"It can't be helped since the chief has been trying to get you to sail with us for so many years now, but you never agreed..." Lucky Roux remarked, and I felt my eyes twitch.
Well, this isn't ideal. Yonko's attention was the last thing I wanted so early, but Shanks at least had a more mild temper compared to the other three, so it could have been worse, I guess.
"That brat Shanks will just have to get over it," Crocus said with a shrug. "More importantly, did something happen for him to leave in such a hurry?" he asked as if suddenly remembering.
"I was hoping to share a few drinks with him and talk about the good old times," Crocus concluded, making a drinking gesture with his hand.
"The chief was looking forward to that too," Lucky Roux said with a smile, taking a big bite from the meat rack in his hand. "But Big Mom's brats realized we were away and started having ideas about our territory," He added, hitting his chest as the piece of meat he's bitten seemed to have gotten stuck in his throat.
"I see then it can't be helped indeed," Crocus said with a sigh. "Anyway, how are you going to get back into the new world?" Crocus asked in a confused tone, tilting his head to the side.
"We have a ship in Alabasta, so I'll wait here and catch a ride there with a merchant fleet or something," Lucky Roux said with a smile. "Worst-case scenario, I'll just swim my way there if I'm not lucky," he added with a careless shrug, as if swimming to Alabasta was just one of those chores things you'd do on a Monday.
"Well, if you're going to Alabasta, then I can give you a ride since that's where we're heading," I said after clearing my throat while gesturing towards the Black Pearl.
The way I see it, Shanks already knows about me, so I might as well leave a good impression by helping his companion.
"Hmm, are you sure?" Lucky Roux asked as he turned to look at me. "I don't want to impose..." he added with a sheepish smile, scratching his head.
"You should think twice, Johnny," Crocus said with a smirk. "This fat bastard will probably eat through all your food supplies and might even start munching on your precious ship if there's nothing for him to eat," he added with a laugh.
"You know me, Crocus," Lucky Roux said with a shrug. "I eat to live to eat some more," he added as he began loudly laughing as well.
"Well, I'm sure we'll manage," I said with a smile. "But seriously, if I find munching on my ship, then you'll have to go the rest of the way swimming," I flatly added, causing Lucky Roux and Crocus to start laughing even more loudly.
"This kid sure is interesting, Crocus," Lucky Roux said as he stopped laughing, a smirk still on his face. "Too bad the chief already left. He would have loved to meet him too," he added as he stuffed the rest of the meat rack in his mouth, swallowing it in one gulp.
...
"So, I hear you guys intend to sail into the Florian triangle to help Crocus' friend..." Lucky Roux remarked as my crew, Crocus, and I sat around a bone fire near the ship.
"That's right," I replied with a nod. "Crocus' friend also happens to be related to Bryon here too," I added while gesturing towards the blonde musician, who nodded his head.
"You guys do realize how dangerous the Florian Triangle is, don't you?" Lucky Roux asked with a smile as he reached into the fire and took a piece of roasted meat.
"Not to mention it's the hunting grounds for one of the Warlords," Lucky Roux added, taking a bite, slowly chewing as he seemed to think about something. "What was his name again...?" he muttered, trying to remember the said Warlord.
"Gecko Moria," I remarked with a shrug.
"Yup, that's the one," Lucky Roux said with a smile, slapping his leg, having recognized the name. "He should be reasonably strong, you know? I heard he even fought Kaido when he was young," he added, looking me in the eyes with a broad grin.
"He fought Kaido and lost," I replied with a grin of my own. "He'll be a nice warm-up before I go into the new world and kick Kaido's ass too," I added in a confident tone, shrugging my shoulders.
"Oho, do you have a grudge against Kaido, or are you aiming for his position as emperor?" Lucky Roux asked with a raised eyebrow, amusement in his tone.
"I have nothing against Kaido, but one of my crewmates does," I replied while gesturing towards Kozue, who scowled at the mention of the man who ruined her homeland.
"I would have gone for him either way, grudge or not," I explained, gesturing with my hand to the side. "I'm aiming to become the world's strongest man, after all," I concluded as I took a sip from my whisky bottle.
"That's quite the goal you have," Lucky Roux said with a nod. "But shouldn't you go after old Whitebeard instead if you're aiming to become the strongest?" he asked in a curious tone.
"Whitebeard is way past his prime, and he'll be dead by the time I'm finally ready to fight for that title," I replied with a shrug, taking another sip of whisky.
"Interesting," Lucky Roux muttered with a grin, dropping the subject. "Still, you have one great cook on your ship," he added as he took another big bite from the piece of meat in his hand.
"I'm glad you enjoyed my cooking," Bob said while twirling his mustache. "If only these punks here were as polite as you," he added while sending a dirty look towards Wilson, who was gorging himself without a care in the world.
"Oh, did you hear that, Wilson?" I asked as I turned to look at the four-armed gorilla. "Bob just called you an impolite punk!" I added, shaking my head in exasperation as I lowered my head to hide my smirk.
"That damned cook could go fuck himself for all I care," Wilson said after he stopped eating, giving Bob the middle finger before resuming his meal with a scowl.
"What did you say, you dumb ape?!" Bob asked with a scowl of his own as he turned to glare at Wilson.
"You heard what I said! Now leave me be before I come there and pluck that ugly piece of shit mustache you're so proud of!" Wilson replied while shooing Bob away with his hand.
"Now you've done it!" Bob said as he got up and started pacing towards Wilson.
"You want a piece of me, shitty mustache cook?" Wilson bellowed as he got and started walking towards Bob, meeting him halfway, and that's when they started punching each other.
"Now that's more like it," I said with a chuckle. " A dinner and a show! Rehahahaha," I added with a loud laugh as Elly merely rolled her eyes at me but smiled, enjoying the show nonetheless.
"We should have stayed on Swallow island," Law muttered to himself as he looked at Bepo with an exasperated expression.
"I'm sorry I didn't stop from leaving back then!" Bepo replied with a downcast expression, repeatedly bowing his head.
"You..." Law said with twitching eyes as he looked at Bepo. "You know what, never mind," he added with a sigh as he took a piece of meat and began stuffing his mouth.