"Better not," Arton shook his head and said, "I was looking at you because something just came to mind."
"Something?" Robin's expression turned curious. "Is it related to me?"
Arton gave a slight nod. "Mm. I suddenly recalled there's a Historical Poneglyph on Sky Island."
Robin: "!!!"
Seeing Robin react exactly as he'd expected, Arton broke into a satisfied smile.
"Arton-san, could you take me to see that Poneglyph?" Robin, excited, stepped forward and pulled his other arm into her embrace.
Thanks to the cutout in her qipao, Arton's forearm felt the warmth of Robin's chest directly.
"Well… even if it's a Poneglyph, it may not be the particular kind you want." Arton's tone turned teasingly mysterious. "But there's another line of text carved on it you might be very interested in."
"Is that so—now I really want to see it." Robin tightened her hold, locking Arton's arm more firmly into her bosom, a hint of allure on her face.
Even if Arton said it might not be the category she was after, it didn't dull her curiosity—especially since he mentioned something else on the stone that would matter to her.
At the side, Ain stared daggers at Robin, wishing she could switch places. She then glanced down at her own qipao—which had no front cutout—and silently decided she'd get one with a window like that next time, handy for catching Arton's arm… or other things.
"Mm… the size is respectable, but Kaya's chest is still better." Arton smiled at Robin, then shifted his attention back to the diary.
Fortunately, the system recorded for him—no need to move his hands—so his entries continued. As for enjoying Robin's arms without guilt… Arton had sorted that out in his head: since Robin was pure, he might as well accept the benefit.
And besides, she was the one offering. Later, once they were more familiar, she might turn into her manga-self from the Straw Hats—and at that point, freebies like this would be harder to come by.
[Aside from meeting Raki and Conis, the Sky Island trip is a chance to grab some gold.]
[Thinking about it, Nami and Carina will be thrilled—there are billions' worth of gold and jewels up there.]
[Though with our ship's size, hauling all of it back will be tough.]
Nami: "!!!"
Carina: "Sky Island—nonnegotiable. We're going."
Kujaku: "Billions in gold and gems… that's a serious military budget."
Belo Betty: "If those funds came to the Revolutionaries, they'd push our ops a long way."
Smoothie: "With that kind of haul, Mama would be pleased."
[As happy as Nami and Carina will be about the gold, Robin may be even happier if we head up there.]
[Because Sky Island also has a Historical Poneglyph. And on that stone, there's an important message in ancient script—left by the Pirate King, Roger, and carved by Kozuki Oden.]
[Once Robin sees the Poneglyph—and Roger's words—her heart will pound… though, hm, why is her heartbeat already pounding now?]
Arton felt the quick thrum of Robin's heart against his arm and glanced at her, puzzled. Robin answered his look with a gentle smile.
Gion: "What?! A Poneglyph?!"
Domino: "And Roger left a message there?!"
Hiyori: "Father's ancient characters?! If only I could reach Sky Island, that would be wonderful."
Chapter 396 - Exposing the Poneglyph of Ancient Weapon Poseidon
Whitey Bay: "That guy not only went to Sky Island, he even left words on a Poneglyph?"
Stussy: "Now the Navy and World Government ladies must be getting nervous."
Kalifa: "Hoo… good thing I've already decided to board Arton's ship. No need to panic."
Arton's latest diary entry dropped like a bomb into the hearts of the many diary-copy holders, setting every reader's chest heaving.
Needless to say, Robin felt it most keenly. The Navy women were especially stirred. It was a Poneglyph—an absolute taboo under the World Government. More than that, it even bore special words left by Roger. That only made the female marines more uneasy.
Pirate King Roger, by his own power alone, kicked off the Great Pirate Era. What words would he leave upon a Poneglyph? The question tugged at their minds. They couldn't imagine what would happen to the seas if Roger's message were revealed—would it plunge the world into even greater chaos, like the day he sparked this era at his execution?
Brows furrowed across sveral naval faces: they wanted to know what Roger had carved… yet they didn't want Arton to record it in the diary and spread it to every copyholder.
They didn't get long to stew over it. Very soon, Arton lobbed another written warhead into the diary. Compared to his earlier bombs, this one was bigger, meaner—practically a nuclear payload on the page.
[Once we reach Sky Island, I should find a way to take that Poneglyph with us as well.]
[Right now Robin is the only person who can read those glyphs, and even if she saw them she wouldn't leak the contents.]
[But you can't rule out the shadows of this world coughing up someone else who can read the ancient script.]
[That slab records the location of an Ancient Weapon—Poseidon.]
[If the World Government learns where that particular Poneglyph lies, it could spell disaster for that beautiful island. That would be far too great a loss.]
[Pudding carries Three-Eye Tribe blood; if she awakens, she can read the glyphs too. That thing lurking in the dark—Imu—likely can as well.]
[Yeah… best to take that Poneglyph and hide it.]
[Whether it's Linlin learning Poseidon's location, or the Government getting it—neither bodes well for that island.]
Poseidon??!
Eyes went wide as saucers, every woman staring hard at her copy of the diary. Disbelief washed over their faces.
Robin: "Ancient Weapon Poseidon? No wonder Arton said this particular Poneglyph might be useless to me… Still, if I see it myself, I might glean something I want. And Roger's message—worth seeing."
Pudding: "Eh! I—I can read the ancient script? If I awaken, would that talent make Arton see me differently? But he doesn't seem that interested in Poneglyphs… would he take me in for a power I haven't even awakened yet?"
Smoothie: "Pudding, with that talent… And Arton is wary of Mama learning Poseidon's location? So recruiting Arton into Mama's crew won't be easy."
Black Maria: "Information on an Ancient Weapon! If Arton knows what that slab says, then he knows where the weapon is."
Stussy: "Hehe. Now every organization's copyholders will court Arton even harder. The Navy and the Government will feel all the more compelled to put him on a leash."
Kalifa: "Hoo, thank goodness—thank goodness—I've already decided to leave the Government. Another Ancient Weapon? This never ends."
Carina: "An Ancient Weapon, huh? Hehe—if we had that, even the Navy and the Government would think twice about touching us."
....
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