For example, quitting the Marines might just be a façade; deleting Gion, Doll, Kujaku and the other Marines from the diary copy could be Ain's "self-injury ruse." In short, Ain might really be helping the Marines and the World Government capture Arton.
But that was only Carina and Nami's conjecture. And Arton didn't give them time to interrogate Ain.
"Mm. You're Zephyr's disciple, and he often brought you along," Arton said, patting Ain's shoulder. "It's not strange you know a route to Enies Lobby. In that case, you'll help Nami and the others lead us there."
Nami and Carina could only nod—for now.
Seeing things settled, Arton turned to head back to the lookout to keep using his Hawkeye skill as lookout. Until a top-tier lookout could replace him, he'd decided to make the lookout his permanent base of operations. [T/N: Does anyone remember how he got that skill? (￣～￣; )]
After that "in-depth exchange" with Tashigi just now, Arton had discovered the lookout's virtues. It was a bit smaller than the captain's cabin, yes, but the setup was decent—and it didn't get in the way of "in-depth exchanges" with Tashigi. He could even keep watch outside while "exchanging" with Tashigi or having her "clean up" for him—work and play at the same time. With a room that useful, Arton found himself falling in love with the lookout.
"Wait, Captain," Carina said suddenly. "Letting you work alone up there is too boring. How about Uta keeps you company? Her singing can help pass the time."
Uta arched a brow, a little puzzled, and glanced at Carina.
"Anyway, you're free right now," Carina added with a soft laugh as she slipped to Uta's side. "So go keep Captain Arton company."
Right then, a message popped up in the Flameblade Pirates' Women's Group Chat:
[Carina: Uta, go! Arton has decided we're heading to Enies Lobby. If he publishes that in the diary, then by the time we arrive, the Marines and the World Government will definitely have elite forces set to ambush us.]
[Carina: So, for the safety of the Flameblade Pirates, we absolutely cannot let Arton have a chance to publish the destination in the diary. You heard it earlier—Marine HQ and Impel Down are both close to Enies Lobby.]
[Carina: If we hit Enies Lobby while they're unprepared, we might achieve our goal. But if they already know our destination, our situation will be extremely difficult.]
[Nami: Yeah! This time is even more serious than before. Back at Reverse Mountain, even when Arton revealed our destination, it didn't draw that many high-tier fighters… But Marine HQ and Enies Lobby are different.]
[Nami: There are way too many heavy-hitters there, and they're too close. They'll have plenty of time to arrange an ambush.]
[Tashigi: Miss Nami and Miss Carina are right. No matter what, we can't let Arton publish our next stop.]
[Nojiko: I get it—that's why we're having Uta stay with Captain Arton, so he's less likely to write the destination in the diary. And not just Uta—we should all be her backup, helping keep Captain Arton from publishing the destination.]
[Carina: Exactly. In short, we must not leave Arton alone under any circumstances. What do you all think?]
[Nami: I hate to admit it, Carina, but you're right this time.]
[Nojiko: No objections.]
[Kaya: I-I understand.]
[Tashigi: I'll do my best.]
[Uta: Got it. For now, leave diverting Captain Arton's attention to me. During my watch at his side, I'll use my mouth and my body to make sure he has no free time to write in the diary.]
[Nami: Your mouth and your body?]
[Uta: I mean singing and dancing—don't mind the phrasing.]
[Nami: …Is that so?]
Chapter 332: Uta's New Song and New Dance
"Um, you're all just staring at each other—spiritually communing or something?"
"How about letting me in on it too?"
At that moment, Arton's voice reached Nami and the others.
"Hee-hee, nothing like that," Uta said. "Alright, Captain, let's head back to the lookout. If an enemy approaches while you're not watching the sea, that would be bad, right?"
She chuckled, took Arton by the hand, and hopped toward the lookout, disappearing from the sight of Nami, Carina, and the rest.
"Looks like we've wrapped things up on Arton's side. Next, it's our turn to talk, Miss Ain." Carina glanced at Ain—still standing there at a loss after Arton left—then took her hand and led her into the Sylvan's passageway. Nami, Nojiko, Kaya, and Tashigi followed in step. With Uta watching over Arton, they had time to sit down with Ain properly.
Meanwhile—Aboard the Sylvan, in the lookout.
"Okay, drop your pants, Captain~?" Uta peeked out the lookout window, saw Nami and Carina vanish below deck, then turned back with a bright smile.
"So direct, Uta?" Arton raised a brow, amused.
"Mm. I've worked out a brand-new dance and want your help to practice," Uta said openly. "If I can perform this piece perfectly under your hands, then no matter what stage I'm on, I won't feel fear or nerves. I'll be able to deliver it flawlessly."
"Is that so? Then here's the question—dancing here with me, and dancing onstage… are those the same?" Arton asked.
"Of course not," Uta answered. "Onstage is the most formal kind of dancing, and I keep a good distance from the audience. But if I dance here, with you…" She stepped in close and traced slow circles in the air before his chest. "Here, I can get very, very close to you. So close it becomes a negative distance, hee-hee."
A blush colored her cheeks. Ever since learning that their destination was Saint Shalria at Enies Lobby, Uta had felt a rising urgency.
Maybe she couldn't change Arton's idea about making that female Celestial Dragon carry a "mortal's" child—but she absolutely had to be first. With that thought burning, she didn't wait for Arton's reply and reached straight for his clothes.
Arton, however, caught both her hands.
"Arton?" Uta cocked her head. "You don't want to see my new dance?"
"How could I not?" He shook his head. "I just wanted to ask—does this new dance come with a new song?"
"A new song? Of course it does. Why?"
"Uta, if you're going to drill the new dance, shouldn't you rehearse the new song too?"
"No need—the song's already polished… Ah, I see. That's what you meant." Uta's lips curled; she pressed a fingertip to them. By now, Uta was no blank slate. Never mind that she'd already taken on Arton's color—Arton's many works had taught her a great deal. With the slightest thought, she grasped his point.
"You're right, Arton~," she said. "To make sure nothing goes wrong with my singing onstage, I really should practice thoroughly. After all, on the day I perform, my mouth might not feel great. To avoid that, I could put some little beads in my mouth and do some exercises." Her gaze slid down from Arton's face. "Or… use something else instead of beads. Captain, do you have any convenient substitutes you can provide?"
Uta smiled.
...
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