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"Speaking of which, the goal you're seeking from Arton… it's the Historical Poneglyphs, right?" Carina asked.
"Mm. Just as Arton's diary described," Robin nodded. "What I pursue are the Historical Poneglyphs the World Government is desperate to hide."
"Historical Poneglyphs—things the World Government absolutely forbids anyone to touch. The moment you approach them, they strike," Carina said. "But we've already crossed the Celestial Dragons. Touching Poneglyphs won't really increase the risk our crew faces anymore."
"From your objective alone, Captain Arton taking you in wouldn't change much for us. So whether he accepts you probably depends on how much he minds that you've betrayed so many people before."
"Yes… Miss Carina, could you help me?" Robin looked at her hopefully.
Carina was Arton's first companion; her weight in his heart was not ordinary. If she helped, Robin felt her chances would rise a lot.
Unfortunately, Robin was thinking too much.
"Sorry. If you want to join this crew, it has to be on your own," Carina shook her head. "What I can guarantee is that no one here will target you while you're on this ship. Beyond that, I can't help."
As someone who'd often betrayed her previous groups, Robin simply wasn't Carina's type. Who could guarantee Robin wouldn't betray the Flameblade Pirates? Carina was only this cordial because Robin had a mountain of "works" and pin-ups—and because Vivi, Mikita, and Paula were connected behind her, especially Princess Vivi. Otherwise, Carina might have put Robin through a much stricter probe.
"Even so, I'm grateful," Robin said. One knows one's own situation best—Carina showing no malice was already a fine start in Robin's book.
"Right, one more question, Miss Robin."
"Please, Miss Carina."
"In your… books, you seem to have two versions of yourself. Any thoughts on that?"
"Two versions? You mean the dark-skinned me and the fair-skinned me?"
"Yeah." Carina's eyes traveled up and down Robin. "Your complexion is a healthy wheat tone. So why do your works also have a fair-skinned you? Do you know some secret to whitening?"
Carina was a girl after all—and she favored fair, porcelain skin. Naturally she was curious about the fair-skinned Robin shown in those works.
"That question really stumps me," Robin shook her head. "Right now I'm just as confused. Maybe, in the original flow of history, I'd turn fair because of some incident."
"I see—what a pity. Looks like you still have a lot to do," Carina mused. "In your works, there are plenty of scenes where Arton gets… deeply familiar with the tan-skinned you, but if we're counting sheer numbers, he does that even more with the fair-skinned you."
"If you can't eventually gain some method to become that fair-skinned version, Arton might feel disappointed. And if he's disappointed, he could give up on taking you into the Flameblade Pirates."
Chapter 368 — What? The Original Robin Faced Two Buster Calls?!
"If Captain Arton really accepts me into the Flameblade Pirates," Robin smiled, "I believe he'd have a way to help me gain fair skin. After all, he practically knows everything about this world."
"Perhaps Captain Arton could use a certain template so I can freely switch between wheat-tan and fair skin—just like how Tashigi can take on a wheat-tan tone through Tier Harribel's template."
"That's true," Carina nodded. "Alright, let's shelve that for now and get back to your qipao."
"Mm." Robin answered.
…
Aboard the Sylvan.
Lookout.
While sinking into Kaya's warm embrace, Arton continued writing his diary.
[Forget it. Since I've decided to let Robin stay aboard for a while, I won't think about tossing her overboard—for now. I'll watch how she behaves. If she underperforms, throwing her off later won't be too late.]
Robin: "…"
[Not just Robin—there's also Ain. I don't even know what that girl is thinking. Even after the, ahem, "physical exam" showed she's fine, she's still clinging on here. Hm… when I kick Robin off, I'll toss her too.]
Ain: "…"
At that moment, both Ain and Robin tensed up. Especially Ain—Arton had at least left room for Robin depending on her performance, but for Ain, he showed little intent to keep her. Naturally, Ain grew anxious.
When Robin leaves… that's when I get kicked too? No. I can't let that happen. I absolutely can't leave the Sylvan.
Right—Arton said if he shakes off Robin, he'll shake off me. So, if Robin doesn't leave… maybe I won't have to either? I should find a way to help her stay, as much as possible. Ain frowned, thinking hard.
Meanwhile, seeing Arton's latest entries, many diary holders sighed again. The Robin all other pirates covet… is a burden in Arton's eyes—that contrast said plenty about how unusual he was. But remembering how deeply he understands this world, the girls soon accepted it.
[Speaking of which, in the original, Robin was captured by CP9 and taken to Enies Lobby.]
[There's really a twisted fate-link between Robin's mother and Spandine, and between Robin herself and Spandam.]
[Back in Ohara, Spandine used the Golden Den Den Mushi to authorize a Buster Call, sinking the island and causing Robin's mother's death.]
[Then when Robin was dragged to Enies Lobby—good grief—Spandam accidentally pressed the Golden Den Den Mushi and launched a Buster Call on Enies Lobby itself.]
[Tsk, to launch a Buster Call like that… calling Spandam a fool sure fits, huh.]
[Image: Robin (Adult) during the Buster Call!]
Robin: "Mother! Damn you, Spandine!"
Carina: "Calm down, Robin. You should focus on your own crisis—you get taken to Enies Lobby and face a Buster Call there!"
Robin: "A Buster Call?! In the original, would I have died at Enies Lobby? But… if I'm already a prisoner there, why launch a Buster Call on the island itself?"
Kalifa: "Prisoners taken into Enies Lobby are never supposed to escape. Has Spandam lost his mind? Triggering a Buster Call on Enies Lobby with no external threat?"
Kujaku: "That Spandam must be an idiot. 'Accidentally' pressing the Golden Den Den Mushi—who even does that?"
...
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