Gion and Kuzan entered Finn's office and immediately made themselves comfortable on the sofa, completely ignoring any pretense of formal military protocol.
Finn didn't take offense. After all, he treated Fleet Admiral Sengoku with similar casual familiarity.
They all knew each other too well for rigid formality. Why bother with official language and stiff postures when there were no outsiders present?
Gion leaned forward eagerly. "So we're heading out on a mission?"
"The New World," Finn confirmed with a nod.
Kuzan slouched deeper into the cushions, his expression pained. "I just got back from the New World a few days ago. Can't I take a proper vacation?"
"Vacation?" Finn's eyes narrowed. "As an Admiral of the Marines, I work around the clock, three hundred sixty-five days a year. And you're sitting there asking me for time off?"
"I heard about your trip to Mary Geoise with CP..." Kuzan started, his tone casual but pointed.
Finn's expression shifted instantly. The glare vanished, replaced by an ingratiating smile. He cut Kuzan off mid-sentence. "Ah, well, I know you've been working hard. I actually wanted to drag Sakazuki along instead of you, but the Fleet Admiral insisted. New leadership, you know how it is. Three fires to light and all that. I couldn't exactly argue with the boss." He waved dismissively. "Don't complain to me about it. If you've got a problem, go fight Sengoku yourself..."
Internally, Finn was cursing Kuzan's entire bloodline. Is this something you bring up HERE? Don't you see Gion sitting right there? Just wait until we get to the New World, you ice bastard. I'll find a way to make you regret opening your mouth...
Kuzan seemed to realize his mistake. He hadn't meant anything by it, really, but the look on Finn's face made it clear he'd stepped in something. He raised both hands placatingly. "Forget it, forget it. It's all for justice, right?"
Finn and Kuzan both felt the weight of guilty consciences, but Gion appeared completely unbothered by the exchange. She'd already established her position with Hina. Why would she worry about Stussy, who Finn rarely even saw?
"When do we leave?" Gion asked, moving the conversation along.
"Are you packed?" Finn replied. "We're heading to Sabaody Archipelago shortly. Jinbe will meet us there, and we'll take the route through Fish-Man Island to enter the New World secretly. Then we'll give those pirate bastards a proper surprise."
Gion nodded. "Hina already asked us to pack before we came here. I've got everything ready, yours, mine, and Hina's belongings. I sent it all ahead to the small merchant vessel that Bellmere uses for deliveries to Marineford's residential district..."
This was exactly why Hina was invaluable as an adjutant. She identified gaps and filled them before anyone else even noticed they existed.
Finn hadn't reminded Hina not to use a warship. After all, they were supposed to be infiltrating the New World covertly. Sailing a Marine warship to Sabaody Archipelago and then mysteriously disappearing would leave an obvious trail.
But Hina had figured it out immediately and made all the necessary arrangements without being told. She'd handled everything so Finn didn't have to worry about the details.
This was also why Finn had always been reluctant to send Hina to frontline combat positions. If she left, his operations would descend into chaos within days.
Kuzan pulled a toothbrush from his pocket and waved it casually. "I'll just take this..."
Finn stared at him, then gave a thumbs up. "Outstanding."
You could call Kuzan sloppy, but he was refined enough to carry a toothbrush at all times.
You could call him meticulous, but he was only bringing a toothbrush.
After finalizing the details in the office, Finn, Kuzan, Gion, and Hina changed into civilian clothes and headed to Marineford's residential district port.
As soon as they arrived, Finn spotted Bellmere, Nami, Nojiko, Luffy, and Ace unloading crates of supplies from the small merchant ship.
Bellmere stood with an unlit cigarette dangling from her lips, her distinctive hairstyle as sharp as ever. She cut a striking figure, and Finn couldn't help thinking it was a waste that she'd left active Marine service.
Ace had grown into a sturdy boy. Both he and Luffy possessed natural physical gifts, showing remarkable strength despite their youth. Ace wore a somewhat worn Marine standard justice vest, and from a distance, he could easily pass for a Marine recruit.
Finn knew perfectly well that the boy hadn't been officially approved to join the Marines yet. But he received regular training from both Sakazuki and Zephyr, which was more than most recruits could claim.
The vest he wore was popular among military families' children in Marineford. Many kids who grew up on the base dreamed of becoming Marines, and they wore similar vests as a show of aspiration. The garment was identical to what regular Marines wore, just without the rank epaulettes.
Ace descended from the ship carrying three crates stacked higher than his head, not even breathing hard.
Luffy clearly wanted to match his brother's feat, but his shorter stature limited him to two crates at a time. The frustration on his face was evident.
The straw hat perched on Luffy's head drew Finn's attention. After Finn had defeated Shanks, he'd returned the pirate's iconic headwear to the boy. Luffy had cried and begged Bellmere to repair the damaged hat, then refused to take it off. He wore it constantly now.
The scene wasn't much different from what Finn remembered of Luffy's childhood in the original timeline.
The key difference was that in the original story, young Luffy had shouted daily about becoming the Pirate King and gotten beaten up by Garp for it. Now, he shouted daily about becoming the King of Marines... and still got beaten up by Garp.
After all, there was no such thing as a "King of Marines."
Garp remained convinced that his grandson had something wrong with his brain. The boy might actually be an idiot.
Luffy wore a white two-piece vest with the word "Justice" scrawled crookedly across the back. Finn knew Nami had written it. Ever since Ace had gotten his Marine vest, Luffy had wanted one too. He'd cried and made a fuss until finally begging Nami to write "Justice" on his own vest to satisfy his craving.
Finn didn't visit these kids often. Even Garp, their grandfather, had been absent lately. They were both worried and overwhelmed with responsibilities. Plus, dealing with children, especially Ace and Luffy, could be genuinely exhausting.
Sakazuki was different. Finn had heard that whenever the Admiral had free time, he'd visit these kids. Mainly Ace, of course.
So Finn hadn't seen them in a while.
Now, standing in the residential district port, watching them help Bellmere unload cargo, watching this story unfold so differently from what he remembered... Finn felt a smile spread across his face.
It was good. Seeing these kids growing up safe and healthy filled him with an inexplicable warmth.
There weren't many crates left on the ship. Bellmere leaned against a wooden piling on the dock and lit her cigarette properly, exhaling smoke with satisfaction. She watched Ace and Luffy compete to see who could carry more cargo, watched Nami and Nojiko fan the flames of their rivalry, and enjoyed her lazy moment.
The reason she and Hina had become such good friends was probably because they shared the same hobby, Finn thought wryly.
"Pretty impressive, having such a successful business owner doing manual labor at the docks," Finn called out with a smile as he approached with Kuzan, Gion, and Hina.
Nami's eyes lit up when she saw Finn. She ran toward him with her arms spread wide.
Finn caught her easily, scooping the girl up. He genuinely liked this clever child. "How have you been lately?"
"I passed the Marine Headquarters Level Two Navigator examination!" Nami announced proudly. "Aren't I amazing!?"
"You're a genuine little genius," Finn agreed with a warm laugh.
After a brief pause, he asked, "So, are you thinking about joining the Marines?"
"I don't have a choice," Nami sighed, shaking her head with exaggerated world-weariness. "Luffy and Ace are both idiots. If they join the Marines like this, they'll probably get lost at sea one day. I'm their older sister, so I have to help them... It's really worrying."
If Ace had been within earshot, he definitely would have argued. After all, he was older than Nami.
After chatting with Nami for a while, Finn turned his attention to Bellmere, who was talking with Hina, Kuzan, and Gion.
"Bell, will it cause problems for you if we take your ship?" Finn asked.
"What problems? You're not going far, just to Sabaody Archipelago. I can make several round trips in a day. Once I unload this shipment, the tavern will have enough supplies for three to five days. It's fine." Bellmere waved dismissively.
She grinned. "Besides, you and Mr. Garp are the big owners, not me."
It was a joke. Two years ago, Finn and Garp had each given Bellmere substantial shares in the tavern. In reality, Finn now kept only a token amount as a keepsake. Garp had done the same. Bellmere was the tavern's primary owner.
Business operations and propriety aside, Finn didn't take it seriously at all. He'd simply given it to her. It was just a tavern.
But Bellmere always distributed dividends according to the original ownership structure. In her words, Finn and Garp had already helped her so much that continuing to accept their shares felt inappropriate.
She planned to keep the ownership they'd forced on her and eventually distribute it to Ace, Luffy, Nami, and Nojiko.
While Finn and the others stood chatting, Ace carried the last crate down from the ship, stacked it with the others, then competed with Luffy over who'd done more work. Naturally, Ace won.
Then Ace ran over to the adults. Seeing Nami and Nojiko being held by Gion and Finn respectively, he looked envious. He climbed up Kuzan's long legs instead, leaving the Admiral looking confused.
Luffy tried to climb Hina's legs, but she didn't tolerate the brat's antics. She kicked him away. Luffy, being Luffy, retaliated by secretly kicking her shoe. Then Hina chased him across the dock, caught him, draped him over her knee, and spanked him soundly...
The scene made everyone laugh. Nobody thought Hina was actually bullying or mistreating Luffy. Everyone knew she usually treated him the best, constantly buying him strange snacks. Their relationship was excellent.
Of course, Luffy also got beaten up by Hina on a regular basis.
Ace grabbed Kuzan's shoulders, then looked at Finn seriously. "Uncle Finn, thank you!"
The earnest expression caught Finn off guard for a moment. Then he remembered and smiled. "How is it? Are you satisfied with your ability?"
"Satisfied!" Ace nodded happily, then stretched out his small hand. Flames erupted from his palm, dancing across his fingers.
That's right. The boy was already a Logia-type Devil Fruit user. The Flame-Flame Fruit.
After Finn had brought the fruit back from his arrangement with Doflamingo, he'd handed it to Sakazuki, who had immediately given it to Ace.
Later, when Sakazuki had mentioned the matter, he'd looked so pleased. As if Ace were his own son. As if he'd secured his legacy...
The whole thing had made Finn's scalp tingle.
"Work hard," Finn said with a smile. "Don't let us down."
At that moment, Luffy, who'd been thoroughly beaten by Hina, ran back over. "It's not fair, Uncle Finn! I want to be a Devil Fruit user too! I can't fall too far behind Ace!"
"Hahahaha! You want a Devil Fruit?" Finn laughed. "What kind of ability do you want?"
Luffy looked at Ace, thought about Sakazuki, then looked at Finn. His expression turned determined. "I want a Paramecia ability like yours, Uncle Finn!!!"
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