"Stussy, I hear business has been pretty quiet at your Pleasure District lately?"
"Jigra!"
At the malicious greeting, Stussy turned around.
A man in a purple suit and bowler hat had walked in. He looked immaculate from head to toe, without a speck of dust on him. In truth, however, he was the New World's most notorious organ broker, Jigra.
"When a storm blows through, even falcons and lions return to their dens to lie low. With a new ruler rising, it's only natural that our guests have neither the time nor the mood for pleasure. Besides, Jigra, without Umit's shipping routes, you can't sell the goods you've stockpiled. Out of everyone here, you're the one in the most trouble, aren't you?"
"And from what we know so far, this Black Prince seems to be the same kind of person as Whitebeard or Red-Haired. Jigra, I'm afraid you'll have to find another way to transport your goods."
A mocking gaze settled on Jigra's face.
Stussy's beautiful smile was full of malicious glee.
"My business is none of your concern."
Jigra's expression darkened, but he didn't fly into a rage.
"I'll look forward to seeing how things turn out for you."
"You won't live to see that day, old woman."
"Crack!"
The handle of Stussy's teacup snapped in her grip. Her smile vanished, leaving only a bone-chilling murderous intent. "Jigra, if you want to die, just give me a heads-up. I'd be happy to grant your wish."
"All right, Miss Stussy, Mr. Jigra. Nighst Island isn't a battlefield. If the two of you want to fight, please take it somewhere else."
Gibson, the veteran of the warehousing industry known as the Hider, interrupted their standoff.
Nighst Island.
It was a well-known public island, also called Negotiator Island.
This barren island had