Inside a tavern, in a random place in the Grand Line.
'I won't share the bill with anyone.'
Josh thought as he started sipping from his drink. Although his body seemed to be around 17 years old, Josh refused to pay, since alcohols are for adults. He is just a minor, who is pulled here by a bunch of majors who should take responsibility for spoiling a child.
'I miss my days in law school.' Josh thought as he lifted his head, relaxing a bit. As it seems, he wanted to sue someone for putting him in this place.
He looked around. The agents with whom he had a cooperation mission were here, wearing their casual clothes.
He got to learn their names.
Mr 3's name was Galdino. His partner, a short girl, who appeared to be 16 years old and 145 cm tall, was Marianne.
On the other hand, Mr 1 was Daze Bonez. It was a wonder that he spells his name. All he had been doing was crossing his arms and acting cool until Zala pushed him to say it.
Oh, Zala was Doublefinger.
she changed her clothes and wore a bandanna around her hair, her curly hair got timid and fell down, with a strand in front of her face.
Josh didn't want to ask her why her hair changes like that, in order not to trigger something out, since women can be too sensitive about their looks.
"So, good job keeping alive," Galdino said, sipping some alcohol.
"Was there any danger in the first place?" Zala crossed her arms around her chest and chuckled.
"My point." Daze Bonez said, his facial expression not changing all the time.
Josh was looking at that.
He wondered if pranking Daze Bonez could change anything. However, he didn't think it's a good time to do it now since it has a real risk of being sliced.
"So, about the money, how should we split it," Mikita asked.
The money they got from the task was already delivered to them. The gold had been taken to the headquarter, while they can split the reward of the pirates.
"We take out numbers into count," Goldenweek said.
"How about we divide the money on your number." Mr 3 said.
This simply would mean, if Josh was number seven, he and his partner would get 1/7 of the money.
"How about we take it equally," Mikita said.
All of the sudden, everyone, except Josh and Bonez, chuckled and started laughing.
"Ara Ara. Although your chest is smaller a bit, you have a bigger sense of humour."
Zala, who was pale as her, said to Mikita as she put her hands on her chest.
"You said what!" Mikita stood up and was about to attack the spike woman.
"Easy darling. Your boobs are big enough for me. They don't have to get too big."
Josh said, holding Mikita from the waist and pushing her back to him. Come on, since when double D cup was small. Just because Zala's were quite bigger.
Mikita calmed down and let josh take her while exchanging glares with Zala.
Meanwhile, if one looked carefully around, Marianne, after the fight between the two girls, took a full bottle of alcohol and started drinking, trying to forget about her flat chest.
Josh sat back, Mikita on his lap.
"Whoever takes more shall pay the bill," Josh said.
Everyone looked at him. Josh, remembering how his mentor used to act, lifted his hand.
"Everyone gets about what they contributed. Any case, I prefer to go and hunt pirates with my partner here rather than wasting time to get some berries."
Josh said, wrapping his hands around Mikita. Everyone seemed to agree with his proposal. It wasn't greedy, but more logical. Everyone would get as much as they contributed.
"Hey, I only froze them, and Goldenweek made them weak." Galdino objected.
"We will split it, happy." Josh shrugged his shoulder.
There was another option, which is calling the boss of Baroque Works and let him settle things. But no one would like to call him.
Galdino pointed to Zala and Daze Bonez.
"But this means, they take more since they took the ones with most killings."
Josh leaned back. "Mountains don't give back what they take."
"When this is over. And someone tells me why is she drunk." Daze pointed to Marianne, who was sleeping, after drinking one bottle.
Zala just chuckled. "Someone is smarter than you, Mr3." She then winked at Josh.
Mikita stared at her. There was a small pause, where Mikita and Zala looked at each other. Mikita half closed her eyes, bit her bottom lip, while Zala leaned back with her hand on her chin.
Mikita moved her hips against Josh's lap, making him feel quite aroused. Mikita had a blush while looking at Zala, which, somehow, surprised the latter. "Stop looking at him."
"Seems you are happy with your boyfriend," Zala asked.
"So happy," Mikita said.
"Are you bi, girls?" Josh could notice the glances and decided to tease them. "You turned friendly all of the sudden."
"I'm dating you!" Mikita turned to Josh and raised her voice.
Josh gave a loving smirk, a teasing one.
"Teasing me, Kyahaha."
Mikita didn't like how he was teasing her, and all of the sudden, her weight increased, making the chair under him crush, and he fell.
"You're crazy," Josh had a smirk on his face.
She was still sitting on his crotch. Making herself sixty kilos again, Mikita turned and smiled at Josh. "Who knows?"
She then leaned forward, and bit his bottom lip, taking it back as they started more kisses.
"Oh come on, find some other place and do that!" Galdino, aka Mr 3, said, annoyed.
"Boo!!!" Marianne booed at them.
"Bero… Bero…"
All of the sudden, a communication snail ringing voice filled the bar.
Everyone stopped what they are doing, even Mikita, and stared at Josh.
"It's mine," Josh said as picked the snail from his pocket.
"Hello, Mr 7 is with you," Josh said, his girlfriend looking at him curiously.
Josh picked up the call.
"Mr 7. Are you open for a chat now?"
Upon hearing this voice, everyone else in this room held their breath, except Mikita, who had yet to learn about him.
Zala put her hand in front of her mouth. Galdino started sweating, while Daze Bonez kept his cool manner.
"Yes. Who is with me?"
"Mr 0."
Upon hearing the code name, even Josh had goosebumps on his skin.
Shit, Crocodile is calling him.
He looked around him and could understand why everyone had wariness drawn on their face, except for Marianne, who was drunk.
As it seems, they know Crocodile, who is a cruel man that may punish them for slacking and drinking if he ever knew.
"Hi sir, how may I serve you," Josh said, Mikita still sitting on his crotch.
"Are you alone?" Crocodile asked from the other side.
Josh looked up.
When his eyes met with Zala's green eyes, she waved her finger, as if telling him to rat them up, her eyes opening widely while she was bitting on her lips.
"I'm only with my partner, naturally, relaxing after the last mission," Josh replied.
"I see." Crocodile said with a deep voice.
There was a moment of pause.
Josh's heart started beating faster, thinking what would happen.
"I have noticed your abilities. And I'm thinking, are you ready to prove that you worth joining our intern operations?"
"Intern operations?"
"Yes. You will be a high ranked agent. You would participate in the secret mission, you and your partner, of course, the payment would be generous."
"Sure," Josh nodded after thinking for a moment. "What do I have to do?"
"I need you to do one simple mission, to prove your worth."
"Ah. Yes. And after?"
"You will join. Is there something you want to ask about?"
"Yes, it's about the payment." Josh looked up to the roof, before looking at everyone around who was looking curiously at him.
Mikita, seeing Josh in such a serious situation, started moving her hips on his crotch. His little brother became bigger. And it was trying its best not to throb with the sexy woman above him.
"I tell you, it's enough for you." Crocodile said. "You will be satisfied."
"No, it's not that, boss." Josh rubbed his chin.
"What is it then?"
"Can I get paid in advance? Not until the end of the month?" Josh said that. He would need the money to get stronger. He figured it's better to get money from Crocodile in advance, before trying to take the rest of his money.
"…"
Zala, all of the sudden, put her hand in front of her mouth and held her laugh. Tears started streaming out of green eyes.
Galdino almost fell to the ground, cold sweat covering him. He was afraid, unlike the others.
Daze Bonez suppressed an urge to sigh.
"Anyway, I'll send you the mission's details. Take rest tonight. Tomorrow, you would be moving."
"Yes, sir." Josh made a military salute in front of everyone while talking to Crocodile.
Zala fell down, her hand on her mouth.
Crocodile cut the call suddenly.
"Hahaha… you're cute, you know that," Zala said, her green eyes getting cloudy.
"Of course, he is." Mikita agreed.
Galdino was almost out of breath. He inhaled heavily and then yelled at Josh. "To talk with the boss like that. You have balls of steel."
"I do." Daze Bonez pointed to himself.
There was a little chuckle from everyone before they departed.
"But they are as thin as a sword blade." Josh stood up, his arm around his girlfriend, and shrugged. Everyone thought that he is under alcohol's effects.
Daze Bonez opened his eyes widely. Zala started laughing loudly.
"Fuck! This is the best night!" Zala swept a tear from her eye. "I like him."
Daze Bonez had a deep frown as he stood up, his leg turning into a silver blade. His eyes were flinching about hearing Josh's remark.
"Relax joking, man." Josh stopped laughing and wrapped his arm around Mikita.
Everyone looked at the intense atmosphere. Josh continued, looking at Mr One who lost his temper for the first time.
"Good night."
<
Vanishing in thin air with his partner, who made herself one kilo, Josh was on his way to his ship. Running, he found himself being chased by an air blade. Luckily, he was very swift.
In little time, he reached his ship next to the seaport with Mikita.
He was laughing, while Mikita laughed and held her heart. Both fear and excitement took over her.
"His expression. Priceless. Kyahahaha."
"It's right."
Josh started laughing again. "Quickly, sail, he will chase after us."
"Kyahaha, do you think he will forget."
"Do you think he will see us again soon?" Josh laughed a bit. It was a bit of fun to troll Mr 1, who maybe trying to catch up to him, but no use against a Shave user.
"One day, he will forget." Mikita shook her head.
And so, Josh sailed, waiting for Crocodile to give him a new task.
-x-X-x-
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