NOVEL NEXT Chapter 99: I Had No Choice But To Abduct Her Here (3/5)
Time passed quickly, and over ten days had gone by since the super battleship left the Calm Belt.
"Master, Master! We've spotted an island ahead!" Nami burst into Finn's office, reporting eagerly.
As the ship's navigator, it was her duty to ensure they stayed on course and took care of logistics, especially after days at sea. They were running low on essentials, and the female soldiers of the independent battalion needed their food supply restocked.
Finn, however, remained immersed in the system interface, not immediately acknowledging her report. He seemed deep in thought, not in a hurry to respond.
Nami, noticing that Finn appeared to be dozing off in his large chair, smiled mischievously. She waved her hand in front of his face, but he didn't stir.
A bold idea sparked in her mind.
Every time she saw Finn helping Tashigi with sword practice, Nami felt a pang of envy. Tashigi got to spend so much time in Finn's arms, and that kind of attention wasn't something Nami had experienced. She wanted her own moment.
Taking a deep breath, she leaned in and placed a soft, fleeting kiss on Finn's forehead.
Blushing slightly, she quickly straightened up and gave Finn a playful shove. "Master! There's an island ahead! Should we dock?"
Finn opened his eyes, seemingly amused by her actions but chose not to mention the stolen kiss. Instead, he playfully tapped her on the forehead and said, "Of course, we'll dock. We need to resupply."
Nami pouted in mock anger, lightly slapping his arm. "Master, you're always teasing me!"
Finn laughed, helping her stand. "Who can resist teasing such a cute navigator?"
Her cheeks flushed at his compliment as they headed outside.
On the deck, Robin and the others were playing with Shirahoshi, the giant mermaid princess, who had quickly won everyone over with her loli charm and sweet personality. Thankfully, the super battleship was massive enough to accommodate Shirahoshi with her very own swimming pool, unlike an ordinary ship.
Suddenly, a piercing siren blared across the deck, startling everyone.
The central artillery turret swiveled and aimed at a distant cloud in the sky. Without hesitation, a deafening blast fired off a shell that rocketed toward the target.
An explosion shook the clouds, and two figures plummeted from the sky—one in a smoke-filled nosedive towards the distant island, the other spiraling down directly toward the deck.
As the second figure descended, weapons materialized from thin air around them. The individual raised a bazooka, ready to unleash fire.
"Eighteen rounds of flowers bloom! Possession and entanglement!"
Robin swiftly activated her Flower-Flower Fruit ability, restraining the falling figure with a tangle of summoned arms and gently lowering them to the ground. Finn jumped in, catching the person and laying them flat before they could cause harm.
The person thrashed, her face red with rage. "Do you know who I am?!" she snarled, the cigarette in her mouth bobbing as she spat the words.
Finn raised an eyebrow, amused. "Smoking isn't very ladylike for a maid."
With a quick flick, he removed the cigarette from her mouth, causing her to shiver from the sudden tug. "Do you always have such terrible manners?"
The woman, dressed in a maid's uniform and now slightly disheveled from the fall, continued to glare at him.
"Smelly brother, do you know her?" Nami asked curiously.
Finn shrugged. "Not personally, but I know her story."
The woman was none other than Baby 5, a member of the Donquixote Family. Her appearance here suggested they were nearing Dressrosa.
Before Baby 5 could protest further, Finn silenced her by covering her mouth with his hand, making a shushing gesture. "Let's keep the introductions civil, shall we?"
Nami raised an eyebrow, confused by his approach. "Master, I don't think telling her nicely will work."
Tashigi, standing nearby, added, "She's a pirate, Master. Pirates don't exactly respond to gentle treatment."
Finn smiled, letting go of Baby 5's mouth. To everyone's surprise, her eyes sparkled as she looked at Finn. "Do you need me for something?"
Nami and the others exchanged confused glances. Was she really falling for it?
"Yeah, I need you to stop calling yourself 'old lady' and switch to 'Xiao Wu' instead," Finn said, choosing a nickname for her based on her alias, Baby 5.
Baby 5's face lit up with gratitude, as if this small request was the most meaningful thing anyone had ever asked her to do. "Okay! From now on, call me Xiao Wu!"
The women around them were flabbergasted. Did she just agree? So easily?
Then, without skipping a beat, Baby 5's demeanor shifted. "You villain! Let's see how Xiao Wu will deal with you!"
Before anyone could react, she picked up a weapon, ready to fight again.
Finn chuckled. "Xiao Wu, can you do me another favor?"
"Of course! What else can Xiao Wu do for you?"
The women were in disbelief. Was this woman mad?
"I need you to be my servant from now on," Finn said with a grin.
To everyone's shock, Baby 5 beamed and agreed immediately. "Yes, Master! Xiao Wu is at your service!"
Nami's jaw dropped. "What kind of sorcery is this?"
"I don't get it," Tashigi muttered. "Why is she so easy to persuade?"
Finn simply smiled, taking it all in stride. Baby 5 was someone who thrived on being needed, no matter how ridiculous the request. It was a trait Doflamingo had exploited for years.
"Let's be honest, it's for her own good. Better to be here with me than falling into the wrong hands," Finn remarked, giving a wink as the girls around him shook their heads in disbelief.