The World Conference in Mary Geoise was proceeding in an orderly manner.
Finn had little interest in this meeting, but out of duty, he had to grit his teeth and attend these tedious royal discussions every day.
But surprisingly, after all the talking, some things actually got accomplished.
For example, regarding the response plan to the Revolutionary Army, the World Government came up with a set of measures to further strengthen the power of the CP agencies.
After the end of this year's meeting, each member nation could directly seek help from the CP agencies on certain matters, and the CP agencies would also establish new bases in each member nation.
This wasn't good news for the Marines, but the Marines had no grounds to prevent it from happening.
In a sense, this could be considered the World Government's warning to the Marines.
Finn's life had been repeating itself over and over again for the past two months.
As an Admiral of the Marines, even though his workload wasn't particularly heavy, documents would still be faxed to the Marine base in Mary Geoise every so often, and he'd have to sign them to maintain some of the daily operations of the Marines.
Among them was the military expansion plan for G-7 Base submitted by Gion.
So generally speaking, Finn would stay at the base for two days a week to handle official business.
Then he'd attend meetings during the day, and occasionally meet up with Queen Stussy at her house for "dinner" in the evening.
Overall, he lived a comfortable life, enjoying long-awaited comfort with the Queen.
Early in the morning, Finn slowly opened his eyes and looked at the queen who was lying beside him with her thigh draped across his stomach. He smiled helplessly and rubbed his eyes.
As a top agent, the Queen naturally had strong perception. She woke up almost the same moment Finn opened his eyes.
"Your biological clock is really accurate," Stussy said, glancing at the clock hanging on the wall with a smile.
"I'm used to it," Finn said, sitting up and stretching casually.
The blanket on the bed slipped down, revealing Stussy's fair shoulders. Finn considerately pulled the blanket up to cover the tempting view.
After sitting on the bed and putting on his pants, Finn stood up and walked into the bathroom with his upper body still bare.
After busying himself for a while, he wiped the water from his hair with a towel. Standing at the bathroom door, he looked at Stussy, who was still lying in bed, and asked, "Are you resting again today?"
"It's the last day. I'll be leaving Mary Geoise and returning to the New World this afternoon. I've stayed here for more than two months, and there are piles of things on Pleasure Street waiting for me to deal with when I get back," Stussy said, taking a sip from the glass of water on the bedside table.
"Really? I'll come to the New World to see you when I have time," Finn said with a smile.
Hearing this, Stussy rolled her eyes at Finn. "You said the same thing last time, but you never came to see me despite going in and out of the New World several times."
"Hahahaha. I've just been very busy," Finn said with a laugh.
"Yeah, who told you to become an Admiral," Stussy said with dissatisfaction.
However, she couldn't help licking her lips as she looked at Finn's powerful abdominal muscles. The strength of this woman lay in her uncontrollable charm, which seemed to have become an instinct. She could always tease others inadvertently.
Stussy had been mentally prepared for Finn's promotion to Admiral, but she still felt a lot of emotion. Finn was too young.
Perhaps judging from his current trajectory, he might even become the youngest Fleet Admiral in the history of the Marines.
A Fleet Admiral under fifty years old.
It was definitely something to look forward to.
"What about you? The World Conference ended yesterday. Do you have any plans?" Stussy retracted her greedy gaze and looked at Finn's face again.
Finn was wiping his face with a towel at the time. After drying it, he threw the towel on Stussy's dressing table, took down the white short-sleeved shirt hanging on the hanger next to it, and put it on.
Now his muscular figure was completely obscured. The Queen's eyes showed a little regret, but she didn't speak.
"Me?" Finn finally responded, then said, "I need to go to G-7. There's something going on there that I need to arrange."
"G-7? That's where Vice Admiral Gion is," Stussy said, raising her eyebrows.
"That's right," Finn nodded without hesitation.
"Do you really think I won't be jealous?" Stussy asked with annoyance when she saw Finn's matter-of-fact expression.
Finn was stunned for a moment, then asked, "Wait, you're not trying to say you've developed feelings for me or something like that, are you? Queen, you're one of the top agents of the CP agencies. You wouldn't make a mistake like that, would you?"
Stussy looked at Finn with a pained expression. "Hey, are you planning to string me along for free?"
However, Finn's words did touch upon Stussy's predicament.
As a top agent of the CP agencies, it was absolutely taboo for her to develop genuine emotions.
And as Finn had said, she wouldn't make such a mistake easily.
Even though she and Finn had been going back and forth in Mary Geoise for two months, up to now, she had admiration, respect, and many complicated feelings for Finn, but to say it was love or anything like that was nonsense.
The same was true for Finn. He was a person who didn't invest too heavily in feelings. If you insisted on explaining his feelings for Stussy, it was also very simple.
He admired Stussy's shrewdness and ability, and her irresistible charm. He also admitted that Stussy was too beautiful and alluring. As a man, it was difficult for him to resist Stussy's "seduction."
So they'd just gone with the flow and it had developed naturally into this.
But that was where it ended. This kind of physical relationship was just a way for the two to deepen their connection with each other, and the foundation of their relationship could never be based on feelings like "liking, happiness, and love."
Ultimately, what was truly unshakeable was always interests.
The two of them were in a situation where cooperation benefited both sides. Finn used the power and military force in his hands to support Stussy several times in the New World.
Stussy had even leaked important information to Finn many times, and they'd had very pleasant cooperation.
Now they had Dragon's Revolutionary Army as a common interest, so the relationship between the two remained very close.
Stussy rolled her eyes at Finn, then stood up wrapped in a thin blanket and leaned against the wall. The charm that naturally emanated from her made Finn eager for another round. If time hadn't been short, maybe he could have gone again.
"Even if it has nothing to do with any feelings, I'm still a woman, okay? So I still have possessiveness. Can you be a little more careful next time and not be so ruthless?" Stussy said unhappily.
Finn wanted to say, "Isn't that exactly what you asked for?"
But when the words came to his lips, he still didn't say them. He nodded. "I understand. I'll be gentler next time."
"Heh, men. You don't cherish what you have once you've gotten it," Stussy pretended to be angry again.
"If I remember correctly, I got you, beautiful lady, four years ago," Finn complained.
Stussy seemed to be in a better mood because of the words "beautiful lady." She walked past Finn and went into the bathroom. "Think about it carefully. I'm not the one at a disadvantage."
"Isn't that natural? Don't you know how many heroic and beautiful women in the Marines are willing to pursue me? As long as I nod, they'd line up from Mary Geoise to Marineford. You're the one taking advantage, so just be happy about it," Finn said as he draped the Cloak of Justice over his shoulders.
Then he walked to the bedroom door, opened it, and said to the Queen who was washing up in the bathroom, "Then, see you in the New World?"
"I don't believe you'll actually come," Stussy said vaguely while brushing her teeth.
But soon she rinsed her mouth. Then she poked her head out of the bathroom, threw a coquettish glance at Finn, and said, "I'll contact you when I'm lonely, Admiral."
Finn glared at Stussy, then smiled. "When you're not lonely, you can also contact me, Queen Stussy."
After saying this, Stussy turned her head back, and Finn opened the door and left her house directly.
He didn't go to the Marine base in Mary Geoise. Instead, he went straight through Mary Geoise and took the bubble elevator to the port.
Sure enough, at this time, Admiral Sengoku and the others were all there, and the Marine warships had just docked at the port, ready to pick them up.
After seeing Finn, Admiral Sengoku said meaningfully, "You'd better exercise some restraint. I don't want to pry into your private life, but that woman is very dangerous. Don't do anything you shouldn't."
Finn grinned. "Don't worry, Admiral. She and I have never had any emotional attachment."
"It's good that you understand," Admiral Sengoku nodded.
He believed Finn was reliable in this regard. He had a vague sense of the relationship between Finn and Stussy, but there was no need for him to say much about such things. He trusted Finn and also trusted Finn's sense of proportion and ability.
Therefore, he never interfered in these matters, and he was convinced that Finn would never betray the interests of the Marines to the CP agencies.
Without dwelling on the issue, Admiral Sengoku casually took a small box from an assistant behind him and handed it to Finn. "Here, the Paramecia-type Love-Love Fruit you requested."
Finn took it with a smile and nodded. "Thank you very much."
"You're welcome. It's not a big deal. You could have used your authority to find it yourself. I think you're just lazy," Admiral Sengoku said, waving his hand.
This was also the truth. Although Admiral Sengoku had taken over some of the Fleet Admiral's duties and seemed very busy, in reality, in terms of authority, he and Finn were both Admiral-level officers and had the same power in Mary Geoise.
"Hehehe. I've only been an Admiral for a short time. I don't have as many connections in Mary Geoise as you do. Wouldn't this way be more convenient?" Finn said with a smile.
"Ah, speaking of which, His Majesty Cobra of Alabasta was waiting for you at the port just now. It's just that you didn't show up, so he eventually left. It seems like you two got along really well. He wanted to invite you to visit Alabasta," Admiral Sengoku said first, then added, "That's a good idea. As a Marine Admiral, it would be beneficial for the Marines if you maintain friendly relations with the royal families of various countries."
"It's fine. We've just chatted a few times during this period. As for Alabasta, forget it. I don't have time to go there now. I won't be going back to Headquarters either. I'll be heading directly to G-7," Finn said with a smile.
Admiral Sengoku nodded first, then reminded him, "Then take a good bath after you get on board. You smell quite fragrant."
"Is it that obvious?" Finn raised his arm and sniffed.
Admiral Sengoku, you're amazing. Can you identify a woman by her scent?
As expected, when you were young, you and Chief of Staff Tsuru must have had something going on. Was it because of your work style?
Maybe underneath your righteous face, there's a happy Buddha?
"Are you thinking of something rude?" Admiral Sengoku frowned at Finn's strange expression.
Finn's face turned serious. "How is that possible?!"