One Piece: Gambling to The Top
Chapter 35 - 35

The ships landed on one seaport that belongs to one of the islands that were near to the Kingdom of Alabasta.

Josh and his group descend. Josh looked around him. With the bomb man and gasoline woman, he has better chances in his epic quest against Crocodile. ​​

Gem was still playing with his nose, which had been quite annoying for Josh.

Melissa stretched her arms as she changed to a new pair of clothes, blue shorts and a short T-shirt with a slit on the chest area.

Meanwhile, Mikita wore a short dress, a very short one. Although sleeveless, she wore a blue jacket above it.

Gem, on the other hand, was still wearing a long black coat, opened, with a brown shirt and black pants.

The desert was hot and one needed clothes to protect him from the sun. It's nothing like your beach where you can strip.

It's always wiser to wear long clothes to protect yourself from the shining sun and slipping sand.

"Back to the desert again." Josh looked in front of him, the heat of the sun hitting him on the face. It wasn't Alabasta, but it had similar weather.

"I'm not affected by this." Gem said.

"Weird. You have to be careful of me." Melissa said, some liquid dancing around her body. "If the heat is too much, I would be on fire, everything around would be burned."

"But not you," Josh asked.

"I'm don't know. Never came to my mind to try it. " Said Melissa, showing that she isn't crazy to test that.

"Whatever. Let's move and discuss the plan."

Gem jumped off his feet and landed on the ground, looking around and asking Josh about his plan what to do.

The first part was to replace a hotel and rest there. Gem wasn't surprised that he has to pay the fees for food and everything.

As they booked their rooms, Josh ate as much as he could, since he would need the nutrients to use his Healing Factor constitution.

After eating, Josh said the plan.

They will annoy Crocodile until he is out personally. Then Josh would deal with him, according to plan which he wouldn't share with them now.

Melissa called Josh crazy. But given the nature of his girlfriend, who is sadistic when it comes to fighting, she felt her words were meaningless. Only a crazier man dates a crazy woman.

Josh asked Mikita to go outside and scout from the sky, to see if anyone was near.

Although Josh didn't see anyone following them, it doesn't mean he would lower his guard.

Mikita, with no hesitation, kissed Josh on the lips, before floating out of the window, using her umbrella.

"Eww…" Gem rolled his eyes, while Melisa laughed.

In any case, Josh said. "The kiss was good, and your opinion doesn't matter."

"Who talked to you." Gem snorted.

"Well. You think it's good. Probably you didn't kiss someone else." Melissa said, winking at Josh, who raised his eyebrows at her.

"Who knows."

"Seems that her punch didn't teach you a lesson." When Gem said that, Melissa took a step back and put her hand on her chest.

Mikita had punched her, two days ago, with enough strength that made her fly across the island and almost killed her.

"No need to mention that, I was testing the leader here if he is loyal." The woman blushed as she took her head back.

Josh leaned back and lifted his head. This type of woman wasn't rare back in his world. They would bang their friend's guy and then tell their friend that they were testing their boyfriend, while all they wanted actually was the D.

'I hate my internship period.' Josh frowned a bit and sighed.

Gem and Melissa gave him a specious look, which Josh avoided by looking at the side, over the window.

Josh's heart almost jumped out of its place when he saw Mikita floating next to the window, an ugly expression on her face.

Josh thought that she heard everything. 'I must explain that it's a joke.'

No one wants a crazy battle maniac blonde, who is sadistic to the enemies, to misunderstand when she hears another woman asking her boyfriend for a kiss.

"Crisis!" She yelled. "Galdino and Marianne are waiting for us on the beach, making a trap. Our cover was blown."

Josh put a hand on his heart. "Good. Thank god." He sighed in relief as he knew the real reason behind her frown.

"What! What do you mean by good? We have been found out, and they are planning to attack us." Mikita landed on his thigh and grabbed his shirt, trying to snap him out of his thoughts.

"I know. Easy. I sent to scout for a reason, remember." Josh stood up suddenly, "Now tell me, did they see you."

"No…" Mikita shook her head. "I was floating from a real high distance."

Josh looked at Gem.

Galdino and Marianne are waiting for them, meaning the Baroque Works know they are alive.

Gem shrugged his shoulders. "You were there when I made my report, and then you threw my DenDenMushi."

Gem obviously made a false report. "Meaning, I'm fucked up as well. Boss knows about my betrayal now."

"True." Josh nodded. "Mikita. Explain what they are doing."

Explaining what she had seen when she had been floating, Mikita told Josh about Galdino, who is preparing for an ambush for them on their way.

It was needless to say that Baroque Works now knows about Gem and Melissa's betrayal.

"Honey, I don't know what to do if it were not for you," Josh said as he grabbed her hand. 'Probably having another pattern plan.'

Mikita only smiled at him and nodded, blushing when she felt how strong he was grabbing her hand.

"Let's just fuck them up on the way," Mikita said, excitedly.

"Alright."

-x-X-x-

On their way to Alabasta, Josh changed the sail of his ship to a near small island he had seen on his way after he chose another beach.

It was a very small island. Josh did that so he wouldn't fall for all of the traps Galdino, Aka Mr 3, had prepared.

As it seems, Galdino didn't stop here to attack them on the sea.

It was expected since no Devil Fruit user is crazy enough to fight in the sea, especially people who are with Josh, who has the ability to blow up your ship away and burn it.

"Explain to me again, how does your ability work."

"I can produce gasoline from each part of my body. My breath also can be one. And, anything I touch would be covered by it." Melissa said as she opened her hand, a small amount of gasoline fills the air above her.

"And it usually assists my power." Gem said, unleashing a small explosion with his breath, making a bigger explosion happen when it met with the gasoline that was floating in the air.

"I see. Alright guys, let's rest!" Josh said loudly, enough for anyone in this calm see to hear him.

And then, quietly, in a voice that no one can hear but them, he whispered. "And do it according to the plan."

Josh is aware of how smart Mr. 3, and how much he depends on strategies more than fighting capabilities. Josh had a drink with Galdino and Marianne once. So, Josh was aware of that fact more than anyone.

Remembering that night in the bar with Daze Bonez, Zala, Galdino and Marianne, Josh had a small smile on his face.

"Nothing is personal. We are all professional."

Josh sat down, with others preparing for a small camp while waiting for the man, who was watching in the shadow to make his move.

On the ground, not so away from them, a shadow appeared on the ground.

It was a shadow of a man. Above him, a shadow of number three appeared.

"Let's start." Said the shadow as he started moving.

-x-X-x-

A/N: Chapters ahead at patréon

www.pàtreon.com/Blazuki