Kalifa simply couldn't withstand that level of Haki pressure.
Her legs gave out, and with a heavy thud she collapsed to her knees.
Struggling, she raised her head. Cold sweat instantly soaked her back.
Her eyes filled with terrified disbelief as she stared at the seemingly lazy man before her.
"Le… Leno?!!"
Seeing the shock on her face, Leno felt even more speechless.
"No, wait… you only recognized me now?"
Kalifa's mind was in chaos.
She never imagined she would encounter this man inside her own room.
Wasn't Leno supposed to be imprisoned in Impel Down's Eternal Hell?
Then…
Had this bastard been released?!
And that suffocating pressure crushing her—
That was unmistakably Conqueror's Haki!
Didn't he only possess Armament and Observation Haki before?
When did he awaken Conqueror's?!
Questions crashed into her thoughts like a tidal wave.
She looked at Domino, who was wearing her clothes and clearly close to Leno.
Then she glanced toward the bathroom—where Nico Robin had just run back in.
In an instant, a "truth" formed in her mind.
She forced herself to raise her head and glare at Leno.
Her expression mixed humiliation and stubborn defiance.
"Leno! Give up! I won't submit! I will never become your captive plaything!"
Leno and Domino exchanged a look.
Both of their mouths twitched.
Her logic is inversely proportional to her professional skills, Leno sighed inwardly. Incredible narcissism.
"You're overthinking it," he said flatly. "I never planned to target you."
Having Domino and Robin around already made things lively enough.
"No!" Kalifa suddenly grew angrier.
She felt deeply insulted.
"Why wouldn't you target me?! Are you saying I'm inferior to them?! You must target me!"
Her confidence in her own charm was absolute.
Where was she worse than Domino or Robin?
How dare he overlook her!
Leno was stunned, completely defeated by her reasoning.
He waved a hand lazily.
"Fine, fine."
"Then quit CP9 and join my pirate crew. That counts, right?"
"…Huh?"
Kalifa froze. Her brain nearly shut down.
"Na—Nani?! You're a pirate now?! Why didn't you say so earlier?!"
"You didn't ask," Leno shrugged innocently.
Then—
His expression suddenly turned cold.
The previous laziness vanished, replaced by a chilling, oppressive gaze locking onto her.
"Choose."
"Offer me your loyalty and abilities…"
"…or die."
The final word carried tangible killing intent.
Kalifa felt herself standing on the boundary of death.
The fear was overwhelming.
As a CP9 agent, she knew Leno's former strength—roughly a powerful Vice Admiral.
Who could have imagined he would become this terrifying after leaving Impel Down?
She hadn't even considered betrayal earlier.
The Navy and Cipher Pol belonged to different departments but still served the World Government.
But becoming a pirate—
That meant true hostility.
Her heart filled with conflict and fear.
Why had the man who seemed almost calm moments ago suddenly become so cold and terrifying?
As seconds passed, the sense of death suffocating her grew clearer and clearer.
At this time, Robin had already come out of the bathroom, fully dressed, faint blush still lingering.
Seeing Kalifa's desperate state strangely eased Robin's mood.
She was already bound to Leno now.
And she was still a woman—
After being seen so thoroughly, what else could she do?
Her eyes narrowed, a faint mischievous glint appearing.
So this is how frightening Leno truly is, she murmured inwardly. Kalifa… now you understand what I experienced earlier.
Kalifa stared at Robin.
"You rescued the Devil Child too? Spandam, that useless idiot…"
That was the last straw for Leno's patience.
He began walking toward her.
Each step sounded heavy, striking her heart like a hammer.
Her body trembled.
Yet her pride was immense.
Even if she died, she didn't want to submit under coercion.
"You want to know how Robin agreed?" Leno said coldly. "I'll let you experience it yourself."
Before she could refuse—
His hand seized her throat.
Unlike with Robin—
He lifted Kalifa entirely off the ground.
At the same time, his overwhelming Conqueror's Haki suppressed her so completely she couldn't even struggle.
The suffocation hit instantly.
Her face flushed purple-red.
Death closed in.
The extreme fear and physical loss of control caused a warm sensation to run down her legs.
The faint sound of droplets echoed in the silent room.
Leno frowned, visibly disgusted, and tossed her onto the floor.
"Cough—! Cough—!"
Kalifa curled on the ground, greedily gasping for air.
Her eyes filled with terror as she looked at him.
Leno stared down coldly.
"You're an adult and you can't even control yourself… Robin didn't end up like this."
Robin, who had been watching with a faint smile—
Immediately froze.
What does that have to do with me?!
Kalifa felt the cold dampness beneath her.
Hearing those deeply humiliating words—
Every shred of pride and dignity she had shattered completely, scattering like broken glass.
Seeing her vacant gaze and lost expression,
Leno knew.
He had succeeded.
When dealing with someone whose pride ran that deep, there were usually only two outcomes.
Either they chose death over submission—
Or they were utterly crushed before him, their dignity destroyed beyond repair, leaving them no will to resist.
Kalifa clearly belonged to the latter.
She was a woman.
Such an unbearable scene had been witnessed by everyone present.
Her choices were simple—
Die.
Or forever lower her once-proud head before Leno.
And she did not want to die.
Not after feeling death so vividly.
"Domino. Robin." Leno waved his hand lightly. "Take her to wash up. Clean her up."
Domino and Robin exchanged a glance.
They stepped forward, supporting the nearly limp Kalifa, and led her toward the bathroom.
Leno lay back down on the bed and closed his eyes.
It wasn't that he was so lustful he'd take in anyone he saw.
Kalifa was useful to him.
Not only because of her secretarial talents—her ability to organize and manage affairs flawlessly—
But more importantly, she could serve as bait.
A lure to deal with the remaining CP9 members.
And to obtain the Devil Fruits in their possession.
"Garp" Leno thought coldly.
"You'll receive a grand 'gift' for the foolish decision you made."
—
Meanwhile, at Marine Headquarters—
Garp was laughing heartily, in high spirits as he trained his beloved disciple Koby—
Through yet another session of his "Fist of Love."
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