One Piece: Gambling to The Top
Chapter 45 - 45

"Oh bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao caio…"

Muttering and singing in Italian, Josh couldn't help but licking his lips when he looked at where Crocodile usually keeps his money. ​​

Robin was standing next to him, looking at his facial expression with her lips relaxed, trying to understand what he is saying. It was a very weird language. But she didn't care.

Josh was in front of a closet, full of green papers, stacks of green papers that filled the room. There was a lot of gold and jewels as well. Josh recognised some of the jewels since he had taken them from pirates in the past.

Robin faked a cough and explained. ". Besides the wealth from the pirates' heads and the casino, we have accumulated a lot of money by taking treasures from pirates."

One pirate with a bounty of 10-30 million doesn't seem that much. But imaging taking tens and tens of them monthly, while having strong agents, and stripping the pirates from their treasures all along.

Pirates, most of the time, has more money than their heads worth. Crocodile had been wise enough to know about that and take it all.

"Robin. Thank you."

Unable to suppress his happiness, Josh opened his arms and turned, hugging Robin.

Robin was surprised. Because her face had been trained for many years, she didn't show that.

"You can count on this Ane-San."

Although she said that, feeling her big boobs rubbing on his chest, she felt like blushing.

If not for her slightly tanned skin colour, Robin would blush. Seems that staying in the desert sun all of this time had its benefit.

Feeling curious if Josh was feeling something from hugging her, Robin, who was quite taller and was wearing heels, raised her knee, touching his crotch with her thigh, and understanding that he was semi-soft.

It was pure happiness, it seems. but she has to admit, he is big...

Josh seemed surprised, feeling her thigh pressing against his crotch and lifted his head

Mikita shot her a glare, but Robin ignored her anyway and put her leg down. "Should we celebrate now," Robin said as she pulled back from the hug, and Josh gave his back to his girlfriend.

"Ahem, I know," Josh said, before looking at the rest of his group.

"We are rich now." Mikita stood behind him and held his arm to her chest.

"Besides of my share, I want my money back, with benefits." Marianne, who was sitting far from them, next to the office, was sitting with Gem and Melissa, who were preparing for drinks.

"I have bought him a shirt, nice market, and fed him. I want a benefit as well." Melissa said, looking at Josh back. Seeing that he wasn't paying attention to her voice, she pushed her hair back.

"Me too." Gem said.

"Shut up. You paid for nothing, cheap bastard." Marianne said.

Melissa nodded. "Yeah, other than doing our job in burning the rest of the Baroque Works members, you paid for nothing."

Earlier, as Josh had been fighting Crocodile, Gem, Melissa, Marianne and Mikita were doing their job by burning and exploding the rest of the Baroque Works workers and bases.

Gem rubbed his nose on the remark. "I remember I bought him a cigarette."

"Josh doesn't smoke!" Melissa rolled her eyes. "Stop lying."

"He likes to drink sweet drinks when he is nervous, so better luck next time," Marianne said, sipping her tea.

"You seems very focused on what he likes and what he doesn't." Gem put his sunglasses in this dark place and sighed.

'Poor guys,' Josh shook his head.

At best, they will get some million berries.

"Don't worry, you will get a fair share, now that you are free from the Baroque Works."

No one can steal from Josh, since he can store money in his system.

However, he may have some plans for investing that money. As long as he gets enough money, he can retire anyway and start a new business.

-x-X-x-

Vivi, the young princess of Alabasta was sitting in the dining room, having her meal.

The spoon was moving on the bowl, pushing the soup without lifting it to her mouth.

Vivi let a long sight out of her mouth.

For many nights, ever since she came back to Alabasta, she was thinking about Mr 7 and her country.

She never expected her father to enter from the door, a happy smile on her face.

"Vivi." Cobra waved his hand, telling the guards to leave him and his daughter alone.

The guards nodded and did as they were told.

"Yes." Vivi stood up respectfully and stopped eating… well, she wasn't eating in the first place.

King Cobra looked from Vivi to the table, noticing that many dishes were still full, only a bite was taken from an apple.

"Why aren't you eating well. If my little daughter stays skinny, then I'm afraid that no one would marry you unless he is blinded by greed to reach the throne." King Cobra said, shaking his head left and right.

As a blush ran across her pale cheeks, Vivi opened her eyes widely. "Father!" she yelled at him. "I don't want to marry! I'm too young! Stop saying I'm ugly!"

"Hahaha…" Cobra laughed. "If my daughter is ugly, then Alabasta's beauty queens are nothing." Who is she joking, Vivi is very pretty, and that's when she is 15 years old. Growing older would make her more mature, and thus tempting.

"You still watch that show… Alabasta's beauty queen."

"I have no idea what you are talking about." The king shook his head.

Half closing her eyes and upset about her dad's remark, Vivi sat down and said. "Did you only come to tell me that?"

"No." King Cobra shook his head. "Your friend… the one we have gambled on him."

"What do you mean."

"Listen, this is a piece of top-secret information. Don't rise your voice. Crocodile has been taken down. Josh had just sent me a secret letter, giving us the location of all of the weapon deliveries across Alabasta along with the rebels centres. The rebels would no longer have someone to give them a weapon, neither the people would have their foods burned by Crocodile."

Crocodile had been using many tactics to lit up the flames of rebellions. One of them is to make people hungry, cut their supplies of food, and sink their water sources with sands.

That's why, when Crocodile left, everyone was happy, since that means saving the life of the others.

"Wait, this is…" Vivi stood up, her big brown eyes glowing. Even though she is young and has yet to experience more, she realised what it means. Thinking about Josh, she faked a cough. "Father, we should invite him for dinner."

"Huh? I thought you didn't like him." Cobra raised his eyebrows when he saw her blushing slightly.

Vivi noticed her father's glance and turned her head embarrassingly, saying.

"I never said I don't. I just want to apologia to him."

"So you like him." Cobra raised his eyebrow.

"I never said!" Embarrassed, Vivi yelled, turned, and run.

The king sighed. "Teens." Shrugging his shoulders, Cobra went back to the throne room, since he has more important work to do.