One Piece: Gambling to The Top
Chapter 109 - 109

"Holly…" Josh took a step back. The people who as well caught the newspapers turned their heads in Josh's direction, staring at him in awe. Josh, despite being aware of their gaze, only focused on his bounty.

[Wanted: Dead or Alive

The Gambler — Josh

620,000,000 Berries]

'620 Million Berries… Come on, I only injured an Admiral, not like I defeated him or something… Alright, I may as well had destroyed the legend of Buster Call…'

All of Josh's deeds, from fighting Marines, to taking down world governments agents, standing to an Admiral, and sinking a ship from the fleet of the Navy were mentioned in the newspaper.

Josh lowered the newspaper and massaged his temple, before looking around him. Although he could feel the awe with Haki, he had yet to see the people looking at him. When they saw him staring at them, the people turned their gazes.

They treated him like they would treat a dangerous dog. They turned their heads, not daring to stare at him, and soon, they walked back. Some were scared that they held their breath. It wasn't a rare sight to see pirates in Water 7. But to see someone with such a high bounty was a very rare occasion.

There were few guys with the courage to stand in his way. Josh winked at the girls while he frowned at the guys, which made them feel intimidated by him, not wanting to create troubles. Josh chuckled in himself, turned, and started walking.

'Let me remember why I am here?'

The sudden news made him forget why was he here. After a brief of thought, he remembered. He was here to steal from a couple of pirates to gain enough money to buy a ship. Nodding with his head, Josh depended on his Observation Haki and super speed to move around, no one was seeing him.

Finding few pirate ships moving along the water channels, Josh appeared on the deck, sneaking. Because of the Assassination Talent, which he had gotten from the system, no one was able to detect his existence as he made his way down to the treasury.

Without the need to key, Josh opened the vault with his hand and took every Berry. Luckily, his system allowed him to store money. But still, he couldn't store the jewels.

[+50 million Berries]

Shaking his head, Josh took the jewels, since they were worth more than gold before he left the pirates to the poor lifestyle. He moved around the city, to the crafting stalls, where they make ships. Josh stole from the pirates there. Water 7 was literally heaven to steal from, and Josh smiled at the end of the hour.

"400 Million, fast money." Muttered Josh as he appeared on some random spot, away from the seaport.

It seemed that he is in the market.

Josh was quite happy now. The pirates, unlike Luffy, has money in their ships more than their head would offer. Josh, since he is wanted, couldn't hunt them. But still, he got enough of their money.

'Now that I am alive, I think I can steal some bounty hunters as well.'

Greed appeared on Josh's face, his aura was getting stronger.

Josh, with his Haki, started noticing a strange effect from his demonic energy.

He could feel the people's greed. Not only so, but he could hear a new sound. It was like a whisper, a whisper of the green papers and gold. When he turned his head, he noticed some people clenching their hands tightly around their pockets, where the money is.

'I guess I became a money radar, and people are affected by my aura… let me test that later.'

Josh walked with his hands in his pocket. With Hancock and the other girls meeting, Josh was sure that he would have a very good night, a warm one.

While he was passing by people, his mind drifted to what had happened when he met the girls. Kalifa had let the towel fall while she had had her butt against him. Josh is a man after all, and he couldn't help but think about what could happen at that moment.

Josh shook his head. Later, he will have time to think about those things. Now, he has to think about having a Submarine.

He needs to replace Franky Family first and force that cyborg to build it.

"Josh!"

When Josh was about to reach the end of the market, people making his way, he heard a voice calling. Turning, he saw a green-haired woman, her hair in a ponytail, as she was running toward his direction.

Josh half-closed his eyes on the familiar shape. Height 175 cm, E cups breasts, green hair, green eyes, and hourglass shape. There was a faint smell of gasoline that hid behind a feminine aroma.

Yep, and she should have delivered him around 400 million Berries last year.

When she stopped in front of him, panting, she put her hand on his shoulder.

"I recently heard that you are in the market! It has been a long time." She said, raising her head. "It's hard to catch up to you."

"What's up, Melissa." Josh made a small smirk when she looked up at him.

She smiled back. "I thought you wouldn't recognise me."

"It's hard to forget. Besides..." Josh patted her shoulder before crossing his arms. "You and Gem are easy to remember…"

Since they had helped him in his plan of taking Crocodile down, and worked for him, and owe him a casino's worth making, Josh won't forget.

"Right. We used to work together before we became wanted." Melissa said, putting her hand on his chest, catching up her breathes. She swept a little and said. "You got more muscular since the last time."

"You should catch up your breathes before to see if I grow ." Josh raised his eyebrows.

"Well, I came rushing, after hearing from people you are here." She said. "I mean, it was shocking. You were known to be dead. It was happy news to know that you are alive again."

"Mm… do you want to sit." Josh tilted his head to near public chairs. After nodding, she went and sat next to him.

"By the way, where is Gem?"

"I don't know. We separated somewhere across the line." She joined her hands between her legs and looked at the ground.

Feeling curious, Josh asked. "Why is that."

"World Government agents… " Melissa started telling her story. After they had taken the money and were about to meet Josh, they had found themselves face to face with the World Government agents. Although the agents were fast, luckily, the two of them managed to escape after Gem used a full-body explosion. Somewhere in the sea, as they were chased, they had managed to create a sea of flames after she used her gasoline ability, letting them escape.

Gem and she had became wanted after that, and Marine turned their lives into hell. They had come to an agreement they catch a lot of attention, and they ended up splitting the money between them. Melissa had changed her look a bit and ended up settling here, in Water 7.

In reaction to hearing this, Josh stared forward at the sea. 'Here goes 387 million Berries…'

"I but you are angry that we spent your money."

"It's okay. I would've done the same if I were you." Josh stared up to the sky. He wasn't angry. If he has to describe how it feels, it felt like losing Wilson... No... Losing Wilson definitely felt slightly worse.

Josh snapped out of his thoughts when he felt a gentle hand on his hand. Looking down, he saw Melissa holding his.

"By the way, I was very happy to know you are alive." She said, quietly.

"Yeah, glad you are doing well too." Josh sighed deeply and didn't push her hand away. "By the way, did you come across the other girls? They never told me about you?"

"Girls… who? They are here?" Melissa asked, knowing that Josh is with three women, and he had left them happy the last time she was there.

"Mikita, Robin, Marianne?" Josh said. But given her expression, it seems they didn't meet.

"Mikita?" Melissa shivered a bit, putting her hand on her face.

"Bad memories? I thought you passed that?"

"No…" Melissa shook her head. "But try taking a punch that makes you fly a whole island and then ask me if you won't have bad memories." She forced a smile.

She continued. "So, they are here… I never met them…"

"It's okay." Josh stretched his arms up. Scanning her skin with his eyes, he noticed some dark spots. "By the way, you're covered in dirt…"

"Oh, that… I was just working. I will take a bath later."

"Working…? What's your job? Selling gasoline."

"Hahahaha, no silly. I will be captured that way." She laughed a bit. "I work as a mechanic… some guy spent all of your money, and I was learning from him. He is quite genius, and he said I have potentials with my devil fruit power."

"My money?" that was the line Josh picked up. "What about the remain."

Melissa put her hands on his shoulder and said. "Josh, please, I need you calm."

"I am calm."

"He spent 150 million in one day, in a party, and he just found my money on the way."

Josh stared at her green eyes, his jaw dropped a bit, not saying a word. "One day, all gone?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't know you are alive…" Melissa opened her arms and hugged him. Josh ignored the feeling of her big breasts on his chest. "I'll repay you."

"It's okay. No need." Josh patted her back and hugged her closer to him. "I have lost hope about money a long time ago."

'Definitely, I won't draw today, not my lucky day.' He let a long sigh. He decided to keep the sour feeling in his heart and learn a lesson from this.

"Robin was right about you. You are not greedy at all." Melissa pulled back and smiled at Josh's face.

Josh nodded, then he tilted his eyebrows. "Wait for a second… Are you learning from Franky?"

"You know boss?" Melissa's eyes lit up.

"Heard rumours about a pervert man spending all of his money in one day," Josh said, remembering one detail from the anime.

If what's she saying is right, then Josh would save time replaceing Franky.

In fact, he can force him to build a submarine in the name of dept.

"He is not really that pervert… He is a pervert, not so horny…" Melissa lowered her head. She muttered. "Unlike you…"

"I'm just a man with needs. What's wrong with that?"

"At least you have manners. Despite having three, you don't walk naked around with a black thong, as he does." She said, having her wrapped on his shoulder. "By the way, did your relationship last with the three."

"Yes… it extended in fact." Josh shook his head.

"Good to know you didn't lose your energy." She stared at him with open eyes, like he is a monster. "I would surely work under someone who doesn't get tired."

"Excuse me… You want to join my crew." Josh turned her face to her.

"Regroup… besides, I'm wanted, and it's safer to be with you than staying here. At least, you are a legend in Paradise."

"Don't say it like that, I may get cocky."

"Hehehe…"

"By the way, how much your bounty is…"

"Ah, you don't know?" Melissa took her hand, a blush running through her face.

Seeing her embraced, Josh smirked and teased. "10 million… it's okay, no shame in that."

She lowered her head, biting her teeth. "2.5 million." A tear ran down her eye.

Somehow, the number made Josh chuckle.

"Hey, don't laugh."

"It's just too funny." Josh stood up. "At any rate, take me to see your boss, I have few things to clear with him."

"Alright, I know you can do it." Melissa stood up as well. Turning to Josh, she said. "Can you not beat him… he is still a good guy."

"I'll try."

"Thanks, I know I can rely on my Ex."

"Huh?" Josh opened his eyes widely and turned to her.

"Ex boss." Melissa smiled and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek, before turning to the road and putting hand hands on her hips. "Follow me." She then started walking.

As Josh was about to walk, his Observation Haki alerted him. Someone with a strong fighting spirit is approaching Water 7, and he has some hostile intentions. Josh closed his eyes, ignoring the green-haired woman who started walking.

Unleashing his observation Haki, Josh could feel the whole Water 7, from people walking to people in their houses. The people became white shapes, while buildings faint red shapes. Josh drifted his focus to the sea's direction.

'Three big ships… many cannons, and they are moving using an engine…'

Opening his eyes, Josh furrowed his eyes.

"Josh… what's the matter." Melissa turned her head and asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Marines are here," Josh said. "A strong Marine coming." He then gave her his back and started walking. "Find me later." Josh then turned into a blur, heading to the seaport.

"Wait!" Melissa called but was too slow.

Josh, on the other hand, appeared above one house, staring in the sea's direction, to the channels that pull the ships here. Hancock's ship was in the seaport, and some amazons were turning their heads in the direction Josh was staring in.

His frown got deeper when he heard the notification in his ears.

[Ding, the system has a new gamble for you. Do you accept (y/n)]

-x-X-x-

A/N: Advanced chapters ahead at patréon

www..patréon.com/Blazuki