One Piece: Gambling To The Top

After captain T-Bone caught a group of pirates, he managed to determine who has made them lost in the sea. T-Bone can't get this one wrong. After all, the captain is full of scars across his body.

All of these scars had been caused by one man, and T-Bone never managed to forget the pain that he had been suffering for months before healing, neither he could forget the face behind it.

The Gambler is back. It was really shocking, after knowing that he is not dead. Although T-Bone had doubted his own conclusion, given the fact that the criminal had gone against Akainu, T-Bone's swordsman intuition was enough to confirm the information.

Besides, the little pirates didn't know about Josh's identity. So when they described his look, it gave them credibility. Before taking them to Impel Down, T Bone had made his report to the headquarter.

In the Holy Land, where the celestial dragons live, the five elders, the highest politicians who are responsible for managing the navy, the governments, and the world in general.

They were currently having one of their casual meetings. One of the topics they take are the promotions in the marines, and, sometimes, the criminals across the world and how to deal with them. If someone showed potentials, they would determine the right bounty for him.

"The Gambler is back." One of the elders, hugging his katana, said.

"Hmm… his bounty should be reactivated."

"But who would think Akainu would have made a false report."

"No way. Admiral Akainu wouldn't."

The elders nodded in approving. If their belief in the admiral is in its place, then this leaves room for one choice.

"He has tricked Akainu to think he is dead." One of the elders said the harsh truth.

"We have a troublesome fella." Said a blond elder with no beard.

"We have a real dangerous one in Paradise."

The Five Elders were talking without the need to stare at each other. In fact, everyone was looking in the same direction, the door. With their observation of Haki, they don't need to look at each other.

They continued their meeting. The elders discussed many possibilities of how a normal criminal from paradise would be able to trick Akainu. No single answer existed for a Devil Fruit user like Josh, except for one. He isn't a normal pirate.

"Should we invite him."

"You mean?"

"Crocodile's post is empty."

"We can't, not yet. We have to see him yet. We can't make the same mistake we made with Crocodile. Let's put him to the test then."

"His bounty, then it's decided." One blond man with a beard stood up, put his hands behind his back, and walked in the door's direction.

"For injuring an admiral, spitting on the justice and killing world Governments best agents. Not to mention, destroying the legend of Buster Call… his bounty… shall be…"

-x-X-x-

At the amazons ship, which was dragged by the two sea kings, Josh was sitting in between Sonia and Hancock, getting fed by them, before they arrive.

"Say Aaa…" Maria lifted some grape and put it above Josh's head, teasing him to get it up.

Josh, however, didn't react with her. His eyelids were getting bigger and then shrunk.

Putting his face in his elbow, Josh sneezed. "Achoo…"

Sonia and Hancock were surprised. Before he could even make a slight apology, the amazons on the ship turned in his direction.

"Someone is talking about you, right?"

"He must…"

"Men sneeze when someone talks about them."

"Hey, do they have to be near or far? We have been talking about you and you didn't sneeze."

Josh blinked twice in response to the hungry for knowledge women. It seems they are taking the sneeze gig seriously.

Hancock quickly rolled over his body and put her hand on his forehead, "Are you alright."

"Yes… Yes…" Josh put his hand on Hancock's cheeks and smiled. He then turned to the other woman, lifted his hand, and said. "Girls, don't take it seriously. If I sneezed every time someone talked to me, I wouldn't have time to breathe. No, I'm not cocky. But I'm famous. I've made a lot of enemies in the past."

After the amazons bought his excuse and turned to manage the ship, Josh was enjoying the warmth between Hancock and her sis.

As the ship was getting close to Water 7, Josh's heart was beating faster. He was thinking of the pour Robin, how she had passed two months without him.

Marianne too was the weakest one of the girls, and Josh would feel likely to be there to protect her since it's the instinct of the man to protect the little woman. She was the only little girl in his group.

But Robin's case wouldn't be worse than Mikita's. After all, he and Blondie spent time together without separating ever since they had started dating. They rarely left each other's beds.

Josh shook his head and ignored Hancock's question if something is bothering him. Josh shrugged, sighed, and stood up, before walking to the edge, staring at the land that appeared in front of them.

Between the two sea kings, Josh was a city. Pirate ships and commercial ships were everywhere. It was built on the water. There are waterways and canals that are used for transportation almost like roads, often surrounded by sidewalks on the canals. Some of those canals head up. The city was really beautiful. It felt like a fantasy palace, with all the water canals heading up, toward one gigantic fountain.

While staring at the beautiful sight, Josh was thinking more clearly.

'Now I realise it. A lot of Drama would happen when the girls see Hancock.' Josh rubbed his chin, staring blandly at the land. Girls get jealous of prettier girls. Especially if the girl has the title of world's beauty queen like Hancock. 'Nah. They will just miss me too much. I basically faced an Admiral for them. Besides, they tasted lust energy from me. They'll just care for their needs more than I am with the other two women now…'

Although Josh was trying to think positively, he was biting on his nail as he was quite anxious. Still, he missed them more. Smiling positively, Josh watched as the pirates made way to the sea kings and Hancock's crew. It seems, in order to go to the city, they have to leave the beasts here.

"Hancock, please stay here on the ship, I'll walk back soon."

"Hey, why can't I come with you."

Hancock extended her hand toward Josh, who jumped and landed on the ship.

Josh looked at her and smiled.

It wasn't a human smile. It was a Devil's. Josh thought what would happen if people acts around Hancock here like they do in Anime, throw themselves at her, or flirt with her… obvious, since she is so charming.

"Public safety. I may kill everyone if they flirt with you." Josh said coldly. "I want to keep things quiet until I find them. And then, we can shop honey."

Hancock took a step back. Her cheeks started getting red. Covering her cheeks with her hands, she hide her smile and said. "You are going to start a slaughter for me. So romantic." Hancock turned her face and used Sonia's body to hide it. "Don't worry, Joshy. I'll turn them into stones, so you don't have to dirty your hands. No, I'll knock them out with my Haki. But don't worry, I will let you finish things quite."

Hancock had hearts in her eyes when she was talking.

Josh never thought he would see Hancock happy with such vicious words coming out of their mouths. He just shrugged his shoulder as looked at Sonia.

"Stay here too," Josh told her. He can't just let her feel jealous too.

It's like hitting two birds with one stone. Having the amazons here is enough to give him time to have warm time with his girls before he invites them here.

"You are going to look for them," Sonia said, hugging Hancock.

"Yes," Josh said. Everyone knows he has women here, and they don't seem to mind it. They are good.

"Excuse me, Josh…" Sonia said, quite hesitant.

"Yes." Josh raised his eyebrows. He saw her so timid.

"Can I shop?" she asked for his permission. "I, if you think you may get angry, I can stay here."

"Sure, you can shop… but don't go too far." Josh looked at the ground and sighed.

"Mmm…" she only smiled. Josh then vanished from the sight, looking where to start looking for three wanted women. Four in fact.

Closing his eyes, Josh started feeling the link between him and his demonic energy. There was a signal. But it wasn't enough to locate where it is.

-x-X-x-

A/N: Chapters ahead at patréon

www..patréon.com/Blazuki