"Sister Makino, look! This is my warship. What do you think? Impressive, isn't it?" Finn boasted, standing proudly at the helm of the massive battleship.
Makino, feeling overwhelmed by the attention, blushed deeply. "It's...it's really big... But Finn, put me down, please. Everyone's watching!" she pleaded, her shy demeanor causing her cheeks to turn a rosy red.
The villagers, who had gathered around, chuckled warmly at the scene.
"Little Finn's all grown up now! Taking care of Makino, huh?" one of the elderly women teased.
"Haha, I always knew Finn was a good boy," another added. "When everyone said he was different, I thought it was true love!"
"Finn, you can't keep leaving Makino alone here in Windmill Village!" someone else chimed in.
"She's been waiting for you all this time," a villager whispered, loud enough for all to hear. The villagers, ever fond of Finn due to his grandfather Garp's influence, showered him with compliments, now even more impressed by his newfound wealth and power.
But the joyous atmosphere suddenly shifted as a group of tall, burly figures emerged from the direction of the pier. The crowd parted like the Red Sea, their laughter fading into anxious whispers.
Finn noticed them immediately but remained unfazed. He knew exactly who they were.
From the corner of his eye, he saw a familiar face: Shanks. The infamous pirate captain walked forward, his expression darkening as he saw Finn holding Makino.
The original story had always been murky—rumors swirled about Makino having a child after the Summit War, and speculation pointed fingers at Shanks. Finn, however, was convinced: Shanks was nothing but a heartless rogue, stringing people along without any real commitment.
As Shanks approached, the villagers' hushed murmurs grew louder. "What's happening?" one of them asked. "Why is Shanks so angry?"
Another villager tried to intervene but was pulled back by his friend. "Are you crazy? Don't you see the tension?"
The atmosphere turned icy as Shanks came face to face with Finn. The villagers scattered, fearing the confrontation between the two powerful figures.
"Finn," Shanks growled, his voice a low rumble filled with menace.
"Shanks," Finn replied nonchalantly, tightening his grip on Makino's waist. "You dare show your face here? As a Marine, I should arrest you on the spot."
A cold smirk played on Shanks' lips. "Arrest me? That's a good one," he scoffed, his crew laughing behind him. "Boy, don't think just because your grandpa is Garp that you can disrespect me."
The pirates snickered, but Finn remained unperturbed.
Shanks' eyes narrowed as he noticed the redness around Makino's eyes. Had she been crying? His heart sank with a pang of guilt, assuming the worst. Was Finn threatening her?
"Finn, put her down!" Shanks barked, his voice filled with authority.
Finn raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Are you giving me orders now? You think you can walk in here and tell me what to do?"
"Oi, brat! Didn't you hear our captain?" Yasopp, one of Shanks' men, shouted, stepping forward. "Put Makino down! She's not someone you can just toy with!"
Finn turned to Yasopp, his eyes cold and unforgiving. "And who do you think you are?" he sneered.
Yasopp's face twisted with rage. "You've got a death wish, kid?"
Finn's expression remained calm. "Yasopp, you of all people have the nerve to lecture me? You abandoned your wife and son to play pirate. Your wife died from the grief you caused, and your son grew up without a father, struggling to survive. Do you even know what your family went through while you were off playing hero with Shanks?"
The crowd gasped. Yasopp's face turned red with shame, and murmurs of disapproval rippled through the villagers.
"How could someone be so heartless?" one whispered.
"Leaving his family like that... what a disgrace!" another added.
Shanks' eyes flickered with a mix of anger and regret. Hearing the villagers' words, it was clear they were lumping him together with Yasopp. The shame was almost unbearable, especially in front of Makino.
"Finn!" Shanks snapped, his voice laced with desperation. "Enough! Give me some face here and drop this!"
Finn's eyes gleamed with defiance as a system prompt appeared before him:
Ding! Please choose:
Give Shanks face and stop talking.
Reward: Junior Conqueror's Haki!
Don't give Shanks face, keep talking.
Reward: Intermediate Conqueror's Haki!
Mock Shanks openly and challenge him.
Reward: Advanced Conqueror's Haki!
Finn smirked, weighing his options. This was his moment to humiliate Shanks in front of everyone. The villagers, Makino, and even Shanks' own crew were watching.
"Face?" Finn scoffed. "In front of me, you have no face worth saving. You and your crew are nothing but scum who abandon their responsibilities. So tell me, Shanks, how does it feel to be the so-called hero who's nothing more than a fraud?"
The crowd fell silent, eyes wide as the tension reached its peak. Shanks' fists clenched, his killing intent barely restrained.
The battle lines were drawn.
And Finn was ready to fight.
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
I tagged this book, come and support me with a thumbs up!