Redfield's expression shifted slightly. It seemed he had caught onto Stussy's intentions. Just as he was about to warn Brook, he noticed Brook giving him a subtle look, signaling that everything was under control. Redfield relaxed, watching the CP agent put on her act.
Brook sneered internally. The World Government thought they could sneak a spy into the Hell Pirates? What a joke.
Even if it weren't Stussy he was dealing with, Antonio's Den Den Mushi-based Devil Fruit would have exposed any spy the moment they tried to transmit information. And with Redfield's unique Observation Haki, capable of reading minds, there was no hiding anything from them.
As Stussy continued playing for sympathy from Shakky, Linlin, and the others, Brook pondered how best to handle this blonde beauty.
Right now, the Den Den Mushi signals on Elan Island were blocked by Redfield's Rumble-Rumble Fruit. That meant Stussy hadn't yet reported the Hell Pirates' presence.
But the fact that she had been planted here meant the World Government had already guessed they were searching for Sky Island. They had sent Stussy in advance, hoping she could infiltrate the crew.
That also meant his hold over Sky Island in the Grand Line was likely compromised. If they had connected the dots, then Jaya and Shandora might not be safe anymore.
Brook made a mental note to warn Mortomas. Had the World Government confirmed the existence of Sky Island? Or were they just speculating based on intelligence, guessing that the Hell Pirates might appear on Elan Island?
The more he thought about it, the more complicated it became. He decided to stop overanalyzing. At most, he would have Mortomas send more seagulls to patrol the skies and ensure any spy's Den Den Mushi transmissions were intercepted by their own flying Devil Fruit users.
They would also stockpile a massive number of Dials to counteract any airborne Marines. If any fool dared fly up to Sky Island alone, even an admiral, they'd shoot him down.
And if things really got out of hand, well... they could always have Golden Lion Shiki relocate the Grand Line's Sky Island closer to the New World's Sky Island. Problem solved.
...
Brook turned his attention to Shakky, who was currently comforting Stussy. He glanced at the Memory Seahorse and flashed a gentle smile.
This woman was no ordinary spy.
In the future, Stussy would not only become one of the six major emperors of the Underworld as the Queen of Pleasure District but also one of CP0's strongest agents.
Her combat abilities were difficult to gauge, but the fact that she could use Shigan to snipe the Loan Shark King, Lu Feld, from over a kilometer away spoke volumes.
A woman with such immense potential—what a generous gift from the World Government. Brook wasn't about to waste it.
Moreover, Stussy seemed to belong to some unique race that allowed her to maintain her youthful appearance indefinitely. Thinking about her striking beauty, Brook couldn't help but find her "very criminal, extremely arrest-worthy."
"Miss Stussy, from now on, Elan Island belongs to the Hell Pirates. What are your plans?" Brook asked as he approached her, wearing a seemingly harmless smile.
"Captain Brook, you're my idol! Ever since I saw the news about you standing up to the Celestial Dragons, I've wanted to join you." Stussy's voice carried a hint of desperation. "The bastard who murdered my parents is dead, and I have nowhere else to go. Please take me in! I'll train hard and won't be a burden to the crew!"
She lifted her arms, flexing her delicate biceps in an attempt to show off her strength.
Fisher Tiger scoffed at her thin arms. In his eyes, real power came from fish-man muscles. But Brook knew better. Stussy was genuinely strong—being able to fire a Shigan that could pierce through a target from a kilometer away was no small feat.
Not to mention, despite her beauty, she had survived in the Underworld for years without being preyed upon. That alone proved her terrifying strength.
She had even addressed Big Mom as "Linlin" during the Tea Party, and the Yonko had happily accepted her gift.
Brook estimated that at her peak, Stussy would at least be at the level of an elite vice admiral, possibly even reaching the strength of an admiral candidate.
...
"Joining us, huh? That's not impossible. Do you have any special skills?" Brook asked, closing the distance between them.
Stussy's instincts screamed at her. Was she exposed?
"I can sing and dance!" she quickly responded. "And I'm really fast. A washed-up Marine once told me I have great potential in martial arts!"
She was trying to paint herself as a talented and resilient girl with great potential—a poor but determined soul.
Brook chuckled. "You said you wanted to join us because of how we took action against the Celestial Dragons. That means you hate them, right? Good. Next time we hunt one down, you'll be the first to make a move."
Stussy's heart clenched. Were these maniacs serious? They actually planned to keep hunting Celestial Dragons?! She needed to report this immediately.
"I..."
Before she could formulate a response, Brook's next words almost made her break character.
"Alright, here's a simple test to let you join the Hell Pirates: curse the Celestial Dragons ten times and come up with five ways to kill them. Easy enough, right?"
Brook's face was dead serious.
Stussy wanted to strangle him. If the Celestial Dragons ever found out she did this, even if she completed her mission, she'd be as good as dead.
"Captain Brook, since when do we have this test for new members? I didn't have to do it when I joined!" Fisher Tiger cut in excitedly. "But I love cursing the Celestial Dragons! Let me go first!"
"Those pigs are nothing but drooling imbeciles! They're dumber than a blobfish, uglier than a sea pig, shorter than a cold suckerfish, and more pathetic than a rotten hagfish!"
Tiger ranted on, using every fish comparison he could think of. Even Stussy had to gulp at his audacity.
Did she really have to do this?
"As for killing them, that's even easier! Crush them, strangle them, carve them up, drown them, or just whip them until they stop moving!"
Tiger was having the time of his life, seemingly trying to help Stussy pass Brook's "test."
Stussy clenched her fists. What the hell had she gotten herself into?
(T/N: Honestly, I'm a little confused as to whether it's possible for Stussy to be that old, but I've checked a few wikis and I can't refute that claim or prove it.)
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+122 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg