One Piece: Gambling to The Top
Chapter 26 - 26

A/N: 15 chapters ahead at patréon

www.p atreon.com/Blazuki. ​​

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"Hey, Vivi." Josh waved his hand.

"Hey," Mikita said, as she was sipping a lemon tea teacup.

Vivi nodded awkwardly, seeing that her guests arrived, and they were talking with her dad already.

Nefertari Vivi took a deep breath. The 15 years old girl then sat next to her dad.

Who would ever think that her dilemma of bringing Josh to the castle would be solved on its own?

"Long time no see, you look quite different," Josh said to Vivi, smiling gently.

"Thanks." Vivi nodded shyly. True, her figure has changed.

Josh scanned her. Unlike the fighter girl he had seen in Baroque Works, Vivi here was wearing a red dress that fits a princess. She was nice looking 15 years old girl, in fact, she looked more like a woman, given her height of 169 cm.

"So, how about we start talking…"

Josh joined his hands together and tilted his head.

The king started listening carefully.

Josh said he would take 60 million Berries for the information he has.

The king nodded.

If that can save their countries, Vivi believed that her father would pay the price.

"Do you need the money now?"

"The sooner the better. I'm going against my own boss, you know." Josh shook his finger and leaned back on his chair.

"I see," Cobra nodded. "You have my word that you would get them once you tell us."

"I'll choose to trust you then."

Josh then started telling them the missed information

The boss of the Baroque Works is the real one behind the rebellion.

The leader of the rebels is Vivi's childhood friend, and he, just like everyone, is manipulated by the boss behind the Baroque Works.

When Vivi and Cobra were in suspense of the identity of the mysterious card master who is scheming behind their country, Josh answered. "Crocodile."

"You mean!" the king couldn't suppress his shock when he heard Josh saying the name.

"You got that right." Josh turned to Mikita.

"Mr.0 is Crocodile." Mikita completed his words. "My hubby here felt sorry for you, so he is helping your poor as—"

"Ahem. Valentine. Enough." Josh said. If he let her continue, Mikita may get vicious with her words.

"Fine, Joshy~"

Like an obedient girl, Mikita held his arm with both hands and hugged it to her chest.

Meanwhile, Vivi and King Cobra both were shocked by this information.

"Are you sure it's him? The Warlord, Crocodile!" Vivi screamed.

Josh put a finger in his ear. "I'm happy I didn't tell you back then, you would expose my cover with your yelling."

Vivi blushed when her eyes met with Josh's. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

Meanwhile, the king was looking between his legs. "He is the owner of the Crocodile Casino in Rainbase City. He is known for his strength, that's why he is a Warlord. Without proof, we can do nothing against him. The World Government is in his side."

The king and the princess lowered their heads. The king seemed to be aware of his own situation.

"You can do something," Josh said, confidently.

"What is it?"

"Lend me more money, and I will use it to take him down." Josh said, "I will repay it back later."

King Cobra rubbed his chin, looked at Josh, and started examining him with half-closed eyes.

"What would you do with the money?"

Josh didn't seem that he is going to use the money for himself.

First, he is getting his payment, which is his right.

The second one is to lend him money.

"Finish up the job," Josh said.

"You have something against Crocodile, don't you." The king focused his sharp gaze on Josh, who just smiled.

The king continued. "I won't trust anyone. What if you want to take the money left."

"Well, it's your choice. I will take my payment and leave. In either case, I would complete my mission, whether you lend me money or not."

Josh said honestly. He had no choice but to do this. Other than this, he may die if doesn't accomplish his mission.

Josh has bet on his life he would take Crocodile down, and he is playing the game against the system and fate.

"Hmm…"

The king lowered his head. Currently, his country is going through a crisis.

King Cobra can do nothing against Crocodile since the latter has the World Government on his side.

Warlords can even do piracy and it would be totally legal. King Cobra, without exposing Crocodile, can do nothing to take him down.

He stared at Josh — a man with a plan. However, Cobra doesn't know if Josh is totally honest.

However, does the king have a choice?

"What shall I have if I gave you the money." The king asked.

Josh took a deep breath, joined his hands together and looked at the ground. Lifting his head, he made eye contact with Cobra and said with a firm voice.

"You have my word," Josh said.

"I will give you half of the loan now." The king said. "If your journey is to save this country, you would get more than what I shall give you now."

One can't trust a man, but you can trust his greed.

Josh, instead of smirking, lowered his head as if he was sad, or deep thinking.

"Thanks for your faith," Josh said.

He really needed this money.

Vivi, meanwhile, was staring at Mikita, who starred at Josh.

Mr. 7 is here to save them…. She knew that Mr. 7 himself isn't sure if he can succeed in this.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have told her to bet on him.

After few words, Josh shook the hand of the king. They had reached an agreement that Josh would get around totally 100 million berries.

Such an amount could change the destiny of some villages and a town.

But, it would be nothing if it can't save the country.

"Ha…" King Cobra sighed when Josh held Mikita from the waist and they vanished in thin air.

"Dad, Do you really trust him." The young princess asked her dad.

"You can't trust a man who you don't know his motivation. But I'm just gambling here. A man who doesn't smile when he gets money in advance," Cobra said. "Is a man who earns that money, not getting it. He needs that, for something I don't know."

"I see." Vivi looked at her legs and bit her lips.

"He even didn't expose me back then…" Vivi suddenly remembered the misunderstanding back then, and how she had thought Josh would ask for her body. He hadn't treated her like a princess back then. However, he treated her like a normal person with complete respect.

"Vivi, your face is getting red. Go to the doctor." Cobra leaned forward and put his hand on her forehead. "Weird, your heat is normal."

"No! nothing father! I'm fine!!! I just need water! " Vivi waved her hands in front of her face, eyes widely opened. She was just embarrassed by what had happened.