Hina said nothing more; she simply turned and walked toward the CP vessel.
Smoker, Hibari, and the others were unhappy, but after what Hina had just told them, they could only watch. Even so, Smoker and Doll pulled out their Den Den Mushi to call Sengoku—no matter what, Hina was still a Marine, and if the admiral mediated, she might yet have a chance. At the very least Sengoku could demand a formal interrogation, giving Hina a path to return to the Navy afterward.
Just then the two CP-0 agents who had been blocking Doll, Kujaku, and Hibari flickered forward to the very edge of the pier.
"Hmm? What's going on?" Fukurou unzipped the chain across his mouth, curious.
"Eh? That flag—World Government… Wait, that's a World Noble ship!" Kumadori's eyes went wide.
"A World Noble? Could it be… her?" Doll murmured in shock. Aside from the saint Charlos who'd been burned to ashes, the only World Noble likely to appear in East Blue now was the woman Arton had publicly vowed to impregnate: Saint Shalria.
Sure enough, once the ship docked, a beautiful noble in a white suit and transparent bubble helmet disembarked.
"Which means she really is Saint Shalria… and if every pretty woman Arton can name ends up with a diary copy, odds are she has one too," Doll thought, frowning even harder. "If that's true, things could get complicated."
One CP-0 agent stepped forward and bowed deeply. "Saint Shalria, welcome."
"CP-0?" Shalria looked up at the towering agent, brow creasing. She despised ordinary commoners, but CP-0 were high-grade commoners—worthy of at least a glance.
"We learned you would visit Loguetown, so we came expressly to escort you," the agent said with utmost respect. After Charlos's death and Arton's threat against Shalria, the World Government could not sit idle. One World Noble murdered might be blamed on a sudden crisis and poor protection, but two would be an open humiliation; the God-made nobility would look mortal, and others might start copying Arton's example. No matter what, these two CP-0 operatives had to take Shalria home alive.
"Escort me?" Shalria's frown deepened.
"Precisely," the agent confirmed.
"And if I refuse? What then?" Her snort was ice-cold. Going back now would make her look afraid. She could already hear the whispers in Mary Geoise—from fellow nobles, her father, even her brother—and the thought soured her mood.
She was about to lash out and order CP-0 to hunt Arton when the agent spoke again. "Saint Shalria, this decision comes from higher authority." He tapped a sign over his heart.
Shalria froze. Others might miss the meaning, but as a World Noble she recognized the symbol immediately—the crest of the God Knights, those special World Nobles empowered to judge their own kind. She could boss around almost anyone, but not the God Knights; defy them, and she could be executed.
"They… they actually issued such an order?" Her whole body trembled—part rage, part fear. The CP-0 men merely stood at attention, as if blind to her distress.
What Shalria did not know was that, after the Five Elders' directive, the God Knights had already decided to crush Arton personally. First, however, they meant to eliminate every factor that might interfere with their mission—and that included the World Noble he had sworn to punish.
After a long moment, Saint Shalria finally calmed herself. She drew a deep breath and addressed the CP-0 agents before her.
"Fine. I will return. But you must capture that wretched Arton and his damned Flameblade Pirates for me. I want Arton as my slave—I intend to torment him thoroughly." Her voice was glacial.
"Please rest assured, milady. That person has already been dispatched to apprehend Arton—he has no wings with which to flee." Under Shalria's startled gaze, the agent again traced the crest of the God Knights across his chest.
"Then, if you would come aboard, Saint Shalria," the agent added, gesturing toward her battleship. "We shall escort you safely back to the Holy Land."
Shalria nodded and turned in the direction of her ship. Not far away, Doll watched her silhouette, brows knitted in thought. At the same time, Hina—being marched toward the wharf by Jabra, Fukurou, and the others—also glanced after the noble woman, eyes clouded with speculation.
Hina's thoughts raced. This female World Noble—pretty face, fine figure… yet she's missing that 'diary-copy' look. She can't see my own diary either… so she really doesn't have one? Is it because her role in Arton's story is tiny? Or is Arton simply uninterested in her? If so, he must truly loathe World Nobles.
Hina frowned deeper. She knew how fond Arton was of beautiful girls; ordinarily Shalria would catch his eye. But her lack of a diary copy means Arton never modeled pin-ups on her at all.
That speaks volumes about his distaste for World Nobles. After all, even though he now stands against the Navy, we Marines still received diary copies—proof he never felt much malice toward us at first, and could have walked the Navy's path. A female World Noble, however, inspires nothing… which implies Arton is destined to oppose them, no matter what camp he joins. Is he aiming to become another 'D'? How much of their darkness does he already know, to shun even a beautiful woman as his muse?
Remembering the time Arton's command spell had seized her tongue—forcing her to blurt that she would become his sex toy—Hina bit her lip. Arton had refused, saying he disliked emotionless encounters. Yet he could declare he'd "make Shalria pregnant"…
Arton, your revenge clearly goes beyond the shelling order—your hatred for World Nobles runs deep.
A similar chain of thoughts flickered through Doll's and Kujaku's minds as well.
…
Shalria halted, eyes narrowing at Hina. "Who is that woman, and why are you escorting her like a prisoner?"
Jabra bowed obsequiously. "Honored Saint Shalria, this woman encountered Saint Charlos yet failed to protect him. Worse, her comrade—former Marine Tashigi—has defected to Arton's crew. Therefore we are taking her to Enies Lobby for investigation."
Shalria's eyes lit up. "A criminal, is she? Then let her become my slave. I need something to vent my anger on."
Smoker, Doll, and the others gaped as the World Noble lifted the corners of her mouth, uttering that outrageous decree in the calmest possible tone.
...
For every 3 five-star reviews → +1 extra chapter
For every 100 Power Stones → +1 extra chapter.
Read 50+ chapters ahead on Patreon! [patreon.com/METARLN]
Use code FREE2ALL for 30% OFF!