Hina On Board (5/5)

With the particle teleportation rods in hand, it was as if Finn had made all his female soldiers invincible!

"Sir, what about Colonel Hina?" asked Susie, one of Finn's top officers, as she escorted Hina over.

Finn waved it off casually, hopping down from the roof. "What else? Let her go. She's one of us now."

"Yes, sir!" Susie saluted, and the troops released Hina. But Hina was far from pleased. The once-proud Marine Colonel, a warrior of legendary status, had suffered a complete defeat in front of everyone—and even worse, she'd been captured alive. The shame was unbearable.

If this had been a real battle, she would've chosen to die rather than face the disgrace.

"Hahaha! Finn, you did a fantastic job! I knew you had it in you!" Garp's booming voice echoed through the training grounds, his laughter contagious, especially as Sengoku's expression turned a darker shade of purple with each chuckle.

"Hey, Grandpa, don't get so excited! You're acting like you've never seen the world before," Finn teased, grinning mischievously.

Laughter rippled through the ranks. Even Garp, normally quick to scold, couldn't help but smile as his chest swelled with pride.

But Sengoku, the stern-faced marshal, wasn't in a laughing mood. He addressed the troops with his trademark gravitas, trying to salvage some dignity. "That's enough for today! Everyone, return to your original posts. Further instructions will be provided later."

Despite his commanding tone, Sengoku was seething inside. He had never imagined that Hina's elite troops, seasoned veterans, would fall so decisively to Finn's so-called "army of goddesses." It wasn't just a defeat—it was a complete rout. And now, on top of that humiliation, he'd have to honor Finn's bet, assigning Hina to his command.

"Wait a second, Grandpa Sengoku!" Finn called out suddenly, breaking the awkward silence.

Sengoku's face flickered with annoyance. "What now, Finn?" His voice was cold, barely hiding his irritation.

"You're not thinking of backing out on the deal, are you? I won fair and square!" Finn shot back, his smirk infuriatingly smug.

Sengoku's nostrils flared. "Of course not! I gave my word, didn't I?"

Finn leaned in, voice dripping with mockery. "Just checking. I mean, it's hard to trust someone who has a habit of bending the rules when it suits them."

The crowd burst into muffled laughter. Finn had hit a nerve, and everyone knew it. Sengoku's history of maneuvering behind the scenes wasn't exactly a secret.

Even Garp chimed in, voice full of playful menace. "Come on, Sengoku, you're not going to break your promise now, are you? After all, you're the Marine Marshal—you should be setting an example."

Crane Vice Admiral, equally determined to see justice done (and eager for Finn's famous barbecue buns), crossed her arms. "Sengoku, a leader's word is their bond. If you don't honor this, what kind of example are you setting for the troops?"

Sengoku looked like he was about to explode. His face flushed red, caught between his pride and the pressure from his peers. Finally, he relented with a huff. "Fine! Finn, you win. Hina stays with your unit."

"Thanks, Grandpa Sengoku! Don't worry, you'll still get your share of my char siu buns later!" Finn grinned, clearly more interested in keeping his troops than the promise of food.

"Good! And I want extra this time!" Sengoku snapped, trying to regain some semblance of control.

"No problem!" Finn waved it off, his eyes glinting with mischief. He turned to Susie. "Alright, let's head back."

"Yes, sir!" Susie called out, and the female soldiers cheered, thrilled at the thought of staying under Finn's command. Their bond with him was growing stronger by the day.

As the troops began to file out, Vice Admiral Momousagi, standing beside Crane, murmured, "Look at them… they really adore Finn, don't they?"

Crane nodded, then leaned in with a sly smile. "By the way, Rabbit, Finn's bringing breakfast tomorrow morning. Maybe you should drop by early…"

Momousagi's heart skipped a beat. She'd been wanting an excuse to spend more time with Finn, and now Crane was offering her the perfect opportunity. "I'll be there," she said, a little too eagerly.

Meanwhile, Finn walked up to Hina, who was still processing her loss. "So, what'll it be, Colonel?" he asked with a wink. "Do you want to head back with us now, or go pack up and join me later?"

Hina, visibly frustrated but resigned to her fate, sighed. "I'll report to your ship after I've explained things to my subordinates."

"Suit yourself!" Finn wasn't worried. Hina was a woman of her word, and he knew she'd follow through.

Before he left, he reached into his pocket and handed her a small, ornate package. "Here, have this. You deserve a little something after today."

Hina glanced down at the gift in confusion. "What is this?"

"Three-star Michelin snowstorm ice cream," Finn replied casually, turning to leave with his soldiers. "Trust me, it'll cheer you up."

Hina hesitated for a moment, then took a small bite. Her eyes widened in shock as the taste hit her.

"Oh… my… god…"

The flavor was beyond anything she'd ever experienced. Despite herself, she couldn't help but smile. Maybe serving under Finn wouldn't be so bad after all.