"Based on our intel, the updraft's endpoint should be a Sky Island," Sengoku said. "Arton went there on purpose. So he isn't missing—we still have a handle on his location."
Kizaru stayed silent, just watching him. He already knew what was coming. There was no dodging this assignment.
"Either way, you're going to the spot where the updraft appeared," Sengoku continued. "If possible, fly up and take a look. If we're lucky, we'll find Arton."
Kizaru let out a slow breath. "Even Kuzan couldn't keep him from escaping. I'm not exactly confident I can do much on my own."
"I'll have Kuzan remain on standby nearby," Sengoku said. "If you locate Arton, you call it in—Kuzan will move to support immediately."
Kizaru rubbed the back of his head, half amused, half miserable. "Two Admirals for one pirate crew… If people hear about this, they'll think we're fighting an Emperor."
Still, he pushed himself up from his chair.
"Alright. I get it, Fleet Admiral," Kizaru said, already heading for the door. "I'll go take a look. If nothing else, it'll at least give the World Government something to point at and say we tried."
Sengoku nodded. "Good. And… thanks. I know it's a hassle."
Kizaru shrugged like it didn't matter. He and Sengoku went way back—he could tell Sengoku didn't truly expect a capture. Even if Kizaru rushed there at top speed, Arton would still have plenty of time to slip away to somewhere else.
This wasn't about results. It was about giving the Five Elders a report they'd accept.
If we still don't catch Arton this time… Kizaru's gaze cooled a fraction. Then the World Government will probably start talking about sending their own people.
Muttering under his breath, he contacted his aide, handed off the necessary work, and then his body dissolved into a streak of golden light that blasted out of Marine Headquarters—his destination set: the place where Kuzan had fought Arton.
…
Skypiea.
Flameblade Pirates.
In the infirmary.
Kaya thought, I should be about done now.
She took a sharp breath, steadying herself—then felt it, that tiny signal of success that made heat bloom in her cheeks.
A moment later, Kaya surfaced from beneath the water, looking up at Arton with those soft, pleading eyes of hers—sweet, innocent, and way too damn tempting for what she'd just been doing. Then, with Arton watching, she slowly opened her mouth as if to wordlessly ask: Did you get a good look? Satisfied?
Arton's expression flickered—surprised first, then that familiar, teasing glint.
Kaya finally closed her lips, flustered all over again.
"Captain… keep resting a little longer," she said, voice small. "I—I need to step out for a bit."
She started to rise and move away from him.
Arton didn't stop her—but he also stood up from the medicated bath.
"Captain?" Kaya panicked for a second, thinking he was about to follow her, and she hurried to rein herself in. But Arton just waved a hand, casual as ever.
"The useful stuff in the bath has already soaked in," he said. "Look—see how clear the water is now? There's no point staying in it."
Only then did Kaya realize just how long she'd been underwater. With Arton's physique, the bath time that actually mattered had passed ages ago.
"Then… wait, Captain—I'll go prepare a fresh—"
"Not right now," Arton cut in, tone easy but final. He glanced toward the door. "The people outside have been waiting a long time. I'm going to go see what's going on."
Chapter 528: Arton's Eyes Seemed to See Straight Through
He'd enjoyed himself a little too much—so much that even Arton wasn't sure how long he'd been soaking in that medicated bath.
One thing was certain: it hadn't been short.
Otherwise, Kaya's lips wouldn't be faintly swollen, and her tongue wouldn't still feel a little clumsy when she spoke.
As the captain of the Flameblade Pirates, Arton didn't want to keep his crew waiting too long—especially with Robin still itching to see the Poneglyph, and that woman, Raki, also needing to be met properly.
"But your body still hasn't recovered," Kaya said after using medical ninjutsu to treat her mouth.
And it wasn't just not recovered—Kaya knew exactly how much stamina Arton had spent earlier. Sure, it hadn't been a fight with an enemy, but in her honest medical opinion… going up against her like that might've drained him even harder.
"Then I haven't recovered," Arton said breezily. "So what? There aren't any truly dangerous enemies on Skypiea. I'll just stroll around on deck while I recover."
He wasn't worried in the slightest.
Sure, Skypiea had one fairly nasty Logia user—Enel, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit guy—but the idiot didn't even know what seastone was, much less Haki. Arton figured that even if he were completely out of stamina, he could still turn the tables.
All he had to do was take a page from Wyper's playbook—wait for the right moment, slap some seastone onto Enel… and then finish it with a blade.
Arton didn't believe for a second that Enel could restart himself the way he did in the original story if his head was gone.
"…Alright," Kaya sighed, conceding. "If that's what you want, Captain."
"You're the best, Kaya." Arton grinned and walked over, hooking an arm around hers.
Kaya looked away, cheeks warm. "I'm not exactly a strict doctor, am I…? Fine. Let me at least get you dressed first."
And with that, she moved like a devoted wife—helping him wash up, fixing his clothes, tidying him until he looked presentable again. Only after she finished with him did she finally start changing and straightening herself.
"All set," Arton said once they were ready. "Let's go meet Raki and hear what she has to say."
He opened the infirmary door and headed out to the deck.
Up on deck, Raki was in the middle of sharing her doujins with Nami, Carina, and the others. The moment she caught Arton and Kaya in the corner of her eye, her eyes went wide. She shot to her feet, suddenly tense, suddenly unsure what to do with her hands—staring at Arton like her brain had blanked out.
She'd prepared herself a thousand ways in her head.
But seeing Arton's face in real life—actually meeting him—hit different. She didn't know how to approach him, what tone to use, what kind of words wouldn't backfire.
Thankfully, Arton didn't look annoyed at all. He walked over with an easy smile and stopped beside her.
"Uta told me your people tried to attack us," Arton said, voice calm, almost curious. "And you were against it. Can I ask why you made that choice?"
Raki opened her mouth… and nothing came out.
Because she couldn't exactly tell him the truth—that she'd learned through the Diary Copy just how terrifying his power was, and that she believed he might be the one to save Skypiea from Enel's brutal rule. Even if she wanted to say it, the diary system wouldn't allow it.
So she forced out the safest answer she could.
"I… I just think attacking everyone you see is wrong," Raki said, pressing her lips together.
As she spoke, she flicked a glance toward the diary copy at her side.
She wanted Arton to write something—anything—that would reveal his mood, give her a thread to grab so she could respond in the right way.
But nothing appeared.
Maybe he'd already finished today's entries—because Arton didn't open the system at all. He just stood there, studying her with open interest.
And for some reason, under that look, Raki felt like she wasn't wearing anything.
Arton's gaze was shamelessly direct—like it could slip beneath fabric and see straight into what was underneath, inside and out.
Raki's mind betrayed her, flashing to the things she'd seen in the diary's doujins section.
Heat rushed up her neck, and a blush bloomed across her cheeks.