Reckless Jack! (3/5)

On the deck of the super battleship, Finn casually chatted with Charlotte's four sisters. Their light conversation was interrupted when Kalifa approached, a serious expression on her face, holding out a newspaper.

"Master, Big Mom's Pirates have issued a kill order for you," she said, her eyes sharp. Knowing Stracey was lurking, Kalifa took every opportunity to demonstrate her loyalty.

Finn raised an eyebrow as he took the paper. "Oh? A kill order?"

The headline was unmistakable—Charlotte Linlin had placed a bounty on Finn's head. The reward: one billion Berries for anyone who delivered Finn's head to her.

"One billion... I'm worth that much?" Finn smirked, finding the situation more amusing than alarming.

Charlotte Pudding, sitting by Finn's side, her head resting gently on his lap, looked up at him with concern. "Brother Finn, I'm so sorry... this is all my fault."

Finn's gaze softened, placing a comforting hand on her head. "Don't worry, Pudding. You and your sisters don't owe me an apology."

"Master Finn," Charlotte Smoothie said, her voice resolute, "you saved us from our mother's tyranny. If anyone dares to come after you, we will stand by your side."

Smoothie's words carried weight, as her memories had been altered by Pudding to believe that Linlin had cruelly killed their father. In her mind, Finn had saved her and her sisters from their mother's grasp. The bond she felt toward Finn now was one of deep gratitude and loyalty.

"Exactly. Our lives belong to you now, Master Finn!" Charlotte Garrett added, her fingertips crackling with the energy of her fruit powers.

"I can help too!" Charlotte Flampe chimed in, eager to prove herself.

Finn smiled, clearly pleased by their loyalty. "Well, if you all feel that way, I'm glad. But this kill order doesn't concern me. Now, why don't we head to the pool?"

Tossing aside the bounty paper, Finn stood up, gently pulling Pudding and Flampe along with him. They protested playfully, reminding him of their Devil Fruit powers, which would render them helpless in water.

"So what? We have ways around that," Finn said, waving off their concerns.

At that moment, Robin emerged from the pool, dressed in special floatation gear designed by Finn himself. It allowed Devil Fruit users to swim, despite their usual weakness in water. It resembled life jackets and armbands, but far more advanced.

"It works perfectly!" Robin said, her smile confident. "Even we can swim, for a bit, with these."

The sisters, wide-eyed with surprise, couldn't hide their envy. For most Devil Fruit users, swimming was only a fantasy.

"Teach us, Brother Finn!" Pudding pleaded, excitement lighting up her face.

Flampe echoed, "Yes, Master Finn, please!"

Finn chuckled. "All right, all right. Let's get you some swimsuits first!"

As time flew by, a month passed uneventfully. But peace on the seas never lasted long. One day, Nami hurried to Finn with a report.

"Master, we've spotted three pirate ships ahead!" she said, her tone urgent.

"Are they headed our way?" Finn asked calmly.

Violet, another crew member, joined them. "Master, they're flying the flag of the Beasts Pirates. I think I saw Jack, one of Kaido's commanders, on the flagship."

Violet recognized Jack from her time with the Donquixote Family, having seen him during trades between Doflamingo and the Beasts Pirates.

Finn sighed. "Is it really that brute?"

At that moment, a cannonball whistled through the air, but it was effortlessly destroyed by the ship's automated defenses before it even came close.

"Looks like they're coming for us," Nami quipped, mimicking Finn's usual laid-back style with a cheeky grin.

"Well done, Nami. You've got my attitude down perfectly." Finn pinched her cheek playfully before walking toward the front of the deck.

There, he saw the three pirate ships charging through the waves toward his vessel. Using his enhanced sight, Finn zoomed in on the lead ship's deck. Sure enough, it was Jack the Drought, looking as reckless as ever.

"Jack! Do you even know who you're dealing with?" Finn called out, his voice carried by Haki.

Jack snarled back, "Are you Monkey D. Finn?"

Finn chuckled. "So you've heard of me. Let me guess, you're here for Charlotte Linlin's bounty?"

Jack bared his teeth in a cruel grin. "I don't give a damn about that fat hag's bounty! You destroyed Doflamingo's SMILE factory, and Kaido's pissed. I'm here to take you down and then raze Dressrosa!"

Violet gasped, her face draining of color at the mention of her homeland.

"You're planning to destroy Dressrosa?" Finn's voice grew cold.

"That's right!" Jack growled. "But first, I'll deal with you!"

Hearing Jack's threat, Robin approached Finn, already suited up in her combat gear. "Let me handle this one, Finn."

Finn glanced at her and nodded. "All right, Robin. Show me what you've got."

It had been months since Finn had begun training Robin in Armament Haki, and she had made significant progress. While she wasn't on Finn's level, her skills were impressive.

Robin crossed her arms, calling upon her powers as she muttered, "Myriad purples and reds... God's Hand!"