In the end, Carina didn't want to make things too tense with Robin—the woman whose number of works nearly rivaled Nami's.
"Alright, I'll allow it. But you should know what can and can't be said. And whatever you say will be under my supervision." Carina folded her arms, face stern.
"No problem." Robin still didn't fully understand what, exactly, Carina had gotten out of reviewing those works, but she had no intention of refusing.
Very quickly, right there in front of Carina, she opened the group chat where Princess Vivi, Paula, and Mikita were.
[Robin: Are you there, Princess Vivi, Mikita, Paula?]
[Paula: Well if it isn't Miss All Sunday. What's up—finally have time to answer us?]
[Mikita: Hey, hey, what's your status? Did you become Arton's crewmate?]
[Vivi: Robin, are you safe? Is Arton by your side?]
"Vivi—her name does show up in Arton's diary a lot," Carina murmured with her chin propped in one hand. "But this Paula and Mikita don't seem to appear there."
"Perhaps he just hasn't happened to mention them," Robin said. "Arton has many heroines. When he writes his diary, he won't necessarily think of Paula and Mikita. I believe only when they stand before him will he be likely to bring them up in his entries."
Carina gave a small nod—confirmed. When Arton sees a particular person, he indeed has a high chance of mentioning that person's past or future.
[Robin: I'm on Arton's ship right now, but he doesn't trust me.]
[Mikita: Oi, don't tell me he's about to kick you off.]
[Paula: We finally tracked him down. If you don't join now, it'll be hard to find him later.]
[Vivi: Is there really no other way, Robin?]
[Mikita: Useless! Use your body and seduce him—ever heard of the honey trap? Capture Arton with your technique.]
[Paula: Mikita's not wrong. Can you… push Arton down?]
[Robin: Relax. Although Arton doesn't trust me and I haven't become a member of the Flameblade Pirates, he hasn't driven me away—yet.]
[Robin: For now, I can continue to move with Arton for a while.]
[Robin: Maybe in this time I'll find a way to stay by his side.]
[Robin: But Princess Vivi, you'll have to wait. I can't return to Arabasta for the time being.]
[Robin: Also, because Arton's crew members don't want me revealing our destination, I'll likely have to leave this group for now and remove the three of you from my friends list.]
[Mikita: You can't be serious! Delete us?! Trying to hog Arton all to yourself, huh?]
[Paula: Cool it, Mikita. Miss All Sunday probably has one of Arton's crew members standing right beside her. What she's saying is likely true.]
[Mikita: Ar… Arton's crew member?!]
[Paula: So mind your words, or even if Arton agrees to take you aboard, his crewmates might block you.]
[Mikita: I—uh—sorry.]
[Vivi: Robin, is there truly no other way? You really have to delete us? If you do, how will we contact each other?]
Right now Vivi was filled with worry. She had been elated that Robin and Arton had met upon the vast sea—it meant she might see Arton through Robin, perhaps gain a character template, and stop the rebellion in Arabasta, preventing her father's death. But now, with Robin suddenly saying she would delete her friends, that faint hope was close to being snuffed out.
Chapter 360 — Does Arton Value Vivi Highly?
[Robin: There's nothing I can do. Maybe one day I'll return to Arabasta, but I can't guarantee we'll meet.]
After all, Arabasta held two Poneglyphs. Robin had already made up her mind: if she could become Arton's crewmate, she'd invite him to Arabasta—ideally as his woman. That would be safer. At least, that was how Robin saw it.
[Robin: Perhaps you can ask the Flameblade crew member beside me to temporarily take over this group chat.]
[Mikita: W-wait, there's really a crew member of Arton's next to you?!]
[Paula: Sounds like things are complicated on your end.]
[Vivi: Please, member of the Flameblade Pirates—I'm desperate to become Arton's crew member. If Arton can help me, I'm willing to give everything!]
In the real world, Robin turned to look at Carina, as if asking for her opinion with her eyes.
"Princess Vivi… her name shows up quite a lot in Arton's diary," Carina murmured, propping her chin on one hand. "Her father dies to Imu in the future. Is she seeking Arton to save him?"
"Arton's diary entries involving Princess Vivi are significant," Robin said with a small smile. "They touch the Gorosei and Imu. If she meets Arton, I think he'll gladly invite her aboard. And to stop her father's death, Princess Vivi will train hard. That would make our crew stronger, too."
"Tch. Our crew?" Carina shot Robin a look. "You're not a Flameblade yet, Robin."
Robin only smiled, saying nothing.
"But you're right about one thing," Carina went on. "What's tied to Vivi is huge. Arton might be very interested in her."
Her mind drifted to a few scenes from Nami's diary copies.
Besides me, Nojiko, and Robin… Princess Vivi also appears in Nami's works, Carina thought. And not just once or twice. That suggests Vivi leaves a strong impression on Arton, too. Judging by how she shows up, it shouldn't be as an enemy to Nami—more like an ally. If I can bring Vivi—and Robin—into my faction… wouldn't it be easier to outplay Nami?
Carina's thoughts kept rolling.
Ever since Nami came aboard, we've been at odds. It used to be a draw. Uta subtly leaned my way—seniority, songstress, all that. But once Nojiko joined, things shifted. As sisters, she'll obviously side with Nami.
So I need a support squad of my own to counter Nami. Robin and Vivi would usually be in Nami's corner in the 'original' lines, but if I can pull them to mine…
Carina arched a brow, suddenly tempted.
Whatever. It's not even hard. I'll start building rapport with Vivi now. Maybe later she can keep tabs on Nami for me. Then I can slip away to play with Arton. If he sees me give him a full riding dance, he'll be excited, right? …Can I actually finish a full routine without messing up, though?
A blush slowly rose on Carina's cheeks as she recalled the sultry dances that appeared in her and Uta's works.
...
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