One Piece: Gambling To The Top - Chapter 200

“So, you are the one who killed Teach,” Whitebeard asked as he looked down at Josh.

“So what?” Josh said, lifting his head and furrowing his eyebrows, not seeming to shake in the presence of the Strongest Man in the World.

“So what, You ask?”

“Yep.”

The atmosphere seemed to get intense. The crew of the Whitebeard went silent all of the sudden. Whitebeard and Josh made long eye contact before Whitebeard let a sigh and smile.

“Brats like you are very reckless,” Whitebeard said. “You should be careful if you want to stay alive in this world.”

“Doesn’t matter.” Josh rolled his eyes. “Anyway. He attacked me first, and he died.”

“Guess I should apologize for his misbehave since I used to call him son once,” Whitebeard said in a slow tone. “But he got what he deserve for breaking the only rule in my ship. Sorry for troubling you to do my job.”

“No need to thank me,” Josh replied.

Jinbe, who was in the corner, sighed in relief. With Josh’s attitude, Jinbe felt lucky that he didn’t attack Whitebeard. After all, Josh was a person who attacks before talking, just like it had happened a few hours ago as Josh had been about to attack him.

“Anyway,” Whitebeard spoke. “You are old enough for alcohols?”

Josh chuckled. “What will happen if I broke the age rule… Will I be punished by the power of law and get sent to Impel Down?”

Laws don’t apply to outlaws.

“Gururururu… You stink brat.”  Whitebeard laughed.

“Old geezer.”

“Let’s drink anyway.”

“Alright. Do you have rum?” Josh said.

Neptune, who was sitting on his throne, put his hand on his mouth and faked a couple of coughs. “Welcome. But we don’t have that here. You should instead try wine or beer.”

“I’m cool with that.” Josh sighed.

It didn’t take a long time before a few servants came with tables and chairs. Josh had a question in his mind. Since everyone is from a different size category, how in the hell did they use to eat at the same table. A very large time.

Since Josh has the goal of getting something, land in New World without looking for so much, tried to blend well with the crew of Whitebeard.

Alcohol. It was a magical drink. It can create friends and enemies easily — depending on the occasion.

Anyway, Josh got to know about the crew, especially the commanders.

“So, you easily defeated Teach, and that guy injured Shanks.” Some bulky man called Jozu said. He was larger than three meters and was very muscular.

If Josh remembered correctly, Jozu could lift a giant ice chunk that could dwarf the giants of the marines… few thousands of tons.

“He is strong, I admit,” Josh said in a low tone. “But he is dumb.”

“Hey! Don’t forget that guy tricked us.”

“Enough talking about Teach,” Whitebeard said in an annoying tone as he lifted a huge cup and gulped. “He is dead, and our chef is in peace.”

“By the way guys.” Josh decided to speak his intent.

“What?” Marco said. “Do you want something?”

Josh put his cup down and swept his lips. “It happened that I’ll be moving to New World.”

Ace made a silly smile and continued in Josh’s place. “And you want a new crew to show you the way…”

“What a coincidence,” Whitebeard said. “Brats like you shouldn’t move recklessly. You can stay in my ship.”

Josh blinked twice when he saw people treating him as if he is going to join their crew.

“Hahahaha!” Josh laughed. How silly of them to think that he will join.

Josh isn’t a pirate, and he’ll never be.

He is a free person.

And if someone believes that he has to be a pirate to be free, then they are a slave to someone else’s idea, called Roger.

The crew laughed, thinking that Josh is friendly and that he wants to join.

“Not sorry at all. But I’m not a pirate.” Josh stopped laughing. “I’m looking for a nice island, a good land where I can live with my family without much annoyance. I was wondering if you have such land under you.”

Whitebeard lifted his eyebrows. “Aren’t you too young to waste your youth?”

“I love early retirement.”

“You little bastard. You make me feel too old.”

“Ever since my beard started growing.” Josh stroked his light beard. “I started feeling that I’m getting older.”

The light laughers at the table stopped. Ace didn’t seem to realise it yet.  But the others did.

Whitebeard doesn’t have a beard.

Whitebeard raised his eyebrows and said. “So, you said you want to move to my territory, old brat.”

Josh nodded. “Yep.”

“Do you like babysitting?”

“Nope.” Josh shook his head.

“What a disappointment. Juzo, look some land under our protection for him.” Whitebeard sighed. “I guess we should repay you for helping Ace.”

“Oy,” Ace raised his voice. “The best way to repay someone is not giving them land— ”

“Meat.” Josh interrupted as he put a hand on his face.

“How did you know?” Ace asked curiously.

“Just get to sleep.”

Ace seemed to get offended and said. “Hey. I won’t sleep until I know how you did know— ”

The next second his head fell on the table, and he was already sleeping. Josh let a long sigh. If people in One Piece were to transmigrate to Earth, most of them would be seeing therapists.

“Oy oy.” Marco let his head closed to the table. He turned his face to Josh. “How did you know that? Are you familiar with Ace, or did you see the future?”

“I can see the future.” Josh reached a near wine bottle. His carefree expression was suddenly replaced with a serious one. He took a gulp and said. “And some giant axe will pass by us now.”

King Neptune shivered for a second. “Wait. You don’t mean. My poor daughter.” He clenched his fists.

Josh had a Katana appearing on his hand. He put his hand on the sheath and looked in the door’s direction.

The pirates seemed to get cautious of him. But in the next second, they turned their head to the door.

A giant axe that was 8 meters in length entered from the door, spinning and moving at a very high speed.

Whitebeard had already predicted this. But he chose not to use his power, or he may destroy this place.

Josh drew his sword out of the sheath and sheathed it again.

The giant axe was cut into pieces and fell to the ground.

“He is still annoying your daughter,” Whitebeard said as he turned to the king. His voice was slow and sad. Whitebeard was a Devil Fruit user. Obviously, the king can’t ask him to go to the water and chase the one sending axes. Not to mention, Whitebeard was sick.

“Unfortunately, my little girl can’t have dinner in peace.”

“How old is she?”

“She would be turning 15 soon.”

Neptune said with a sad tone.

Meanwhile, Josh, who was hearing the conversation, had his mind working.

Josh’s brain usually works in one direction. It sees the chances to make a profit and benefit from his situation.

“Excuse me… can you tell me more about your daughter, king,” Josh said as he stood up.

“It’s a long story.” The king let a long sigh, not seeming to be caring about what Josh asked him. His daughter’s story was something he was asked about many times. And each time he tells it, his heart breaks to pieces.

Josh, who knew the story already, only acted as if he is clueless.

“You know. It seems like a Devil Fruit ability.”

“No shit Sengoku.” Muttered the king, and a silly smile appeared on his face.

“Sengoku.” Josh wasn’t offended. He was more shocked of the reference to the Fleet Admiral.”

“You are young.” Marco got close to Josh and whispered. “But in the past, he played a lot of detective games. He acted like one too much, and sometimes, he tries to find obvious things. And we use him as a reference when someone finds something obvious.”

“Do you have ‘Thanks captain obvious,’”

“No, but sounds a good one.” Marco looked to the roof before nodding.

Josh turned to the king, and he smirked. “But you never asked what I can do for it.”

Now, Josh isn’t doing this out of good intent. He isn’t a good person. He is only doing this for his own benefit.

The king, who had already lost hope a long time ago, turned to Josh and opened his eyes widely. “What are suggesting.”

“Tell me your little girl’s story, and I may use my power on her,” Josh said. “I have the scariest power, do you know what is it?”

Everyone was silent and looked at Josh, not even daring to ask.

“I see. You think meat is the best way to repay someone because it is universal fact.”

Everyone turned their heads, staring at Ace who just woke up to complete his conversation.

“Just go back to sleep.” Marco patted his back.

“You should fix your sleeping habits,” Whitebeard said.

“Did I miss something?” Ace blinked twice.

“Anyways.” Josh ignored Ace. “I have one of the Devils power, which is the Power of Deal. If you want something badly, whether it is power, physical modification, curse, or a new look, I can guarantee it.”

“Wait. You are saying you can free my daughter!” the king’s face seemed to get lively. Neptune giant face got closer to Josh’s face, and it seemed full of hope.

Josh patted his face. “Not so fast. In my contract, you have to exchange something if you want something. To remove a Devil Fruit’s curse, I think you should offer a higher price.”

Extending his hand in the middle of the air, Josh unleashed his demonic energy. Red aura wrapped his hand.

Of course, half of what he said was the truth, so that’s why no one could tell that he is lying about the other half.

Josh doesn’t need the contract to dispel any Devil Fruit ability curse on someone. He has Darkness-Darkness power sealed in his other sword.

As for the demonic energy, it was to create suspense and convince the king.

Josh’s energy took the attribute of greed and lust.

The king has one very deep desire, and he is greedy for it.

To get his sole desire coming true, how far should he go.

Josh’s greed attribute affects people.

“As long as the price is heavy…” the king’s face got pale, but he was more excited.

Josh looked at the giant face and patted Neptune’s cheeks. “Think king. It doesn’t have to be money. It has to be something that worth a lot of money.”

Something that he can sell when he reaches the new world.

“Can I get a discount?” Neptune asked

“Hey. My ability has rules, and even I can’t break them.” Josh said.

“What is it?”

“Give me an offer.” Josh leaned backwards on the chair and put a leg above another.

The king took a few seconds to realise that he wasn’t acting like a king. He leaned backwards and took a deep breath, thinking, before saying.

“I’ve heard you earlier and I know what kind of person you are,” Neptune said.

Josh almost coughed, thinking that someone may expose him. What happened? Wasn’t his body language fake enough? After all, Body language is a pattern that you unconsciously learn from your parents, who in their turn learned from their parents. That’s why it’s easy to read most people. But once you are aware of it, you can unlearn it and learn it again.

“You stopped the war and refused to live as a pirate. You are a good and peaceful person, so the most precious thing I have may not have value to you.” Neptune made direct eye contact with Josh, who felt that he has to sigh in relief.

But Josh then wondered. ‘Am I a good person? Since when?”

“Will Poneglyph do it?”

Josh blinked three times… “Can you repeat?”