Ain was a rather clever woman.
Once Arton put it that way, she naturally thought of what had happened with Gion.
Just as Arton had said, if Arton really were the kind of person who couldn't move whenever he saw a girl, then when Gion first found him, he probably would have followed her all the way back to Marine Headquarters and become a Marine.
Arton's potential was extremely powerful. Ain was quite clear about that.
And Gion was someone who, in order to achieve her goal, would dare to sacrifice herself.
If making Arton become a Marine required offering herself up, Ain believed Gion would absolutely be willing to do it for Arton.
Ain even felt that, in order to please Arton, Gion might even invite other diary copy holders among the Marines to please Arton as well.
Even if those girls chose not to please Arton for various reasons, that didn't matter.
Since Arton liked beautiful girls, then fine. Gion could simply go out to sea and capture some beautiful female pirates, then send them to Arton.
Although that wouldn't comply with Marine regulations, if she could use that method to keep Arton under her control and by her side, Ain believed Gion would absolutely be capable of doing something like that.
After all, once Arton became a Marine, the help he could bring to the Marines would be far, far too great.
And if Arton became the Marines' enemy, the consequences might not be something the Marines could afford.
Considering that, if Gion violated Marine regulations in order to keep Arton, it wouldn't really count for much.
Never mind Gion. Ain felt that even if it were her, she would probably do something similar to Gion.
There was no helping it. Arton's power was simply too, too strong.
As long as someone still had some kind of wish, they would absolutely never ignore Arton's existence.
"What are you thinking about, Ain?"
Seeing Ain standing there in a daze, Arton couldn't help asking in confusion.
"I was just thinking that you really are incredible, Captain."
"You clearly like beautiful girls so much."
"But you still won't violate your own principles just because you want to obtain them."
Ain spoke with a sigh.
She felt that Arton truly was a man with an extremely clear sense of purpose.
Since he had set his course on taking revenge against the Celestial Dragons, then this man, Arton, would absolutely never turn back.
If possible, Ain wanted to learn that quality from him too.
"Isn't that only natural? If I violated my principles just to obtain a few things…"
"Would I still really be me? Wouldn't that make me a slave to my desires?"
Arton shook his head and spoke as if it were only obvious.
"That's true. Captain really isn't that kind of person."
Ain nodded and said with a smile, "Since you won't try to obtain Miss Hina just because you have some interest in her…"
"Then how about settling for me instead? After all, I still look quite a bit like Miss Hina right now, don't I?"
As she spoke, a trace of shyness appeared on Ain's face.
Clearly, even Ain felt embarrassed by the words she had just said.
"Well… I think I'll pass after all."
After thinking for a moment, Arton shook his head.
"Why?"
Ain tilted her head in confusion.
At that moment, she was standing so close to Arton that she could clearly feel he had reacted.
Because of that, Arton's answer struck Ain as rather strange.
Chapter 701: Loyalty Has to Be Guaranteed First
"Could it be that you're actually not interested in me, Captain?"
Ain pouted, speaking pitifully.
"Of course not. You're so cute, Ain. How could I not like you?"
Arton shook his head.
In the end, if he disliked Ain, he never would have let her get this close to him.
That didn't fit his personality at all.
"Then why?"
Ain asked in confusion.
She had a feeling that if she couldn't figure out what Arton was thinking right now, she might not be able to sleep tonight.
After all, Arton had now become the hope she had her eyes fixed on.
If Arton was dissatisfied with her in some way, Ain would worry too.
"Well…"
Arton scratched his cheek and said a little awkwardly, "I guess it's fine to tell you. Although Hina didn't join my pirate crew the way Tashigi did…"
"I personally still have some expectations for her. I'm hoping that one day in the future, she might join my pirate crew."
"To be honest, the Marines and the World Government arresting Hina this time actually makes me feel a little relieved."
"Do you think that if I go and rescue her this time, she might want to join my pirate crew?"
Ain rested one hand against her chin and thought for a moment before nodding unconsciously.
"Given Miss Hina's current situation, it's probably no longer very possible for her to return to Marine Headquarters."
"Considering what the Celestial Dragons are like, the fact that Miss Hina is still alive already means they're giving Zephyr-sensei and the others a lot of face."
"However, Celestial Dragons are still Celestial Dragons. To them, Zephyr-sensei's face probably won't be enough forever."
"Once enough time passes, they'll eventually make a move against Miss Hina."
"Miss Hina is smart enough. She's probably already figured that out."
"If she still wants to obtain freedom, then there's a certain possibility that she'll join your pirate crew, Captain."
Ain said.
She even felt that if Arton made Hina boarding his ship a condition for saving her, Hina would agree.
Unfortunately, Ain had deleted all of her Marine friends from the diary copy's friend list long ago.
Because of that, she had no way to directly ask Hina through the diary copy what she was thinking right now.
Otherwise, she probably would have contacted Hina already and asked if she was willing to become one of Arton's crew members.
Ain even wanted to ask Hina whether she would be willing to marry Arton.
"I think that if you threaten Miss Hina when you see her, Captain, and tell her she has to join your pirate crew or else you won't save her…"
"Then Miss Hina would definitely join our pirate crew, right?"
Ain looked seriously at Arton, who was now only inches away from her.
"That may be true, but threatening a girl I'm interested in… Yeah, I'd rather do less of that if possible."
Arton shook his head.
After all, the current Hina was not his enemy.
"Besides, if I invite someone aboard in that kind of threatening way, I can't guarantee her loyalty, can I?"
Arton said with a smile.
Ain blinked. She didn't think that someone invited aboard in such a threatening manner would necessarily fail to be loyal to Arton's Flame Blade Pirates.
After all, the benefits Arton's pirate crew could provide its crew members were simply far, far, far too great.
Even Hina, after experiencing the advantages of becoming a member of the Flame Blade Pirates, probably wouldn't want to leave.
...
For every 50 Power Stones → +1 extra chapter.