She had no idea that when Arton got intimate with Tashigi, Tashigi had often played the maid—sometimes in outfits even more suggestive than Ain's current, standard maid uniform. Maybe Arton had just seen too many maid looks lately and wanted a change of flavor.
"Go find a high-slit, tight qipao," he said. "Show off those long legs and that pretty bust. That's what I'm into right now."
He tossed out the reason casually, then vaulted up toward the crow's nest.
"A qipao? Got it." Ain's eyes firmed. She set down the broom and immediately ran below deck—to borrow a high-slit, tight cheongsam from Tashigi.
…
"Ara, I thought you'd definitely take the chance to 'claim' her, Arton." Carina leaned against the guardrail around the lookout, smiling as Arton landed.
"I don't think that woman actually likes me," he replied. "I don't want to get to know someone when there are no feelings involved."
"But you could at least steal a little advantage—like this." Carina giggled, stepped in, wrapped her arms around his waist, and rose on tiptoe to brush her lips against his.
"Maybe I still haven't come down from that fight," Arton said, fingers sliding through her silky hair. "I don't feel like taking advantage right now."
"Fair. That was probably the toughest battle we've had. Honestly, don't make me—don't make all of us—worry about you like that."
"Sorry. I didn't expect those two old men, Zephyr and Garp, to be lurking near Reverse Mountain," Arton sighed.
Carina parted her lips, then swallowed what she wanted to say. She knew Zephyr and Garp had shown up because Arton had mentioned Reverse Mountain in his diary; that was why they'd rushed there at that exact time. But the diary's rules meant she couldn't tell him. She could only resolve, silently, to watch him more closely from now on—so he wouldn't leak their position again.
"Carina, you kept watch here all night, didn't you? Go rest for a while," Arton said, releasing her with a smile. "I'll take over as lookout."
"Don't worry, Captain—I'm not tired. Let me stay here with you," Carina said.
"Don't push yourself. After I passed out, you definitely burned your power to drive the ship. I can clearly sense how little you've got left. Go rest; leave this to me."
"But you haven't rested either."
"How do you know I didn't, Carina?"
"I… I just do." She turned her head away. If you'd really slept, that live video of Kaya in the diary wouldn't have run all night, she muttered inwardly.
"I may have been up all night, but I did sleep half a day yesterday," he said. "Plus Kaya's medicated bath did wonders. I'm fine. And even without sleep, my energy will keep recovering slowly. But you shouldn't copy me."
"I don't care—I'm staying. Unless someone comes to relieve me," Carina pouted.
To prevent Arton from leaking coordinates, they'd established a rule: someone must always be with him. If he showed any sign of revealing their position in the diary, they'd stop him by any means necessary—even using a little… intimacy to distract him. Under that rule, Carina absolutely couldn't leave.
Chapter 308 — Arton likes qipaos? Kaya steps up!
"Can't do anything with you, huh."
"Fine—stay by my side." Arton shook his head helplessly, stepped into the lookout room, and sat down on a chair.
The lookout wasn't just an open platform; it was a proper, enclosed little room where someone could actually live. If you wanted to sleep here, you could even roll out a floor mat. The idea was to give anyone pulling an all-nighter on watch a reasonably comfortable spot. For observing the surroundings, you could use the windows and the mounted telescope.
But Arton had Observation Haki. His sight could sweep from one end of a city to the other; if he wished, he could pick out screw-sized parts from high in the sky. He didn't need the telescope.
With his permission, Carina came over to his side—but she was simply too exhausted. Before long, she drifted off, face down on Arton's thigh. Arton sighed, unfolded the floor mat stored in the lookout, lifted Carina onto it, then returned to his seat to keep watch.
A little later, a clear voice sounded at the door.
"Captain, Ain has brought you breakfast."
"Kaya? Come in." Arton looked up, pleasantly surprised to see Kaya in a pale-yellow long dress. Behind her stood Ain, now changed into a pink, high-slit, tight qipao.
Her face might still be a touch youthful, but her figure needed no help: long, slender legs; a full, shapely chest—her charm was amplified by the high-slit cheongsam. Of course, standing next to Kaya—whose body had changed thanks to the Tsunade template—Ain's assets couldn't help looking a little less impressive.
Even so, Arton opened the diary system and shot ten photos of Ain from different angles. Seeing the rapid-fire shots, Ain was thrilled—those photos could be converted into points. Points meant super learning time, which meant getting stronger. So even if a few angles were… daring (catching a glimpse inside that high slit), she didn't mind much. Kaya, on the other hand, flushed slightly.
Captain Arton is still Captain Arton, Kaya thought.
—Outside, among the diary holders—
Ulti: "That qipao girl… that's the marine Arton took, right? Is she planning to join his crew?"
Black Maria: "She was close to Zephyr. Looks like his future hit her hard enough to push her to Arton's side."
Gion: "Ain…"
Baccarat: "No template yet, but she's already racking up points."
Nico Robin: "So besides maid outfits, Arton likes qipaos too? Perhaps I should acquire a few."
…
"Not to be rude, Kaya," Arton said, "but have you considered trying a qipao too? With your figure now, it'd be explosive—crazy charming."
"Th-that's a little embarrassing… but if Captain Arton wants to see me in a qipao, I'll find time later to have some tailored that I can actually wear."
Kaya's cheeks flushed; she was shy, but after yesterday's talk, her feelings for Arton had deepened. Dressing up for him? She was happy to.
"True," Arton nodded. "Your heart is one-of-a-kind on this ship. Other people's qipaos wouldn't fit you. We could have Uta use her Fruit to try one on for you. Then maybe, in a dream, we can… finish what we didn't last night."
Arton rubbed his chin, musing.
...
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