Smoothie: "That Nojiko likely long since made up her mind to offer her body to Arton, earning enough points to become very powerful. Once she's strong, of course she'd have no fear of the World Nobles."
Baccarat: "Not just Nojiko—Nami, Uta, Carina are the same, right? Before long, even Kaya will probably go down that path. How nice. By joining Arton, they don't even have to fear the World Nobles. Arton, your women are definitely on my list!"
Hancock: "This girl is quite something. If I ever meet you, rest assured I'll give you my highest praise!"
Koala: "Honestly, that World Noble's a bit dumb, isn't he?"
Mikita: "Yeah, he looks quite... not so bright."
Zala: "He's obviously clueless. Arton basically wiped out his bodyguards, yet the World Noble shows no concern at all."
Raki: "People who don't know better assume World Nobles are high-and-mighty, but in reality, they're just idiots."
Conis: "So this so-called God is actually just a fool?"
Viola: "Indeed, these World Nobles remain the same old breed…"
Shyarly: "With them acting like this, it's no wonder Fish-Man Island can never stand on the same side as the World Government."
Everyone with a Diary copy was left speechless by the World Noble's behavior.
If it were anyone else in that predicament—seeing their guards wiped out—they'd either escape or beg for mercy. But Saint Charlos, refusing both, tried to enslave Nojiko simply because he took an interest, and he seemed completely stunned that Nojiko would reject him and swat away his hand.
Not until a while later did Saint Charlos finally gather his wits. Jabbing a finger at Arton's group, he began cursing.
"Damn you filthy scum—each and every one of you ignoring me! Ignoring the majesty of a divine bloodline like mine…"
"That's it, I've decided—I'm putting you all to death. Every last one of you will suffer unimaginable agony—"
But before he could finish, pain flared across his face. A violent force crashed into him, and he flew back a full meter before slamming onto the ground.
…
"He's actually started! Arton's really done it!"
"That man truly fears the World Nobles not at all!" Hancock watched Arton's palm smash the World Noble's glass helmet, trembling with excitement.
"It's over!" Gion smacked a palm to her forehead and heaved a deep sigh.
"In Marine protocol, harming a World Noble leads to an Admiral being deployed. But then again… can a Marine Admiral necessarily handle Arton?" Stussy smiled playfully.
"With the power he's shown so far—Emiya Alter's abilities, plus his combined might with Nojiko, plus all the other powers at his disposal—an Admiral would find him extremely troublesome indeed. What a domineering man. But there's no going back now." Kalifa lamented, shaking her head.
"Yes, he's handsome all right, but… that man's choices leave no return." Hancock muttered under her breath, "He's quite the man indeed…"
She never noticed how her Love-Love Fruit powers were releasing floating hearts all around her.
…
"You… you dare strike me?"
Saint Charlos lay sprawled on the ground, stunned as he stared up at Arton.
"Hehe, who do you think you are?"
"Why wouldn't I dare strike you?
"You had the nerve to order them to fire on me once—destroyed the rented boat I was on—
"And you burned all my research materials in that notebook of mine!"
"You bastard, I've got a hundred reasons to beat you to death!"
Snarling, Arton stomped on the World Noble repeatedly. Saint Charlos's screams spilled forth, the impact of each blow conveying Arton's pent-up fury ever since that first day he got blasted right after transmigrating.
"Damn you, I'm descended from the Gods!"
"S-stop it—please stop!"
"It hurts! It hurts so much!"
Saint Charlos squirmed frantically, but the power gap was absolute.
"Descended from gods, huh? What a joke!"
"As if a nobody like you could dare call yourself that!"
One more slap sent Saint Charlos sprawling across the ground once again.
"Now talk—there was that female World Noble with you before. Where'd she run off to?"
Arton grabbed him by the collar. But the World Noble was already out cold from that last smack.
"Tch. Even though I held back just now—still too much for a frail World Noble, I guess."
"Can't even handle that little bit of force—yet has the gall to claim he's some divine descendant?
"Truly brainless!"
Arton sheathed his blade, turning to see Hina's anxious face. Meanwhile, all the Diary copy holders watched in rapt attention, half wondering if Arton would kill the World Noble right then and there.
But Arton merely swirled flames around with a slash of his sword, incinerating every guard and soldier he'd knocked unconscious as well as the already-deceased Nezumi, all in one swift move. None of them even woke from unconsciousness before they died.
Hina opened her mouth as if to say something, but no words came. She knew these men had long since abandoned any notion of justice and thus had sealed their own fates. She really couldn't fault Arton here.
"Alright everyone, let's leave this island," Arton announced, World Noble in hand, walking back to Nami and the others.
"Arton, you're taking that guy with you?" Kaya—who'd finished healing the injured villagers—walked up.
"Didn't you say you were going to deal with him?" Uta also looked puzzled.
Inwardly, Hina dared to hope Arton might let the World Noble off, the way he had once let her and Tashigi go. But that hope was soon dashed.
"He is a World Noble, after all. I don't care about his status, but the Marines and the World Government would do anything to protect him."
"If he just dies here, this whole island could be in danger.
"So I'll take him somewhere else and finish him off there."
Arton glanced at the unconscious World Noble.
"I see. Arton's indeed thought this through carefully," Nojiko said with a grin. "Then let's go."
She and Nami had already left a note for Genzo and packed all belongings onto the Sylvan. They could leave at once.
"What about these two?" Carina asked, pointing at Hina and then at Tashigi, who was still despondent over the villagers shot because of her. "What do you plan to do with them, Arton?
Arton eyed Tashigi and Hina with interest.
"Let's bring them along. I'm quite curious how they ended up here. I'll get the story out of them soon enough."
At that, Carina and Nami exchanged glances, then each led Hina and Tashigi in the direction of Arton's ship. Hina, of course, realized she had no choice but to comply. Tashigi, meanwhile, in her grief was too numb to resist as Nami guided her along.
Arton, carrying the World Noble, set off as well.
…
Ain: "So Arton intends to interrogate Hina and Tashigi? Are we about to be exposed—that we can follow all of Arton's every move through these Diaries?"
Sadi: "That would be a massive headache if so."
Kujaku: "They probably won't break that easily, right? But the World Noble situation is really serious."
Doll: "Yes. Arton's already leaving the island, so we definitely failed to catch up. Let's just hope Hina and Tashigi don't spill the truth about the Diary. Then maybe we can still get close to Arton next time."
Gion: "If the Diary's secret remains safe, me and Vice Admiral Garp can still chase him. The question is whether Tashigi and Hina can find an opportunity to tip us off. Let's hope Arton's crew doesn't watch them so closely that they can't even summon the Diary."
Smoothie: "If Arton learns of the Diary's existence, that'd definitely impact everyone's attempts to reach him."
Whitey Bay: "All I hope is that these two Marines keep their mouths shut."
...
1 extra chapter every 100 stones