-shaped wounds lay exposed to the air.

Even as a clone and a current CP0 member, she couldn't escape the fate of being beaten while using Tekkai…

"Impressive. Such speed in those slashes—few swordsmen in the New World can match that."

Stussy turned her cold gaze towards Zyhark.

At this moment, she genuinely harbored a killing intent! For a resilient clone like her, such wounds were far from fatal.  

"Receiving a compliment from the Queen of the Pleasure District is an honor," Zyhark replied with a smile.

As he spoke, his body, now enveloped in electricity, appeared beside Stussy.

Before she could launch another attack, his lips moved as he whispered two sentences.

As a show of force to Morgans, the previous battle was enough. There was no need to engage Stussy to the death.

After all, she was still a CP0 agent, directly under the World Government. Making things too tense would complicate matters.

That wasn't his goal in initiating this confrontation.

Moreover, Stussy's true allegiance lay with Vegapunk, the scientific genius of the One Piece world!

If they could establish a deep cooperation with Vegapunk, the technological prowess of Meowth would reach unimaginable heights!

As one of the main power systems in the One Piece world, aside from Devil Fruits and Haki, technology was undoubtedly a significant advantage for their team!

In the long run, they might even develop cyborg technology compatible with King's powerful heart abilities!

Therefore, Zyhark would inevitably seek contact with Vegapunk.

Stussy might just be the perfect intermediary.

And those two sentences whispered lowly were, of course, about Vegapunk.

Hearing them, Stussy's raised arm froze, and her eyes widened in shock.

"I see. Now I understand."

The shock lasted only a moment before Stussy's killing intent completely dissipated.

Returning to her cold, fierce demeanor as the Queen of the Pleasure District, she ignored the puzzled gazes of Morgans, Aqua, and the others, casually dusting off her hands. She turned and walked away, heading back to the VIP room on the news agency's airship.

"Morgans, I can't handle this guy. You deal with him," she said, waving her hand without looking back.

Morgans' small eyes blinked with large confusion: ?? Did the Queen of the Pleasure District, who always killed without blinking, just let someone who slashed her abdomen twice off the hook? This wasn't the Stussy he knew!

Morgans wasn't an idiot. With a bit of thought, he made the most accurate deduction.

The young man had strength comparable to New World pirates and the means to deter Stussy.

And…

Morgans looked past Zyhark, his gaze landing on Aqua, King, and Meowth on the Endless Dream.

From the information he had, the blue-haired girl was likely a water-based Devil Fruit user, the fierce-looking blond man had the power to wipe out an island, and the talking Meowth seemed to use unique technological gadgets.

All things considered, this sea restaurant from East Blue indeed had the qualifications to converse with him as equals.

As a news agency capable of influencing the entire One Piece world's public opinion, Morgans had guards with strength comparable to vice admirals.

However, in this chaotic sea, having a powerful friend was definitely better than an enemy.

So, Morgans decided not to call for his guards. He wanted to understand the young man's intentions first.

"I apologize, Mr. Zyhark. As you said, we may have misunderstood the earlier cannon fire. I would like to know if there's a possibility for us to..."

"Work together?"

(End of Chapter)