One Piece: Gambling To The Top

While everyone looked shocked at Josh who came back, Josh was patting his wet pants, ignoring their gazes. 

Now, there had been some news that Josh is a user of a Mythical Zoan. Mythical Zoan were very rare types of Devil Fruits. Pirates in high leagues know about them. Jinbe who entered after Josh was stunned as well. 

But the main reason for the stun was not only the ability to swim. But he surpassed the speed of a fishman, and he managed to cut Noah in half casually. 

That means that he can cut an island in half casually. 

But, after all, he is the most recent Strongest Swordsman in the World. 

"Great. The salt ruined them." Josh let a sigh looking at his pants. "I loved them." 

He was talking as if cutting something that big isn't something. 

"Since when were you this strong?" Jinbe asked as he put his hand on Josh's shoulder. Jinbe only knows about Josh's martial arts and speed. But not that much. 

"Since yesterday," Josh replied. 

"You can swim. How is this possible?" Whitebeard asked as he took a step forward. He no longer used 'Reckless Brat' to address Josh.

Everyone knows that Josh had Demonic powers. He even demonstrated one of them when he saved Shirahoshi.  

"There is a mythical Zoan, which is based on mythical creatures." Josh walked around, reaching the wall and letting his back rest on it. 

"And…?" Ace questioned. 

Josh didn't reply. But Marco did. 

"Those mythical creatures are rare… it can't be!" Marco examined Josh, who had a slight smirk. "The Devil Contract. Maybe you can shape-shift as well. You are a real demon! That's why you can swim." 

Those words fell like a bomb to everyone's ear. 

'Should I gasp in Spanish…? That only worked on Akainu though.' 

Josh saw that everyone was staring at him, and he replied. "Believe whatever you want to believe." 

"It's okay if you don't want to say it." Whitebeard let a sigh as if he saw something different from everyone's else. This is, after all, One Piece World. He may actually be a real demon. 

But the thing that is worth mentioning is how to cut that ship casually. It seems that he is a real powerhouse. 

"Tell me kiddo." Whitebeard took a deep heavy breath. 

"What?" Josh replied. 

"Does your kind own Conqueror Haki?" 

"Conqueror Haki?" Josh felt something missing. Once his eyes locked with Whitebeard's, he felt a strong pressure on him. 

Josh's spiritual talent could tell what this pressure is. He had been exposed to it before by Hancock and Kid. But this time, it felt different to Josh. In the past, he had been able to resist. But now, he felt that he can push back. 

Following the feeling to push back, Josh unleashed his own pressure. 

Whitebeard opened his eyes widely. "This power... it's nothing like I've ever felt before." 

The ground under Josh's legs cracked. The pressure made the walls of the castle crumble. Whitebeard felt his own momentum being pushed back, and he found no choice but to stop his Haki. 

Once Whitebeard stopped, so did Josh. 

"Your Haki. It's way stronger than anything I felt before." Whitebeard said, not taking this lightly. 

"I do have it after all." Josh looked at his own hands and muttered. "So it means I can use that black-red lightning thing." 

Josh smiled a bit

Whitebeard. He examined the clueless Josh. The energy that Josh unleashed feels like it's provided by seven users of Conqueror Haki. 

"Youth…" Whitebeard sighed. 

"Yeah." Josh felt that he could control his Conqueror Haki. After all of those upgrades he got in his talents, Josh's spiritual talent allowed him to adapt to it. Looking at a near guard, Josh focused a bit, and the fishman fell unconscious. 

"This is really fun." Josh smiled. 

"You can control it. Tell me, are you really clueless or were you pretending to be?" Whitebeard asked.

"I don't know. I've always avoided trying to awaken my Haki. I've heard that it requires mental trauma or a very harsh situation to unleash… you know what. Never mind. Maybe I did without realising." 

"You are surely a reckless brat." Whitebeard decided not to think about it too much. Each generation has its own monsters. His had its legends, and the new one has Josh and others waiting. 

"Talking about brats. One is crying." Josh walked between Whitebeard's legs. Yeah. He didn't even bother turning around him. 

Shirahoshi was crying while holding her hands together. "Noah. Because of me, it was destroyed." 

Josh pretended to reach his pocket and threw some candies at her. She caught them, and her tears seemed to calm down. "But it doesn't change that… my country national treasure is destroyed." 

"Hey," Josh shook his head. "You know that you can fix it later."

"We can?" Shirahoshi asked. 

"Leave that to your daddy. Instead, focus on what you want to do." 

"What I want to do?" Shirahoshi opened her mouth and put the candy in. She then thought for a bit and then said. "I want to turn around the world and visit the land." 

"Good. Next time I see you, I hope you don't act like a crying child." 

"I'm not a child!" Shirahoshi clenched both of her fists and yelled.  

"Do you want some candy?" Josh asked. 

"Yes please." Shirahoshi nodded as she let her face closer to Josh. 

Josh patted her cheek and laughed, making Shirahoshi blush a bit. 

"That doesn't mean I'm a child." Shirahoshi filled her cheeks with air and turned her face. "Anyway, I want to visit the market again. Let's go and eat some candies." 

"Candies?" 

"I mean, you need to fill your stomach." Shirahoshi looked down at Josh's topless body and put her finger on his abs. "Besides, it's not soft. You need to eat until your belly is as soft as mine. It should be healthy."  

While saying so, her big finger was caressing his abs. Josh lowered his head… and yes. That finger was touching something it shouldn't touch. Josh took a step back and gently raised both of his hands. 

"I'm sorry to say no. But next time maybe. I have to leave today." 

"You're leaving, today?" she repeated after him, quite sad. "But you are my first friend, after my shark friend." 

'Friend-zoned already.' 

"Let's make a deal." Josh held her finger. 

Shirahoshi was waiting for what he had to say. 

"Next time, we can be more than friends, deal." Josh raised his head, smiling, and looking at the huge cleavage.

Shirahoshi's sad expression vanished and was replaced by a smile. "Deal!" 

"So you are leaving, today." Neptune came to the scene. "I'm very sad that I didn't treat you as you deserve to be treated. Please, if you have anything to ask for, you can have it." 

"Anything?" 

"Yes," Neptune said. 

This man, not only save his daughter, but he saved their country and defeated the pirates that wanted to destroy him and his daughter. But luckily, Josh was here. Also, after seeing how strong that Gambler is in person, Neptune knew that it's better to have this man on their side. Whitebeard isn't going to live forever. And Josh would be the best option. Neptune may try to convince Josh to have this island under his protection, at any price, even giving his daughter. He seems to like her. Although Shirahoshi didn't know what Josh meant by 'more than friends,' Neptune knew. That's why he didn't show his annoyance when he saw them getting along. 

"You know I can read thoughts, don't you?" Josh smiled at the king. 

"This is…" the king bit on his lips as he turned his eyes to his smiling daughter. 

"Don't worry. Hold the offer, until I figure out the secret." Josh said. 

"What secret?" 

"Only Big Mom knows." Josh had banged someone thrice as big as him. But he can't think of something with Shirahoshi. 

He touched himself. <<More More Size x100>>

His devil fruit only works on non-living things, so he can't change himself. 

"Hahahaha!" the king laughed. "Don't worry. Many like you have asked that question, but they came to answer." 

Shirahoshi saw her father and Josh talking and didn't understand. "What are you talking about? What offer?" 

"Just keeping my invite to my guest open," Neptune said.

"Hmm… We should bring some food from land then" 

"Now, you can summon your brothers and go to the Fishman island." 

"Yes, father." 

Shirahoshi waved her hand at Josh before moving back. 

Josh let a sigh. It's time for him to move out of here. Although it had been one day here, he had enough fun. Now it's time for his leaving. 

Josh talked a bit with the crew of Whitebeard and Jinbe. He then talked to Jozu privately. After all, Whitebeard had tasked Jozu to find Josh a land under their protection in New World. Josh was planning to make that land his, and have his home there. No one would mind for someone as strong as Josh to live alone there. Jozu said he has the perfect place, and agreed to meet with Josh's crew a week later, as Whitebeard's crew has few places to visit before meeting with Josh. *

-x-X-x- 

Josh was in his submarine, sitting in front of the window. 

[Ding, + Mystery Box tier 5] 

After hearing the system's notification, Josh remembered one quest he had in the past, which was going to the New World. At that time, the reward, a legend tier reward, seemed to be something amazing, something out of the reach. But as he is now, Josh barely felt the same excitement. 

"I'm rich, motherfucker." He muttered to the system. 

"What?" Hancock turned her head toward Josh and went to him, sitting on his lap. "What are you muttering?" 

Josh patted her back. "Nothing much. Can you show me how to coat your Conqueror Haki…" 

"You mean this." Hancock opened her hand. Red lightning started spreading. Everyone knows that one simple slap with that Haki can cause very large damage. 

"Yep, that. And turn that off, I don't want my ship to get destroyed" 

"Oh right. I still have that manual you gave me. Here it is." Hancock reached her dress and grabbed a small manual. 

"You still have it." Josh took it. 

"Yes. Everything you give me is dear to me." Hancock put her hands on his face and smiled. 

As their eyes were contacting, the feeling of a strong attraction contacted them. 

"How about a kiss then." 

"I'll see." 

Their faces were getting closer and closer, lips touching and tongues dancing. 

But suddenly, they stopped. Josh took his head back and turned to Melissa. 

"Turn the ship to the right, quickly!" he yelled in a strong voice. 

Melissa was shocked, but Josh's yell made her obey subconsciously and moved the ship quickly. 

From the left of the ship, a huge spike of rock passed by their submarine and pierced the surface of the water. 

"What's happening." Hancock, angry, stood up and turned. 

"We have a visitor." Josh stood, furious that someone ruined a special moment. "Move to the left, 45 degrees." 

....

A/N: Advanced chapters ahead at patréon

www..patréon.com/Blazuki