章節 18: Dice cast!

"So, what's it that you do?" Red remarked from besides me, a position she had not vacated since the strawhats joined me the moment I had stepped out of our hotel.

Glancing at her slightly, my lips twitched for but a milli-second at the play that was performed right then and there, before I averted my eyes again and took another bite from the breakfast that was piled up in front of me.

While my taste buds marvelled at the exquisite composition of the fruity pies I was currently wolfing down without hesitation and the image I was thusly presenting to those around me, my ears kept on listening to everything that happened around me. Old habit I'm afraid.

"Would you like another fruit smoothy Naaami-chwan?~" Sanji simpered, all the while bowing with an elegance I had not suspected from a pirate of all things.

Glancing once more towards that particular scene playing out, I managed to just get a glimpse of the façade Red put into place whenever she seemed to want something from someone, so naturally that it was baffling really. Then again, she was a woman, so no real surprise there.

"No thank you Sanji-kun. But would you be a dear and fetch us frail and innocent girls another few cups of coffee and a second serving of those delicious chocolate cakes?" Red replied while batting her eyelashes at Sanji and tightening her arms alongside her pretty damn impressive bust, which seemed to have the desired effect on Sanji as he developed two pulsating hearts in his eyes that seemed to nearly jump Red like an overtly horny dog would a bitch in heat.

'Jeez, Sanji is such a tool, hahahaha! Then again, Red played her part pretty damn well also. Makes me wonder how much time she devoted to the art of subtle seduction in the first place. It seems to come almost naturally to her by now…' Taking my eyes away from the disappearing love-cook Sanji, I chanced another quick glance at Red before I switched from her to Nico Robin, who didn't seem all that surprised at that small powerplay from Red. Curious.

Mentally shrugging my shoulders slightly, I returned to stuffing another one of those incredible pies down my throat, while my mind subconsciously filed those small titbits of information I had gained on those three crew members away, joining the rest of the knowledge I had on the people I had come across over the years. Old habits and all that…

"So? You still haven't answered my question!" Red returned to her earlier needling with a quick twist of her head into my direction, while Nico Robin's attention switched from her breakfast equally onto me.

"I'm rather curious myself. Are you perhaps a merchant?" Nico Robin asked, smoothly inserting herself into our 'conversation' while her keen mind seemed to dissect me from behind her dark yet gleaming eyes.

"You know, this and that. I've dabbled in quite a few occupations over the years but in the end always settled on a new one whenever the need arose." I responded after which I downed a few gulps of the nice and cool milk shake that sat before me on the table besides the slowly but surely shrinking pile of food.

Strictly spoken, I wasn't telling a lie, but then again it wasn't the whole truth either. I simply omitted a few details that I simply saw no reason to share with the ladies. Luckily the munchkin was so busy stuffing herself with pies that she didn't seem to register anything else that was happening around her, so there was no danger of my small omission of the truth to come to light.

"And what is it that you are currently doing?" Red continued to needle me, obviously more than a little curious for some reason I couldn't really seem to pinpoint. Nico Robin meanwhile was looking at me like I was some interesting puzzle she just had to figure out right then and there.

"Don't have one I'm afraid. Just haven't discovered anything all that interesting so far. Maybe I'll try my hand at being an artist or something. Who knows." I hoped that my words had the intended effect and diffused any further questions but my hope seemed to have no desire to come true at all.

"An artist? Whoa, that's cool. What kind of artist?" Red gushed suddenly, and I was a little taken aback by her sudden interest before I gathered myself and responded, though I had to strongly fight down the urge to just answer with 'the art of killing nosey people', if only to get out of those seemingly endless questions, but managed to get a grip of myself.

"I'm somewhat good at sculpting. Though not to a level to where I could start bragging about it mind you." Which was true. Somewhat. A couple years back I've had the sudden urge to pursue some kind of hobby with which to fill the monotony that came from travelling in between the different missions I had undertaken, as training all the time grew fucking boring after a while when you had nobody to spar with. Hence, why I tried out sculpting, painting, carving and even tried my hand at a few instruments. Though, I sucked ass at those.

"Would you sculpt us? Please?" Red continued, while her eyes seemed to sparkle a little at the idea while Nico Robin seemed somewhat interested in the idea as well if her curious smile was anything to go by.

'You gotta be shitting me…Is this really happening right now?!' With a barely supressed groan I hid my grimace behind a new pie I shoved into my mouth, which had the nice side effect of buying me a few precious seconds to come up with a good answer that wouldn't force me to fulfil some kind of contract or something.

"Now, why the hell would I do that? I barely know you Red. Let alone 'Mrs. Secretive' over there!" I began, while I motioned with my pie filled hand at both the women sat before me. Hopefully the two of them wouldn't be able to find a good enough reason which I couldn't refuse without seeming suspicious to the two. I really wasn't in the mood for a fight right about now.

"Stop calling me Red already, will ya?! I have a name you know? It's Nami! N-A-M-I! And besides, why would you need to know us to sculpt us? Isn't that your job or something?!" the redhead fumed slightly with a pout that took quite a bit away from her scorching tone, while Mrs. Secretive giggled a little at the nickname I had just given her. Not the best I had ever come up with, but I hadn't really had the time to come up with something better. Sue me!

"Or are you maybe not sure enough about your abilities Mr. Secretive?" This time it was Nico Robin who spoke, obviously trying to poke at my ego and masculine pride I must've had in my abilities. Too bad I didn't really give a rat's ass most of the time. This was one such moment.

"Nice try Mrs. Secretive. Try again." Hence my response, all the while my mind grinned at the possibility to push the conversation into a slightly different direction instead of staying on that annoying idea of Red's.

Though, instead of replying with another try, like I had urged her to, Nico Robin only grinned at me while slightly shrugging her shoulders at her attempt. And that was it. Freakin' smart-ass that one…

"We could just pay you, you know?" Red inserted herself back into the conversation, though she seemed to slightly flinch at the mention of payment. Another titbit of information my mind gathered in the background.

"I don't need money. I've got enough for now, but thanks for the offer." I replied then, hoping that my bland tone made clear how uninterested I was in the idea. I failed. Then I groaned. Audibly.

"Soo, what is it that you want then?" Red asked, while her eyes began to slightly gleam in speculation. I knew exactly what was coming right then and there.

"~Would you perhaps be interested in seeing something much more precious then gold?~" Red purred, while slightly stretching the collar of her tight shirt as if it was too hot for her in the bakery, which caused me snort in response.

The recently returned Sanji however fainted on the spot. Poor tool that he was. At my snort Red's eyebrow developed a slight tick however and I couldn't help but grin at her at that.

"What's that supposed to mean?!" She huffed, and I knew I had one upped her this time. As most women who relied upon their ability to influence men through their visual appeal, it stung something fierce whenever they were rejected upon offering even a slight glimpse. It had taken me quite a while to learn that small lesson myself. That made it all the more satisfying to watch her squirm now, hehehe…

"Nah, I'm good. But, as it so happens there may be something else that you could do for me…" I responded, suddenly receiving a sort of epiphany. Like swatting two flies with one hit!

"Oh? And what would that be Mr. Secretive?" Nico Robin asked then, while Red still seemed to pout slightly while muttering softly under her breath about something I had the distinct feeling I knew what it was about, all the while sticking to that bloody nickname!

"The munchkin and I are in need for a ride to the Sabaody Archipelago, which I know you'll be travelling to not far off in the future. If you are willing to take us there, you may just be able to convince me to sculpt you guys. Though, no promises on the results!" I returned, while I shoved the last of my pies down my gullet.

"Deal!" Red immediately agreed, and I had half a mind to renege on said deal before I reminded myself that I would have to check the whole bloody port for a suitable ship that could take us to said island, with no guarantee that there even would be one, which made it much easier for me to decide to stick with this solution. The other one was just a hazzle.

While Nami told the rest of the crew that the munchkin and I would be joining them for some time, which had Luffy of all people crying out in joy at new crewmembers, which bloody hell would never happen I was damn sure, while the rest of the crew either grinned, looked speculative or in the case of Nico Robin giggled like she had just received a humongous birthday present.

The munchkin however, knew nothing of what was happening around her. She had seemingly just reached the Nirvana from her over the top pie and cake consumption, having transformed into a literal ball of meat that laid nearly passed out on top of the table she had just been eating from. At least I wouldn't have to explain to her this whole conversation I just had had and why we would now be travelling with pirates of all things. Whatever, I'd cross that bridge when I got to it…

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'I'm getting too bloody old for this job…' Monkey D. Garp, Hero of the Marines and fister of all that looked like a pirate, couldn't help but grumble in the confines of his mind while shoving another crunching rice-cracker with absentminded vigour into his mouth.

He had just returned to his ship, a warship of the Marines with a giant dog motive at its front he had installed just because why the fuck not, after visiting his grandson on Water 7. Luffy had looked quite beaten up while his left arm was still in a sling and heavily bandaged. He clearly had been through the ringer once or twice.

His visit had served two purposes, really. First of all, he just wanted to check up on his moron of a grandson. Despite being a member of the Marines, which also made him a subordinate to the world government, Garp didn't really give a damn about the image of the WG, but was still acutely aware what the collapse of the projected image would mean for the world. Hence, the second purpose.

By visiting his grandson first, before anybody else, he showed both Marines and civilians that he could have taken Luffy and his crew in at any moment then and there, while also passively shielding his rubber headed grandson from people like Sakazuki, who wouldn't have hesitated in the slightest with immolating Luffy, if he had been sent to take said boy in after the debacle that had been Enies Lobby.

Luckily, due to the absolutely ridiculous screw up of Spandam, namely ordering a Bustercall onto Enies Lobby, none of the Admirals or Vice-Admirals had been sent after Luffy and his crew, as they hadn't really been the ones to lay to waste the island of eternal dawn. Still, Garp had decided to make sure and had thusly travelled to Water 7 himself.

It had been one of his better decisions so far. Now, mind you, Garp wasn't stupid. Far from it actually, despite what many people believed. What most people saw Garp as, namely a goofy moron that knew how to smash things and nothing more really, was nothing more than what Garp 'wanted' most people to see. It was a mask, or rather the persona he was whenever he didn't have to bother with anything lethal or important.

How else could Garp have fathered a person such as Monkey D. Dragon, who was notorious for his sharp mind and dedication. No, Luffy was more the exception than the rule, though Garp would do nothing to convince other people to change their opinions about that. It would serve as just another protection for his progeny.

Speaking of said progeny, Garp had found himself pleasantly surprised that his grandson had grown strong enough to face people like the CP9 and come out on top, even if the agents currently making up the top rooster of the CP9 were pretty new in their positions, it was still an accomplishment on said boy's part.

Unfortunately, that's still what he is. A boy. He was still terribly naïve and if he truly wanted to keep his crew safe, which now included Nico Robin of all people, he would have to grow a LOT stronger still.

That had become even more apparent to Garp when he stepped up to his grandson's residence on Water 7 and felt a presence he had hoped not to be anywhere on the island to begin with.

Daz Bonez. It had been years since he had last seen the boy, who had obviously grown into a man by now. And yet, Garp still remember the absolutely unique and slightly weird presence Daz Bonez' aura had possessed. It was strangely twisted in a way. While he had detected passion, excitement and pure will inside the boy's aura, they all had been covered by a sheen, as if hidden or buried beneath a veil of some kind. He had never witnessed something before or after that particular experience. Hence, why he was so sure about who that particular aura belonged to.

Obviously, at the time Garp had been very curious about said boy and thusly investigated him a little, simply in order to figure out why said boy's aura had been so peculiar but he had found no indication as to its origin. The boy was gifted when it came to fighting and a perfectionist pertaining his abilities Garp had not seen in any other person to date. That much had been true, but Garp had met many such individuals over his life and none of them had possessed the boy's presence.

Besides that, he both possessed a devil fruit and a highly adaptable mind, according to his psychological profile. Though, all of those were either no indication. Hence why Garp had tried to dig a little deeper and had had a little chat with one of the boy's personal instructors.

Apparently, the boy had had problems sleeping and his conditioning was progressing a little slowly for someone who had been picked up at a young age to become a loyal agent for the World Government.

Garp still remembered the sickening taste he had had in his mouth for a few days after that particular conversation, as he had never been a fan of the indoctrination of small children to begin with. Still, what he had been told had shown a little light on the mystery that was Daz Bonez. And with his curiosity satisfied somewhat, Garp had shoved that particular unpleasantness to the back of his mind with practised ease.

That however had come to bite Garp in the ass later down the line as he now knew. Daz Bonez had, without any early warning signs sliced himself a bloody path out of Marie Geoise, killing the two Tenryuubito under his protection along with all the guards that had stood in his way, while freeing a boat load full of slaves in the process.

That incident had baffled a lot of people that had known and worked alongside Daz Bonez for years in some cases. And if one thing had been clear to all that had worked with Daz Bonez before, the man was like a blade when it came down to it. Unfeeling, sharp and dangerous. And yet, that unfeeling blade had done what nobody had expected it to do.

Those waves Daz Bonez had set into motion were still going strong, if slightly smaller by now, meaning that the whole psychological profiling process was checked and reworked to not let something like this happen again.

Meanwhile, Daz Bonez had disappeared, leaving only chaos behind and the only thing the World Government had to show for it was a piece of paper on which the man's bounty and a picture from one of his profiling sessions was depicted. Nothing more.

Thus, Garp had both been surprised and worried when that particular individual had popped up in the vicinity of his grandson and his crew, who all seemed completely in the dark who exactly it was they had sitting there right in their front yard like an overgrown pumpkin with a smile on his face that couldn't have looked more forced if Garp was to try and smile while taking a dumb in a pool filled with sea kings!

Thus, when Garp had perceived said aura, Bonez had apparently perceived Garp as well as Bonez aura only seconds later faded from Garp's perception, with an ease only a few individuals managed to pull off these days.

True, Garp had never been as gifted with observation haki as he had been with armament haki but it was still quite a feat in his book to escape from his perception. Obviously, none of the others present had noticed anything happening, as they all were still fledglings after all.

All the more reason for Garp to be as concerned as he was. And so, here he was, sitting with a bag of rice crackers in his hands, his subordinates training boisterously in the background, while his personal transponder snail waited patiently on the desk before him for him to pick up the mic and do what he knew was necessary.

Even though Garp had no love lost for the Tenryuubito, he would do quite a few not so nice things in order to keep his blood safe, and the older he got the stronger that feeling grew. Hence, why he firmed his mind, decision made, and picked up the mic.

If only speaking to the elders up in Marie Geoise didn't cause his stomach to rumble so fiercly! He would have to breach his secret stash of medicinal rice crackers once he was done talking to them. And maybe have a little chat with Sengoku to annoy his friend a bit. That always relaxed him. Yes, that sounded like a great idea to Garp. And so, with a purupuru Garp made his call. Though what would come of that, neither he nor anybody else knew at that time…