Gion: "Only Marine admirals can possess the Golden Den Den Mushi. Among Kuzan, Borsalino, and Sakazuki—which one handed a Golden Den Den Mushi to Spandam?"
Custard: "Interesting. Enies Lobby, one of the World Government's three main institutions, ends up destroyed by their own hands. I hope that future doesn't change."
Smoothie: "Enies Lobby's future can stay as is, but Robin's had better change. It'd be a shame if the only archaeologist who can read the Poneglyphs just dies."
Koala: "Spandam was way too careless. To trigger a Buster Call like that—how many innocent people would die?"
Belo Betty: "It shouldn't be that simple! Spandam's supposedly the chief of Enies Lobby. Even a useless man in that seat should understand what a Buster Call means. They say he 'accidentally' pressed the Golden Den Den Mushi, but there must have been something severe going on that made him even consider it."
Doll: "Someone attacked Enies Lobby to snatch Robin? Who would dare storm that place… the monsters from the New World?"
Domino: "The Four Emperors! Could it be them?"
Paula: "Looks like Miss All Sunday's future is a bit shaky. But now that she's met Arton, her future should be altered, right?"
Mikita: "That woman will want to stick even closer to Arton now. Fine by me—if she stays by his side, our chances of meeting him go up too. But Carina barely replies in the group? Ugh. So what if you lucked into meeting Arton first! Once I meet him, I'll have him utterly smitten. We'll see if you still ignore me then, Carina!"
As for Enies Lobby…
Even people who don't read the papers know: once you're taken there for judgment, no one has ever come back out. Prisoners are either executed on the spot or sent to Impel Down.
So when most diary holders saw that Robin would be taken to Enies Lobby—and that a Buster Call would strike as well—they figured her prospects were grim. The odds were high she'd die there.
But the sharper ones thought otherwise. If it were only Robin being taken to Enies Lobby, they wouldn't see hope. But with a Buster Call thrown into the mix, the chaos might actually aid an escape—provided someone comes to rescue her.
Among those convinced Robin wouldn't die at Enies Lobby… was Robin herself. And her confidence didn't come from the Buster Call. It came from the doujins and photo sets Arton created with her as the heroine.
…
"Your emotions seem to show only anger—no fear," Carina said, eyeing Robin with interest. "Aren't you worried you'll die at Enies Lobby?"
"I won't die there," Robin shook her head, resolute.
"Why?" Carina tilted her head. "Sure, Arton's arrival has stirred a butterfly effect. But if he ultimately doesn't keep you on this ship, your future could snap back to being hauled to Enies Lobby and getting hit by a Buster Call."
Robin took a long look at the diary entry Arton had just written, then opened one of her own doujins and displayed it to Carina.
Chapter 370 — The Flower-Flower Fruit Is So Handy; Robin Alters Her Qipao
"Tsk tsk, the eye-roll, the tongue-out, the peace sign… Even someone as mature as you gets ruined by Arton like this, huh? I'm honestly curious—if you really ended up lying on the sofa with Arton pounding away, would you make the same face? But why are you showing me this now?" Carina asked.
Robin: "Miss Carina, in this work, am I fair-skinned or wheat-colored?"
Carina: "Obviously fair-skinned. It's drawn super clearly… Ah, I see—so that's what you mean."
Carina propped her cheek with one hand and nodded. "In the picture Arton uploaded of you under the Buster Call, you're still wheat-colored. If your future is destined to gain fair skin, then at the very least you shouldn't die at Enies Lobby. But that doesn't guarantee a good ending. Maybe you didn't die under the Buster Call but still got sent to Impel Down. It could even be that you became fair-skinned in Impel Down, who knows."
Robin nodded. "Maybe. But I think the probability is low. Even if I did become fair-skinned in Impel Down, with that environment, there's no way I'd have the kind of figure I do in this doujin. Inside Impel Down I'd be gaunt and worn-out. Let alone end up more voluptuous than I am now."
After speaking, Robin deliberately tapped the ominous pair featured in her work.
Carina: "That's true. In that case, your chances of escaping Enies Lobby might be higher. And from these fair-skin photo sets, your original future might've actually been pretty good. Maybe you joined a rather nice pirate crew. Well? Want to hop off now and wait for that 'destined' crew to pick you up?"
Robin: "I'll pass. For me, Arton is my ideal captain… and perhaps my future man."
As for deep feelings—of course she didn't have those yet. Even though Arton had saved her from Blackbeard's hands, the past only made Robin feel some gratitude. But she'd already decided to trade everything she had for Arton's intel on the Poneglyphs. Since Arton likes beautiful women, she'd cater to his tastes.
"Bold of you," Carina said. "But first make sure you can actually stand firm on this ship."
"Of course." Robin nodded, then looked to Carina. "Miss Carina, could you help me enlarge the opening at the bust of this qipao? I think Arton would prefer a bigger cutout."
"Bigger again?" Carina's mouth twitched. "If the slit gets any larger, those two mounds won't stay covered."
"That's exactly what I'm hoping for."
"…Got it. Now I see how badly you want to stay aboard. Do it yourself—I'm not helping."
"So that's how it is…" Robin pursed her lips and lowered her eyes to the cutout on her qipao. Then she invoked the Flower-Flower Fruit, sprouting two arms. One hand took up scissors, the other needle and thread, and she set to work altering the dress at speed.
Watching this, Carina's lips twitched again.
This girl might as well wear nothing! she grumbled inwardly. Is she planning to let Arton slide his weapon straight through that opening?
Carina shook her head, then once more focused on the two hands Robin had just blossomed.
...
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