At the Golden City construction site, there was nothing that could be called scenery. Everywhere you looked, there was dust and crowds of laborers. Even without catching an actual smell, the air still felt thick with sweat.
That was, until Ortoren saw Stussy.
It was as if a delicate flower, utterly out of place, had bloomed in the middle of a wasteland.
Even the air seemed to freshen in an instant. What had been a domain of rough men and shouted work chants suddenly had all its attention drawn to her alone.
As a Navy Admiral and a major figure in the New World, Ortoren had seen countless beautiful women.
Even so, he had to admit that Queen Stussy possessed a truly unique aura.
She only had to stand there, and men's gazes would naturally be drawn to her. From head to toe, it was as if she was constantly radiating the charm of a beautiful woman.
In Ortoren's eyes, Stussy might not be the most beautiful woman in the world, but she was undoubtedly the one who knew best how to display her own allure.
From a distance, everything around her seemed to exist solely as her backdrop.
Today, Queen Stussy was once again dressed in her signature white women's suit. A lady's hat rested atop her head, the brim adorned with a single pink rose. Such a simple ornament, yet it blended with her perfectly, without the slightest sense of discord.
She stood at the edge of the construction site, one arm folded across her chest, a small handbag hanging from the crook of her elbow. Her other hand hovered lightly near her jaw, two slender fingers holding a lady's cigarette that had already burned halfway down.
At the tip of the cigarette lingered a faint trace of vivid lipstick.
When Stussy noticed Ortoren, she happened to exhale a breath of smoke. The thin wisp curled around her ear, lending her an almost dreamlike beauty.
She was full of subtle movements. The moment she saw Ortoren, a spark of joy rose instinctively in her eyes. Her head tilted slightly, as if she had been eagerly awaiting his arrival, like a girl in love catching sight of the man she adored walking toward her.
Then, that joy and excitement shifted smoothly into a hint of shyness. She took a light step forward, then stopped, carefully looking herself over from head to toe, as if worried that some tiny flaw might have slipped by.
Ortoren naturally appreciated beauty, and seeing Queen Stussy like this did make his heart stir slightly.
But that was all.
He knew very well what kind of person Her Majesty the Queen was.
"So much drama the moment we meet…" Ortoren thought to himself.
Still, he didn't dislike this kind of performance.
After all, Her Majesty the Queen only ever dotes on her dear brother.
And what kind of brother would dislike a woman this beautiful?
If Tokikake were here, he would probably already be completely ensnared by that overflowing charm, perhaps even pulling out a bouquet of flowers to confess on the spot.
Ortoren, however, enjoyed the show while keeping a firm grip on his composure.
A bright smile spread across his face as he raised a hand in greeting.
"Ahahaha, Ms. Stussy, it's been a long time. You're still as beautiful as ever. Truly captivating."
At Ortoren's side, Hina's eyes had already filled with caution.
She had been hearing Stussy's name constantly these past days, yet had never actually seen her in person.
Before today, Hina's impression of Stussy had been limited to labels like "top-tier agent," "strong woman," and "queen."
But with just a single glance, all of those labels were completely stripped away.
"She's a fox trying to seduce the Admiral!" Hina instantly slapped a brand-new label onto Stussy.
Stussy was clearly very familiar with this kind of guarded gaze. She noticed it the moment it appeared, casually swept her eyes over Hina, and then promptly lost interest.
"Just a little blonde girl with the potential to grow into a beauty."
That was Stussy's first impression of Hina. Too naïve. Probably fresh out of training, completely incapable of hiding her hostility or scrutiny. Perhaps she harbored blind admiration for Ortoren, mixed with some vague, possessive feelings?
It might not be love. It could be longing, expectation, or something else entirely.
In any case, with just a single glance, Stussy had already analyzed Hina seven or eight parts through. One really couldn't deny that she lived up to her reputation as a top-tier intelligence operative.
All of those thoughts passed in an instant.
From Ortoren's perspective, Stussy had merely glanced at Hina normally. In the very next moment, Stussy adopted a slightly aggrieved tone, her acting flawless, her expression tinged with just the right amount of hurt.
"Some men praise my beauty with sweet words, yet never take the initiative to contact me. Men like that are the least trustworthy, and the best at deceiving women."
Hearing this, Ortoren burst out laughing.
"And which man would that be? You're not talking about me, are you?"
Stussy nodded with exaggerated seriousness.
"At least that man has some self-awareness."
"Are you really talking about me?" Ortoren said with a grin. "I'm not like that at all. Ever since we agreed to meet, I've been counting the days and nights, wishing I could see Her Majesty the Queen even a minute sooner."
Stussy raised an eyebrow, a radiant smile spreading across her face.
"Words like that are obviously lies, but being praised by a Navy Admiral still more than satisfies my feminine pride. My mood is excellent right now. Seeing a handsome man and hearing sweet talk… I suppose I'll graciously forgive you, Admiral Benn~"
Grace and restraint were Stussy's true elegance. She knew very well that Ortoren was not the type of man who would fall for her charms. After a brief display of grievance, she smoothly reined it in.
It was as though hearing Ortoren's praise alone was enough for her to swallow any lingering displeasure.
Ortoren reached out and lightly shook Queen Stussy's hand.
During the brief contact, Stussy teasingly brushed her little finger across his palm.
Ortoren pretended not to notice at all. Calmly withdrawing his hand, he smiled and said,
"At last, we've been waiting for you, Your Majesty. With your arrival, Golden City finally has its clear skies."
"Admiral, you're still as amusing as ever~" Stussy let out a soft laugh before continuing. "Although the important figures in Mariejois have entrusted me with handling Golden City, I'm still new here and unfamiliar with many things. I'll be relying on your guidance from here on out, Admiral."
Stussy had never come with the intention of seizing control of Golden City. She had no interest in that to begin with. Moreover, as the head of a top-tier intelligence organization in the New World, even if Mariejois didn't fully understand Ortoren, she certainly did.
The Golden City project was said to be a cooperative venture proposed by Totto Land, in partnership with the World Government.
Yet after observing for quite some time, aside from the fact that Golden City was physically located in Totto Land's waters, she hadn't seen a single trace of Totto Land's influence.
Where were the Big Mom Pirates in Golden City?
Everything here revolved entirely around Benn Ortoren.
Even with orders from Mariejois in hand, she had no way of truly taking control of this place.
If that had been her goal, it would have been a headache, and matters afterward would have been difficult. Fortunately, she didn't care about that at all.
Before coming, she had already decided how she would handle things.
On the surface, she would put on a full show, becoming the World Government's representative in charge here. In reality, she wouldn't need to do much at all. She could simply act as a decorative leader, passing along information and progress reports that were appropriate to send back to Mariejois.
Privately, she hoped to become Ortoren's true ally, as an individual, not as a representative of the World Government.
Once merely a Vice Admiral, Ortoren had now reached the rank of Admiral.
Everything he had done in the New World clearly displayed his ambition.
Admiral was not his final destination. This man would never stop moving forward.
He might one day stand at the very peak of the world.
As for Stussy, she didn't ask for much. She only wanted to break free from all restraints and obtain true freedom.
That, surely, would not be too difficult for him.
...
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