The power of money on the palm of my hand

A few hours after the misunderstanding between Fred and Robin was resolved the cruise arrived at its next destination, as scheduled despite the latest incident.

Artora, a small island made up almost entirely of a single large town, much like West Blue's Loguetown, and also the closest inhabited island to Fred's home island, Narhad.

And also the last stop of the cruise trip, at least for Fred.

"On behalf of the Slowagon company, the crew and the passengers, we thank you very much for protecting us from pirates up until now.

As you have asked us, we will make sure that Miss Rosa reaches her destination and assist her from there.

You have our word" Said Captain Murphy, who came to personally say goodbye to Fred along with part of the crew and also Robin, who they knew as Rosa

With the excuse that he was healing the scars on her face and body Fred was able to prevent everyone from seeing Robin's true appearance and at the same time create a set of masks and wigs to camouflage her true identity. Masks and wigs that she had been wearing for a few hours, showing that the [treatment] had gone extremely well.

And given his newfound face-changing ability, her terrific performance, the sobbing fabricated story Fred and Robin had made up about Rosa and the huge favours the Slowagon Company owed Fred, the two managed to cut a deal to help Robin to reach the Grand Line.

After all, Fred felt a little guilty when Robin explained that he had inadvertently messed up her plans on more than one occasion.

"Thank you Captain

I hope you won't need me for the rest of the trip…" Fred said, saying goodbye to everyone as he peeked at the security team to… motivate them… to be more professional at least until the end of the journey "Y reeeeally hope so…"

But this wasn't only the last stop for Fred, it was also for Perona, who followed her new boss on his journey and also this fond farewell.

"Bye Rob…Rose!

I'm sure things will get better for you in the end!

Sniff..." Said Perona, who hugged Robin between sobs and said goodbye encouraging her new friend with tragic past "CHEER UP!!! DON'T GIVE UP! CHEER UP!"

An unnecessarily long farewell that Fred ended up handing a panda to Perona, who she went on to hug instead of Robin.

"Thank you Ghost-chan.

And thanks to you too Killerdoctor-san

I hope things go well for you too." Said Robin, who thanks to her pink wig, mask of an also attractive girl with slightly different factions and a completely genuine smile looked like a completely different person from the night before

A smile that almost made Fred's teenage hormones jump again 'Not bad, but you're still prettier without a mask...

Although the pink wig is...'

Without a doubt, this was the only holiday worth remembering in Fred's two lives.

He had been able to... rest... nonchalantly in a luxurious room with every possible comfort for free, experiment with his newfound power, obtained a guy's head worth more than fifty million, further increase his fame, recruited his first canonical nakama with a super useful Akuma No Mi and meet and established a good relationship with one of the two official waifus of the Mugiwara's...

Truly a fruitful and dream vacation that Fred wished would never end, but as much as he would like to continue this lifestyle...

It's time to go back to work...

"Same Rose

Goodbye boys and girls!

I'm sure our paths will cross again..." Fred said, saying goodbye to everyone in the coolest, non-tacky and budget-friendly way that he knew

Simply walking slowly but firmly showing his great and powerful back to his public, waving briefly with his right arm... and carrying Captain Mcnugget on his left shoulder and Perona hugging and her panda on his left arm... with the sun on his face and the wind against him rippling his elegant trench coat.

Marching off to his next adventure as his new friends and acquaintances watched as their hero's silhouette faded into the horizon...

While the girl on her arm spoiled the epicity of the moment by chanting over and over again!

"CHE-EER UP! CHE-EER UP! CHE-EER UP!"

And only when Fred was out of everyone's sight and earshot… one of the nurses whispered in Robin's ear "Rosa-san…

Are you sure he didn't do anything weird to you?

You can trust us"

The nurses who were unable to examine and cure Robin still had suspicions that something strange, immoral and illegal had happened in the bolted, soundproof room. A well-founded suspicion, but totally wrong, nothing remotely similar to what their dirty minds thought happened.

A misunderstanding that Robin could easily resolve by repeating the story they had rehearsed again, but… today she was playful "Mmnn…

Well... now that you mention it...

While I was crying in my most vulnerable state, Fred took the opportunity to come to bed with me and the little girl, he stroked my head and...

The next thing I remember is…"

"EHHHH!!!!

DON'T SAY THINGS THAT MAY BE MISUNDERSTANDED!!!" Fred yelled, who after hearing Robin thanks to his super ears came running at full speed "YOU WILL RUIN MY REPUTATION !!!

I HAVE ENOUGH WEIRD AND OFFENSIVE TITLES, I DON'T WANT ANY MORE IN THE COLLECTION!

DON'T EVEN JOKE ABOUT THIS!"

"Ahahaha" Robin laughed after getting exactly the reaction she was hoping for "Just kidding, just kidding... he was a true gentleman."

No one had been so nice to me in years."

"Don't exaggerate either..." Fred said, visibly flushed as well as annoyed "Hasta la vista!"

And once again, after definitively resolving that misunderstanding, our hero said goodbye again, although without as much performance as before, but with the same soundtrack.

"CHE-EER UP! CHE-EER UP! CHE-EER UP!"

---

Ever since Perona woke up next to Robin... creating a big misunderstanding... she and Fred had some time to talk, get to know each other in general terms and even refine the details of their working relationship.

However, due to the fact that they couldn't and wouldn't neglect Robin, that he still had a job to finish, the multiple interruptions by the crew and the fact that there was little time left before the arrival of their last stop, they couldn't talk about all the topics they wanted to

For this reason they took advantage of the short walk through the port to chat. This time Perona being the one who started the conversation "So Fred..."

"Call me Onii-chan

I'm incognito and with a wig to match your hair as you can see" Someone with the same voice and height of Fred answered but with a face and hair totally different from Fred's... although he was obviously Fred in disguise "I think I've done a good job with the mask

We look a bit alike"

"Okay Onii-chan...

Why're you wearing a mask?

Do you owe money to anyone here?" Perona asked, joking mischievously "I wouldn't like to work for a defaulter

Horo-horo-horo!"

"Ha ha ha!

No...

I just want to go unnoticed" Fred replied without delving further into Perona's joke "I like to receive attention, but not excessive when I try to work.

And in this city I am very popular since I avenged the death of many families when I was your age"

"Work? What kind of work? I thought we would go directly to your island from here…

Do you have someone to kill here too?

I could help you a little in exchange for an ice cream" Perona asked, quite aware of how her new boss made a living, what he expected from her… and that she should ask for bonuses from the first day, even if they were in kind "The most expensive in the store, of course"

A proposition that his boss elegantly declined

"Not at all hahaha today we aren't going to kill anyone at all…

Today our businesses are based on absolute peace, tranquility and respect for human life...

You'll see when we get there" Fred answered, leaving the girl with the intrigue of teasing her a bit. However, he had to quickly change the subject if he wanted to avoid her repeating that question over and over "But let's stop talking about me...

You're a little girl, where're your parents or legal guardian?"

"I don't have and I don't want to talk about this topic..."

A somewhat unexpected response, brusque and cutting even for Fred. Nothing was known about Perona's past before she joined Moria's crew at a very young age, but it wasn't hard to suspect that something weird had to happen between her and her parents. Otherwise it was extremely incomprehensible that she would join dangerous guys like Moria... and Fred... as an elementary school girl. 

The great need to solve this mystery that no other One Piece fan knew about was enormous, so he felt the urge to insist and even use the Magic Pact to get the answer...

However, Fred decided to let it go.

From Perona's tone and her bodily expression she seemed to hate her unknown parents quite a lot... and Fred didn't want to put her in a bad mood and make her feel uncomfortable.

There would be more opportunities in the future.

"Ooook... I guess...

Can you at least explain to me what you were doing on board the cruise ship? Fred asked as he offered a strawberry he had just created to Perona to make her a little more receptive.

A tactic that paid off

"Oh, yes...

I wanted to go to the Dacuza Zoo to see the famous panda bears and keep one but...

NO LONGER NEEDED!" Replied Perona as she tenderly hugged Po 1, the only mascot Fred had authorized her to carry down the street, since she wanted to carry dozens of them "Thanks to you I can have all the bears and cute animals I want!"

"All the children want to go there, it's really popular" Fred replied, doubly happy to see the panda cub created with his powers based on one of the pandas from the Dacuza Zoo that Fred himself helped conceive thanks to his aphrodisiacs was making his first without nepotism recruited employee so happy "I'm glad to see that you like my powers"

"Yeah! They're very convenient for me!" Perona answered, like almost all children when you give them something they think they can ask for everything "I'm happy, but...

If you could present me with a cute castle full of cute servants it would be…"

"We're almost there" Fred said, ignoring that comment as he purposely picked up the pace, leaving Perona and the panda a little behind "Stop daydreaming and follow me"

"HEY! You're so rude!

I just wanted...

HEY DON'T RUN SO MUCH!" yelled Perona, who could barely keep up with Fred's fast pace, let alone carrying a chubby panda cub "By the way...

When will you tell me why you're immune to my Negative Hollows?

Don't keep so many secrets!

Instead of mysterious you start looking like a bully!"

"Less asking and complaining and more running" Fred said as he analyzed Perona's unfortunate physical abilities 'Another kid I'm going to have to train really well

Mua Hahaha!'

Sooner rather than later Fred and Perona, the two minors reached their destination

"Puaj! Stinks of fish" Perona protested as she covered her nose and Po's 1 as well

They had entered the large market inside the port where all the island's fishermen presented their merchandise to be bought, auctioned and/or processed before being sold to the final consumer.

"You smell fish, I smell money" replied Fred, whose eyes had turned back into berries "A lot! A lot of money!"

Without further ado Fred ran quickly as well as comically towards a corner away from everyone's sight...

PLASH! PLOSH! PLUM!

And practically as quickly as he parted company with Perona, Po 1 and Captain Mcnugget, Fred returned carrying a sack five times his own big size...

"Where did you get that from? And what's inside?" Perona asked pointing to the gigantic sack

To which Fred replied as he moved towards his goal "You'll see right away"

"AGAIN?!

You're doing it on purpose right?

Good" Perona said dignifiedly as she averted her gaze from Fred "! I don't want to know anymore!"

"Reverse psychology doesn't work for me, miss" Fred replied with an almost malevolent smile "Mua hahaha!"

"MMMmm!!!" 

Meany!" Perona protested with some very cute pouts after her masterplan was ruined "I hate you!"

Fortunately for Perona she wouldn't have to wait long for an answer this time, since Fred was very close to his goal, the person he needed at that moment.

A rough-looking man in his forties, of serious gaze as well as experienced in life who was arguing heatedly with one of the local fishermen to buy them the catch of the month at a decent price.

However, since that man who seemed to be the boss was obviously busy with his usual important customers, was a boy of approximately sixteen years old and by his appearance, surely the boss's direct family who attended the unknown and disguised Fred.

"Hello sir, how can I help you?" The young man kindly asked, who couldn't take his eyes off the gigantic sack that Fred was carrying, "It's huge and surely it must weigh a lot...

He can't be a normal guy if he can carry something like that.'

And Fred got right to the point this time placing the heavy sack on the ground and revealing its contents: "Hello, I came to sell these little ones.

Can you offer me a fair price for them?"

"Holy shit..."

That was what the young shop assistant and practically everyone around him exclaimed upon see the content that Fred had been carrying so far.

Ten... ten bluefin tunas that, due to their size, could each weigh around five hundred kilograms! That man in front of them had been carrying without even breaking a sweat more than five tons for himself!

However, they weren't only surprised by this superhuman feat, but also by the precious, demanded and not always easy to catch product that he had shown them.

'These tunas, apart from being huge, are in perfect condition!

With the exception of one bruise in their almost unnecessary head all perfectly salable parts are in pristine condition, as if they had never sustained an injury.

And they're fresh... extremely fresh...

It's almost as if they were fished a few seconds ago' The young shop assistant thought as he analyzed the great merchandise that had been placed in front of him 'This transaction is important...

I must ask dad to...'

"Hello dear customer!

How can I help you?" Said the boss of the shop who quickly intercepted Fred with the kindest face that was physically possible, relieving his son without being necessary to be notified

"Hello sir, my name is Peter Parker

Could you offer me a fair price for them?" He repeated Fred again, giving a fake name to hide his superhero identity. "I'd like to sell them all."

"Of course!

With this great quality, the best I can offer you is 6,500 berries per kilogram.

I doubt that you will find a better offer anywhere else" Replied the boss, although a little surprised by the price he had given 'Strange…

My plan was to offer an initial price of 5,000 and if it was necessary to haggle up to 6,500 but...

I guess it was the emotion of the moment'

"It's a good price" Fred said, closing the deal with complete confidence that he wasn't being ripped off thanks to his beloved Pact Magic "Done deal"

After closing the deal, they weighed the ten huge tunas that Fred brought and after a few minutes... in which Perona got very bored... based on the price and the total kilograms between the 10 tunas, they offered the final price to Fred

"Thanks for waiting

In total there were 5789 kilograms of tuna, so with the price we agreed on it would be a total of...

…

…

…" The boss of the of the store announced with emotion and suspense, almost as if he were the host of a television game show "37,628,500 berries!"

A show that practically everyone enjoyed, even if that money didn't end up in their pocket

"OOOHHH!!!

Congratulations young man!"

"I don't know how you managed to catch these specimens, but good job!"

"How many people did you need to catch them!? How many days!? Where did you find them!?

Please share your secret sensei!"

However, the most effusive reaction was carried out by the little girl hugging a panda that was asleep a few seconds ago.

"WWWWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!??" Shouted Perona with her face completely caricatured

Others couldn't know it, but Perona understood perfectly how Fred had managed to [catch] those valuable tuna and almost perfectly what this meant.

'In a moment… without my noticing… with his ability…

He has turned anything he has found on the ground into more than thirty million berreis!?

This is... this is...

THIS IS AMAZING!

If this is so a obtain cute castle... cute servants... cute clothes... cute desserts every day...

IT'S PERFECTLY POSSIBLE!

YOU'RE THE BEST BOSS!' Perona thought, reassuring herself once again that following Fred as her new and first boss was one of the best decisions of her life, although had practically not been her decision. 'I'M GLAD I WAS FOOLED BY YOU!'

"Ho Ho Ho...

It's just beginner's luck" Fred soberly ansered to all these compliments and questions with the most authentic poker face he could, even if it was just a façade "YES! YES! YES!

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

I AM THE FUCKING MASTER! THIS AKUMA NO MI ABILITY IS THE BEST EVER!

FUCK YOU LOGIA FRUITS! I HAVE THE POWER OF MONEY ON THE PALM OF MY HAND!'

Labour, purchase and maintenance of assets, fixed costs, variable costs, extraordinary expenses, interest on loans, hours of hard work, uncertainty, risks... these and many more factors were some of the many monetary and non-monetary costs that reduced all the profits obtained in any business, including deep-sea fishing.

And Fred skipped all these pesky costs, only getting the profit!

If all the fishermen knew that Fred had only made a profit without having to work for months, without sacrificing anything and without taking risks, they would surely try to strangle him instead of praising him.

Even the Fred from the past would try to strangle himself right now!

'Until recently I could spend whole days searching, finding, killing and trying to collect the price for a single pirate of equal price with the expenses and risks that such work entails

The bounty hunting business doesn't seem profitable at all anymore...' Fred thought happily, but also with some dissatisfaction.

If it hadn't been for the fact that the cruise was leaving in a few hours, Fred would have already tried this method of obtaining easy money in Mastarc days ago.

Fred never intended to go into the food or raw materials business with his FreedSteel company, but given the extraordinary profit potential he didn't mind expanding his product portfolio a bit.

And he didn't mind making even more money right now either.

"Boss, I have even more product

Do you want to buy them?" Asked Fred, with a wide smile and the Berrie symbol in his eyes blinking intermittently as if they were in a disco. "At a fair price, of course"

"Eh... I would like to, but I already have too much tuna..." The boss of the shop replied somewhat sorry for not being able to buy more of these precious specimens and partly scared by Fred's greedy eyes "But if you had some other type of fish, like salmon I think..."

Mec! Mec!

Clank!

"Don't worry!

Coincidentally, I had also caught tons of salmon!" Said Fred, who disappeared and returned with lightning speed with a sack filled to the top with salmon "AND THEY'RE PRACTICALLY STILL ALIVE!"

And now, without wondering how that had been physically possible, the old man, his son and many other managers from nearby stalls had started making their offers in that improvised auction

"600 berries per kilogram!"

"630!"

"I OFFER 690!

"700!! YOU WON'T GET A BETTER OFFER FROM ANYONE!"

"WELL, I GIVE YOU 701!!!"

"LARRY! DON'T BRACK MY BALLS!"

"FUCK YOU SULIVAN!"

Everyone wanted to buy the extremely fresh and in perfect condition products of the brand new stranger who had just arrived in town... and Fred was finding it increasingly difficult to keep his poker face behind the mask.

'MUA HAHAHAHA!

GIORNO GIOVANA! HOW COULD YOU BE SUCH AN IDIOT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT HOW INTELLIGENT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE!?

INSTEAD OF BEING A GANGMAN YOU JUST HAD TO DO THIS AND YOU'D BE FUCKING RICH!

THIS IS HAPPINESS!'

Fred was making delicious money offering his almost handmade products!

Fish buyers were getting high-quality products at a reasonable price that they would then sell to intermediate or end consumers!

End consumers would enjoy extremely fresh and delicious fish that Fred had specifically created for its high quality!

And although Fred was the biggest winner, all the links in this chain, without exception, were benefiting from this reciprocal commercial relationship.

However....

"Hello hello...

Are you having a good time?"

The delicious smell of money always tends to attract humanoid parasites...

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You'll be able to see 8 chapters in advance in my Pa-treon

pa-treon.com/user?u=83938371