Bonus chapter unlocked by your Power Stones!
...
Robin and Kaya exchanged a smile; in that instant, a small flower of friendship quietly took root between them. Just then, both noticed Arton—still gazing out at the sea—updating his diary again, even slipping in a candid shot of their shared smile.
[Photo: Robin in a fitted qipao, offering a pillow.]
[Photo: Kaya and Robin, who look like they might become friends.]
[Gotta say, Robin's figure really is something. A qipao suits her perfectly. Tsk, tsk—the long leg peeking through that high slit, and that big cutout up top showing off all that skin and a bottomless valley… mm, top-tier.]
[Women's valleys really are amazing. Nami can stash her Clima-Tact down there. In the original, Robin even pulls a flintlock from hers.]
[Well, my head didn't bump anything hard just now, so I'm guessing Robin's not hiding a pistol today.]
[Also, Kaya actually felt for Robin and even whispered that I should let her stay on the Sylvan for good. Maybe Kaya's and Robin's attributes mesh better than I expected.]
Robin's lips curled: A "valley," is it? Rather than hiding a flintlock, wouldn't you prefer I hide something that actually belongs to you, Arton?
Ain's eyes widened with envy: Kaya asked Arton to take Robin in? If only I had Kaya—or someone on his crew—speaking up for me. Maybe… would Tashigi help?
Carina clicked her tongue: "So Robin won Kaya over already? Lucky woman—and she went straight for Arton's head. She's got moves."
Gion stiffened: "Bad. Kaya's sympathizing with Robin? Is she really about to become another member of the Flameblade Pirates?"
Mikita: "Nice one, Robin—get aboard, then take me aboard, too."
Vivi: "Enviable, yes—but I'm glad for Robin. If she joins, maybe I'll have a real chance. But… can I really do what she did and cozy up to Arton like that?"
Paula: "Robin's figure is excellent, but mine isn't exactly shabby. Given the chance, I'd love to let Arton sample a different flavor."
Baccarat: "I take it back—Robin's luck is better than I thought."
Monet: "Luck indeed; otherwise she wouldn't have slipped out from two Buster Calls."
Belo Betty: "An adult escaping I can buy. But how did little Robin survive a Buster Call?"
Koala: "Was there someone who saved her during that first Buster Call as well?"
It wasn't just Koala—everyone was curious how Robin, as a child, had lived through a Buster Call. As if sensing it, Arton's diary rolled straight into those origins.
[Say Aokiji, one of the three Marine Admirals—if he learns Robin is on my ship, think he'll personally drop by?]
[Hmmm… pretty likely.]
[After all, the man currently considers himself Robin's guardian.]
Jewelry Bonney: "Huh?! An Admiral is the Devil Child's guardian? No way!"
Hiyori: "Surprising, yes—but if Arton wrote it, it's true."
Stussy: "An Admiral, guardian to the Devil Child? How entertaining."
Black Maria: "Imagine the Navy women and Cipher Pol ladies when they hear that. Delicious reactions incoming."
Kujaku: "Admiral Aokiji tied to Robin? That… can't be, right?"
Gion: "I recall Kuzan participated in the Ohara Buster Call… could it be—"
Kalifa: "The Admiral helped Robin escape Ohara?"
Smoothie: "But why? Soft-hearted toward a child?"
Ulti: "Then why act as her guardian? Admirals have time for that?"
Paula: "Seems Robin's situation is even more special than we thought."
Carina: "Don't tell me this woman's going to lure an Admiral here…"
Robin: "…"
Chapter 384 — The Navy Really Is Two-Faced, Even Targets Civilians
Robin's heart tightened. She stole a worried glance at Kaya by her side, then at Carina's name in her friends list.
The only reason she was still on the Sylvan—able to stand this close and show Arton her charm—was because both Carina and Kaya had helped her. If the Aokiji business soured them on her and they stopped vouching for her, things would turn ugly fast. And if they did back away… Robin would understand.
Who wants to draw an Admiral's attention for no reason? The Flameblade Pirates weren't yet strong enough to shrug off a Marine Admiral.
Thankfully, relief washed over Robin almost at once. Kaya didn't show the slightest trace of disdain at the new revelation from Arton's diary. Instead, she gave Robin a gentle, reassuring smile.
[Ohara's Buster Call really did change a lot of things.]
[Back when Kuzan preached "Burning Justice," he watched Akainu, Sakazuki, order the bombardment of a ship full of ordinary Ohara evacuees.]
[That moment shook Kuzan's belief in his own justice.]
[Add to that his friend—giant Vice Admiral Jaguar D. Saul—staking his life to protect a little Robin, and Kuzan ultimately chose not to lay hands on the youngest archaeologist.]
[He even helped her flee, freezing a safe escape route with his Ice-Ice Fruit.]
[Ever since, Kuzan has kept tabs on Robin's trail, wanting to see where Saul's choice would lead her.]
[Ohara also cooled his "Burning Justice" into "Lazy Justice," and from then on he and Akainu were anything but friendly.]
[Hard to imagine, but among the three Admirals, Aokiji and Akainu could go a whole year exchanging barely a word.]
[Come to think of it, that earth-shaking duel between Kuzan and Sakazuki ties back to Ohara as well.]
[Tsk, tsk—what a fight. They permanently changed a whole island's climate—half snowfield, half magma.]
[Each walked away with scars that will never fade!]
[Photo: A young Kuzan freezing a safe path for little Robin.]
[Photo: Showdown—Aokiji vs. Akainu!]
Boom—Arton's diary landed in the minds of every copy-holder like a depth charge. Most had already guessed Kuzan played a role in Robin's escape as a child, but seeing Arton write it outright—and post the photos—still shocked them, especially Marines like Gion, Doll, and Kujaku. Yet what stunned them even more was Arton spelling out Aokiji and Akainu's future duel. As for Akainu ordering fire on civilians… most skimmed past it—or remembered it without dwelling.
Smoothie: "So an Admiral did help Robin flee Ohara. And Aokiji and Akainu will clash? Now that's interesting."
Viola: "A benefactor after all—even if Robin wouldn't exactly want aid from a man who took part in the Buster Call."
Hina: "Knew it was Kuzan—lazy man."
Kujaku: "Admiral Akainu bears responsibility, too. If he hadn't shelled civilians… damn it—why hurt them?"
Gion: "A Buster Call is meant to annihilate everything. …Sigh."
Galette: "Hmph. The Navy is so two-faced—always crying 'capture pirates, protect civilians,' then turns its guns on civilians."
Black Maria: "Too bad only we diary-holders know. If the whole world learned Akainu killed civilians? Now that would be fun~."
Stussy: "Tell Big News Morgans and see if he dares run it? Tempting… but even juicier is still Aokiji vs. Akainu."
...
For every 100 Power Stones → +1 extra chapter.
Read 50+ chapters ahead on Patreon! [patreon.com/METARLN]
Use code SANTA for 50% OFF!