Chapter 2: A new gamble?

Josh sneezed as he walked down the bustling streets of the new town he now called home. It had been 29 days since he found himself in the world of *One Piece*, and Josh had finally come to terms with his new reality.

The sight of Marines in their crisp white uniforms, casually patrolling the streets in search of pirates, was an everyday occurrence here. The bar where he found work displayed wanted posters for various pirates on its walls—some familiar faces from the show, like the red-haired pirate Shanks, and others he didn't recognize. The posters, written in both English and Japanese, only confirmed that this world was indeed a fusion of the *One Piece* universe and his own.

Another significant detail was the fact that his adventure started on the Grand Line—a much more dangerous place than the East Blue, though still safer than the New World. The town he resided in was part of a larger country, offering some semblance of security despite the inherent dangers of the *One Piece* world.

"Alright, one more day, and we're done," Josh muttered to himself as he stacked heavy barrels in the bar's storage area.

As someone who had suddenly found himself in this world, Josh did what any sensible person would do—find a job to survive. He wasn't ready to dive headfirst into the life of a pirate or bounty hunter, especially since his strength was nowhere near the level required for such dangerous endeavors. Besides, he wasn't the type to take unnecessary risks.

Tomorrow was payday, and Josh was looking forward to it.

"Rana, I'm heading out," Josh called to his boss, a tall, brown-haired woman with striking blue eyes.

Rana turned to him after serving a drink to a customer. "Did you finish moving the barrels?"

"Yep, all done," Josh replied, his eyes briefly drifting over her curves.

One thing he had quickly noticed about the women in this world was that almost all of them were exceptionally curvy, with larger-than-life proportions. It wasn't unusual to see towering men, Marines and pirates alike, who were built like mountains. However, even the so-called "normal" people were often surprisingly strong.

"Come back for a drink when you get your first paycheck," Rana said with a playful wink.

Josh smirked and winked back. Though he admired some of the main female characters in *One Piece*, he wasn't one to overlook the attractive side characters either. After all, he was an adult, and his tastes reflected that.

"Hm. Kids are growing up fast these days," Rana remarked with a chuckle.

"Some parts grow faster and harder than others," Josh quipped, his comment loaded with innuendo.

"Fufufu," Rana laughed before turning back to her work.

Josh shook his head with a grin and left the bar.

While his newfound strength had helped him secure a job, it wasn't anything particularly impressive in the Grand Line. If he continued on this path, relying solely on his salary and the monthly points from the system, he'd be stuck here forever. Not that he minded the idea of spending more time with his boss, but he had bigger dreams.

"Tomorrow, I'll get 60,000 Berries and 2 Draw Points," Josh muttered as he made his way back to the cheap motel where he had been staying for the past twenty days. "They say you transmigrate and live a happy life, with women and money throwing themselves at you. My ass."

The room he rented was small and modest, but it housed his makeshift training equipment—large boxes filled with seawater, each weighing between 300 and 500 kilograms. With no money to afford proper weights, Josh improvised. He hoisted the heaviest box over his head and began his squats.

In the *One Piece* world, the human body had no real limits, only what the willpower could push it to achieve. Even Coby had transformed from a weakling to a formidable Marine in just a few months of training. Inspired by this, Josh had been rigorously training his body over the past month, and the results were noticeable.

However, his progress was hindered by his diet. He had heard that eating Sea Monster meat could boost physical growth, but such luxuries were far beyond his budget. For now, he subsisted on vegetables and cheap meat, which limited his gains.

After finishing his workout, drenched in sweat, Josh made his way to a nearby mountain to bathe in a hot stream. Later, back in his motel room, he checked his system and clicked his tongue in frustration.

"Still no task," he sighed, feeling a bit disappointed. But at least he had made it through another day unscathed.

---

The next morning, Josh woke up early and headed to work. After a long day of labor, Rana handed him his payment.

"Don't spend it all in one place, kiddo," Rana teased, playfully grabbing his cheek.

Josh's eyes were locked on her ample chest. The *One Piece* world was both a heaven and a hell—a paradise for those who loved big, curvy women and a nightmare for anyone trying to avoid the constant threat of pirates and Marines.

"You like what you see?" Rana whispered, noticing his stare.

"Mmm..." Josh didn't deny it. After all, almost every woman in this world had large assets.

Rana patted his head. "Night break, meet me in my room."

One Piece was a strange world where bars were busier in the morning than at night. Pirates preferred to drink on their ships after taking their alcohol with them, so the bars here operated on an unusual schedule.

As Rana walked away, her hips swaying, Josh found his motivation renewed. But before he could dwell on his thoughts any longer, a notification popped up.

[+2 Draw Points]

Josh snapped back to reality, collected his pay, and headed to a nearby street food stall that served giant fish meat. After ordering, he opened his system, considering the idea of taking on a task to earn more points. He couldn't stay here forever; he needed to find a mentor, a guide, someone who could help him grow stronger.

While mulling over his options, he overheard a conversation nearby.

"Did you hear? Baroque Works is looking for new recruits."

"Oh, come on. Their entrance exam is brutal, and their agents are all bounty hunters. Stop being ridiculous."

"For real, though. The pay is great, and I heard there are some really pretty women in their ranks."

Josh's ears perked up at the mention of Baroque Works. Wasn't that the organization led by Crocodile in secret?

[Ding, Task generator has a new gamble for you. Do you accept?]

Josh almost choked on his food when the notification appeared.

"Water, please," he gasped, raising his hand.

The old man running the stall handed him a cup of water, which Josh gulped down quickly.

'Let's see the details.'

Though it was obvious that the task was related to the situation at hand, Josh knew better than to dive in without reading the fine print. As a former law student, he had learned the importance of scrutinising contracts down to the smallest details.