This world is filled with numerous Devil Fruit users. After enjoying the benefits of one Devil Fruit ability, who wouldn't want to gain a second? Unfortunately, unless you're a special case like Blackbeard, a person can only eat one Devil Fruit.
But Arton's existence has shown everyone the possibility of wielding a second power. Although character templates aren't Devil Fruits, their power is in no way inferior, and can even be stronger.
Now, seeing that the Mirajane template Nojiko wields can transform her into various beasts—and not just one type of demon form—each demon apparently has its own special abilities. Naturally, this made many Devil Fruit users envious.
Recalling Mirajane's skill demonstration, where she casually used dark energy to pierce through a mountain, quite a few Diary Copy holders suddenly felt that perhaps Mirajane's template was even more enticing than the Raiden Shogun template. After all, Arton once mentioned that with the Mirajane template, there could be a chance to take over powers from other Devil Fruit users as well. Just that possibility alone made many of them long for it, thrilled by the idea.
Belo Betty: "If Nojiko truly masters the Mirajane template, she might become quite the terrifying figure."
Koala: "Makes me want to pick up a power of my own. By the way, was Arton seriously thinking about making that female World Noble pregnant?"
Boa Hancock: "If that arrogant female World Noble really bore the child of a 'mortal,' she would undoubtedly suffer. Hehehe… I'd love to see her face then. Still… Why does the thought of her bearing Arton's child make me feel so uncomfortable?"
Nico Robin: "If a female World Noble really did have Arton's child, would that change his attitude toward her? After all, she'd be the mother of his child."
Gion: "If Arton's attitude could change because of a child, perhaps the Navy should take a hardline approach. As long as someone from the Navy could become pregnant with his child, maybe he would change his stance toward the Navy."
Smoothie: "A man like Arton probably wouldn't alter his behavior just because a woman is carrying his baby—just like my Mama."
Galette: "But at least he'd probably treat our child well if I gave him one. As long as I do my part, if our child acted cutesy with Arton, I'll bet he'd help me achieve my dreams."
…
Aboard the Sylvan, Uta touched her chin, frowning slightly.
"A child, huh… I can't let that female World Noble be the first to bear Arton's child."
"Since I was Arton's first woman, I also want to be the first to become a mother."
"Besides, if I do get pregnant, it'll definitely freak out Shanks…"
Much like Uta, Nojiko, Nami, Carina, and the others all had their own private thoughts, quietly watching Arton's back.
"Tch. Useless piece of trash—doesn't know anything."
Arton shook his head in disappointment, then stomped a foot down on the World Noble's head. The sheer impact rolled the World Noble's eyes back, knocking him fully unconscious. Afterward, Arton turned and looked at Hina and Tashigi.
"Well then, it's your turn."
Hearing this, both Tashigi and Hina felt their hearts lurch.
"Starting with you, Hina."
Arton's eyes gave off a faint magical glow as he murmured:
"I order you to tell me: Your reappearance in front of me—is it just a coincidence, or is there another reason?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Hina began to tremble uncontrollably, much like the World Noble had earlier.
"I-It… it's for another reason!"
Even though Hina bit her lip, the answer still slipped out of her mouth. Seeing this, many of the Diary Copy holders grew even more tense.
"Heh, so there is something else," Arton said with a cold laugh. "How interesting."
He was about to press for more when Tashigi, panicking, rushed forward.
"Arton, please don't ask any more questions—please!"
"Hm?" Arton frowned at Tashigi.
"I order you to stand there quietly without moving!"
An invisible power instantly sank into Tashigi's body. She clamped her mouth shut and froze in place, trembling but entirely unable to move.
"Tashigi…" Hina's lips tightened. She felt both touched by Tashigi's actions and utterly hopeless about what was about to happen. Even someone as cold as Hina couldn't see a way out.
"Hina, I order you: Tell me why you came looking for me!"
Hina shuddered at his words, her sultry lips parting beyond her control.
"Because Hina likes you… because Hina wants to become your meat toilet."
'It's over!'
Hina immediately closed her eyes, expecting death to take her. This time, she didn't even resist the Order curse, letting it force her to speak. She fully believed that revealing the Diary Copy secret would mean she'd die on the spot.
But…
One second passed, two seconds… thirty seconds. That familiar, suffocating dread never came.
"I-I'm not dead?"
She opened her eyes, confused. Arton was standing in front of her with his eyes wide, looking utterly shocked. Turning her head, she saw Tashigi, Uta, Carina, and everyone else around them wearing the same dumbfounded expression.
For a moment, she was even more bewildered. Then she recalled what she had just blurted out. In an instant, both bewilderment and stark humiliation surged through her.
"W-What on earth did I just say? Why did I say something like that? 'Mea… meat…'? How could I even say something like that?"
Hina clamped her mouth shut, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into. At the same time, she realized something felt off: those words hadn't been what she consciously intended to say. It was as if some external force had made her say them.
All at once, Hina snapped her gaze to the Diary Copy floating in front of her. She noticed it glowing more intensely than usual, a thin strand of light extending from the Diary Copy toward her body, wrapping her up entirely.
"The Diary Copy… is controlling me?"
"It's stopping me from telling Arton anything about the Diary Copies!"
Sadi: "What's going on here? Why would Hina say such a thing?"
Hibari: "Does she actually have feelings for Arton? But even so, that's awfully blunt…"
Ulti: "Pretty darn direct, the way she just said that. Meat—the things some people will blurt out."
Vivi: "That's… that's so bold. But if I could be that daring, would Arton accept me too?"
Nico Robin: "No… something's wrong with Hina's Diary Copy. It looks like it's forcing her."
Gion: "There's no way Hina really came to find Arton just because she likes him. Clearly, she found him because of something in the Diary Copy. So does this mean the Diary Copy can never be exposed to Arton? Faced with his Order curse, is the Diary itself stepping in to hide its existence?"
Realizing that, Gion, Doll, and several others glanced down at their own Diary Copies. For some reason, they felt a wave of relief—not only for Hina, but for themselves. They needn't worry about Arton using that Order ability on them one day to uncover the Diary's secret.
…
"Uh… well, I, um… I didn't catch what you just said."
"Ahem, let me order you again."
After a few seconds of confusion, Arton cleared his throat and reissued the order:
"Hina, answer me."
"Because Hina likes you… because Hina wants to become your meat toilet."
Thoroughly mortified, Hina found herself repeating the same words. Her face turned crimson, and she trembled violently—not from the Order curse this time, but from overwhelming embarrassment.
On the Sylvan, Nami and Carina exchanged glances. At that moment, they could confirm that Arton apparently couldn't see the light emanating from the Diary Copy on Hina.
"Wha… what the heck?"
Arton's brows knit together. His first thought was that the Order curse must be malfunctioning. He couldn't imagine himself being so irresistibly appealing that Hina would say something like that. After all, they barely had any real connection to each other.
"Could it be… because I saved her from Shiki?" he muttered, then shook his head.
"I don't buy it. Maybe she's just resisting the Order curse in a weird way. I need to test this."
Taking a deep breath, Arton said to Hina.
"You're not lying, are you?"
"No!"
"Really?"
"Really!"
"Then prove it!"
"Okay!"
Without hesitation, Hina stepped forward, knelt down in front of Arton, and reached straight toward a certain place that shouldn't be touched.
Arton's jaw dropped. He didn't snap out of it until she actually made contact, and then he jerked back on instinct. Hina, however, didn't relent; she pursued him and even opened her mouth—
"I order you to stop!"
Arton finally found his voice, swiftly giving Hina another order. The curse took effect once more, freezing Hina in place just as Tashigi had been.
Frowning, Arton eyed her for a moment. Almost unconsciously, he took a snapshot of Hina's current state and uploaded it into his Diary.