The promotion has been quick. It was needless to say that everyone would notice Josh’s fast growth. Some already had, like Galdino, Aka Mr 3, who had been there a month ago when Josh had joined the organisation.

“So, this how things are going, next week,” Josh said calmly, however, he felt something heating up within him. ​​

As an intern who has yet to become are real lawyer, he has still to lose his conscience.

“What is annoying you?” Mikita asked, looking at Josh.

“Next week,” Josh looked at the paper in his hand.

That paper represents an order. Josh, who was sitting on the deck of his ship, depending on the candle’s light to see, let the paper close to the fire. It was a tradition for agents to burn their orders, so it remains a secret.

“Yes, I read it, what wrong with it to annoy you?” Mikita whispered. “We still have a week before moving to Alabasta.”

“Just… whatever.” Josh sighed, lifting his head.

The mission had a clear order. Josh has to secure a weapon transfer to Alabasta, where the weapons would be handed to the rebels.

Two innocent sides are going to fight to the death because someone is manipulating them.

Now, Josh, since he had seen the Anime, knows the plot. The rebels in Alabasta are blindly guided by Crocodile, who is trying to take down Alabasta.

Josh had assumed that this is before the canon by, at least, a year. However, he still felt sore in his heart, knowing that he has to do such a mission.

‘These people are real people. Breath like me, eat like me.’

Josh turned and looked at the blonde, who was still stunning in his eyes. Mikita had a slight red line appear on her cheek upon seeing his gaze. It was like showing how he was passionate about her.

“Let’s take a nap, we’re drunk.” She said.

“Right.”

They had just left a meeting with the other agents. Now, they are on their boat. After drinking some alcohol, the two of them were sleepy.

Mikita and Josh started hugging each other, sleeping on blankets that were placed on the deck.

Josh, hugging her from behind, was thinking. As it seems, more than twenty days passed since he had accepted the crazy mission, and there was almost a month. Mikita had already shown signs that she doesn’t care about Baroque Works.

‘I want her to be on my side.’ Josh thought. As it seems, all the cards are for him.

He just needs more time to grow stronger. And he needs to loan money, somehow, from someone.

Could Vivi has enough for him to help him in his quest…

Josh lowered his he. He was having conflicts inside of him, between his conscience and his instinct of survival and making his mission succeed.

-x-X-x-

Mikita, aka Ms Valentine, was sitting on the deck of the ship.

She was looking at the Eternal Pose in her hand, which guided to their distance, Alabasta.

As it had appeared, she would have a mission from the boss himself, Mr 0.

She already expected that it would happen ever since she joined the Baroque Works.

After all, she was one of the small percentages that have Devil Fruit.

It was needless to say that she can promote quickly.

On the other hand, someone else didn’t seem to depend on a Devil fruit. She turned and looked over Josh, who was doing a little warm-up.

‘Something is wrong with him.’

Although Josh was the type of guy who only flirts and doesn’t share their burden, she could tell something was wrong with him. After all, he was unlike his usual self, even though he was hiding it.

‘Did he cheat on me?’ Mikita half-closed her eye on him. Although it seemed unlikely, given his young appearance, it still possible.

She turned her head to the sea. If he is not telling her, then it’s his choice.

‘Now, I’m boiling to know what it is up.’ She crossed her arms and put a leg above another as she on the edge of the ship.

After a couple of seconds, Josh stood up and came, behind her, and put his hands on her shoulders.

“You are silent, unlike yourself,” Josh said.

Mikita turned, looked at him, and filled her cheeks with air before frowning.

Josh just chuckled and pocked her cheek.

“What are you really thinking of.” She asked.

Josh’s smile started slowly fading, which made her heart beat faster. He is going to tell her something bad. Mikita herself didn’t know what she would do if it were bad for her.

“I have to tell you something.”

“Which is.” She waited for him to say confession.

“A proposal,” Josh said. If he was aware of her ideas, he would say that she is too paranoid, but it’s understandable.

Mikita raised her eyebrows, confusion appearing on her face. Wait. She thought he would confess he did something bad, but not, a proposal.

‘Don’t tell me that he is going to offer marriage.’ Mikita suddenly blushed and waved her hand in front of her face.

She even forgot that Josh said that he doesn’t believe in marriage.

“Have you ever thought that Baroque Works is offering us little compared to what we do?” Josh came and sat next to her.

A confusion was drawn upon her face. She looked at Josh, and then, she remembered. She had once told him about taking money from missions. Could it be that, when they had split the money with higher agents yesterday, he changed his mind?

“What are you suggesting.”

“I’m suggesting, carving our path.”

Josh held her hand and started rubbing it gently as he looked at it. He then looked at her eyes.

“Our path, by that, you mean.”

“Boss, Mr. 0, is so rich, you know.” Josh smiled.

Mikita opened her eyes widely. “You’re saying.”

“How about, you know, we partner up, take his money. I heard that he has even a casino. Not to mention, his organisation has been hunting pirates for too long. There is no one richer here in the first part, except him.”

‘And here I thought I am the crazy one.’ Mikita didn’t say her opinion out loud.

But what Josh has said was the truth.

A lot of money!

It means having no worries about the future.

She started closing her eyes slowly. It still means, however, worrying about the present. Although her heart is okay with the idea, there is one problem.

Crocodile isn’t one of the Warlords for no reason.

“You have a plan, don’t you?” Mikita said.

“Glad you asked.” Josh stood up, opened his arms, like a dreamer… no, more like a mad man who is gambling with his own head on the line.

Josh continued. “I’m growing so fast. When the right moment comes to strike, we would be living a good life.”

“I see.” Mikita stood up.

Josh looked quite cute from her angle. Still, his dangerous ambitions don’t match with his cute face at all.

But he is saying the truth. Josh was growing so fast. In the beginning, she knows she could defeat him easily. Now, Josh is good at martial arts, and he can move at high speed.

She had been there when he developed his technique. She would be stupid to say if she knows the limit of his future.

“What do you say?” Josh said, looking at her with his big blue eyes.

‘Who can say no to those eyes,’ she thought.

She put a hand on his cheek, pinched it, and said. “You know. I’ll join you, only on one condition.”

“What is it?”

“You will have to wait, keep this a secret until things are clear to strike.”

Josh smiled and held her hand. “You are so smart! I don’t know what to do if not for you.”

Although she knew he was just mocking, she just smirked and nodded. “Isn’t it obvious?”

“Now, let’s move to Alabasta.” Josh stood up, looking in a better mood.

“Wait, wait,” Mikita said, lifting her hand to stop him. “We have to stop on Whisky Peak first. We need some supplies on our way to Alabasta.”

“Whiskey Peak?” Josh rubbed his chin. “I heard that the trainees from the previous base, which we were at, are transferred there.”

“Now I remember. Weren’t you checking out some blue-haired girl there?” She put her hands on her hips, pretending to be angry. “Do you like her?”

What are you saying? I was checking the sea behind her.” Josh teased.

“Come here.” Mikita opened her arms and jumped on him, intending to pin him on the ground.

“Catch me if you can.” But Josh flashed and appeared three meters back.

“Hmm… don’t regret then when I go extreme.” Josh still has that smile as she started to run to catch him on the boat.

“Yeah, in your dreams.” Josh chuckled as he started playing with her.

He is only playing to ease up the tension in his heart.

More dangerous times are coming.

-x-X-x-

15 chapters ahead at patréon

www.pàtreon.com/Blazuki