The night was deep, the moonlight hazy. On Egghead Island's Research Layer, footsteps echoed through the corridor—thump, thump, thump. Sephiroth stood outside a door, raising his hand to knock. Moments later, Stussy appeared, clad in a pink nightdress that barely reached her thighs. She blinked at him, surprise flickering across her face.
"What brings you here so late?" she asked, leaning against the doorframe.
"Can we talk?" Sephiroth replied, his tone casual but firm.
Stussy hesitated for a moment, then stepped aside, gesturing for him to enter. Sephiroth walked into her bedroom, taking in the surroundings with a quick glance. Stussy settled into a single armchair, crossing her legs elegantly. "So," she began, her voice smooth, "what's so urgent that you're knocking on my door in the middle of the night?"
Sephiroth sat down on a nearby sofa, his gaze drifting downward before snapping back up. Stussy noticed, chuckling softly as she shifted her posture slightly, letting him get a clearer view. After a moment, Sephiroth's interest visibly waned, his expression turning bored.
He stared for a solid ten seconds, silent and unblinking, until Stussy cleared her throat pointedly. Only then did he look away, his lips curling into a faint smirk. He'd confirmed one thing: Stussy was definitely trying to seduce him. But why? That part remained unclear.
Is she following Vegapunk's orders? he wondered. Using a honey trap to infiltrate and act as an undercover agent by my side? His thoughts drifted to Gion, back in the days when they'd driven together—no brakes, no slowing down. Those wild days were behind him now. Age had tempered his recklessness, replacing it with a more measured demeanor.
"Have you seen enough?" Stussy asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Almost," Sephiroth replied, unfazed.
Stussy suppressed a sigh. She'd planned to make him uncomfortable, but this guy was shameless. If he knew what she was thinking, he'd probably laugh. When it comes to being a rogue, he'd say, I've never lost.
Shaking off her irritation, Stussy re-crossed her legs and refocused. "I did collect a lot of intelligence on the CP Organization," she admitted. "So what?"
Sephiroth leaned back, interlacing his fingers. "I'm offering you a job. Work for me. Help me clean up some guys. The CP Organization is the World Government's intelligence arm. Left unchecked, it'll become a major problem."
"You're moving too fast," Stussy countered. "The World Government is chaotic, but it's not collapsed yet."
Sephiroth waved a hand dismissively. "You misunderstand. I'm not talking about wiping out all CP personnel. Just the ones loyal to the Celestial Dragons and the Gorosei. Kong's backing this too, behind the scenes."
Stussy frowned, her delicate brows knitting together. "This is messy. What's in it for me?"
Sephiroth grinned, reaching into his jacket pocket. He pulled out a silver ring, tossing it casually in his hand. "Oh, there's plenty in it for you. I know you don't care about money, but this…" He paused, letting the ring catch the light. "This is something no woman can refuse."
Stussy's eyes widened, her tone dripping with skepticism. "You want to bribe me with this ring...?"
Sephiroth held up the ring, tilting it so Stussy could see the glimmering metal embedded within. "To be precise, it's a ring inlaid with Pure Gold. It grants eternal life and everlasting youth."
"Pure Gold?" Stussy's brow arched skeptically. "Wasn't that lost centuries ago?"
Even if this truly is Pure Gold, why would you hand something so priceless to me?" Her pupils dilated, heart racing as she fixated on the ring.
Pure Gold is mass-produced in my hands. With the right materials, I can make as much as I want, Sephiroth thought, though he kept that to himself. Instead, he took Stussy's delicate hand in his and murmured, "It'd be a shame for someone as beautiful as you to wither with time. Wouldn't you rather stay forever young?"
Stussy stared, transfixed, as Sephiroth slid the silver ring onto her left middle finger. After a long pause, she activated her Observation Haki, scanning his aura for any deception. "Is this... really Pure Gold?"
"Authentic Pure Gold," Sephiroth confirmed. "It slows biological aging to near stillness, granting immortality and eternal youth."
"And you're giving this to me... just to help you dismantle the CP Organization?"
Sephiroth sighed, irritation creeping into his voice. "Fine, I'll be honest. Yes, I want your help. But I also desire you. I want you to stay young and beautiful forever. Happy now?"
Stussy's lips curled into a sly smile as she nodded. "Quite satisfied, actually."
Sephiroth's tone shifted, playful yet serious. "Hehehe—since you've accepted, how about we... deepen our collaboration?"
Stussy raised an eyebrow, her tone teasing. "Oh? Can you handle that?"
"With my temper, I can't stand being doubted!" Sephiroth growled. In one swift motion, he scooped her up, carried her to the bed, and pinned her down...