With a cigarette dangling from her lips, Bell-mère pulled out her wallet. She flipped it open with a practiced motion, holding it up so Finn could see inside.
"Look at them," she said, her voice softening. "Aren't they adorable? These two little ones are like angels. Thanks to them, I was able to survive on that cruel battlefield. They saved me."
Finn leaned forward slightly, his gaze settling on the photograph tucked behind a clear plastic sleeve. Three figures smiled back at him: Bell-mère cradling Nojiko in one arm, while Nojiko herself held a tiny baby. The older girl's eyes were wide and confused, as if she hadn't quite understood what was happening when the photo was taken. Bell-mère's smile was radiant, unguarded. And baby Nami, her small fists curled around a lock of Nojiko's hair, tugged with the oblivious determination only an infant could muster.
Finn's lips curved upward. "They really are little angels. Very cute."
"So, Admiral, you should understand why I have to retire." Bell-mère tucked the wallet back into her jacket. "If I stay in the Marines, I won't have enough time to take proper care of them."
Finn shook his head, his smile turning wry. "Your reason leaves me speechless. An excellent Marine like you, we really don't want to lose you in this era. But you've already said this much. It would be unkind of me to try and dissuade you."
"Thank you, Admiral." Bell-mère's eyebrows lifted slightly, relief flickering across her face.
"Have you thought about what you'll do after you retire?" Finn asked, leaning back in his chair. "Suddenly adopting two children, the expenses must be considerable. The Marines will give you resettlement funds, but that won't last forever. You'll need a stable income."
Bell-mère paused, taking a drag from her cigarette before answering. "My hometown isn't far from here. Cocoyasi Village. Thanks to the peace in the East Blue, life there is good. My family used to grow oranges when I was a kid. I'm interested in that kind of work. After I retire, I plan to go back and start an orange farm. It should be enough to support these two little ones."
Finn's expression didn't change, but his mind was already cataloging the details. Right now, there was no Captain Nezumi in the East Blue. Arlong was still a thug on Fishman Street. Fisher Tiger hadn't yet burned Mary Geoise or become the martyr that would shake the world. Cocoyasi Village was peaceful, untouched by corruption or tyranny. Bell-mère and her adoptive daughters would live comfortably there, at least for a while.
But Finn wasn't interested in "for a while."
"Regarding that," Finn said, his tone casual, "are you interested in living in Marineford instead?"
Bell-mère blinked. "Marineford?"
"Yes. You should know that Marineford has residential quarters. Many retired Marines live there, along with the families of active-duty personnel. It's prosperous, and since everyone there is connected to the Marines, the atmosphere is harmonious." Finn paused, letting the words settle before continuing. "More importantly, this is the Great Pirate Era. Even in the East Blue, you've probably noticed that there are more and more pirates. It's not safe anymore. If you go to Marineford, the three of you will have a better life. And perhaps..." He allowed himself a small smile. "The two children you adopted will become Marines in the future and inherit your dream of becoming an admiral."
Finn didn't have any sentimental notions about nurturing future rivals. He wasn't interested in testing whether Monkey D. Luffy had some kind of destiny. It was undeniable that, because of his past life, he had a certain fondness for the future Straw Hat Pirates. But that fondness didn't mean he'd allow them to become pirates. Not if he could help it.
When Garp had asked him to keep an eye on Ace, Finn had spent a long time thinking about how to handle the next generation of talent in a way that best served the Marines. Honestly, if the goal was simply to wipe out the Whitebeard Pirates, the easiest path was to let Ace grow up wild, join Whitebeard's crew, and eventually betray him at the right moment. But that approach left a sour taste in Finn's mouth. Plotting against a child whose life was already tragic enough felt petty. Beneath him.
Besides, did he really need Ace to deal with Whitebeard? Wasn't there Marshall D. Teach, that filial son, already waiting in the wings?
At the same time, Finn had to admit that Garp was right. Even though both he and Garp believed that Ace's bloodline wasn't a sin, the best possible future for the boy was in the Marines. So Finn had entertained the idea more than once: wait until Ace was a bit older, capture him, drag him to Marineford, and have Zephyr train him for a few years.
By the time he grew up, Ace could become an excellent Marine. That way, Finn wouldn't have to watch Garp bury someone he loved. And wasn't there something poetic about turning the Pirate King's son into a Marine?
Then there was Robin. Finn had already intercepted her, and now the little girl was focused on becoming a competent Marine as quickly as possible. So if he guided Nami down the same path, what was the harm? If the opportunity arose in the future, maybe he could even steer Luffy into the fold. The boy was stubborn and idiotic, sure, but his talent was undeniable.
Destroy the Straw Hat Pirates at the root. The thought amused him.
Bell-mère's expression had shifted. She wasn't the type to hate the Marines; otherwise, she never would have joined in the first place or risen to the rank of Lieutenant. The only reason she was retiring was to care for her two children. Compared to Cocoyasi Village, Marineford clearly had stronger advantages. It was far more secure for the girls' future.
As for leaving the East Blue and her hometown? That wasn't a real obstacle. Bell-mère's family had died before she joined the Marines. She had no ties left, aside from a few friends like Genzo. But she'd always been determined to join the Marines, determined to become an admiral one day. That meant she'd always planned to leave the East Blue eventually. An accident had delayed those plans, that was all.
Now Finn was offering her a second chance. It would be strange if she weren't tempted.
"Is that... really okay?" Bell-mère asked after a moment of hesitation.
Finn smiled and nodded. "Of course. In fact, you're not the only one. There are five or six Marines who've applied for retirement this cycle, and they're all planning to go to Marineford. You'd have company."
Bell-mère still hesitated, chewing on her lower lip.
Finn leaned forward slightly. "Marineford's educational resources far surpass those of Cocoyasi Village."
That did it. A gleam of determination flashed in Bell-mère's eyes.
Before meeting Finn, she'd had no choice. Retirement meant going back to her hometown. But now, Finn had given her options. That changed everything. Even though she'd only adopted Nami and Nojiko recently, Bell-mère already thought of them as her own daughters. She wanted to be a good mother, a better mother. And what kind of parent didn't want their children to receive the best education possible, to grow up in an environment where they could thrive?
On that front, Cocoyasi Village couldn't compare to Marineford at all.
If she accepted this offer, she could take Nami and Nojiko to Marineford. The environment there was safe. The resources in every aspect, education, security, opportunity, far exceeded anything in the East Blue. She could build connections within the Marines. When Nami and Nojiko grew up, if they chose to, they could join the Marines right there at Headquarters. Maybe one of them really would fulfill the dream Bell-mère had once held: to become an admiral.
Of course, Bell-mère wasn't going to decide their lives for them. But she was more than happy to give them a broader platform to stand on.
"Admiral, you're right," Bell-mère said, her voice steady now. "Marineford's resources far exceed those in the East Blue. They'll be much better for Nami and Nojiko's growth. What's more, as a Marine... or a former Marine, I've never been to Marineford. It really is a pity. If possible, please let us go to Marineford."
"Haha, I've already said it, so how could I go back on my word?" Finn laughed. "Then go ahead and pack up. Make your preparations. When the time comes, you can board my ship with the others who are retiring. I'll be sailing around the East Blue first, though. Honestly, I'm on vacation right now. I'll take you all back to Marineford after that."
A delighted smile spread across Bell-mère's face. "Okay, Admiral."
"We're destined to meet," Finn said, pulling out his Den Den Mushi. "I also like those two little cuties of yours, even though I've only seen their photos. Once we get to Marineford, if you have any questions, feel free to contact me."
Bell-mère hesitated for only a heartbeat before pulling out her own Den Den Mushi. "I've always heard that you have a bad temper, Admiral, but today, you seem like a very honest, kind, and gentle person."
Finn began syncing their signal frequencies. Bell-mère had no intention of refusing. If she could maintain this connection, maybe even turn it into a friendship, she'd never be bullied in Marineford. And beyond the utilitarian benefits, based on today's conversation alone, Bell-mère felt that Finn was someone worth befriending.
"Have all my rumors reached even here?" Finn said with a helpless smile.
"Of course," Bell-mère said, tucking her Den Den Mushi away. "It's not just that you captured a lot of pirates when you were young. I've also heard that you beat up the Fleet Admiral and a Marine hero."
Finn rolled his eyes. "Those are rumors. You'll know the truth when you get to Headquarters. I, Rodriguez Finn, am an honest and reliable man."
After that, they chatted for a while longer. Finn told her that if she had any family or friends in Cocoyasi Village who wanted to come along, he could arrange that too. For someone of his rank, it was just a matter of saying the word.
But after thinking it over, Bell-mère smiled and shook her head. "No, thank you."
Finn could only mourn silently for Genzo, the security captain of Cocoyasi Village.
You're really hopeless, aren't you? Just focus on your promising career as a village security captain.
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