Chapter 187: 187. Tampering With The Queen's Memory

Words : 1167 Updated : Oct 6th, 2025

Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari ---------- The hour struck midnight. Wrapped in a blanket, Stussy couldn't tell if the Fire Festival was still ongoing. Not that it mattered—she lacked the energy to care at this moment. Her body ached with a strange blend of pain and softness, a deep fatigue that made even lifting a finger seem impossible. This was her current state. As the Queen of the Pleasure District, Stussy had seen and heard many things over the years. Yet, experiencing this firsthand had surpassed even her wildest expectations. Both the process and the result were beyond anything she could have imagined. Was it Alex's extraordinary talent as a man or his kingly strength and resilience? Perhaps both. Though her constitution was far from fragile, she had felt like a leaf adrift in the vast sea, overwhelmed by the relentless waves. Stussy glanced at Alex, both surprised and relieved at how unaffected he seemed. Yet, beneath her admiration lay an indescribable mix of emotions, stirred by her own vulnerability and the intimacy they had shared. Undeniably, the night had been perfect—so perfect that, for a brief moment, Stussy forgot her mission, her identity, and everything else that brought her here. However, as the euphoria faded, her purpose began to resurface alongside the dull ache in her body. Summoning what little strength remained, Stussy shifted closer to Alex, despite the protest of her sore limbs. "Now," she murmured with a sly smile, her tone teasing yet serious, "this little girl is already yours, Lord Alex. So, about the conditions we discussed earlier—are they established now?" "To bring this up at such a moment," Alex mused, his voice laced with a mix of amusement and admiration, "is indeed part of the charm of the Queen of the Pleasure District." He held her close, his touch gentle yet firm, the warmth of his embrace soothing against her tired body. "Since you've become one of mine, it's merely a matter of words." Hearing this, Stussy's lips curved into a smile, genuine joy flickering in her eyes. While outwardly she had sought the transfer and protection of Pleasure District, what truly mattered was Alex's declaration that she was now his. It signified her growing integration into the general forces he commanded—a crucial step in her plans. Relieved by this outcome, her body relaxed once more, succumbing to the exhaustion. But just as her eyelids grew heavy, a sharp knock at the door broke the moment's quiet. Stussy instinctively glanced toward the sound. At Alex's word, the door opened to reveal a young girl with light brown wavy hair and slanted bangs framing her forehead. 'Pudding?' Stussy recognized the girl immediately. She was one of Charlotte Linlin's youngest children. Stussy recalled meeting her years ago at a tea party celebrating her birth. Of course, the girl's lineage wasn't the only reason Stussy remembered her so distinctly. Pudding, though only around six years old now, had recently become a retainer of the general—a move that had piqued Stussy's curiosity. Her investigations had revealed little beyond Pudding's Three-Eyed Tribe heritage. She couldn't help but wonder if the girl had awakened her tribe's unique abilities, which might explain her growing importance to Alex. For now, however, Stussy's curiosity took a back seat to the immediate question: why was Pudding here? Judging by Alex's composed expression, her presence was neither unexpected nor unwelcome. "Then, let's begin..." Under Stussy's puzzled gaze, Pudding kicked off her shoes and crawled toward the bed. Stretching her hands forward, she reached toward Stussy's shoulders. For a brief moment, Stussy felt a flicker of unease. But with Alex seated calmly beside her and his earlier assurances still echoing in her mind, she forced herself to stay composed, maintaining a soft smile as she watched Pudding's small hands inch closer. 'A massage?' The thought barely surfaced before a sharp pain exploded in her head. Stussy's vision swam, and before she could even react, she slipped into unconsciousness. Pudding paused, her hands hovering above Stussy's head. Blinking, she glanced up at Alex, who remained calm and unperturbed. "It's safer if I handle it," Alex said with a faint smile. Releasing his own mental influence over Stussy, he gave his next order: "Begin the memory transformation." "I understand," Pudding replied obediently. Without hesitation, she pressed her hand to Stussy's head. From within, she pulled out strands of memories, their glowing film-like forms coiling between her fingers. The power of the Memo-Memo Fruit wasn't limited to reading and extracting memories. It could also replace and manipulate them entirely. Stussy's life was long, filled with intricate details, and Alex knew that trying to enact sweeping changes overnight would be unrealistic. Even if such changes were possible, they wouldn't hold up under scrutiny—Stussy's keen mind would likely spot the inconsistencies, especially given her position as a CP0 agent and the Queen of the Pleasure District. Alex's rise to power had occurred well after Stussy had already secured her status, and a sudden, drastic alteration could easily raise suspicions. Any unreasonable gaps in her memory might lead her to suspect she had been tampered with—or worse, that she was being used as a spy. The Memo-Memo Fruit was undoubtedly powerful, capable of brainwashing someone entirely. But brute-force changes weren't always the best approach, especially when subtlety could achieve more lasting results. To ensure Stussy could still function as an effective double agent, it was vital to preserve key aspects of her CP0 memories. Instead, Alex opted for a delicate touch. With his guidance, Pudding wove a reel of genuine memories depicting Stussy's absolute devotion to the Celestial Dragons, interspersed with carefully crafted moments of doubt. These small, fabricated vignettes served to plant the seeds of a shift in loyalty. Simultaneously, Pudding created blank memory segments filled with subtle impressions of Alex. These fragments were crafted to portray him as a figure of unique charisma and strength, aligning with the emotions she had experienced during the night's events. Together, the real and altered memories would create a foundation for Stussy's gradual transformation. Alex was confident that with a few more sessions like this, Stussy would transition from being a loyal servant of the World Government to a devoted ally in his cause. As Pudding continued her delicate work, editing and weaving the memories like a skilled filmmaker, Alex reached out and gently ruffled her light brown hair in approval. "Good job." This was precisely why Alex had no intention of taking Pudding's Memo-Memo Fruit, even though she was only six years old. Despite her age, Pudding was unwaveringly loyal to him, following his every command without question. Beneath her innocent demeanor, she even harbored a sly, black-bellied personality that made her all the more effective in her role.

Chapter 187: 187. Tampering With The Queen's Memory

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