One Piece: Gambling to The Top

A day ago. 

On an island with a castle in the middle, many zombies were running around. 

It was night. 

Brook, a skeleton man, was walking around. The skeleton man had afro hair, and he was someone who loved to joke. As he was passing by a lake, he looked at the rippling water. The ripples were a result of a strong battle that had happened. 

Brook could see that, but he couldn't see his reflection. 

Unlike the zombies who were running for their lives, Brook was different. He was a Devil Fruit user who came back to life. However, he lost his shadow, which had been used to revive one of those zombies. 

He had been training, in hope that he may regain his shadow one day and leave this cursed place. 

But… after one crew came to visit, Brook didn't know if it's possible. 

All he could do is to stand from far and observe this end.

What was once a big mighty castle, was no way there. Darkness spread from the ground. Yes, darkness. You could tell it is, but you can't tell if it's a mist or something. It didn't seem to be a sustainable matter. It's so dark that it makes the night around it looks like morning. 

The darkness continued spreading, and it swallowed the castle as if gravity pulled it toward one black hole. A big hole that seemed to be so hungry. The next second, the mighty castle flew out of the hole. A big explosion happened, the remains of the castle flew in every direction. 

Brook jumped high and waved his sword before sheathing it. A big piece of rock that was about to hit was cut in half. 

"What's happening, for real." The skeleton wondered. 

The next second, he saw a shadow running on the ground. The shadow seemed to be afraid that it jumped toward him. 

The zombies around this island started falling. The shadows were flying out of their mouths in every direction, looking for their rightful owner. 

Brook usually would be happy that he finally can walk in the daylight. However, he didn't know if he could stay alive. 

"Zehahahaha!" 

A big laugh echoed across the island. 

-x-X-x- 

Current time. 

Josh, although he got almost 2.3 billion, plus the money he got from selling Bellamy's devil fruit in the underground market — 300 million. 

The fruit was sold to the marines, and someone with a strong physical body should get it. Spring-Spring Devil Fruit, if given to a strong person, could enhance the strength of his attacks, and of course, the speed by a large margin. Most of the martial arts, if not all of them, depends on the ground to use it as a weapon. 

A devil fruit like that would be worth its price to someone who knows how to use it. But for Josh, the money is more important and he has better Devil Fruits to add to his list. 

Josh, despite having 2.6 billion berries — more billions are coming on the way, wasn't feeling at ease. 

Currently, he was in the house in Water 7. 

The girls were up the floor, while Josh asked to be left alone. He was holding a pencil while looking at a board, with words. Josh was brainstorming, as he felt that he must use his brain. Moria's death should lead to a big event. The world may not be aware of it, but, Josh, who changed the timeline, knows something so big can happen. 

A big war, something that can change history, would happen. 

Since he may get affected by it, Josh can't stand on the side and let the timeline decides his fate. 

Josh now was trying to predict the future, a part of it.

"Hmm…" 

Josh looked at what he has written. 

( Moria's death -> empty seat)

(Benefiter -> anyone who needs a Warlord seat (little chaos). Or world government) 

In the canon, the World Government wanted Moria dead after the Marineford war, which didn't happen in Josh's time. But something worse may happen.  

(assumption —> Blackbeard) 

Josh was looking at the board. He was having the pencil next to his mouth. Josh was trying to think like Blackbeard. He doesn't know a lot about this guy, except that he is trying to draw Whitebeard to force the Navy to fight him before he strikes. 

In the beginning, Blackbeard was aiming for Luffy, so he can become a Warlord. Probably he had thought that by becoming a Warlord, Whitebeard would attack the Navy, and then, the biggest war can happen. But because of Ace twist, Blackbeard made the war easier to happen. 

But there is no Luffy with high bounty since Josh had fought most of his enemies, and Blackbeard had just killed one. 

'What I know is that he would find a way to become a Warlord.' Josh thought. 'If war happened, then I may stab the world government in the back since I aim to make Akainu pay. However, things can go wrong. 

'Still, I don't know for sure, so, I have to try this move at least.' 

If Blackbeard became a Warlord now and Josh rebelled against the World Government, then Josh would lose an important income of money. 

Nevertheless, Josh can still play this game of wits against Blackbeard. 

"Okay, let's try this." 

On the board, there was an arrow that linked (Blackbeard)-> (Warlord). 

Josh had decided this movement. Above that arrow, he wrote a name. (Kalifa) 

She is so qualified to earn that seat with her Devil Fruit, which has yet to be boosted. The voltage of lightning may raise so much that it would burn people alive in instant. 

Thinking about the Devil Blood, Josh had gotten an idea. 

Josh just thought about using a hundred million Berries to draw. 

However, before he draws, he thought if he can leave things to luck. 

(Future Vision) 

Josh opened his eyes widely. What if he used the future vision to see what luck is hiding for him today. Josh, that way, would be able to avoid useless draws. 

 Josh smiled proudly. 

From the stairs, Josh saw Mikita walking toward him with two teacups in her hand. After she handed him a one, she stared at his face. 

"You seems to be happy?" Mikita couldn't help but wonder what suddenly changed Josh's mood. 

Just now, he had been trying to solve some world's mystery, which she didn't want to bother her head with. 

But Josh seemed to reach a good conclusion.  

"My genius, it can generate gravity," Josh said as he took a sip from the lemon tea, and he flinched a bit at the sour taste. But still, Mikita makes it taste good. 

"Who?" Mikita stood on her toes and looked over his shoulder. She made an innocent expression. "Where is that genius?"

"It's under your clothes." Josh teased. "It's hidden there. Take them off and you'll see." 

Mikita only smiled at him widely. "You think I won't know your tricks, after all the time we played together." 

"Good old days." Josh sighed. "Remember the time you thought I was harassing you?" 

"And then it appeared you were training Shave," Mikita lowered her head and laughed. "Kyahahaha…And I was wet." 

"Are you now?" Josh asked. 

"Yep," Mikita said. "I need to make up for the wasted old times." 

"We need to solve this, now.." Josh nodded as he walked toward the couch.