One Piece: Gambling To The Top

Josh gestured to the girls to follow them, and he asked Kalifa to buy every available bra, which she did while holding her laugh. 

Jimbe and Josh walked. Jinbe paused a bit, looking at the fishmen, and he clicked his tongue, seeing a thousand fighters on the ground. they were burned like badly cooked sushi. Usually, he would defend his people. But since they attacked Josh and asked for trouble first, they got what they deserve. They are lucky enough not to get killed. 

"So, how did you think that I know Jack Sparrow?" Josh asked Jimbe who had extended his hand to walk with him. 

"We discussed the possibility and the events. I reached the result with Whitebeard's crew." 

"Whitebeard?" Josh lifted his eyebrows. 

"He is in the royal palace for a banquet since Ace is saved." Jinbe smiled. "And no one in his crew is dead."

"So he is here. No wonder Hody had guts." Josh furrowed his eyebrows. Whitebeard is here… but why. 

"He barely passes by the Red Line. But when he does, the King invites him. it has been years since he came to Fishman island." 

"Oh…" Josh thought about Whitebeard. The strongest man in the World. 

Since Josh had saved his commander, he should own him. 

But there is one problem. 

Whitebeard and his crew are broke. 

"Not that important…" Josh let a long sigh. 

"Hoh~ Then why did you save us?" Jinbe said. "Or gave us healing pills." 

To Jinbe, many humans are Tsundere.

"I'm not Tsundere. Do I also have to remind you how you blushed when you say Ay Ay captain?" Josh cringed. The only person who had ever called him Tsundere was Mister 2, and that conversation had been so provoking. 

Jinbe was surprised at first. But he let a sigh and said. "Your Observation Haki is so good." He felt a bit lucky that Josh didn't look at his cheeks that started blushing. 

"So, what are we going to talk about." 

"Right. Whitebeard and the boys are having a banquet. It would be good if you join. Neptune and Whitebeard may want to thank you." 

"I don't need their thanks," Josh said with a low tone. He has no use for a broke person like Whitebeard. 

Or, he may… Josh had been looking for his own land in New World. Whitebeard may have some protected land that isn't under the World Government. Josh may take it as a thanking gesture. 

Jinbe observed Josh's face, and he seemed to be very honest. 

"You are a mysterious, yet good man." 

Most people would use the chance to form alliances with Whitebeard or be on his good page. But Josh didn't seem to want anything. 

Jinbe gets it now. Josh doesn't know Ace or Whitebeard. Yet he saved them. If there is one reason, it would be stopping the war. 

"That's subjective, not absolute." Josh yawned and stretched his arms up. 

"So, are you coming?" 

"Sure," Josh said. Why not? He may also find a way to make use of the King. 

Jinbe smiled. "Shall we move?" 

"Leave it for later. I have to meet the girls and tell them that we are sleeping in the palace tonight." 

"I need a big bed," Hancock said as he stretched her arms up and frowned at Jinbe before she smiled and held Josh's arm. 

Jinbe let a sigh and avoided making eye contact with Hancock, whose glare can kill. 

-x-X-x-

Josh met with the rest of the girls.  Robin seemed to have made 3 billion berries from selling gold to other pirates here. Some had tried to steal the gold, but they lost their money instead. 

Josh laughed when he knew that they have stolen a billion Berries. As for the other girls, they were holding big bags full of girlish things. Josh let a long sigh when he took the money and then he declared that they won't need to find a hotel to stay in for the night. Josh and his group were invited to the royal palace, and he'll find a place for them to sleep there. 

Josh had become a bed lover ever since he spent a few months trying to master the Sloth attribute, so yeah, he is lazy. 

The girls seemed to be quite excited to sleep in a royal palace. 

Josh then went alone to a near restaurant where he enjoyed checking out mermaid maids. 

After a small meal, Josh met Jinbe again. Josh went to his submarine, and it moved out of the Fishman island, heading to the large bubble above it. That bubble was the one that contained the palace within it. 

"By the way." Robin rubbed her chin and looked at the palace. 

"Yes." 

"How did they make a bubble that big to fit the palace?" Robin was a curious girl about the thing that she doesn't know. 

"Some Devil Fruit user, of course, did it." Josh shrugged his shoulders. 

There is one answer that fits the One Piece world, which is 'One Piece Logic.' But it can't be used in his case, since One Piece is a treasure, not a franchise. 

Josh entered the new bubble. There were many guards swimming around, and they were riding sea horses, swimming around the palace. 

-x-X-x- 

"Welcome, Mr Gambler and his crew. Since you are guests of Jinbe, you are guests of us." 

Josh and his crew, upon entering the big palace, were met with a short fishman, who dressed as a butler. 

Jinbe was standing next to the butler. 

"You know. Moving in the sea made my head dizzy. Do you have rooms here?" Josh said, looking at the butler, who should be some royal staff. 

Despite veins appearing on his head, the fishman could nod and say. "Sure, you are our guests. Please. I'll assign a guard to guide you and your crew to the guests' room to rest." 

Josh turned to the girls and winked. 

The girls lifted their bags, and they went with the guard. 

Meanwhile, Jinbe asked Josh to follow him to the main hall. 

Once Josh arrived, he stopped at the sight. The hall was very large, big enough for giants to move freely. In the middle, there was a very large throne, and on it, sat a very large fishman who had a chubby body, long orange hair and a beard. 

He was around 11 meters tall. 

There were few guards around, and in the middle, there was another large man. 

With his Haki, Josh could feel a very strong fighting spirit. He lifted his head to the large 5 meters long man. He was old, muscular, and had a black bandanna on his bald head. 

But most importantly, he has no beard. 

"Whitebeard…" Josh muttered in the name as he examined the jaw of Whitebeard, trying to look for any beard that he ignored the presence of the others. 

Jimbe lifted his hand and raised his voice, grabbing attention. "Guys, I introduce you to the guy we were talking about. He appeared to be working with Captain Sparrow." 

"Oh, it's you. I have been curious about the man who defeated Mihawk." Called a voice behind Josh. When he turned, he saw a man around his height, who slapped him on the back.

Josh looked at Ace who made a carefree smile. 

"You…" Josh raised his eyebrows. 

"Ace. I think I owe you for the little pills you gave." 

"You think?" 

"This guy is funny?" Ace made a cheerful smile as he turned his head. "I like him already." 

"Move away. You didn't say no-homo." Josh replied. He could see many people standing in the corners. There are many of them who had a very strong fighting spirit, to begin with. 

"So. You defeated Mihawk.  Guess you got a lucky strike." Some blond man with a shaved head on the side approached.

"You?" Josh almost couldn't believe how approaching these pirates are. 

"Marco. I'm in the first commander of Father's fleet." 

Josh gave a slight nod. "I am-"

"The Gambler, I've heard about you. You made a mess in your days back then. You won't believe how funny it was to see Akainu's having wounds by you, declaring you dead, and then you slapped him on the face. Those were good entertaining news." 

"Hahahaha." 

"Shishishi." 

The pirates around started laughing. Josh let a sigh as he looked at them. 

'They don't know I killed Akainu yet. Do the news arrive slow. Whatever.' 

The pirates started getting away from Josh as a very large figure was approaching him. Josh lifted his head, and he could barely look at the head of the 5 meters long man. 

"So, you are the one who killed Teach," Whitebeard said, lifting his eyebrow slowly. 

Josh furrowed his eyebrows. "So what?"