One Piece: Gambling to The Top

"I think…"  Josh paused for a brief, looking at the clouds in the sky. 

It seems that some of the agents of the World Government are here. 

He and Robin had predicted that they would be chased when she had revealed her power.  It's needless to say that Robin's new identity was discovered, and the spies of the World Government knew that Josh would hunt a bounty hunter. 

"Yes?" Mikita waited for Josh's reply. 

Josh looked at the girls, before saying. "Compared to the last months, Robin, tell me, how much stronger did I get?" 

Robin was surprised as Josh gave her this question. 

She seemed to think for a brief, before saying. "You would dwarf the previous self version." 

Josh nodded. "We will get Accino wealth and kick out the guests of the World government." 

If that happens, then Josh would draw from the system, and then, he will become strong enough to dwarf his current self. 

"Also, Robin." Josh continued.  

Robin, who was surprised like everyone else that Josh isn't going to back down, waited for what Josh has to say. 

"The Devil Fruit Curse is lifted on you. Don't hesitate to throw yourself to the sea in case you were trapped…" 

"Excuse me!" 

Robin, somehow, was surprised that she doubted that this is a dream, and she almost took a step back. 

What kind of nonsense is this. 

However, Mikita's reply has revealed the truth to Robin.

"What! That happened for her too!" Mikita exclaimed loudly. 

Josh knew what Mikita is thinking. How is this possible, Robin never dealt with Devil Chan. 

"Just some chemical product I got my hands onto." Josh just smiled as he patted Mikita. "I put it in your drink that day." 

"You never told me?" Mikita half-closed her eyes upon realising one thing."Why didn't you tell me?" 

"At first, I didn't want to shock you. Then when you figured it out, we were next to Gem and Melissa." Josh said. "Had I said that in front of them, guess what kind of troubles would be on my ass." 

Many possibilities. Probably each Devil Fruit user in the world would after him. 

 Mikita opened her eyes widely. "And after that… that's lame, you don't just give your girl a gift and don't say it's not you." 

"Didn't think it's important since you figured an explanation on your own." Josh patted her shoulder. "Besides, as long as you're safe, I don't care if you think it's a gift from me or not." 

Mikita lowered her head. She was about to say that he should tell her whenever he gives her some big gift like that. However, his explanation, reasoning that he just wants her to be safe without caring about explanation, seemed to move something on her. She just opened her arms and hugged him. 

"Sometimes I feel that I don't deserve you." She said, tears on his shoulder. 

Josh grabbed his crazy girlfriend head and whispered. "We don't get what we deserve, but what we earn." 

"Kyahahaha… you are right!" Mikita sounded happy all of the sudden. 

Marianne was shocked, but not so shocked. She is not a Devil Fruit user and she doesn't care. 

By the end of the hug, and the kiss that followed after, Josh turned to Robin. 

"Well. I guess this explains a lot." Robin just shook her head. "Josh. You have a nice personality. But I think being mentally prepared would surely help anyone." 

Josh just smirked. Shrugging his shoulder, he started walking forward. "You are mentally prepared for everything ever since you were a kid." 

"True." Robin remained calm. 

-x-X-x- 

"The castle of Accino." 

Walking on the ice with his group, Josh looked at the castle of the Accino family in front of him.  It was a brown castle, with many pirate flags above it. 

Although Josh was with his girls, he had asked them to walk behind him and keep a fair distance. 

All of the sudden, he paused along with the girls. 

Lifting his head slowly, Josh stared at the top of the castle. 

Standing between the flags of the pirates was a really fat man.

"Don Accino," Josh said. 

Accino is a large, obese man, with thin arms and legs, who resembles a jungle tribesman, with a bearded face and a moustache that ends in two curls. His hair has four upright square-edged ends that almost look like jungle leaves. He has tattoos resembling roses, with blue spirals at their sides, on both arms. His eyes are always covered by a pair of circular sunglasses, and he has big earrings that have little pendants hanging from them.

"You have finally shown up," Accino said. "The criminal who hunts honourable people. I must say, you have a thick face." 

Hearing that last sentence, Josh's face flinched. Staring at Accino, he slowly said. "Do you kiss your parent with that mouth?"

Accino flinched. He looked down at Josh, who didn't look surprised. "Hey, aren't you going to ask if I were expecting you?" 

"Why would I?" 

"You don't sound surprised." Said  Accino as he seemed to realise something. 

"Your IQ is too high for this world." Josh stared up at Accino. 

Accino clapped with his hands. A few seconds later, he stared at Josh. "My family, they aren't here. Hey, you did something to them, didn't you." 

"They told me about you, for sure. And, I don't feel like talking anymore, shall we." 

Josh extended his hand up, inviting Accino to come down. 

Robin, who was standing behind, seemed to think about taking the initiative to make things easier. 

Taking advantage that her arms are stronger than in the past, Robin crossed her arms, copy arms appeared on Accino hands. 

Instead of complimenting her, Josh turned and screamed at Robin as Accino jumped down. 

"Take them off!" 

Robin, because of the surprise, took her hands back. 

"Hey… that wasn't so nice…" Robin said. It's the first time Josh yells at her. 

The moment she finished her words, Accino landed on the ice, and the ice started melting. 

"Well. Lucky girl. You were about to burn." Accino said, looking at Robin while his body seemed to get red. 

"Accino can increase his temperature. I'll say it in nicer words next time." Josh looked at the powerful bounty hunter standing forward. "Now, don't get in my way." 

"Sorry." Robin somehow felt embarrassment and guilt took over her. Since she has yet to get used to her new white milk skin, she didn't realise her cheeks turn red. Meanwhile, she was thinking how Josh could tell that Don Accino has the power to increase his temperature, while she hadn't been able to collect that information. 

"Hih. So you know." Accino patted his sunglasses as he stared at Josh. Parts of his body starts glowing, and the air around him started becoming smoke. Because of the cold weather, and since Accino's body is heating the air, Accino had a thick smoke aura around him. 

"I know more," Josh said, reaching the empty air and grabbing a black Katana. "Now, tell the agents to get out." 

Because of his hearing, Josh could hear some faint heartbeats hiding behind some specific spots. Although because of the noise earlier he hadn't been able to tell where they are, he can now. 

Waving the sword out of the sheath in instant, Josh slashed and sent an air blade, cutting a chunk of ice, making a couple of silhouettes move at very high speed. 

Josh, because his swordsmanship has improved after his fight with T bone, could make large pressed air blades. 

"Things are about to get interested, aren't they." Josh pointed the blade to Accino, his other hand holding the sheath. 

"Don't worry. They promised to give me double of your bounty if get you." Accino said, patting his sunglasses again. 

"Twice…? Size matters to you, doesn't it." Saying that Josh ignored the one girl and two guys, dressed in black, standing behind Accino. 

"Hell, you are right," Accino said. 

Unable to control his facial expression this time, he just made a smug face at Accino.

"Bastard! You trolled me." 

Accino, upon realising what he had said, frowned and yelled. 

"Joke on you, you trolled yourself," Josh said.