[After Imu finished telling Cobra these matters, she immediately launched an attack on him; a pitch-black arrow shot through Cobra's body.]
[If not for Sabo suddenly appearing and striking at Imu and the Five Elders,
Cobra likely would have been killed on the spot.]
[Even so, even with Sabo's aid, they had slim hope of escaping intact. With no other choice, Cobra could only leave a message for Vivi and stay behind, using the act of reading out Nefertari Lili's letter to buy Sabo enough time to withdraw.]
[After leaving the words "we are also D" for Vivi, Cobra still could not leave the Chamber of the Empty Throne in the end.]
[It's truly unimaginable—one of the original Twenty Kingdoms, the Kingdom of Arabasta—its founding monarch's true name was actually Nefertari D. Lili.
D! A sworn enemy to Imu and the World Nobles… At this point, how many people bearing the initial D still know its true meaning?]
[That said, when Imu explained the meaning of D to Cobra, who knows if she realized that there remain others outside who likewise know the meaning of D. Yet Cobra's actions this time came at just the right moment.]
[Had he not acted now, his daughter Vivi would likely have died soon thereafter. After all, Imu had already made preparations to extinguish Vivi.]
[Luckily, Cobra's confrontation with Imu gave Vivi the chance to leave Mary Geoise and learn the truth. Though in the aftermath, she faced numerous difficulties—and Arabasta's own situation grew extremely complicated.]
…
Belo Betty: "So that's how Sabo managed to escape? This King Cobra is remarkable. We could well seek him as a Revolutionary Army ally. The trouble is, now that some people in the Marines or World Government also know about him through the Diary, it might complicate things. But what made Imu decide to extinguish Vivi, anyway?"
Koala: "Sob… I owe him my thanks. That's quite the debt to King Cobra."
…
At the same time, in the first half of the Grand Line, Arabasta…
Wearing a white outfit and a round-topped hat, Nico Robin walked toward the Spider Café while reading her floating copy of Arton's Diary.
"So the Arabasta royal family also bears a D? No wonder Crocodile set his sights here…"
"I wonder what's so unique about Princess Vivi that Imu wanted to eliminate her. Well, if Crocodile doesn't succeed, Cobra naturally makes it to Mary Geoise—and presumably ends up facing Imu."
"If so, then it stands to reason we'll soon see Princess Vivi forced to seek Arton's help."
"In the entire world right now, aside from the Revolutionary Army, only Arton dares defy the World Government and Imu. Perhaps he's the only one who might have the power to resist them."
"If I bring Vivi to Arton, with her ties to the ancient Nefertari line and Arton's unique knowledge… I just might gain access to that Void Century history I've pursued so long."
"That's likely the best plan."
Nico Robin murmured, eyes shifting toward the nearby café.
"At this point, Miss Doublefinger should be inside, playing the café owner.
Miss Valentine's Day has probably arrived, too."
"Once they learn from the Diary that Crocodile is bound to fail, I can likely persuade them to join me and Vivi in seeking Arton…"
"Their presence would give Vivi some peace of mind—she must be truly unsettled right now."
Robin's lips curved into a faint smile as she hastened toward the Spider Café.
…
Gion: "So the Nefertari line also has the Will of D—supposedly natural enemies of the gods? Then does that mean Vice Admiral Garp…? No, I shouldn't think that. Garp's a Marine hero!"
Smoothie: "Ha, so that's it. Arton is right, many with the D initial have already forgotten its meaning—otherwise Monkey D. Garp wouldn't be a Marine, would he?"
Whitey Bay: "Pops once mentioned how the Pirate King Roger's name had its D hidden by the World Government. Possibly Roger himself understood the meaning of D, and launched the Great Pirate Era to fight the World Nobles—fight Imu? Then again, Ace's name also holds a D."
Makino: "Garp-san… working for such a Marine? Luffy and Ace both have the D… so they're foes of Imu's regime?"
Stussy: "Dr. Vegapunk likewise had deep interest in the D. This is all quite a handful of intelligence."
Kalifa: "So those with D in their names are enemies? But if they themselves don't even know what D means, maybe we just keep watch. Garp's an example—someone who doesn't act like Imu's enemy at all."
The revelations are too big, shaking all Diary-holders. This of course includes those in Arabasta, like Mikita and Zala.
…
Grand Line. Arabasta, Spider Café.
"Za… Zala, you too have a Diary?!"
Mikita had just opened the café door and instantly spotted Zala's floating copy of Arton's Diary.
"Mikita? You also hold a Diary?" Zala raised an eyebrow, intrigued at seeing the young, bright Mikita.
"Where's that partner who's usually with you?"
Mikita shook her head.
"He got assigned to some other mission by our superiors. I came here alone."
"Huh, I never expected to discover that both you and I share Arton's Diary. That's a real stroke of luck. This is the first time I've actually met someone like me."
Zala smiled, quietly reflecting. Indeed, it now seemed that attractive women in Arabasta might also carry the Diary. She recalled that Miss All Sunday was likewise quite beautiful…
'Then Miss All Sunday might also be a holder. Probably she realized Mikita and I each hold a copy.'
'She must have summoned us here for a discussion.'
Zala mused inwardly.
Mikita drank some juice and began to complain.
"I really never imagined Arabasta had this ominous a history. Our boss is crazy to launch his plans here."
"If the Government wants to act, I'm worried it'll cost me my life."
Zala raised a brow.
"You mean to betray our boss?"
Mikita froze, fear creeping into her expression.
"Zala, are you also on that side…?!"
Zala merely rested a hand on her chin and smiled.
"No need to worry. My codename is Miss Doublefinger, partner to Mr. 1. Telling you now is no big secret."
"Since both of us share Arton's Diary and we both serve Baroque Works… I feel some natural kinship with you."
"Possibly one day we'll run off to find Arton together."
She exhaled gently.
"I know full well from the Diary that Mr. 0's plan will end in failure. Otherwise, King Cobra wouldn't have had the chance to go to Mary Geoise to confront Imu, right?"
"I'll try looking for Arton. He'd at least keep me safe."
"The only snag is whether I can tolerate letting that young man… get a little handsy, like in those illustrations of his."
Zala shook her head, sighing.
"But you strike me as someone who wouldn't mind that so much," came a voice from the doorway.
Mikita and Zala both turned to see the newcomer: Miss All Sunday—Nico Robin.
"So we two were indeed brought here by you" Zala said.
"Wait, this was all planned? Then… you also have a Diary!"
Mikita gaped at the Diary floating beside Robin.