Chapter 73.5 – New character template

[Ulti: There's such a function, too? By the way, Black Maria, how did you find Ginrummy? She isn't one of your subordinates, right?]

[Black Maria: Hehe, I used a little trick.]

[Ulti: You're still as mysterious as ever.]

[Black Maria: Thank you for the compliment, Ulti~. Anyway, let's talk about forming an alliance.]

[Ulti: An alliance? Aren't we all part of the Beast Pirates? Why would we need to form another alliance?]

[Black Maria: Naturally, it's an alliance to compete for Arton.]

[Ulti: Compete for Arton? Why would we compete for him?]

[Black Maria: Ulti, don't you want to become stronger?]

[Ulti: Of course I do... but what does that have to do with forming an alliance?]

[Black Maria: Ulti, Arton's diary copy has the power to make us, the diary holders, stronger in a more convenient and faster way, you know this, right?]

[Ulti: Of course I know. As long as that guy mentions our names more in the diary, takes our photos, and records our videos, we can earn points and use these points to become stronger. Black Maria, is that what you're talking about?]

[Black Maria: Since you know, then everything is easy to explain. Ulti, along with Ginrummy, Arton's abilities are bound to attract many diary copyholders to seek him out.

Pirate crews, the Navy, and even the World Government might do this. To get Arton, they might resort to anything, and the tactic of using beauty is certainly among those options.

The alliance I'm speaking of is born for this reason. If we join together, our chances of securing Arton increase. And once we secure Arton, we can find ways to get him to mention us more in his diary.

By then, we'll naturally become stronger.]

[Ginrummy: Yes, that's true!]

After reading Black Maria's explanation, Ginrummy nodded repeatedly, no longer just listening.

Being part of the Beast Pirates, which venerates strength, Ginrummy naturally wants to become stronger.

[Ulti: Tch, I hate to admit it, but you make some sense. I agree to the alliance.

With your cunning, you should be more capable of securing benefits from Arton for us.

But, besides us three, are there no other diary copyholders in the Beast Pirates?]

[Black Maria: I'm glad you could agree~. Besides me, you, and Ginrummy, I think there is one more person who has a diary copy.]

[Ulti: Who?]

[Black Maria: If I'm not mistaken, the captain's daughter also has a diary copy.]

[Ulti: Yamato? How do you know? Did you see her with the diary copy?]

[Black Maria: Not exactly, but I've heard mentions that ever since Arton predicted Ace's death, there's been constant disturbances around Yamato, unusually intense. Eventually, even the captain had to personally intervene.

For Yamato to be so disturbed, especially just after Ace's death was mentioned by Arton... it's hard not to connect the two. Still, we need to see Yamato in person to be sure.]

Others might not know of the friendship between Yamato and Ace.

But Black Maria had once learned about it, so she knows of Yamato's feelings for Ace.

[Ulti: Hmm… the captain's daughter… even if she has a diary copy, she's unlikely to cooperate with us, right?]

[Black Maria: Regardless, we have to check it out, don't we~?]

Immediately, Ulti, Ginrummy, and Black Maria went to the cell where Kaido had imprisoned Yamato.

At that moment, Yamato's voice reached the ears of Ulti, Ginrummy, and Black Maria.

"Damn it, why can Arton's words reach me, but my words can't reach him?!"

"Do I really have to go to sea to talk to him?"

"Damn it, if it weren't for these bomb handcuffs, I could go to sea."

Hearing this, Ginrummy, Black Maria, and Ulti exchanged looks.

Being able to mention Arton's name, at this moment, all three confirmed that Yamato, like them, possessed a diary copy.

[Ulti: She really has a diary copy. Black Maria, what do you plan to do next?]

Ulti furrowed her brows slightly.

[Black Maria: For now, let's just observe. If the situation is right, we might also bring her into our team.]

A faint smile appeared on Black Maria's face as her gaze drifted to the bomb handcuffs on Yamato's hands.

'If it weren't for this thing, Yamato would probably have gone to sea to find Arton by now. Unfortunately, Yamato currently doesn't have the power to break free from the handcuffs.'

'But if Arton mentions her name multiple times in the diary... Yamato could break free from the handcuffs.'

Black Maria thought to herself, glancing at Ginrummy and Ulti beside her.

'With the entire Beast Pirates, including Yamato, there would only be four of us with diary copies so, the cards I have to play to win Arton are just these three, myself included, only four.'

'And each one of us cannot easily leave Wano.'

'Even if there isn't an opportunity now, there will always be one in the future.'

With this thought, a gleam flashed in Black Maria's eyes.

'Arton… such a fascinating man.'

'If I could have the pleasure of tormenting him, how wonderful that would be~.'

A gentle expression spread across Black Maria's face as she smiled.

Just then, Black Maria's attention was suddenly captured by a new message on the diary copy.

'This is... Arton has obtained another character template?!'

'Tsunade's template?'

"Mmm… I wonder how this template compares to that of Elizabeth Bathory and Yae Miko~."

Black Maria thought to herself.

***

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