On Gion's warship, she stared at the live recording Arton had just ended. Without hesitation, she used the diary copy to locate Ain in her friends list.
Since she could no longer see what was happening through Arton's feed, all she could do was hope Ain would send back some report—and that she could dissuade the girl from doing anything foolish.
But things did not unfold as Gion had wished. Her messages went unanswered.
"Don't tell me… Ain, are you truly planning to leave the Navy?" Gion furrowed her brows tightly.
…
"How do you feel, Tashigi?"
Arton closed the diary's live broadcast function and looked at the weakened swordswoman on his back.
Just moments ago, Tashigi had been unable to maintain their fusion.
Arton had no choice but to release it.
"I… I'm fine," Tashigi murmured softly, resting against him.
"Just a little drained."
Then she lowered her gaze to Zephyr, still floating unconscious on the sea.
"Arton… could you bring him aboard? I know it's asking a lot, but he's a good man. If possible… I don't want him to die here."
She looked at him nervously after making the request.
"No problem, Tashigi," Arton answered, veering toward Zephyr.
He had admired Zephyr already. Now, with Tashigi's plea added on, he naturally wouldn't leave the man to drown.
A short while later, Arton dropped Zephyr back onto the Navy warship's deck.
"Zephyr-sensei!" Ain cried, rushing to his side.
Tashigi, still on Arton's back, felt a wave of embarrassment.
Once, she and Ain had been on the same side. Now, not only were they separated by allegiances—she had even helped Arton defeat Ain's teacher.
For a moment, she didn't know how to face her, but she soon realized she was overthinking.
Ain had already been leaning toward joining Arton. Now that she'd confirmed Zephyr was still alive, resentment never even crossed her mind.
Instead, Ain hurried toward Arton, her expression a mix of desperation and hope.
"Lord Arton, please… please don't harm Zephyr-sensei! If you promise not to hurt him… then take me with you. Make me your hostage if you must!"
Arton blinked, pausing just as he was about to head back to his ship.
Hostage? He hadn't even planned on harming Zephyr in the first place.
Before he could respond, Ain stepped closer, clutching his hand tightly against her chest.
"I beg you! Don't hurt him. I can cook, clean, do laundry… even give massages or bathe you. And if you desire… I-I could even warm your bed. So please—take me with you!"
Her face flushed crimson as the words left her mouth, but her embarrassment was nothing compared to the hunger burning in her heart—
the hunger for power, for the strength to protect Zephyr's life.
After all, she had just seen Arton's diary reveal a future where Borsalino killed her teacher.
If offering herself was the price to change that fate, then so be it.
"What on earth is going on…" Arton muttered, scratching the back of his head before glancing at Tashigi.
"I… I don't know either," she admitted, though she quickly pieced it together.
From the look in Ain's eyes, she understood: Ain was appealing to her, hoping that as someone who had already joined Arton's crew, she could help make it happen.
But Tashigi felt torn—she wasn't in a position to speak for Arton.
"Ahem… as tempting as your bed-warming offer sounds," Arton said with a wry smile, "I think you've misunderstood. I never intended to kill Zephyr. He's only unconscious. He'll wake soon enough."
He pulled his hand free.
"Now let go. I've fought a whole battle just now, and my shoulders are sore. I need to head back and rest."
The earlier battle hadn't drained Arton as badly as it had Tashigi, but those last two moves—enough to knock Zephyr unconscious—had still cost him a fair amount of stamina. At this point, even if an opponent like Gion suddenly appeared, Arton couldn't guarantee victory. He figured it was best to leave quickly.
But Ain clung stubbornly to his arm. "No, I won't let go. If I let go, you'll definitely attack Zephyr-sensei. Unless you promise to take me with you, I'll never release you."
She pressed his arm so tightly against her chest that its shape bent awkwardly, yet she ignored the pain.
"Miss Marine… I already said I had no intention of harming Zephyr. Why won't you believe me? And can't you show a little restraint? Don't you realize how much of a trial this is for a man's self-control?"
Arton muttered with a black line on his brow. He twisted his arm slightly, but even with her cheeks burning crimson, Ain refused to let go.
"You really are stubborn, aren't you? I told you, I'm not going to harm Zephyr. Keep this up, and I might just knock you out."
The threat made Ain stiffen, her eyes darting toward Tashigi in silent plea.
Tashigi's lips twitched, but after a pause she spoke. "Captain Arton… maybe we should just take her along. We'll probably run into the Navy again on the way, and having Ain with us means having a hostage. And besides… didn't she say she'd even warm your bed? If that's true, she should be willing to let you take small liberties. Just like what you did with me and Hina, remember?"
Her voice dropped low. She knew Arton wasn't the kind of man to force himself on anyone—only if both sides gave in willingly. That was why Ain's "warm the bed" offer meant little to him; even Ain herself wasn't sure if she meant it. But small liberties? Those Arton never minded taking.
Though Tashigi had spoken softly, Ain heard every word. Her face flushed deeper, but she still nodded hard at Arton, affirming Tashigi's suggestion.
"A hostage, huh? And some liberties…" Arton stroked his chin, giving Ain a slow once-over. "Tell me, Miss Marine—can you dance?"
"I-I know a little…"
"What about ballroom?"
"Uh… probably, yes."
"And sultry?"
"T-that… I can learn!"
"Remember what you just said. Don't regret it later." Arton smirked, yanked his arm free, and grabbed her by the back of her collar. Then, in one swift leap, he soared toward his ship.
"Wait! What do you plan to do to Ain?! Bastard, let her go!" Binz had just regained consciousness from Arton's spiritual pressure. The moment he opened his eyes, he saw Arton flying off with both Ain and Tashigi.
"Binz, tell sensei—don't worry about me!" Ain turned her head back, her gaze firm and resolute.
...
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