I am the Bandit King of the East Sea.

My heart started racing slightly.

Being in the same room with Stusi was genuinely a little thrilling.

Even with the room card in his hand, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.

The private room is fairly spacious, but if a fight were to break out here, there wouldn't be enough room to hide.

The atmosphere was subtly heavy.

Stussy's first words sent a jolt through Sieg.

“Mr. Sig, let me just lay it all out.”

Stussy raised his head slightly and looked directly at Sieg with his jewel-like, gleaming eyes.

"The World Government, or rather CP0, has been secretly contacting me, asking me to feign obedience and gain your trust."

"That means I'm to go undercover."

Sieg was shocked. Stussy's words were completely unexpected. He couldn't think of anything to say for a moment, so he could only keep quiet and pretend to be calm.

"So, you already knew about this all along?"

Stussy chuckled self-deprecatingly, his expression complex.

"Did it start from the night I boarded the ship? You already knew all this when I was secretly communicating with CP0."

"It turns out that all along... I've been acting in a terrible play."

A slight sadness appeared on her pretty face.

Sig remained silent.

Neither denying nor admitting.

Because at that moment, he was a little dazed.

He couldn't quite understand how this was unfolding. Why would Stussy suddenly bring all of this up?

In the end what happened?

Sieg recalled his journey from landing on the Island of Everything to entering the Pleasure Street, but still couldn't find anything amiss.

“Also, while in Loguetown, I did pass on some intelligence to Vice Admiral Gion of the Navy…” Stussy continued.

"Including your relationship with the Revolutionary Army, what you did in Loguetown, and the move you used to defeat Hawkeye..."

These words gave Sieg another jolt, but on the surface he simply nodded nonchalantly.

Sieg had already tested Stusi about this matter after leaving Loguetown.

Sieg was somewhat prepared for this and managed to maintain a semblance of composure.

"You don't need to tell me these things."

Sieg said calmly:

"Every move you make is under my watchful eye."

Sieg looked directly at Stussy, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Otherwise, why do you think I would keep you by my side all this time?"

"If I really want you to leave this ship, can you force me to stay?"

Sieg began his practiced bluff.

He didn't quite understand what he was saying either, but if he just said it backwards, it should be fine, right?

Upon hearing this, Stussy's eyes deepened, and after a moment of silence, he spoke again:

"Actually, there's one more thing."

Her expression gradually became serious.

“When you entered the treasure map shop, the CP0 people contacted me again.”

"CP0's instructions to me were... to go all out and fully gain your trust."

"For this reason, I am willing to hand over the Wanwu Island Amusement Street, which I have been running for many years, to you."

A hint of barely concealed resentment surfaced on Stussy's pretty face.

"From the World Government's perspective, the entertainment district of the new world is the real foundation, the intelligence hub for the World Government to spy on the underworld."

"The entertainment district on the island of all things at the entrance to the Grand Line is just a bargaining chip for me to gain your trust. You want me to give up all this hard work with just a few words."

"I had no choice but to confront CP0."

A shadow crossed Stussy's face.

“If things continue to progress, even if everything goes smoothly in the future, and the World Government uses me as an undercover agent and eventually succeeds in eliminating you, then my identity as a member of CP0 will most likely be exposed, and I will no longer be able to continue being the Queen of the Pleasure District.”

The identities of a king in the underworld and a CP0 spy cannot be made public at the same time.

The day Sieg dies and Stusey's identity is revealed will be the day the Queen of Pleasure Street is removed from the list.

Sig fell silent.

Stussy's words were quite frank, but he still couldn't follow her train of thought.

What are you trying to say?

Sieg asked expressionlessly.

Both sides remained silent for a moment.

Stussy's eyes were shrouded in shadow, making it difficult to see clearly.

After a long while, Stussy's red lips curled up, revealing a captivating smile.

“Mr. Sieg, let’s stop testing each other and just talk things out.”

"I have no choice in the face of the World Government, but if you are included, things will be different."

"After all, I've been traveling with you for so long, and I'm not blind. I can see through your actions to some extent."

"Cooperating with the Revolutionary Army, contacting the Pirate King's former subordinates, stealing the Celestial Dragons' treasure... everything you've done is an attempt to shake the foundations of the World Government..."

Stussy looked knowing.

So I'm undermining the foundations of the world government again...

Sieg didn't voice his feelings, but instead smiled slightly.

"It's so easy to talk to smart people. So, what are your plans?"

Chapter 161 Earn Him a Hundred Million

On the opposite sofa, Stuart's gaze deepened even further.

"We'll put on a show together to fool the CP0 and the World Government."

"On the surface, I will accept CP0's orders and hand over the Wanwu Island entertainment district to you."

"Of course, I must retain actual control of the entertainment district. If you agree, I will relinquish my CP0 status and cooperate with you, using the entertainment district of Wanwu Island as my base, to provide intelligence support."

Sig paused to think for a moment.

She was talking about cooperation, not submission.

Credibility +1.

Sieg really didn't believe that a powerful and cunning man like Stussy would so easily submit to someone.

Seeing that Sieg remained silent without any reaction, Stussy added:

"After I infiltrated your ship as an undercover agent, CP0 secretly took control of my New World entertainment district."

"If you can really turn this world upside down in the future and help me reclaim my true Pleasure Street, then it's not unreasonable for me to serve you as your subordinate."

Sig stared silently at Stussy in front of him, lost in thought.

CP0's attempt to force Stussy to give up the entertainment district he had built up over many years only angered Stussy.

In addition, she has glimpsed bits and pieces of my grand plan along the way and felt that following me would be more promising, so she decided to abandon the darkness and embrace the light.

Sig touched his chin.

This seems to make sense.

But... is Stussy really trustworthy?

Could she be a spy within a spy?

Was everything you just said just to gain my trust?

Sig's heart sank slightly.

Perhaps because Siegfried himself is an Oscar winner, he has a natural aversion to any other acting talent.

To be fair, Sieg still finds it hard to trust such an award-winning actress in front of him.

So... what should we do now?

Sieg suddenly felt that he was in a dilemma again.

Stussy has already broken the ice, making everything open and honest. To refuse now would be tantamount to breaking ties with Stussy right here in the entertainment district.

With Iruma in hand, Sieg won't lose for a while, but that's about it; he doesn't have a way to truly defeat Stusi.

Sieg didn't really have a choice.

"The Queen of the Dark World, a CP0 spy..."

Sieg gave a confident smile.

"You made the right choice."

"Your previous little actions were insignificant. But if you do anything out of line again in the future..." then I'll just have to pretend I didn't see it QAQ

Sieg only said half of what he meant, but his threat was palpable.

Stussy paused for a moment, then extended his hand and shook hands with Sieg.

The two sides are nominally cooperating on an equal footing.