NOVEL NEXT Chapter 38: Father, Don't You Even Want Your Daughter?
"Brother, what are you thinking?"
Robin was baffled.
Weren't we supposed to help Cobra find the missing princess? How did this suddenly turn into a kidnapping?
"Why do you think?" Finn said, but he couldn't admit his real motive.
He and Robin exchanged glances before Finn gave an honest grin. "I mean... have you seen Princess Vivi? She's gorgeous. I couldn't help myself."
"..." Robin was speechless.
Her brother really had no filter. Not a hint of shame.
Of course, Robin couldn't know about the system Finn was operating under, so she assumed the most straightforward explanation: Finn must have fallen for Vivi and decided he wanted to take her for himself. But she hadn't expected him to be so direct about it.
This brother of mine… He's something else.
Strangely enough, instead of being disgusted by Finn's bluntness, Robin found it refreshing. At least he wasn't like some men, who pretended their lust was "love at first sight." How hypocritical! Finn, on the other hand, just said what he felt. He liked someone, so he admitted it.
And "greedy for her"? That was an interesting way to phrase it.
Robin couldn't help but laugh at the thought of Finn drooling over the princess. She playfully flicked her fingers against his forehead. "You really don't hold back, do you, brother?"
Finn rubbed his head, grinning. "I've been nothing but honest. So, are you going to help me or not?"
Robin chuckled, "If my little brother wants to find a girlfriend, how could I not help?"
"Ah, you're the best, big sister! Makes being your little brother not so bad after all!"
Finn was feeling good now. This plan could only work with Robin's Devil Fruit powers. If anyone else tried to cover Princess Vivi's mouth, it would definitely arouse suspicion. But Robin's powers allowed her to discreetly use her arms under her cloak, without anyone noticing.
Finn handed Robin a butterfly-shaped eye mask. "Put this on. We don't want the Marines recognizing you later."
Robin accepted the mask, understanding Finn's logic. She placed it over her eyes, leaving only the space around them visible.
"How do I look?" Robin asked casually, adjusting the mask.
Finn gave her a thumbs up. "No mask can hide how beautiful you are, big sister!"
"Slick talker," Robin rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the small smile playing on her lips.
Before long, they arrived at the pier. Garp was already there, rushing towards Finn with a wide grin. "Finn! You've made your old man proud this time!"
Garp scooped Finn into a bear hug. He had interrogated Crocodile alongside Cobra earlier, and all the details had come to light. Finn had done a tremendous service for Alabasta.
With a document signed by Cobra and the Alabasta ministers, Crocodile's crimes were fully confirmed. The Marines now had a solid reason to challenge the other Warlords of the Sea and could send a clear message: abuse your power, and face the consequences.
"Master Finn!" Cobra called, hurrying behind Garp. He clasped Finn's hand with deep gratitude. "You've saved thousands of lives in Alabasta!"
Hearing this, Princess Vivi—still bound and hidden—froze.
Father?
She recognized that voice. It was unmistakably her father's.
"Master Finn, you have our eternal gratitude!" The ministers of Alabasta bowed to Finn, their voices carrying the weight of the kingdom's appreciation.
Vivi's heart raced. She knew those voices too—officials she had heard growing up. Could it be true? Had the leader of Baroque Works really been defeated? Had the drought been resolved?
Excitement welled up within her, and she was ready to cry out to her father. But just as she was about to, a pair of hands covered her mouth.
"Mmmph...!"
Panicking, Vivi struggled to make a sound.
Meanwhile, Finn spoke calmly to Cobra, "King Cobra, there's no need to thank me. This was just a small thing, really."
"Small?" Cobra's expression grew serious as he tightened his grip on Finn's arm. "Master Finn, you don't understand. If this drought had continued even a day longer, countless more would have died. If Crocodile had carried on with his schemes, rebellion would have been inevitable. The lives you've saved… they are beyond number."
Cobra continued, repeating his earlier arguments, emphasizing how Finn's actions had saved tens of thousands of lives. He even went so far as to call Finn the "reborn father" of the Alabasta people.
Finn scratched his head, embarrassed. All these grand words, and suddenly it felt like he'd been given thousands of children he didn't ask for. "I'm still a kid myself," he muttered. "I can't raise all these people..."
Cobra's praise did not go unnoticed by Vivi. She was in utter disbelief. Could it be true? Had Finn really ended the drought? Had he really defeated one of the Warlords of the Sea and saved her kingdom?
Her thoughts raced. She had been ready to distrust Finn, to see him as a threat. But now she felt ashamed of herself. This boy—this man—had done more for her country than she could have imagined.
She struggled again, wanting to be free so she could apologize and thank him. She wanted to get to know the person who had saved her people.
Her movements caught Cobra's attention.
"Master Finn, who is that?" Cobra asked, eyeing the figure near Finn.
"Oh, her?" Finn said nonchalantly. "She was a criminal agent we caught during the raid on Baroque Works."
He turned to Robin and the others. "Take her to the ship. We can't keep criminals here in Alabasta."
Cobra nodded. "Yes, yes. Master Finn is right. We don't want her kind here. Take her away!"
Vivi: ? ? ?
Father... You don't even recognize your own daughter?