"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.
I am motivated by praise and interactions! So if you like my stories and you'd like me to keep writing, then make sure to share your thoughts about the story with me via comments or reviews, and power stones - can't forget about those.
You can also always come and say hi on my discord server
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Did I forget to mention that I'm motivated by money as well? Because I am.
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"Well, it's about time we get going, old man," I said with a smile as I stood in front of Crocus, my back facing the black Pearl as my companions began preparing for departure.
"I'll get to the Florian Triangle as soon as possible to free Humming Brook and send him your way as soon as possible," I added in a confident tone. "So rest assured and wait for your friend here," I concluded in an assuring voice, waving my hand to the side.
"I'll do that," Crocus said with a smile. "But before you go..." he added, passing me a yellow stack of three papers, causing me to grin as I took it from his hand.
"Doc, Law, come here," I said as I turned to look at the two doctors, gesturing for them to come close. "You guys finally got a bounty!" I added after noticing their curious expressions as they approached me.
"Death Surgeon, Law. Wanted dead or alive. Bounty: 32,000,000 Berry," I remarked while pointing at Law, who merely shrugged his shoulders and returned to the ship without even bothering to take a look at his wanted posture.
Law's wanted posture had a picture of him peacefully sleeping as he leaned on a tree somewhere, hugging his sword between his left arm and left shoulder, with Bepo sitting, not far away.
"What's with that reaction?" Lucky Roux said from the side while watching Law shrug off his bounty as if it was nothing. "I remember getting my first bounty..." he added with a happy smile.
"I kept partying for two days in celebration!" Lucky Roux added, a sentimental expression on his face, which only looked weird as he kept biting on a piece of meat in his hand.
"That's just the way he is," I replied with a smile, shaking my head. "Anyway, moving on," I added as I moved on to the next wanted posture, turning to look at Doc.
"Death God, Doc Q. Wanted dead or alive. Bounty: 45,000,000 Berry," I remarked while pointing towards Doc, who smiled, making his way towards me to get a better look at his wanted posture.
Doc's wanted posture had a picture of him from when he was still sick. He was riding on Stronger's back while leaning on the horse's back with a tired expression as he patted its mane.
"Too bad the picture is old," Doc said with a smile. "I think I look way more handsome now that I'm cured," he added as he took the posture, giving it a closer look.
Doc wasn't lying; he indeed looked much better now that his sickness was almost gone. His pale, sickly complexion had already disapeared, replaced by a healthy tanned one. His wilting, ashy blonde hair regained some color as well.
That, coupled with the fact he got rid of the long thick coat, replacing it with decent clothes made him look much better than the moving corpse he used to look like before.
"I can't argue with that," I replied with a shrug of my shoulders. "I'm sure they'll get a better picture of you next time, so make sure to wreak as much havoc as you can the next time we get the chance to go wild," I added with a laugh.
"Will do, captain," Doc said with a grin as he turned around and returned to the ship, and I nodded, turning around as I felt someone tugging on my clothes.
And finally, my won bounty, was still the same, the only difference being the increase from 99 million to 125 million.
"What... what about me, captain?" Bepo asked as he let go of my clothes when I turned around to face him. "Did I get a bounty? I mean," he asked again with a hopeful expression.
"No such luck, I'm afraid," I said as I patted Bepo's head. "Maybe next time, eh?" I added while waving my hand to the side.
"I'm sorry I didn't get a bounty!" Bepo immediately apologized, his face turning downcast as he bowed his head.
"There's no need to apologize. I'm sure you'll get one next time," I said with a sigh, scratching my head.
"I'm sorry for apologizing so much!" Bepo apologized again, his face turning even more downcast as he bowed his head even lower.
"You know what? Just forget about it," I said with twitching eyes as I turned to face Crocus. "Anyway, we've wasted enough time," I said with a sigh.
"I'll be seeing you later, old man," I concluded, getting a smiling nod from Crocus as I made my way to the ship and watched as Lucky Roux and several of my crewmates said their goodbyes to Crocus as well.
Once everyone was ready to go, we quickly set sail and departed just in time to see Laboon emerge from beneath the water one last time, sadly wailing (Get it? Cause he's a whale) one last time as he glared at the red line.
...
"I must say, this is quite the ship you have, Johnny," Lucky Roux said with a smile as he stood next to me on the black Pearl's bow.
"Isn't she?" I remarked with a fond smile, my hand on the railing. "We were lucky to meet old Jim, the shipwright who built her, when we did," I added, not bothering to hide how much pride I had in my ship.
It had been several weeks since we departed the twin capes, and I would say we were only a week away from Alabsta, give or take a couple of days.
Lucky Roux proved that his gigantic gut wasn't for show, as he quickly ate through most of our food supply, but luckily he was considerate enough to help us restock by hunting giant sea monsters every day.
At any rate, the trip had been exciting, to say the least, so far. The grand line had finally begun showing its true colors with its iconic crazy weather.
Typhoons, with scorching winds, heat waves one hour, and a snowstorm the next, literal holes in the sea, were some of the crazy phenomena we came across during this trip.
But at least it took away from the dullness of the trip, so I wasn't complaining, and neither was Laffite, who steered us through these natural catastrophes with a maniacal grin splitting his face.
He seemed to enjoy the challenge, and not only that, he was learning from the experience as well, and it showed. Laffite's performance was truly excellent as he steered us through this crazy weather despite encountering them for the first time.
And his performance would only get better whenever we run into similar bullshit grand line storms, making his progress visible even to me, who only knew the basics of navigation, but I digress.
I haven't been idle either as I focused solely on training my Observation Haki through the manual Chinjao gave me, along with the darkroom I had built inside the Black Pearl.
I reckon I had already reached as far as training could get me, and I only needed one push to awaken my Observation Haki, so there was nothing more for me to do.
I am motivated by praise and interactions! So if you like my stories and you'd like me to keep writing, then make sure to share your thoughts about the story with me via comments or reviews, and power stones - can't forget about those.
You can also always come and say hi on my discord server
-> (discord..gg/RDnWBB6jXV- or hit me up at - Wicked132#5511 - and I'll add you myself)
Did I forget to mention that I'm motivated by money as well? Because I am.
So if you want to show some love to my stories, or maybe read ahead, then consider subscribing to my Pat reon. You can read ahead for as little as 1$
-> (pat reon.com/wicked132)
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