Stussy watched Giorno's cheerful grin with a blank expression.
Haiyna's earlier words echoed in her mind...
"I know you still have stamina, Giorno..."
"Jolyne Cujoh, you haven't been fighting at full strength from the beginning, have you? I can see it in your eyes..."
"Since you insist," the female agent suddenly smiled, partially removing her amber sunglasses and giving King a slight nod. "Then as you wish, Mr. King."
Putting her sunglasses back on, she walked toward the rubble pile, picked up the Seastone handcuffs, and turned to Giorno with a smile. "If you ever have time, you should come visit the pleasure boat."
Liam glanced down at Robin. "Captain, do I have time?"
"Maybe?" Robin raised an eyebrow, feigning speculation.
Liam looked back at Stussy. "See? I don't have time."
The corners of Robin's lips curled upward.
Stussy glanced at Robin, whose smile gradually faded. With a soft sigh, Stussy, still wearing Seastone handcuffs, turned and walked toward the still-standing Haiyna.
"By the way," Giorno suddenly asked from behind, "who founded the Pleasure District in the first place? Was it the Celestial Dragons?"
His words were met with gasps of shock from Rose and King.
"...!?" Stussy froze mid-step, turning back to lower her tea-colored sunglasses slightly, her gaze piercing Liam. "Giorno Giovanna, do you have no reverence for the descendants of the gods? I have a feeling you'll pay for this sooner or later..."
Liam muttered, "An old madam moonlighting as a fortune-teller."
Whether it was a misunderstanding or not, Rose felt an overwhelming killing intent radiating from the blonde woman's eyes. But Stussy ignored Giorno and continued walking toward the still-standing Haiyna, which relieved Rose.
Stussy fastened Seastone handcuffs on one of Haiyna's wrists. When she looked up, she noticed Haiyna was still staring in the direction the rhinoceros had fled, seemingly oblivious to their earlier conversation.
As Stussy led Haiyna away, Liam called out, "Hey! Redhead!"
Stussy paused, steadying Haiyna, and glanced back.
Liam asked, "Most pirates set sail with some kind of dream, right? What's yours?" He grinned. "Is it to build a massive harem?"
Haiyna shot him a couple of glances but ultimately remained silent. Soon, Stussy escorted her away.
Robin watched them depart and murmured, "Were Haiyna's pleas for help all an act?"
Liam pondered, "The shoe-licking part..."
Robin lightly chopped him on the head with the edge of her hand.
Liam leaned sideways, but Robin grabbed his hand and pulled him back to his feet. "Who knows if it's real or fake?" he said indifferently. "What, are you moved? Falling for her now?"
Robin glanced at him, raised her hand, and flicked his nose.
Liam grinned.
Rose chuckled softly beside them. Both turned to look at her. "I just think your relationship is so sweet..." she said, embarrassed.
Robin released her grip, and Liam collapsed to the ground with a loud thud, howling in pain.
King broke out in a cold sweat at the sight.
Robin glanced sideways. The Black Battle Armor stood nearby, stroking its chin in thought. It hadn't managed to catch Liam in time either.
'Don't you think we've forgotten something?' it said.
Robin suddenly remembered. "Inside the City Fortress..."
When Rose and the others looked at the Den Den Mushi City Fortress, they saw several levels packed with crowds. Many had already fainted from the crush, the stale air, and the intense emotions.
On the sea, aboard a ship, in a cabin.
"The Land of Women," Haiyna murmured, her Seastone-cuffed hands resting on the table as she gazed out the porthole at the receding sea.
Stussy, who was brewing tea, looked up in confusion. "What was that?"
Haiyna continued to watch the undulating waves. "When I first set sail, my dream was to find the Land of Women."
Stussy stirred her tea with a silver spoon, her expression unreadable.
"When I was nine, my mother abandoned me, convinced I was a monster afflicted with a strange illness—because I liked girls." Haiyna's face remained impassive. "From that moment on, I resolved to find the legendary Land of Women. It must exist somewhere on the Sea..."
"Hold on," Stussy interrupted, sliding a cup of tea across the table with a hiss. "Why are you telling me all this now?"
Haiyna chuckled. "Would you rather I told that little pervert? No way."
Stussy picked up her own cup and leaned back in her chair, steam curling from the tea. "Fair enough."
Haiyna strained to lift her cup with her Seastone-cuffed hand, took a small sip, and quickly set it back down.
Stussy set down her teacup and pulled out a cigarette case. "Why did you stop talking?"
"I suddenly lost interest..." Haiyna watched Stussy, her alluring red lips holding a slender cigarette. "You're still such a buzzkill."
"My apologies," Stussy said, lighting the cigarette and exhaling a soft puff of smoke. "As for the Land of Women... it's located in the Calm Belt. Giorno and Jolyne, during those years they disappeared, were actually hiding on Kuja Island, the Land of Women. They even learned powerful Haki while they were there..."
Haiyna stared at the steaming surface of her teacup. "Will I be executed?" she asked suddenly.
Blue smoke curled around Stussy's slender fingers as she held the cigarette. She knew Haiyna wasn't asking out of fear of death. "You're one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."
"A captured Warlord," Haiyna corrected.
"Still a Warlord," Stussy said, exhaling smoke. "Until the World Government officially announces your dismissal, you remain one of the Seven Warlords."
Haiyna smiled. "The Shichibukai were defeated by pirates. Is that really okay?"
Stussy exhaled a plume of smoke. "I defeated you."
Haiyna chuckled. "Giorno must be furious with you. He was so desperate to defeat me, working so hard."
"...Heh, yeah." Stussy smiled silently, then shot Haiyna a sharp glance. "You have time to worry about others?"
Haiyna gazed out the window at the sea, her voice soft. "Those four are actually quite strong. Even without me, they'll be fine..."
Stussy took another drag of her cigarette. "I wasn't talking about them. I meant you."
Haiyna turned her gaze back to Stussy.
Stussy blew out a puff of smoke. "Impel Down. Probably."
Haiyna showed no emotion, her expression barely changing. "How many levels does the Great Prison have?"
"Five," Stussy replied.
"Which level will I be on?" Haiyna asked.
Stussy crushed her cigarette.
"The sixth level."
(End of This Chapter)
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