"His rate of growth is bizarre, and his crewmates are unusual as well. Could that man have obtained some peculiar power?"
"Or is he someone like Vegapunk, possessing special technology?" Sword-bearing Elder Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro muttered to himself.
"No matter what, Arton has done what should never be done. We must act. Besides the Navy, have the CP agencies move as well," said Shepherd Ju Peter.
"Seconded!"
"Seconded!"
"Seconded!"
"Seconded!"
The other four Elders nodded one after another.
At that moment a low, muffled voice echoed above their heads.
"If circumstances allow, the Knights of God may be deployed."
"Lord Imu!"
The Five Elders looked up in shock at the exalted figure seated upon the throne that should have remained empty.
The Knights of God—bodyguards of the World Nobles.
Every one of them wields formidable strength. Ordinarily they are never mobilized, save for the gravest of events.
Although Arton had publicly issued a death threat against Saint Shalria, to the Elders that lone, ordinary Noble scarcely merited the Knights' dispatch.
"This Arton is… special. I will not allow such a special person to exist. Therefore, the Knights of God may move," Imu declared.
Seeing this, the Five Elders bowed at once.
"As you command. We shall set the Knights in motion."
Imu gave a slight nod, rose from the throne, and walked toward the Chamber of Flowers.
Only after Imu vanished entirely did the five Elders lift their heads.
"Have CP begin operations," Shepherd Ju Peter said, taking the lead toward the door. The other four Elders followed close behind.
Before long, every CP unit stationed in the East Blue and first half of the Grand Line received orders to track Arton's whereabouts; several groups at once set sail for Loguetown.
…
East Blue – the Sylvan.
Training Room.
Sitting cross-legged on the floor, Arton quietly recorded the day's events in his diary copy.
[Been in this world a little over a month now.]
[Thinking back, it still feels like a dream.]
[For the people of this world, my appearance must be just as dreamlike.]
[The Navy, the World Government, the Four Emperors, the Revolutionary Army—every big force should already have noticed me.]
[Once news spreads worldwide that I claimed responsibility for a World Noble's death and named Saint Shalria as my next target, they'll be even more shocked by my actions.]
[No doubt more people like Gion in the Navy will come after me. Likewise, the Revolutionaries, the Government, the Yonko crews, and other groups will all send agents.]
Koala: "Truth is, we set out to find you long ago."
Smoothie: "If only you'd appeared in the New World from the start, Arton—our distance is just too great."
Black Maria: "Still, no matter how many seas lie between us, I'll track you down, Arton."
Whitey Bay: "I hope I make it in time. I hurried to the East Blue ahead of the rest—missing you now would be a waste."
Gion: "Other people taking note of Arton… sigh, nothing to be done about that."
[From the Government's side, I wonder if that outstanding CP9 agent Kalifa will be sent after me.]
[Spandam kept her undercover in Water Seven for years to chase the Ancient Weapons; if he needs prestige, he might really order her to infiltrate my crew.]
[After all these years beside Iceburg she's dug up nothing—he may well want her looking elsewhere.]
Stussy: "Ara-ara, Arton just exposed that CP9 agent's cover, didn't he? She's in for a spot of trouble."
Belo Betty: "An undercover secretary next to Mayor Iceburg, hm? We'll have to warn nearby comrades. Whatever happens, the Government can't be allowed the Ancient Weapons."
Cinnamon: "So that's it—once I reach Water Seven I could drop by Miss Kalifa. If I stumble on Ancient Weapon intel, Mama will be pleased."
Kalifa: "That man… damn! Now I'll have to wriggle out of Water Seven."
Kalifa bit her lip, frustration welling up.
She didn't know whether anyone in Water Seven held a diary copy. Even if not, the other copy-holders chasing Arton certainly would notice her.
If it were ordinary people watching, fine—but if it were members of the Beasts or Big Mom Pirates, the situation grew dire.
Confident as she was, Kalifa didn't fancy her odds against a Yonko crew, even with the modest power she'd gained through Arton's diary.
"Maybe Arton's right. If the Navy and Government don't catch him soon, Spandam might indeed send someone to investigate—and I'm definitely on that list."
"Yet Doll, Gion, and the others failed to infiltrate him. I doubt I could either."
She recalled their failed attempts and frowned deeply.
With the thousands of pin-ups and hundreds of doujins in Arton's diary, Kalifa couldn't imagine him restraining himself when she appeared before him.
"Whatever—first I need off this Water Seven assignment."
She began plotting how to persuade Spandam to pull her from the Ancient Weapon hunt.
[In the East Blue stands the Revolutionary Army officer in charge there—Belo Betty. If word of me killing a World Noble reaches her, she might invite me to join the Revolutionaries.]
[Should she come, I wouldn't mind meeting that rich, generous, and spicy big sister. That red leather outfit, that ample bosom, that forthright personality… darn, just picturing it makes me jealous of Milk-maiden Moda, who got to bury her face in Betty's chest.]
Domino: "Does Arton really have that much interest in Revolutionary women?"
Moda: "I-I'm a woman! There's nothing wrong with burying into Sister Belo Betty's chest!"
Nico Robin: "Rich and generous, huh… Is there any way to make these two mounds bigger? In that work depicting me, my skin turned fairer and my figure improved. If I work at it, maybe I can have a second growth spurt."
Galette: "Arton's mentioned Betty's fashion several times—it seems a good outfit will raise his opinion. My tight backless dress ought to catch his eye."
Belo Betty: "If we meet, I'll be sure you feel it for yourself, Arton—hehe."
Sadi: "Don't tell me he'd join the Revolutionaries just for Betty! If that happens I'll be in real danger."
[Still, even after I killed a World Noble, a cautious group like the Revolutionaries probably won't rush me. Right now, I'm just a crazy pirate in their eyes. Charlos… he might weigh me a bit longer.]
Sadi: "Phew, so I'm safe?"
Gion: "With Belo Betty around, she'll probably invite him outright."
Belo Betty: "Hehe, I know what kind of person you are, Arton. Freedom-loving, yet deep down a decent guy."
[As for the Yonko—no need to mention Red-Haired; with Uta aboard, Shanks will come for me sooner or later.]
[Big Mom likes political marriages; she might send me a wedding invite. Plenty of beauties among her brood: long-legged Smoothie and Cinnamon, and the varied charms of Galette, Custard, Pudding, and more.]
[If I really had to wed one of Linlin's daughters, any of them would be a fine pick.
But Linlin herself—she was once gorgeous as a flower, even Roger praised her beauty.
Now look at her… ugh.]
[Will Smoothie and the other daughters change that drastically one day too? If so, that'd be downright scary.]
...
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