"Ah~ Since you're being so forward, I won't bother being polite then. Whatever issues you have, we'll talk about them after you wake up."
Peter said this as he suddenly lifted her by the neck, choking her. Stussy panicked instantly, struggling frantically to break free.
"Wait, I… I apologize, just let me go first!"
The next day, Alpha awoke.
When she first opened her eyes, all she saw was a blurry, dim world lit only by a faint flicker.
As her senses returned, she realized she was confined in an extremely suffocating environment.
The space around her was no more than eight square meters, most of it taken up by a bed.
In the corner was a crude toilet and a simple showerhead. A lone oil lamp swayed gently, casting a faint glow across the room.
"Where am I? How did I end up here?!"
Startled, Alpha bolted upright on the bed, her eyes sweeping around cautiously as she tried to recall what happened before she lost consciousness.
The bitter memory came back at once—the moment Stussy ambushed her and knocked her out.
Rage, born from betrayal, erupted in her heart. She slammed her fist against the bed and shouted in fury:
"Stussy! You traitor! You vile wretch!
The World Government won't forgive you for this. Just wait for the endless hunt from CP!"
Leaping off the bed, she screamed as she pounded violently against the sealed door.
She considered breaking it down with force, but no matter how she tried—even using Rokushiki techniques—the door and walls wouldn't budge an inch.
Exhausted and panting heavily, she wiped the sweat from her brow and stopped.
"H–How… how can this be?! Could this place actually be built from Seastone?!"
She couldn't believe anyone would be so extravagant, but after catching her breath, she prepared to try again.
Before she could act, however, the door swung open from the outside.
The moment Peter entered, a black shadow lunged at him. He merely raised a brow, caught the oncoming finger, and twisted it lightly, drawing a sharp cry of pain from Alpha.
Minutes later, as she clutched her finger, glaring at him with both hatred and caution, Peter sneered:
"Come now, don't look at me like that. Yesterday you were so proactive, yet today you drop the act and come straight for my life? Why not try seducing me again? Who knows—I might fall into your trap, and in the middle of our play you could succeed in killing me."
Alpha's face twisted with anger and disgust as she spat:
"Don't dream of it! My identity's already exposed, so the mission means nothing now. Continuing would only be humiliation at your hands, you bastard!"
"Tsk, such a rigid mind. You don't understand flexibility, or compromise for survival. That's why you're stuck in CP8 and never rose to your sister's level in CP9."
Peter's words dripped with disdain.
"You're delusional! CP8 and CP9 are equal—there's no difference between them!" Alpha shot back.
"Oh really? Even you don't believe that. Otherwise, why is CP9 more secret than CP1 through CP8—so much so that no one even knows of its existence?"
Alpha stammered, unable to respond.
"Enough. I didn't come here to debate ranks," Peter cut her off, then continued with a colder tone:
"I heard your last mission failed, right? And this one too—meaning you've failed twice in a row.
I may not be with the Government, but I know how ruthless it is.
When someone fails twice… what do you think happens to them?
Executed as a warning to the next generation?
Or sold off to those filthy Celestial Dragons as a pet?
Which fate do you think awaits you?"
With every word, Alpha's face grew paler.
She had been raised harshly by the Government and knew its cruelty better than anyone.
Indeed, CP8 held little value—at least in the eyes of the Gorosei. Nothing Peter said was impossible.
Seeing her shaken, Peter pressed further:
"Join me. Be my woman. You know Mihawk's strength, yet I defeated him easily. That means my power is far beyond a bounty of 1.3 billion. Even the Gorosei couldn't take you from me. Staying by my side is your only chance to live."
Alpha's eyes welled with tears, her heart wavering, yet she shouted stubbornly:
"D–D–Dream on!!!
Ever since I joined CP, I've been prepared to sacrifice myself for the World Government! How could I betray it because of your cheap words, and follow a wanted criminal?!
Never! I'll never agree!!!"
"Really… your legs are shaking from fear, yet you still talk so big."
Peter glanced at her trembling legs, shook his head indifferently, and turned to leave.
Before closing the door, he left her with final words:
"Think carefully. Your life belongs to you, and death is the end. I'll give you three days to reconsider."
The door shut, leaving Alpha alone.
She collapsed weakly to the ground, biting her lip in torment.
"What should I choose? To die for the Government… or believe that man and live in shame…?"
But in truth, the moment she chose not to kill herself after failing her mission, her answer had already been decided.
After leaving Alpha's cell, Peter went straight to Kalifa's.
He opened the door—another black shadow lunged.
He caught her long leg mid-kick and remarked mockingly:
"Sisters indeed… even your greetings are the same."
Kalifa's face burned red as she snapped:
"Let go of me! This is harassment!"
"But you're the one who kicked first."
Still, he released her leg—but not before running his hand lightly over her black stocking.
She recoiled instantly, her face blazing with shame, though the small cell gave her little room to retreat.
Peter sat on the bed, smiling, and patted the space beside him.
"Come, sit. Let's talk calmly."
But Kalifa wasn't fooled. Adjusting her glasses, she replied with a cold smile:
"Forget it. I'm not like those fools. I've never failed a mission, and I don't idolize any so-called famous doctors. Your tricks won't work on me."
"Oh? You actually figured it out? A cautious woman—that I like."
Something in his tone felt off to her, though she couldn't pinpoint what.
Peter went on:
"I heard you were once secretary to Iceburg, mayor of Water 7. Did he know you were a member of CP9? I doubt it. He probably still thinks you just took a temporary leave. I bet your plan was to finish this mission, then return to him as a spy, wasn't it?"
Kalifa's expression froze, just like her sister's earlier.
"Now imagine if I exposed your identity as CP9, and revealed that the Government was secretly watching Iceburg to steal the Pluton blueprints.
Do you think Morgans would keep that quiet?
Or would the Government silence you, sending your colleagues to assassinate you?"
A chill ran down Kalifa's spine, cold sweat beading on her back.
"How… how does he know all this? Did Stussy betray me?
But everything he says is possible… this is exactly how the Government operates…"
She knew its darkness all too well.
Even geniuses like Foksy Vaz—once as talented as Rob Lucci—were discarded after failure, imprisoned, and nearly erased. He had only survived by escaping and becoming a pirate.
If that was his fate, then what of her? Surely her life meant less than the Government's reputation.
Kalifa's heart trembled, her earlier composure crumbling.
"Please… please, don't expose me!"
Peter grinned, showing off his white teeth.
"Too late. I've already sent the news to Morgans."
Kalifa exploded with rage, screaming and cursing, while Peter covered his ears, pretending not to hear.
Humming, he left the cell, tossing one last line over his shoulder:
"I'll give you three days to decide… will you join me?"
As he shut the door, satisfaction spread across his face.
"With the sisters in my grasp, only Stussy remains… she's the trickiest of the three.
Well… if she agrees, good. If not, locking her in a cell won't be bad either."
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