"You want to offer yourself to me?"
Caelan looked at Kalifa in astonishment, genuinely startled.
He had originally intended to expose her identity right away, but now it seemed he could wait.
"Yes!" Kalifa replied nervously, her face visibly flushed.
She closely watched Caelan's expression, her heart pounding in her chest.
No way, no way... Is this man really going to accept?
"Very good. I like people who know how to repay kindness. Come to my room tonight!"
Caelan patted Kalifa's shoulder and laughed heartily.
This was the first time he had encountered something this convenient, and there was no way he was going to miss it.
"Even though you refused, I still want to repay your kindness, so let me stay and help you with something."
Kalifa didn't even think about it. She just blurted out the lines she had prepared.
"I said, I agreed. Come to my room tonight."
"Why, don't you like it?"
Caelan stepped closer and repeated it word by word.
He enjoyed turning the tables on people who thought they had the upper hand.
"N-no, I'm just... too surprised."
Kalifa forced a smile, stammering.
She looked shocked on the surface, but inwardly, she was screaming like a groundhog.
This was completely different from what she had expected!
She thought Caelan would hesitate and refuse, like most decent men. Then she could stay on the ship under the pretense of repaying a favor.
Even if he did accept, he should've taken his time and slowly built a relationship. How did it jump straight to "come to my room"?
"Very good. I'll take you to the bathroom first. Clean up properly."
Caelan grabbed Kalifa's hand, giving her no chance to object, and pulled her into the cabin.
Kalifa's face was still blank as she was dragged away.
On the deck, the other four women watched the two disappear and immediately held a meeting.
"He just did that, and you two aren't going to say anything?"
Nami and Tashigi glared at Robin and Vivi. Clearly, these two should've been the most upset.
Especially Robin—she had just entered Caelan's room last night.
"I can't control him. And it's not like we're in a rush, so why are you two so anxious?"
"Besides, if we're talking about who needs to be controlled, I think you two are the real threats."
Vivi smiled teasingly.
"You, you—!"
Nami and Tashigi were instantly flustered, staring at Vivi but unable to form a proper retort.
"Alright, that's enough teasing."
"Caelan's not that impulsive."
Robin glanced at the smug Vivi and sighed.
"You all noticed it too, that woman's behavior isn't normal."
Robin brought them back to the main point.
"Her appearance was too convenient, and the things she said felt rehearsed."
Nami recalled the scene earlier and spoke hesitantly.
"And I was the one who pulled her out of the water. Why would she offer herself to Caelan instead?"
Tashigi nodded in agreement. She also felt something was off, but Caelan's actions had shocked her into silence.
"Exactly. That woman's not simple. She might be up to something."
Robin furrowed her brows, a sense of unease settling in.
"Robin really understands me. I'll interrogate her tonight."
Caelan walked out of the cabin and said that directly to Robin's face.
"You're such a philandering man."
"Don't be mad, Robin-chan. She might be here because of you." Caelan found her rare expression amusing.
"In that case, make sure to be a little more ruthless."
Robin said seriously.
If she really came for her, then there was no need to hold back.
The girls around rolled their eyes. That was it? Robin gave in too easily. She was so easy to coax.
But they were also curious about how Caelan would handle the mysterious woman that night.
That afternoon, after taking a shower, Kalifa was surprised to find that the women close to Caelan were actually quite friendly. Each of them seemed to be looking forward to what would happen that evening.
What the hell? Are they really this generous?
Kalifa had originally planned to use them as a way to escape, but now that plan was ruined.
As night fell, Kalifa stood anxiously at the door of Caelan's room.
"Mr. Caelan, isn't this moving too fast?"
Kalifa bit her lower lip, gripping the doorframe tightly in an attempt to resist.
She hadn't even gathered any intel yet, and she was about to hand herself over. This was pure stupidity.
"No, it's not. Come in!"
Caelan pried her fingers off the doorframe and pulled her into the room.
If you have bad intentions toward me, don't expect me to go easy on you!
"It's over!"
Kalifa lay on the bed in resignation, eyes closed as she braced for the storm.
Giving herself to Caelan wasn't entirely a loss.
Hopefully, CP9 would recognize her sacrifice and reward her accordingly.
"Kalifa, put on the handcuffs. It'll be exciting."
Caelan pulled out a pair of handcuffs and cuffed her wrists before she could respond.
"Huh?!"
Kalifa stared at Caelan in disbelief.
What the hell? Is this his perverted idea of a first-time experience?!
Wait... Did I get exposed?
Kalifa's heart clenched as she stared nervously at Caelan, only to be relieved when it seemed he was just being kinky.
Soon, the war began.
As the two clashed, Caelan leaned close and whispered in her ear, "Miss CP9 investigator, you've fallen right into my hands."
Kalifa's eyes widened, and she gasped in shock.
It's over. She was totally played!
She had been cooperating earlier, but now the atmosphere became completely different.
"That's right."
Caelan grinned, excitement flashing in his eyes.
Two hours later, Caelan lay back in satisfaction, while Kalifa, still handcuffed beside him looked completely defeated.
"Tell me, Kalifa. Why did you come aboard our ship?"
Caelan lifted her chin, his voice calm.
"I won't tell you."
Kalifa turned her face away stubbornly.
"Don't be like that, otherwise it's going to be a long night."
Caelan glanced down at his now-active little brother and spoke flatly.
"You...!"
Kalifa cursed in anger, but when she saw the fire in Caelan's eyes, she immediately caved in.
"Don't! I'll die!"
It was her first time, and she'd been manhandled like this. It was too much!
"I came under orders from my superiors. If I got the chance, I was to take Nico Robin away and monitor your movements."
Kalifa reluctantly revealed everything, leaving nothing out.
How could that idiot Spandam come up with such a stupid plan?
Even worse, she actually went through with it!
(To be continued.)
***
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