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"Arton wouldn't treat me that way. It's only because you two claimed chest pains before that he pressed his hand there."
"I believe Arton will be gentle with me." Kaya shook her head.
"Oh? So, Kaya, you secretly want Arton to press his hand there gently?"
"I'm curious—will he simply press, or will there be… other actions as well?" Carina's lips curved into a knowing smile.
"C-Carina, why would you say a thing like that? I—I didn't mean it like that." Kaya's eyes widened.
"Oh? Then what did you mean?" Carina refused to back down. They had just received a proper punishment from Arton, and Kaya had laughed at them. Now Carina was determined to give Kaya a taste of her own medicine.
"N-No—let's not talk about this anymore. Come with me; I'll fetch some medicine for you."
Without another word, Kaya hurried toward the cabin. She did not want to discuss such matters with Carina or Nami, especially with Arton watching. The mere thought that Arton might overhear—and then actually take Carina's suggestion—had Kaya's cheeks burning like apples.
…
What on earth did those two women bet to shove their chests onto my hands like that?
"Nojiko, you've been on deck this whole time—did you notice anything?" After watching Kaya, Nami, and Carina slip below, Arton turned to Nojiko.
"No idea. Maybe they simply wanted to get close to you," she suggested, strolling beside him. She slipped his arm into the hollow of her chest and beamed up at him.
Honestly, although Nami and Carina had looked pained earlier, Nojiko felt a surge of envy—she wanted her own chest to mold against Arton's palm too. Yet her expectation showed nothing on her face.
Close to me, huh… maybe. But they didn't seem that way at first. Arton stroked his chin. Even now, my hand in hers breasts and she stays so calm…
Nojiko raised an eyebrow. Seeing Arton remain unfazed—his threshold having risen—she confirmed it: after so many privileges, Arton was becoming immune to lesser stimuli. She didn't know his real reason: he had just finished a fierce session with Tashigi, so his resistance was higher than normal.
Unable to puzzle out Nami and Carina's behavior, Arton shook his head and refocused on Reverse Mountain. Moments later, Nojiko watched as a new entry appeared beneath the photo he had just shot:
[Photo: First glimpse of Reverse Mountain and the Red Clay Continent!]
[I have to say, Reverse Mountain and the Red Clay Continent are truly majestic—especially the Red Clay Continent.]
[This world is amazing—mountains where seawater flows uphill are unheard of in my former realm. And the Red Clay Continent—so narrow it splits the world in two, while together with the Calm Belt it divides the globe into four super-continents.]
[I could never have dreamed of such geography in my previous world!]
[Of course, it's precisely those landmasses—and the Calm Belt—that keep this world from being fully connected.]
[If one day people build a ship to sail the Calm Belt, and cut a tunnel through the Red Clay Continent… Then this world would finally join as one. Travel would become truly free.]
[But would the World Government—or even Imu—truly want that?]
Smoothie: "The World Government would never allow that. Even if they wanted unity, it's only to reinforce their own rule."
Belo Betty: "If full connectivity could be used for good, it might be wonderful."
Koala: "Now we know for sure Arton is near Reverse Mountain's waters. Damn it—did we miss our chance to meet him in East Blue?"
Gion: "So Arton really is at Reverse Mountain. Can Vice-Admiral Garp and Teacher Zephyr still make it in time? No— I must confirm with Garp directly."
Kalifa: "If the Navy can't block Arton quickly, I'll have to follow orders and investigate him myself. Tch— with all of Arton's crewmates around, they'll see through my cover the instant I show up."
Nico Robin: "Arton is about to climb Reverse Mountain? Damn—it's been delayed by that mission from Crocodile. I hope we're not too late."
Zala: "Princess Vivi should be near Reverse Mountain by now."
Mikita: "I hope the Princess hasn't already been driven off by that strange old man stationed there. She's still too weak—she can't even handle an old codger like him. To make sure I meet Arton, I have to get over there now. If that old man dares drive me away, I'll deal with him."
Vivi: "Fantastic—Arton is coming! I must leave at once."
Ain: "Reverse Mountain… So the Sylvan isn't racing there directly but is making a detour? In that case, they might avoid Vice Admiral Garp—but Teacher Zephyr and I could still run into Arton."
Ain stood on the deck of a Navy warship, wind whipping her hair. Behind the ship lay Reverse Mountain.
Just as she'd suspected, Arton's Sylvan had not gone full throttle for the mountain; they'd even stopped at a deserted island along the way. Of course, Carina and Nami had chosen that course to avoid giving the Navy or World Government a chance to find them.
They couldn't be sure if a Navy vessel at full speed would catch up, nor if the Navy had pre-positioned forces before the mountain.
Thanks to that detour, even Vice Admiral Garp—arrived beneath the mountain—couldn't wait and had taken a small craft elsewhere. Now the only powerful Marine still waiting near Reverse Mountain was Zephyr. If Garp tried to return, Ain wasn't certain he'd make it back in time. She hadn't informed Garp; after all, she had her own need from Arton.
She cast a glance at the open sea, then back at the distant mountain, feeling both joy and nervousness. Joy because she might finally see Arton—encountering him was the prerequisite for joining his crew.
Nervousness because she worried her actions could sadden Zephyr, and because she wasn't sure Arton would accept her.
Tashigi willingly offered herself once, and Arton still didn't take her aboard. Even if I find a chance to use the compulsion spell and say the same words as Tashigi, Arton might not accept me as his crewmate. But if I, like Tashigi, demonstrate commitment by injuring a Celestial Dragon, he might see me as one of his heroines and accept me.
But right now there's no Celestial Dragon near Arton. That thought tightened Ain's chest. She feared all-out action would yield nothing. If I let things go and head in, maybe Teacher Zephyr's future will turn tragic.
Yet if Teacher Zephyr meets Arton now, a battle is inevitable. How can I make sure neither Arton nor Teacher Zephyr gets hurt, while I still manage to reach Arton? Or should I leave alone and prevent Zephyr from meeting Arton? Her brows knitted as she wrestled with her dilemma.
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