It was a vague, almost intangible feeling—but Momonga chose to trust his instincts. As he continued to develop his Goro Goro no Mi abilities, he began to realize that its power extended far beyond the raw, destructive force of lightning alone. The lightning itself gave rise to numerous applications—like electromagnetic wave detection and static charge generation—all of which significantly enhanced his own capabilities. Among them, electromagnetic waves proved particularly useful in amplifying the range and sensitivity of his Observation Haki. With the boosts granted by the Goro Goro no Mi, Momonga was shocked to discover that his Observation Haki had reached levels he'd never thought possible. When operating at full power, he could blanket an entire small island with his Haki—precisely detecting the presence, movement, and even conversations of every living being on it. It was this terrifying level of awareness that allowed him to orchestrate fleet formations, directions, and speeds with pinpoint accuracy—maximizing the tactical advantages of the airborne fleet. Devastating offensive power, combined with self-enhancing and support capabilities... This was why the Goro Goro no Mi had earned its title as the “strongest” of the Logia-type fruits. And yet, even with this “strongest” power in hand, Momonga had still felt utterly helpless before the strange aura lurking in the depths of Pangaea Castle. “…Do you know what that was?” Seeing Daren's calm demeanor, Momonga took a deep breath to suppress the lingering unease and asked, curiosity laced in his voice. Daren shook his head. A flicker of unease passed through his eyes as he muttered, “I’m not exactly sure. But I can say this for certain—the World Government has something… some force, beyond comprehension.” “…A force strong enough to make even the Five Elders submit.” Given Daren’s current power, there were few things left on this sea that could make him pause—let alone feel threatened. Not even when facing the “strongest man in the world,” Whitebeard, or Gol D. Roger, or during that time long ago when he’d gone after Shiki in a hopeless mismatch—Momonga had never seen Daren look this grave. “Relax. Right now, we still hold the advantage.” Daren suddenly smiled, turning to Momonga. “Fish-Man Island is locked down. And our ace—the Shichibukai—still hasn’t been exposed.” He gave Momonga a pat on the shoulder. “Take the fleet back to the North Blue. Stay airborne as much as possible, and erase all traces. Remember—” “The better hidden the fleet is...” “The safer I’ll be,” Momonga finished for him. Daren blinked, then laughed. They exchanged a glance—and both smiled. After so many years fighting side by side, there was no need for lengthy explanations. Their understanding ran deep enough that a few words were more than enough. Chapter 311: Smile Like a Flower, Queen of the Pleasure District After finalizing the North Blue Fleet’s next steps, Daren didn’t linger. He dropped Stussy back on Coin Island and was ready to set off alone. “You’re seriously just leaving me here?” Stussy stared at his clean, no-nonsense departure, biting her lip in frustration. Daren paused and turned to look at the Queen of the Pleasure District, puzzled. “Uh… is that a problem?” “We’re not far from the Pleasure District, and the merchant ship that brought us is heading back soon. Wouldn’t it be perfect for you to catch a ride?” That straight-faced, completely justified tone of his made a fire rise in Stussy’s chest. “No problem—of course there’s no problem!” She ground her teeth, but a dangerous smile bloomed on her face as she said sweetly, “Rogers Daren-sama is far too busy to waste his precious time on someone like me—” “Great, see you then.” Daren waved cheerfully. Wrapped in a violent magnetic field, he launched into the sky like a jet, vanishing in the blink of an eye. Only the elegant Queen of the Pleasure District was left standing there... hair fluttering in the wind. She stood frozen, utterly dumbfounded. “That goddamn bastard!!” Stussy suddenly roared, her teeth grinding with audible force. She had taken a massive risk to secretly shelter him at the Pleasure District and help him recover. On top of that, she’d used her personal network to discreetly contact Morgans and even acted as the guarantor for their meeting. And now, with everything wrapped up, that bastard had the nerve to smile, zip up, and take off—leaving her to find her own way home?! When in her life had Stussy ever been treated ? And more importantly— After spending this time around him, she’d started to understand his personality, his mindset. He was barely healed when he rushed to stage a global broadcast, struck a deal with Morgans, and now, without taking a breath, he was clearly off to see that pregnant woman. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝✶𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮✶𝓷𝓮𝓽 Just thinking about the woman in the intel—the one with breathtaking beauty—made something churn in Stussy’s chest. She suddenly snapped out of it, slapping her cheeks hard. “What the hell am I doing?” “What’s there to be mad about...” Shaking her head, she forcibly swept away all the chaotic thoughts clouding her mind and muttered through clenched teeth, “We’re just allies, that’s all. If he hadn’t gotten ahold of my secret, I’d have turned him over to the World Government already.” Stussy took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She tugged her hooded coat over her face, lifted her chin with pride, and stepped confidently forward on her heels, swaying with the poise of the queen she’d always been. But after just a few steps... “Still—even if we are just allies, that was a total dick move!” She muttered, fists clenched with indignation. Her peep-toe heels slammed against the pavement with so much force she nearly cracked the stone. But when she reached a secluded harbor on Coin Island, she stopped in surprise. There wasn’t a single ship in sight. She blinked, then slowly looked up. From the drifting white clouds above, a streamlined metal warship gradually descended. She didn’t know why, but the moment that floating ship appeared, her heart skipped a beat. The warship slowly lowered to hover just above the water. A specially crafted landing ramp extended down. Dozens of fully armed elite Marines from the North Blue marched out in formation. One young officer stepped forward, gave her a crisp salute, and said solemnly, “By order of Commander Daren, we’re here to escort Ms. Stussy back.” Stussy stood still for a beat—then quietly loosened her clenched fists. And in that moment, her heart began to race. A smile slowly formed on her lips. “Daren-san is far too considerate. Really, there was no need for such a gesture.” Under the sharp gazes of the soldiers, the curl of her red lips only grew more radiant. Smiling like a flower. Like a true queen, she boarded the warship with pride.