Chapter 70: The Queen's Invitation
However...
Even though she was adept at navigating both the underworld and the surface, there was one person to whom she held absolute loyalty: the great scientist who had brought her into this world through the MADS cloning experiment... Dr. Vegapunk!
Her complex web of identities greatly increased the significance of this invitation. For a moment, Ian couldn't even discern which identity Stussy was acting under, or what orders she might have received, in her attempt to approach him.
Tsk, tsk, tsk. This doesn't look like an ordinary dance invitation at all! Ian flicked the card with his finger, lost in thought.
"Maybe it really is our Major General Ian," Peacock teased with a laugh. "You have such a charismatic personality. Have you attracted the attention of this young female Emperor of the Underworld? Many young girls on the island are dreaming of marrying you right now."
"Oh? Including you?" Ian raised an eyebrow and gave Peacock's waist a light pat.
Peacock, hearing Ian's deliberately teasing words, boldly walked behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
This is a training ground!
Hundreds of Marine soldiers are watching!
If Peacock really hugged him and the news got out, would his single, respectable image survive? It would be completely ruined!
Ian grabbed Peacock's arms just in time, preventing her from making any ambiguous moves.
"See? It's not that I don't want to, but Little Ian simply doesn't give me the chance," Peacock pouted playfully. "Would you like to come to my room and sit down some night? Although I can't make bento boxes or give massages... I have a cat in my room that can do backflips. It's super funny, hehe!"
Peacock stared at Ian with seductive eyes.
What kind of outrageous 'Queen of the Seas' statement is that?!
At the base, only Peacock, when faced with Ian's teasing, wouldn't blush but would instead take the initiative to counter-attack!
"Heh, you're something else. I'll have to see how wild that cat is one day," Ian retorted, shaking his head with a wry smile. "Let's get down to business. Please prepare some casual clothes for me this afternoon. I'd like to know what news the Queen of the Underworld wants to share with me."
Now that the invitation had come, there was no reason to refuse. Sending the invitation directly to the Marine base was an open challenge. At the very least, they definitely wouldn't try to harm him openly or take his life. If he refused or was overly cautious, they might resort to underhanded schemes instead.
Taking a step back, Ian was also intensely curious about the multi-faceted Stussy!
Late Afternoon, Approaching Evening – Sabaody Archipelago, Grove 30
Entertainment Venue: Vigis Ballroom
Elegant and pleasant music filled the grand hall. Couples danced gracefully across the ballroom floor. Though they were in pairs, they weren't necessarily actual couples. This ballroom was one of the higher-class establishments in the entertainment district, and most of its patrons were wealthy merchants, celebrities, or royalty and nobles. The private lives of these people were far more... fantastical than ordinary folks could imagine.
At that moment, in a lavishly decorated room at the end of a corridor within the ballroom, a woman was holding a uniquely shaped Den Den Mushi, speaking to someone.
The woman wore a white, flower-adorned hat and a pink dress. A pure white shawl was draped casually over her fair shoulders. She had short, golden curly hair and a graceful figure. Her appearance and temperament far surpassed those of ordinary young ladies.
This was none other than the Queen of the Pleasure District, Stussy!
"Doctor, collecting blood from someone with special abilities is such a simple task," Stussy said, applying her lipstick in front of the mirror, making her makeup even more delicate and charming. "The Admiral doesn't have time, but wouldn't it be the same if I did it? Or do you think I can't even handle a young Major General?"
"No, no, no, Stussy! Don't act on your own!" Vegapunk's frantic voice came through the Den Den Mushi. "Borsalino has received another temporary assignment. I can wait! If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have talked to you so much when you came to the island!"
Obtaining Ian's blood sample through official channels was naturally the most effortless and safest approach. However, due to the Jack the Drought incident, Kizaru had been dispatched to the waters near Onigashima in the New World on a mission to contain the Beasts Pirates. This also showed Kizaru just how highly Headquarters valued Ian.
Furthermore, the Science Unit had been making too many moves recently and had become a focus of attention for the World Government's "Science Defense God," Saint Saturn. Any new requests during this period would most likely not be approved.
Therefore, before leaving on his mission, Kizaru had contacted Vegapunk and asked him to temporarily abandon this idea. Unexpectedly, Stussy had come to the island to visit Vegapunk and had overheard the conversation. She had taken it upon herself to help obtain Ian's blood sample. If the truth came out, trouble would arise. Vegapunk wouldn't be in any danger himself; he was worried about Stussy!
"Haha, Doctor, do I look that useless to you?"