Amid the warm send-off from the royal family and nobles of Alabasta, the warship set sail from the port.
Ding! Congratulations, Host! Reward: Advanced Observation Haki!
The system's voice echoed in Finn's mind, and instantly, his senses sharpened. He could now hear everything—the faint fall of dust nearby, the distant crash of waves—each sound varying in clarity.
"Is this the power of listening...?" Finn murmured to himself. It was no wonder that those skilled in Observation Haki could predict their opponent's moves in battle. Any movement created a symphony of sounds: the friction of air, the clashing of weapons, even the subtle change in breathing that accompanied a shift in power.
Ordinary people might never notice these details, but with Observation Haki, Finn could hear it all. He could even hear Nami's and Tashigi's breathing next to him, along with the sound of two more people approaching the door.
Squeak... The door opened, and in walked Robin and Princess Vivi.
"Smelly brother, I brought her," Robin said casually.
Finn closed the door behind them, uncovering the anxious face of Princess Vivi, whose mouth was still muffled by Finn's hand. She wriggled and made muffled noises, trying to convey that she had something to say.
With a signal from Finn, Robin released her hold.
"I am Vivi, Princess of Alabasta!" she immediately blurted out.
Finn smirked. "Miss Wednesday, do you really think we'll believe you just because you say that?"
Nami crossed her arms, eyes wide with skepticism. "Yeah, weren't you an agent of Baroque Works? Now you're saying you're a princess? Sounds a little suspicious, don't you think?"
Princess Vivi shook her head desperately. "No, no! I thought you were the bad guys, so I hid my identity. But now I know you're good people, so I'm telling the truth!"
Inwardly, she cursed her luck. This situation was turning out worse than she had imagined.
Tashigi, equally in the dark, added thoughtfully, "You probably heard about the fall of Baroque Works at the port. Maybe now you're just trying to save yourself by tricking us."
Vivi couldn't argue with her logic—it sounded painfully reasonable, and anything she said at this point would just make her seem like she was lying.
"No! I have a way to prove my identity!" she exclaimed.
Tashigi raised an eyebrow. "Oh? How?"
Princess Vivi said quickly, "Take the warship back to Alabasta. Once you see my father, everything will be clear!"
Finn shook his head. "We're on an important mission. Do you think we can just turn a warship around because of you? And what if you're lying? It'll just be a waste of time."
Vivi realized how impossible her suggestion was. She sighed deeply, feeling helpless. "Then what will you do with me?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Well," Finn said, leaning closer with a mischievous grin, "you're a criminal, right? I could send you to the deep-sea prison—dark, cold, with terrifying beasts lurking around every corner. A delicate girl like you... wouldn't last long."
Vivi shivered at the vivid description, her fear growing by the second.
"Oh, and there's something even scarier..." Finn whispered, his tone ominous.
Vivi's eyes widened in horror. "W-What...?" she stammered, clutching Finn's arm in terror.
Finn leaned even closer, his breath warm on her ear. "Just kidding!" he said with a cheeky grin.
The room froze for a moment.
Vivi: ???
Nami: ???
Tashigi: ???
Robin: This smelly brother... he knows how to have fun.
Vivi stared at Finn, flabbergasted. "W-What do you mean!?"
Finn laughed heartily. "Oh, I've known all along that you were Princess Vivi. I was just messing with you."
"Messing... with me?" Vivi was so flustered she didn't know whether to be angry or relieved.
Nami, still shocked, peered at Vivi curiously. "Wait, Master Finn, so she really is the princess of Alabasta?"
Tashigi rolled her eyes, sighing. My master can be so childish sometimes.
Princess Vivi, meanwhile, felt as though she'd been through an emotional rollercoaster. She suddenly recalled how, when she had tried to call out to her father at the port, Finn had swiftly covered her mouth. In hindsight, it was obvious—Finn must have known her true identity from the start!
"But if you knew I was the princess, why didn't you hand me over to my father back at the port?" she asked, still puzzled.
"Ha!" Finn grinned, clearly enjoying the moment. "Well, you kept denying it, so I figured I'd take you along for the ride. The drought in your kingdom is over, so why would you want to stay cooped up in the palace all day? Sounds boring. Why not come with us for a little adventure?"
"An... adventure?" Vivi blinked in surprise. This was the last thing she had expected.
"But... what if I want to go back?" she asked hesitantly.
Finn shrugged. "The warship isn't turning around for now. But if you still want to return after the next mission, I'll send you back."
Realizing she wouldn't be going home anytime soon, Vivi sighed. "Alright then, I'll travel with you for a while."
She suddenly straightened up and said earnestly, "Oh, and by the way, I haven't had the chance to thank you properly. Master Finn, you are the great benefactor of all the people of Alabasta. I owe you my deepest gratitude." She bowed formally, offering a royal gesture of thanks.
Robin, watching from the side, smirked. If only Princess Vivi knew that my smelly brother was just 'greedy for her'... now that would be fun.