Roast Sengoku's Sheep, And A Scapegoat (1/5)

That night, Finn met up with Ain, honoring their agreement by bringing her aboard his warship. Later, Hina arrived after packing her belongings and also reported in. However, Finn had them both remain within the independent battalion's quarters for the time being. Hina was appointed as Deputy Battalion Commander, while Ain took on the role of General Instructor.

The following morning, Finn went to deliver breakfast to Sengoku. Despite his frustrations with the old man, Finn had managed to secure the female soldiers under his command. Delivering a small favor to Sengoku might help avoid future issues.

As he entered Sengoku's office with a grin, Finn called out, "Grandpa Sengoku, two servings of char siu buns, hot and fresh!"

Sengoku glanced at him briefly, clearly preoccupied. "Ah, Finn, you're here just in time. I've got a Marine meeting soon, but I need these files shredded before I go. Help me out while I head to the meeting." Without waiting for a response, Sengoku deftly swiped the buns from Finn's hands and left.

Finn raised an eyebrow, shifting his gaze to Sengoku's desk—and there, munching on some papers, was a lamb.

"Well, well," Finn muttered to himself. "Lamb, lamb, I was planning to let you be. But if your master Sengoku is in such a hurry to give me an opportunity, I can't let this pass, can I?"

Approaching the lamb, Finn stroked its head with a mischievous smile. "You're adorable… but I bet you'd taste even better roasted."

Sensing danger, the lamb attempted to back away, but it was too late. With a swift motion, Finn knocked the animal out, wrapped it in his cloak, and carried it out of the office without looking back.

Before long, Finn found a secluded spot behind a hill. He swiftly set up a makeshift grill and began preparing the lamb. Though Finn wasn't particularly lacking in good food these days, the thought of roasting Sengoku's precious lamb amused him too much to resist.

Soon, the aroma of roasting meat filled the air, mingled with the earthy scent of cumin. Finn's stomach rumbled as the rich, golden-brown skin of the lamb crackled over the fire.

Just as Finn was about to take the first bite, a familiar, laid-back voice called out, "Yo, what's this? Eating in secret, are we?"

Finn turned to see Kizaru, the Light Admiral, descending from the sky in a flash of golden light. His relaxed smile showed he was in no rush.

"Uncle Kizaru," Finn greeted, mildly surprised. He hadn't crossed paths with Kizaru much since arriving at Naval Headquarters.

"Heard rumors," Kizaru drawled as he walked closer, eyeing the sizzling lamb. "Seems the whole base is talking about your char siu buns. Thought I'd see for myself what makes your cooking so special."

Before Finn could reply, another figure appeared—Aokiji, the Ice Admiral, shrouded in a chill mist. "Yeah, we were planning to catch up with you later," Aokiji added casually. "But then we saw you sneak off with something wrapped up. Thought we'd tag along. Didn't expect you to be roasting lamb here."

Finn's eyes gleamed. These two didn't know where the lamb had come from, which gave him an idea. Smiling, he gestured to the spit. "Well, since you're here, why don't you join me? I've got plenty to share."

Kizaru grinned, rubbing his hands together. "Oh, don't mind if I do! I'm curious to see if your roast lamb is as good as your buns."

Aokiji crouched by the fire, breathing in the mouthwatering scent. "Smells incredible. Let's dig in."

As the lamb cooked, its meat turned a luscious golden hue, the fat sizzling over the coals. The rich, spicy aroma grew stronger, making it impossible to resist. Finn tore off a small piece and popped it into his mouth. His eyes widened. "Whoa… that's actually amazing!"

Kizaru and Aokiji eagerly followed suit, each pulling off a chunk of the succulent meat.

Kizaru gave a satisfied moan, thumbs up as he savored the taste. "Boy, you've got some real skills. This is top-notch!"

Aokiji, chewing thoughtfully, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, this is easily some of the best barbecue I've had."

Finn, enjoying their reactions, pulled out a few bottles of top-shelf, state banquet-level craft beer from his stash. "Here, wash it down with this. Ice cold and perfect with the lamb."

Kizaru took a swig and sighed contentedly. "Now this is living. Eating like kings, drinking the finest beer... Finn, you're full of surprises."

As they continued to feast, Finn discreetly recorded the scene with his video phone bug. Just in case.

After a while, the three had devoured nearly every piece of the lamb, leaving only its skeleton. Patting his stomach, Kizaru remarked, "That was incredible. You've got to tell me where you found such good lamb. The meat quality is exceptional."

Aokiji added, "Yeah, this lamb was something special. I wouldn't mind getting more."

Finn, feigning innocence, leaned back and casually replied, "Oh, it's no big deal. I could ask Grandpa Sengoku for more, I'm sure."

Both admirals froze, expressions shifting. Aokiji's brow furrowed. "Ask Sengoku? What do you mean?"

Finn tilted his head. "Well, that lamb was in his office, wasn't it? I figured he wouldn't mind…"

Kizaru's face paled as the realization hit. "Wait… this lamb came from… Sengoku's office?"

Finn nodded, smirking slightly. "Yep. You know, the one that was shredding documents?"

The two admirals stood up abruptly, shock written across their faces.

"What?!"