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'System, start the lottery. Let me see what kind of surprise you're going to give me this time!'
In the captain's cabin, Arton sat up straight, speaking to the system in his heart.
[Ding! Starting lottery...]
As the prompt sounded in Arton's mind, a lottery panel appeared right in front of him.
Inside the panel, the names of numerous worlds kept flashing and cycling. Arton saw one familiar name after another sweep past his eyes.
Some clearly belonged to extremely powerful figures, while others looked… not that impressive.
Gradually, the speed at which the names jumped grew slower and slower, until it finally stopped on Rosalyne-Kruzchka Lohefalter.
'Rosalyne-Kruzchka Lohefalter? That feels familiar… wait, isn't that Signora's name?'
Just as Arton was thinking that, the system prompt once again rang out in his mind.
[Lottery complete. Congratulations to the host for obtaining "Signora Rosalyne-Kruzchka Lohefalter Template (Initial Version)."]
[Note: To use "Signora Rosalyne-Kruzchka Lohefalter Template (Initial Version), the user must possess at least three of the following traits: Female, Hatred, Beauty, Witch, Flame, Scholar, Deep Affection!]
[The host's current personal traits do not meet the potential requirements to use "Signora Rosalyne-Kruzchka Lohefalter Template (Initial Version)."]
[Suggestion: You may grant this template to someone else.]
"So it really is Signora's template from Genshin." Arton murmured.
As for the system interface telling him he couldn't use Signora's template himself, Arton could only accept that helplessly.
After all, he really didn't have three or more of the required traits to use this template.
Even so, Arton still felt a bit of regret. He already possessed "hatred" toward the World Nobles and the "flame" trait—two of the listed conditions.
He was just one more trait short of being able to claim Signora's template as his own strength.
"In that case, besides me, who would be suited for this template…"
Arton rubbed his chin, thinking about who could use Signora's template, and how he could then invite that person aboard the Flameblade Pirates' ship when the time was right.
Just then, a knocking sound came from the door.
"Who is it?" Arton turned his head, looking a bit puzzled toward the half-closed door.
"It's me, Robin. Captain Arton, may I come in?" Robin's voice came from outside.
"A-and me as well, Captain Arton." Ain's somewhat timid voice followed.
"So it's you two. The door's not locked—come on in." Arton said.
As soon as he spoke, Robin pushed the door open and walked in with a gentle smile on her face.
Behind her was Ain, cheeks flushed red, as if lost in some sort of thoughts.
"What are you two here for?"
"And also, I'm not your captain just yet, Robin, Ain." Arton looked at Robin and Ain—who had already closed the door—with a puzzled expression.
Right now, he was still thinking about who he should give Signora's template to; he wasn't in the mood to deal with Robin and Ain, especially Ain.
Arton could more or less guess Robin's desire to remain on the ship.
But Ain—someone who'd basically been dragged onto the ship by him—actually wanted to stay as well, and even from time to time gave him some benefits. Arton still couldn't quite figure her out.
That was also why Arton had been keeping his guard up a little when it came to Ain's actions.
Ain wasn't unaware of that.
She wasn't a stupid person to begin with—she just got easily embarrassed by shameful things, so a lot of the time she failed to properly analyze what was going on in Arton's mind.
But as time passed, she gradually came to sense what Arton really thought about her.
If Arton never found a reason that satisfied him for why she wanted to stay on the ship, then sooner or later, she would be kicked off.
Thinking of that, the hesitation in Ain's eyes slowly faded, and a trace of determination surfaced in her heart.
Chapter 420: Ain's Straightforwardness Even Shocks Robin
"Sorry, it's just that I really, really want to become a member of the Flameblade Pirates, so I called you Captain~. Also, I figured you must be tired after just finishing an interview." As Robin spoke, she crossed her arms in front of her chest. "So I wanted to come help relax your body and mind."
The moment she struck the signature pose for the Flower-Flower Fruit, several slender arms bloomed into existence out of nowhere on Arton's back, his waist, his legs, and other spots.
Just like acupuncture, Robin used these arms created by her Flower-Flower Fruit pressing accurately down on various acupoints all over Arton's body.
"If it's about helping me relax, there'll be plenty of time for that later, Robin." Arton frowned slightly. While Robin's technique and control over her Flower-Flower Fruit were both impressive, he just wasn't in the mood to lie back and enjoy himself right now.
"Sorry, it's just that I recently learned a few techniques and really wanted to find someone to practice on." Robin said with a smile.
"You can completely just go find someone else on the ship."
"Carina, Nami, Nojiko—any of them would do." Arton said.
Robin shook her head. "They won't work."
Arton: "Why not?"
Robin: "Because these techniques have to be used on a man."
As soon as Robin finished speaking, Arton suddenly felt a chill all over.
He looked down and realized Robin was using those arms to start going after every last piece of clothing on his body.
And because he was caught off guard, she actually managed to succeed.
Feeling the cold against his skin, Arton raised a brow and looked at Robin in surprise.
The corners of Robin's lips curled upward, and just as she was about to have the arms created by the Flower-Flower Fruit carry out her next step—Ain suddenly darted past her and threw herself straight into Arton's arms.
"What are you doing now?" Arton lowered his head, staring in shock at Ain, who had buried her face deep in his chest—and then rapidly slid downward.
Robin's eyes also widened. Good grief—she'd been planning to make the first move herself and now Ain had actually gotten the jump on her.
Not only that, her approach was even more aggressive than Robin's.
That made Robin realize she might have been underestimating Ain.
"I-I want to win your trust, Arton." After taking a few deep breaths, then coughing twice in discomfort, Ain finally lifted her head and looked up at Arton solemnly.
"This is how you're trying to win my trust?" The corner of Arton's mouth twitched as he stared at Ain in disbelief.
Come on, are you really the same cute Ain I had in my mind? Isn't this just a bit too skilled?
What Arton didn't know was that the only reason Ain seemed skilled at all was entirely thanks to the "tutorials" he'd drawn for her.
With that kind of study material, even a simple girl like Ain could grow quickly—at least in theory.
…
What she'd been lacking until now was simply actual hands-on practice and the courage to take the first step.
As long as Ain had the guts to take that step, what awaited her afterward would be rapid growth.
Looks like I underestimated her… Watching Ain in that kneeling posture in front of Arton, Robin couldn't help feeling a bit emotional.
She'd thought she was already being pretty bold—yet she hadn't expected Ain to be the same.
Not only that, Ain had waited until Robin was basic-attacking Arton, then suddenly chose to land a little crit on him instead.
She'd even gone and covered Arton's weak point.
That left Robin with nowhere she could even use her Devil Fruit powers, even if she wanted to.
For the moment, all she could do was sigh and quietly watch Ain's lewd performance.
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