One Piece: Gambling to The Top
Chapter 146 - 146

Akainu was in the headquarter. Today was a big day with two major news. 

"What a disappointment." 

Akainu put his hands behind his back, remembering what the Vice-Admiral had told him, the same Vice Admiral who had sent the envelope to Saint Carlos. 

'You won't believe this. Read the news. All I can say, he is a lucky bastard. Also, there is something else, something bigger happened.' Akainu remembered what that vice said. 

'What is that?' 

'It will be sent to you, in the reports.' 

Akainu let a sigh as he lifted the newspaper. As a marine, he would have access to the news and reports before the rest of the world. 

Akainu assumed it's something bad since he has yet to hear that Josh is dead, or lost his seat as a Warlord. 

 [The World Noble: Saint Carlos, almost assassinated.] 

Akainu smirked, thinking about one particular thing. Probably Josh tried to kill him and run away. 

However, when he read the rest of the news, his cigar fell from his mouth. 

"Saint Carlos was in a usual journey. He was touring and entered a restaurant when two of his agents had other plans of killing him. The most recent Warlord, Josh the Gambler, had been there. He did his best to protect the World Noble. However, the battle was intense. The sole survivors were one agent, and the Gambler, and Saint Carlos. 

"Saint Carlos says that he never felt appreciation toward a usual mortal, until now, and he says that the Gambler should be treated as a hero. 

"It's worth mentioning that, after becoming a legend in Paradise, the Gambler climbed his way to become a Legendary Hero." 

Akainu couldn't hold himself. His arm turned into magma. He stared at the window as he punched, throwing that arm like a volcano. 

The window broke, and the glass fell to the ground. 

Akainu looked at his face. 

He had a strong burn mark across his face, which had been caused by the hell flames of Josh. 

"Not only he has a way to swim, but he could manipulate the Celestial Dragon." 

It's needless to say what happened. Carlos had gone to steal Josh's girls, just like Akainu had planned. In the middle of the battle, however, Josh had managed to kill two agents and threaten the Celestial Dragon. As for the surviving agent, Akainu wondered why she didn't testify about what happened. 

Could it be possible that Josh had done to her the same thing he had done to Kalifa, which somehow boost her strength? 

The marines have a report that Kalifa had turned into a Vampire after someone had reported that anyone she bites would turn into a zombie-like creature, and once they meet the sun, they would be wrapped in blue flames. 

Although because of the appearance of the Devil Fruits, most of the people here in this world had lost faith in religions and miracles. But. According to the religious legends from satanic cultures and churches across the world, vampires exists. The first generation comes from the Devil, and then, those vampires create their group and spread the curse. 

Using that as a data basis for Josh's devil fruit, can explain his ability to control people. 

"The bastard. He… he must be dead!" 

Akainu didn't know if it would be a wise step to tell the Celestial Dragons. After all, Josh may have some other strings in the World Government. Not to mention what may happen if he is in control of a Celestial Dragon. 

The best course of action then would be to kill him personally, through one's hands. 

'I don't want to mess with my promotion plans. But he will meet his fate, just let him appear in the next meeting.'

Akainu then went to his office, picked up a DenDenMushi, and called the repair team, which happened to get used to Akainu breaking things in his office. 

Akainu then looked at the other report, the one which said to hold very important news. 

-x-X-x- 

"Stussy took her time coming here, for sure." 

Josh was in water seven. He just muttered while having his hands in his pocket. He was standing in front of a bank, with a few groups of pirates, and a large amount of gold. 

Robin, who had the most experience, had been the one responsible to sell the gold Josh had gotten from the sky. 

They had toured many islands, which Robin had known ever since she was young. 

Josh appreciated the fact that she is the one to use her brain when it comes to making money. 

Josh could only relax while looking at his new pet. The snake that he had gotten from Sky Island. Josh's hand named it "Bitch" because that snake only moves when he slaps her on the face. 

He hoped that it would be as timid as Kalifa is acting around him. Talking about her, she had come to learn how to use her Devil Fruit. Compared to Enel, she seemed to be stronger, given the fact that she has better physical strength and senses. She was only lacking Observation Haki, which gives Enel an advantage. 

Josh turned his head and stared at Kalifa, who was standing behind him and was giving his shoulder a massage with her tits. 

'I'll get her some Devil Blood later.' Josh let a sigh. 'I always wondered what this Devil Fruit would evolve if it got that boost.'

Josh could only sigh. When Robin came back, Josh calculated how much money she made. 2.2 billion. The group was happy with the gains. With this, their group would raise in strength, not in wealth though. 

But it didn't matter since might is what controls things in this world. Also, Hancock wasn't here to share this happiness with her, since she had gone to Amazon Lilly, and she had said she would come back a few days later.

Josh just smiled, and he calculated the money with an open heart. Josh didn't need to walk around with a huge bag, since he could store the money in the system. When the girls had asked

"Josh, by the way, one seat of Warlords is available now." 

"Excuse me?" Josh felt something was missing. 

Robin reached her blouse and grabbed a wrapped newspaper, before throwing it to him. 

Josh noticed that she was looking at him with disappointment. 

"Did you save a World Noble?" She asked, not seeming to be happy. 

"Don't look at me like that. It makes you look like you are my mom." Josh let a sigh. Why did Oda have to make the pretty girls so tall?

Robin suppressed her chuckle. Pretending to frown, she said. "Mr Josh. We need to talk."

"Ha Ha…" Josh let a lifeless laugh as he opened the newspaper. "It's not saving. More like enslaving. Long story short. They tried to kill me, someone with them works for me, and we beat them. I forced the Celestial Dragon to say so, through the power of Demonic contract." Josh explained. "Don't hate Carlos. He is in debt to me."

"Wait, so when you said that some people tried to kill you." Robin opened her eyes widely. "You didn't mean a common group of pirates. Why didn't you say that?" She seemed genuinely worried about him. After all, Josh is a lovely man who had done so much for her already. He even challenged the World Government for her. 

"You never asked?" Josh shrugged his shoulder. "Besides, you know the details now. Now, I have to see…" 

Josh smirked when he read the article about him. He thought that Akainu should be pissed off that his plans failed. At any rate, Josh is planning to deal with him at the right time. 

Josh then turned to the newspaper, remembering that Robin said one of the Warlords seats is opened. 

"No way!" Josh opened his eyes widely. 

"Yes." Robin let a sigh after putting a hand on his shoulder. 

Josh seemed to be shocked upon reading that one of the warlords is dead now. 

 "I don't know what's shocking. Moria isn't that strong so his news would be shocking." Robin narrowed her eyebrow. "How about we go to the ship and have a quick round," Robin said, letting her lips closer to his neck to kiss him. 

"It's not that," Josh said, reading the article, not looking at Robin who was seducing him. 

It's needless to say that the timeline has changed in degrees that he hadn't calculated. 

If there is someone to benefit from killing 

"He appeared." Josh closed the newspaper and looked at the sky. 

The timeline had changed because of Josh. And the changes from now and on are not calculated. Josh had to prepare for the worse.. Just after this. Bending down, Josh put his hands around Robin's waist and lifted her over his shoulder