Gion: "So even people from Sky Island would join Arton's crew just for power…?"
Doll: "Annoying. His ship's adding two more. Even if one of them can't get a template yet, she'll definitely get one eventually—and that'll make them a massive headache for the Marines."
Kalifa: "So even if I find Arton and join the Flameblade Pirates… I'd still have to compete with Ain and Raki for templates?"
Yamato: "To get a template, your attributes have to match. If one shows up with a high overlap with mine, Arton would probably consider giving it to me."
Yamato: "But to get a template… do I really have to get close to Arton like in those comics? N-no way. I'm a man! I can't do that!"
Boa Hancock: "How dull. Hurry up and draw a template that suits me. Then… I may consider meeting you."
Stussy: "The competition just keeps growing. Who knows when Arton will finally reach the New World… and when I'll get to see him with my own eyes."
Even though Stussy had dealings with the Family's daughters—meaning that once they found Arton, she could likely get in contact with him too—at best, that was only through a Transponder Snail call.
If she wanted to get close to Arton in person using the seduction techniques she'd learned in the World Government, she had no real way to do it.
So if she had the choice, Stussy wanted to close the distance—a lot.
Meanwhile, Arton kept writing, killing time as he waited for Conis and Raki to arrive.
[Conis and Raki still aren't here yet.]
[I'm honestly getting impatient—I want to hand her the Serval template already.]
[Once she gets it, will her music style turn rock?]
[Conis playing guitar and doing rock stuff… actually sounds kind of fun.]
The moment the other Diary Copy holders saw Arton's words, their interest in what the Serval template could do flared right back up.
But unlike Arton—who was calmly waiting—Gion and Galette, who'd been dying to see Serval's abilities, were starting to get restless.
Luckily, Conis could see Arton's diary too.
So when she realized Arton and the Flameblade Pirates were all waiting on her, she immediately sped up.
When Raki offered to carry her the rest of the way, Conis only hesitated for a moment before agreeing.
Not long after, the two of them hopped onto the Flameblade Pirates' deck.
Nami, Carina, Ain, and the others who'd already met them stepped forward to welcome them.
Arton noticed their arrival and naturally switched on the diary's video recording function.
A moment like handing over the Serval template to Conis—something this important—how could he not record it?
Smoothie: "As expected—Arton's turning on the diary system's recording function right now."
Galette: "If he's using that feature, it means he's going to selectively demonstrate what the Serval template can do."
Gion: "Understanding Serval's power is good for the Marines… but at this point, all we can do is learn whatever scraps we're allowed to see."
Makino: "So those are people who live on Sky Island… they really are different from Blue Sea folks. Those cute little wings are adorable."
Whitey Bay: "Maybe that's exactly why Arton can't stop thinking about them."
Chapter 560: No One Could Refuse Arton's Power
Kalifa: "Of the two, aside from that Raki—who at least seems to have some combat ability—Conis looks like a completely ordinary girl."
Ginrummy: "So a total civilian is about to get the Serval template—the one Arton values that highly? Ugh. That's the kind of thing that makes you jealous and bitter."
Ulti: "It's all Arton's crew's fault! If they weren't constantly guarding against their location getting leaked, I would've locked onto the Flameblade Pirates and Arton ages ago."
Stussy: "She might be ordinary right now, but once she joins the Flameblade Pirates, Conis will probably get strong fast."
Domino: "And now Arton's turned on the diary system's video recording for her. Every second of that is a mountain of points."
Sadi: "Seriously… I'm still jealous. If I could capture Arton, I'd make him record videos for me nonstop—I'd even toss him a little service if I had to."
Belo Betty: "What do I have to do for Arton to record me in photos or video? If I dress like this, it should grab his attention, right?"
Muttering to herself, Belo Betty glanced down at her chest.
Even in the comics about her, Arton seemed to love seeing her dressed like this—he even had her beat him down in that outfit while she "pressure-tested" him.
The thought made her laugh.
As a grown woman, she didn't really care about becoming someone's muse in a dirty little fantasy.
What she cared about was whether Arton could help the Revolutionary Army.
And from what she'd seen so far… he absolutely might.
After all, Arton's attitude toward the Celestial Dragons was ice-cold.
If the Revolutionaries extended an olive branch, Belo Betty didn't think he'd reject them harshly.
The enemy of my enemy and all that.
Besides—Belo Betty had already decided she'd use herself as bait if needed.
If Arton was that obsessed with her body in the comics, she didn't believe the real Arton would pass up the chance to take advantage.
"But this isn't the time to think about that," Belo Betty told herself, shaking her head as she refocused on Arton's diary footage.
…
"Nah, Arton," Nami said, holding Conis's hand as she led her up beside him. "She's here now. So… can you show us what that template can do already?"
Ain, Robin, Carina, and the others all turned their curious eyes toward him.
"You're right," Arton said, brushing at his clothes as he stood. "It's time."
He looked at Conis with an easy smile.
"Since you've decided you want to join me, I'm giving you an initiation reward. I'm going to show you something special—something that can give you real power. If you have no objections after seeing it, I'll hand it over to you."
"O-Okay," Conis nodded quickly. "Anything Arton gives me, I won't refuse."
As if she could refuse.
This was power Arton had personally praised by name.
Even if she wasn't good at fighting, there was no way she'd reject someone offering to make her stronger.
If she'd had enough strength back then… she wouldn't have had to stand by and watch the kind-hearted former God, Gan Fall, get driven off the throne by Enel.