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Tashigi didn't know either. And of everyone here, she understood the danger of Enies Lobby better than Carina, Nami, or Kaya.
Enies Lobby is close to Marine Headquarters and Impel Down. With Marine HQ so fixated on Arton right now, if he suddenly appeared at Enies Lobby, Fleet Admiral Sengoku would likely dispatch forces from Headquarters to hunt him—maybe even troops from Impel Down.
There was little precedent for Impel Down mobilizing outward, true, but Tashigi believed that someone like Arton—wielding a Diary System—was enough to make it possible.
Even if Chief Warden Magellan himself didn't have the idea, Sadi and Domino might push him toward it; both of them knew perfectly well how dangerous Arton was.
Tashigi glanced at Ain standing beside Arton. Though she'd dozed off earlier from sheer exhaustion and missed Arton's talk with Ain, she could vaguely guess that Ain had something to do with Arton's sudden decision.
Nor was she alone—Carina, Nami, and Kaya were all sharp. Their thoughts jumped to Ain in an instant. For a moment, both Carina and Nami fixed Ain with unfriendly looks, while Kaya's fine brows knit ever so slightly.
Under their stares, Ain's body trembled hard and she instinctively half-hid behind Arton's back. She was terrified that Carina and Nami would seize this moment to throw her off the ship. If that happened, her chance to change Zephyr's future would be gone for good.
At that thought, a flicker of resolve flashed through Ain's eyes. No matter what, she had to stay—she had to make Arton accept her into the Flameblade Pirates.
"I mean… there's no need to get so tense, right?" Uta folded her arms, smiling. "What's the big deal? Arton's strong. Even if Enies Lobby is one of the World Government's Three Great Institutions, they still won't be a match for him."
"Think about it—Arton beat Mihawk and Zephyr, and even forced Garp to retreat," she went on. "And he's got us. Even if we hit some turbulence at Enies Lobby, we'll overcome it."
"That may be true," Tashigi said, "but Enies Lobby is far too close to Marine Headquarters. If Headquarters sends multiple admirals…"
Her worry was palpable.
"Hee-hee," Uta laughed, "even if it's 'close,' there's still a distance, right? Even admirals need time to get here. As long as we move fast, by the time they arrive, we might already be gone."
She turned to Arton. "Back to the point, Captain—why are we going to Enies Lobby?"
Arton's lips curled. "To settle a score."
Everyone blinked.
"Revenge?" Carina narrowed her eyes. "You mean… that person?"
"I remember you said you'd avenge yourself on two Celestial Dragons," Uta said. "So the other one is at Enies Lobby now?"
Prompted by Uta and Carina, both Kaya and Tashigi thought of the female Celestial Dragon Arton had once mentioned—Saint Shalria.
"Mhm. Ain told me," Arton said with a slight nod. "That Saint Shalria is very likely at Enies Lobby."
So it was Ain who set the course. Carina, Nami, and the others all looked at Ain. Under their gazes, Ain tucked even more of herself behind Arton's back.
Chapter 330: Route to Enies Lobby
Uta propped her chin on one hand, brows knitting tight.
Are we really going to see that Saint Shalria?Arton said he'd force that woman to get pregnant… Damn it! Does that mean she'll beat me to it?No way. If Arton's having a first child, it's going to be with me!
With that thought, the light in Uta's eyes toward Arton burned hotter and hotter. She wasn't the only one—Carina's and Nami's gazes began to glitter as well. Even the usually reserved Kaya and Tashigi had a new, wandering look in their eyes when they glanced at Arton.
"Hey, what are you all staring at me for?" Arton felt his scalp prickle under their looks and waved a hand. "We're just going to Enies Lobby to grab someone. It won't take us that long. Sure, it's one of the World Government's Three Great Institutions, but their combat power isn't even on par with a large New World pirate crew. We might be in and out before Marine Headquarters even reacts."
"Also—have a little more faith in yourselves. I've seen how fast you've been improving. Please, give yourselves some confidence; don't let your strength outpace your self-belief."
The women exchanged looks, momentarily at a loss for words. They were worried about safety, yes—but Arton's offhand remark about making a female Celestial Dragon pregnant worried them, too. And they couldn't exactly bring that up; after all, he'd only ever mentioned it in the diary. If they "revealed" it now, they'd be outing themselves.
"Fine. Since you've set the course, we're heading to Enies Lobby," Carina said with a shrug.
"Yeah—no other choice," Nami added, hands spreading helplessly.
"Arton is right. We've already grown much stronger," Nojiko said with a smile. "And we'll keep growing. A quick trip to Enies Lobby won't be a problem."
"Nojiko's right," Tashigi agreed. "As we keep getting stronger, the faster our operation will be there. That way, we're more likely to leave before the admirals from Headquarters arrive."
Kaya didn't speak, but she nodded her little head.
"Looks like no objections," Arton concluded. "Then it's settled. Nami, I'm counting on our navigator to take us to Enies Lobby."
"I'd love to," Nami said, "but Arton, we don't have a Log Pose for Enies Lobby. The island isn't even marked on maps. You want me to get us there, but I don't have a way."
Even the best chef can't cook without ingredients—exactly Nami's predicament now.
…
"Enies Lobby… Tashigi, do you have a way?" Nojiko asked. "You used to be a Marine—you should know a route there, right?"
"Sorry, Miss Nojiko," Tashigi said apologetically. "When I served, I was just a Marine Captain stationed at Loguetown. Maybe Colonel Smoker would know how to get to Enies Lobby, but I don't."
"I have a way," Ain said, raising her hand and stepping forward at just the right moment.
"You?" Carina and Nami frowned in unison, shooting Ain a hard look. Plainly, Ain's presence had prompted Arton's decision to go to Enies Lobby—now she was offering a method to get them there? It was hard not to suspect Ain of having some ulterior motive.
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