Chapter 46: A Delicate Encounter

"Thanks for the meal," Josh said after finishing his food with refined table manners. His elegant use of the fork and knife did not go unnoticed by King Cobra, who nodded approvingly.

"Josh, about this dinner... I invited you for another reason," Cobra began with a wide smile.

Josh glanced at him, set his spoon down, and wiped his face with a napkin.

"I know. You don't have to say anything," Josh said calmly.

"Yes," Cobra replied, smiling even more, thinking Josh must surely understand the deeper meaning behind his smile.

Josh reached into his pocket, pulling out a full envelope and placing it on the table next to the king. "You gave me a loan of 40 million Berries. I said I'd pay it back, and here it is." Josh let out a sigh, as if a burden had been lifted.

Although he could have kept the money, Josh wasn't one to steal. Besides, he had more than enough for his future investments.

"Huh? Wait..." Cobra's expression shifted to confusion, his eyes widening. Who would have thought Josh was thinking about the loan?

Josh wasn't just well-mannered at the table—he was considerate, too.

Making eye contact with Cobra, Josh lifted his hand to stop any further discussion. "I get it." He pointed at Vivi.

Vivi's cheeks flushed red as she averted her gaze, her discomfort clear.

Cobra smiled. Now everyone was thinking the same thing. He felt satisfied.

Josh continued, "Your daughter mentioned the crisis your country is facing. The money can help your towns, or whatever. You don't need to explain."

Josh assumed Cobra was too proud to ask for the money back, especially after Josh had saved Alabasta.

Vivi's cheeks deepened in color, and she stared at her spoon in silence.

Cobra glanced at her, then back at Josh. "Don't worry," Josh said. "She told me a long time ago when we were in Baroque Works."

Josh poured some lemon juice, which Mikita had been drinking as she sat beside him.

"You're quite a unique man, aren't you?" Cobra remarked.

"I wouldn't know, I haven't experienced many men," Josh replied with a shrug.

"Anyway, what's your plan now that you've taken down Crocodile?" Cobra asked, choosing to ignore the possible implications of "experiencing men."

Josh turned to Robin, who sat next to him. Wearing a long black jacket and leather shorts, Robin replied, "We're planning to open some casinos in a nearby country—a wealthy one with plenty of pirates."

Robin elaborated on Josh's plan: Instead of hunting pirates, they would open casinos, attract the pirates, and make them lose their money. When the pirates complained, Josh would deal with them.

He intended to hire the remaining Baroque Works agents for this purpose.

Robin reflected that Josh had amassed nearly 800 million Berries from Crocodile's wealth, leaving him with 650 million after giving everyone their share. Plenty to invest.

Robin's mind drifted back to last night, when Josh had given her her share.

—— Flashback ——

Last night.

"I don't want money as my share, little brother," Robin said, watching Josh as he sat in a chair, attempting to smoke one of Crocodile's cigars. He coughed hard and threw the cigar away, muttering about how it burned, almost making Robin laugh.

Looking at her with red, watery eyes, Josh asked, "Don't you want money to help you move around?"

Josh was aware of her habit of moving through pirate and underground circles.

"I want something else," Robin replied, tilting her head with a smile.

Josh raised his eyebrows, curious. He had been generous, offering her the money, expecting her to move on.

"You want me to take responsibility, don't you?" Josh recalled their earlier conversation when Robin had teased him into a rather compromising situation.

"And you think that's worth 100 million Berries?" Josh asked, his tone making it clear he saw it as a bad deal.

"Isn't that a little brother's job? Or are you going to throw this Ane-San to the wolves?" Robin teased, placing a hand dramatically on her forehead as though about to faint.

Inside, she hoped he would say yes. She liked the idea of staying with him. It would give her a break from constantly running.

Josh, however, had a different idea. "You know, I have a suggestion. Maybe a slight surgery, change your hairstyle, skin tone, dye your hair..." Josh said, making Robin's eyes widen. "And, of course, change your name."

If Robin changed her appearance, she could live freely without being recognised as Nico Robin.

Robin blinked. She had thought of it before but never had the resources or time.

"And here I thought you were too dumb not to think of that sooner," Josh remarked, casually putting his legs up on the table and lighting another cigar.

Robin's smile froze. Did he just call her dumb? She, who spent her life in books, was insulted by a younger man? Very few things got on Robin's nerves, but Josh had managed to do it.

"You called me what?" she asked, eyes narrowing.

Josh didn't flinch, balancing the cigar in his mouth. "Do I need to arrange surgery for your ears, too?"

"You darn little brother!" Robin snapped, crossing her arms. Hands sprouted from the floor, grabbing Josh's legs and arms. One hand threw the cigar away, while another began to choke him.

"I'm joking! You're very smart!" Josh relaxed, holding up his hands.

"I'll find a doctor tomorrow," Robin replied, walking away with a sway in her hips. Josh stared after her. The women in this world were so... well, hot.

Robin stopped walking. "Oh, and you'd better find one, too."

As soon as she said that, one of her arms on his back bend down, reaching his crotch and making his eyes light up. Josh just got out of his staring mode, but his face was still calm.

Feeling that he was hard, Robin shook her head and took her hands back, letting Josh breathe again.

She turned her face and said. "This Oni-San is disappointed."

"Wait…. I didn't mean it the way you think" Josh said, her hand was getting on him.

However, as she stepped out, that hand pinched slightly on his balls, making him lose his calm face.

"Ouch! My kids!" Josh yelped, rubbing himself. "You'll pay for that!"

— End Flashback —

"Robin, Robin," Josh called, noticing her distant expression. "Is something wrong?"

Robin smiled softly. "Oh, nothing."

Josh shrugged, continuing to drink and eat snacks. As the meal wound down, he excused himself, standing to leave.

Although Cobra offered for him to stay the night, Josh simply patted his arm and said he had things to do.

As he was leaving, Josh found Vivi waiting for him at the door.

"What's up, princess?" Josh asked, noticing the glances from the women around him.

Vivi smiled, her cheeks tinged with red. Bowing slightly, she said, "Thank you for everything. If you ever need anything, anything at all, I will do everything in my power to help."

Josh raised an eyebrow. "Anything?" he teased.

Mikita burst into laughter. "Kyahahaha! What are you thinking?"

Not just her, but the others quickly reacted to his remark. Marianne pinched Josh's thigh, and Robin's invisible hand snuck into his boxers, threatening to pinch his balls once again.

Josh finally spoke up. "Okay, I get that Mikita is my girl. But the rest of you? Why are you all planning to burn me?" He looked at Melissa, who stood nearby with a can of gasoline by his shoe.

"Good, you know who's your girl," Mikita smirked.

"My poor life," Gem muttered, ignoring the chaos as he exited the palace, threatening to blow everyone up on his way out.

"Fufufufu... Paranoid, are we? I have no idea what you're talking about," Robin said sweetly, giving Josh a little pinch for good measure.

Vivi looked confused by the scene unfolding around her.

Josh quickly turned back to Vivi, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Thanks for the offer. All I wish is that you become a great princess."

Vivi smiled up at him, her blush deepening. "Thank you. I promise I'll be the best princess you know."

"You already are."

"Please, watch me in the future," Vivi said as Josh and the others left.

As they walked out, Josh lagged behind, eyeing Robin. She had teased him long enough, and now it was time for revenge.

Reaching out, Josh squeezed her toned butt firmly.

Robin exhaled softly, almost moaning, turning to face him with half-lidded eyes. She seemed... aroused.

"Not fair. I thought you'd feel as uncomfortable as I have," Josh muttered, taking his hand back, surprised by her reaction.

"Ahem. Don't misbehave, Josh-chan," Robin said, giving his head a pat before sauntering off, hips swaying seductively. If she wasn't tanned, she'd fail to hide a blush covering her face.

'It's my fault. My physical talent, and practicing on Mikita's butt, has made it natural for me to treat a woman like that. Truly suffering from success.'

Robin must have felt good. Josh looked at his hands, the double-edged weapons.

Josh muttered to himself, "Maybe payback doesn't always feel the way you expect."

As he pondered, he thought ahead, knowing that his future required more careful planning.