I Can Copy Any Talent in the World of Pirates

"Really, really!" Noil nodded furiously. Behind him, his two obedient apprentices, acting on his instructions, bobbed their heads just as hard.

Bellemere took a deep breath and said softly, "Don't worry, Noil. I'll make her cough up every last Beli."

With a smile, Bellemere walked toward the bewildered Nami. Behind her, Noil covered his mouth and snickered.

Still smiling, Bellemere said to the uneasy Nami, "Your brother tells me you're pretty impressive. You even managed to steal money from pirates?"

Seeing that Bellemere wasn't scolding her, Nami immediately relaxed. She beamed and said, "Yeah, Bellemere! There's so much money! I can buy loads of tasty food!"

Bellemere asked, "Did you share any with your brother and the others, Nami?"

Nami froze. Come to think of it, her brother hadn't asked her for any. She shook her head. "No."

"You've got all that money to yourself," Bellemere said. "I'm so happy for you."

Nami sensed something was off, but she couldn't help looking pleased.

Before she could enjoy it for long, Bellemere continued, "But you're still little, Nami. You could easily lose that much money. I'd better keep it safe for you."

Nami stared at her in shock. "I—"

Bellemere cut her off. "Don't worry, Nami. Would I steal a little money like that from you? I'll give it back when you grow up!"

A little money? When I grow up?

Nami bounced about in frustration. She wanted her fortune back, but she didn't dare challenge Bellemere.

When Nami fell speechless, Bellemere smiled triumphantly and called to Noil and the others, "Bring the money down!"

"Yes!"

Noil had watched the whole tragic confiscation of Nami's "New Year's money," and he answered with delight.

Nami was still too young to stand a chance against Bellemere.

Under Nami's heartbroken gaze, they carried the shipload of stolen valuables into the house and tucked them away in a little treasury.

Unfortunately, it wasn't Nami's little treasury.

Once the Beli had been sorted, Bellemere gave Noil and his two apprentices a share. The three of them jumped for joy.

Behind them, Nami bit down on a handkerchief as tears poured down her face.

My money...

After that, Noil sent Niwan and Niman to claim the bounty from the Marines with Yuke's head. Naturally, Nami didn't get a share of that money either.

And so Noil made his debut as a Pirate Hunter. With Kenbula and Yuke dead by his hand and Arlong defeated, he quickly became a rising star among East Blue's hunters.

Over the next few years, Noil grew frighteningly strong. The bounties on the pirates he cut down climbed ever higher, and he became well known among East Blue's Marines, hunters, and pirates alike.

Before long, people across East Blue were calling him "East Blue's Strongest Pirate Hunter."

Meanwhile, at Bellemere's home in Cocoyasi Village...

Noil, now famous throughout East Blue, sat in his bedroom. He slowly opened his eyes and said excitedly:

"Seventeen years old, and my Conqueror's Haki has finally awakened!"

Farewell to the Village

With the help of his golden talent, Sovereign's Gift, Noil had finally awakened Conqueror's Haki at seventeen, completing the Three Types of Haki.

"System, show me my stats."

At Noil's quiet call, a screen of light appeared before his eyes, displaying his stats.

Host: Kielros D. Noir

Constitution: 450 (maximum 999)

Swordsmanship: 498 (maximum 999)

Charm: 94 (maximum 100)

Armament Haki: 62 (maximum 100)

Observation Haki: 50 (maximum 100)

Conqueror's Haki: 10 (maximum 100)

Items: Red Talent Copy Card ×1...

Talents: Otherworldly Guest, Demon Possession: Bear-Bear, Sovereign's Gift, Way of the Haki Sword, Climate Super-Sense...

Compared with when he had first arrived in this world, Noil's stats had finally begun to fill out!

Especially his charm, which had reached a whopping 94. Noil could now say with confidence:

He was the best-looking guy on the entire sea!

His constitution, once a source of pride, had been stuck for a long time. It seemed he'd hit a bottleneck.

Even so, he now stood at an absurd height of over two meters. His former self would never have dreamed of growing that tall.

As Noil admired his looks and physique, Bellemere knocked and came in.

Noil smiled. "Bellemere, you're here."

Bellemere's expression was complicated. "You grew up so fast. I can't keep you here anymore."

Noil quickly shook his head. "That's not it! I just want to see more of the world."

Bellemere sighed, then put on her usual smile. "I'm not trying to stop you. I'm just going to miss you."

Noil smiled too, his feelings a tangled mess.

He had planned for years to set sail at seventeen and head for the Grand Line.

But he had formed bonds in Cocoyasi Village. He couldn't stop worrying about Nami and the others, and he had never managed to make up his mind.

In the end, Bellemere had encouraged him to go out and explore. Only then had Noil decided to leave.

People with names worth knowing were too hard to find in East Blue. He couldn't find any powerful talents to copy. The Grand Line was where the real opportunities lay!

Besides, if events followed the story he knew, Nami joining the Straw Hat Pirates was almost inevitable. He had never been able to rein her in, even when she was little.

If Nami really went to sea, was Noil supposed to hide far behind her and cheer her on?

Getting stronger before those events unfolded was the only way!

Noil packed his bag in his room, strapped the Skillful Grade Blade Qingxing to his waist, and pulled on an outrageously stylish coat that faded from black to white.

Neat, sharp, and ready to go.

Noil stepped out of the house with his bag on his back and found the street packed with people.

Genzo stood before him with his usual stern face, the windmill atop his head spinning merrily. "When you're out there, don't disgrace the village."

Noil looked at Genzo and all the familiar faces behind him. Touched, he said quietly, "Of course not."

The villagers escorted Noil to the shore, where his ship was already waiting. He turned to everyone who had come to see him off. "Thanks for coming, everyone. I'm off!"

Now grown into young women, Nojiko and Nami wrapped their arms around Noil's waist. "Be careful out there, Brother."

Noil smiled and patted their heads. Then he looked at Niwan and Niman, who were bawling their eyes out. "What are you crying for? I'm not dead yet!"

"Listen up. Be careful when you're bounty hunting, and help me look after everyone in the village. Got it?" Noil told them.

The two sisters nodded hard and shouted, "Yes, Master!"

With that, Noil turned, boarded his ship, and raised the sail. Watching the villagers wave goodbye, he called out, "See you when I get back!"

"Goodbye!"

"You brat, we'd better hear your name out there!"

"Stay safe."

The villagers sent Noil off with laughter. In the crowd, Bellemere smoked a cigarette and wore a bright smile. She looked as cool as ever.

Nami and Nojiko waved their hands wildly. Nojiko looked reluctant to part with her brother, but there was pride in her face too.

Nami thought of the dream she had held close for so long. She turned to Nojiko and said, "Brother's gone to sea. He says he's going to become the strongest person in the world."

"And I want to draw the first complete map of the world. One day, I'll go to sea too and make my dream come true."

Nojiko paused, then smiled at the girl brimming with confidence. "I believe in you!"

Standing at the bow, Noil waved goodbye to his home. His sadness only deepened. What a complicated feeling.

He didn't know how many years he would spend on the Grand Line, but one thing was certain: he wouldn't see everyone again for a long time.

Noil sighed, returned to the deck, and settled into a lounge chair to think over his plans.

According to his sea chart, Reverse Mountain, the starting point of the Grand Line, was still a fair distance away. There was no need to rush.

First, Noil planned to visit a certain place in East Blue.

The floating restaurant Baratie, where Sanji had worked before setting sail, was one of East Blue's most famous places to eat.

Just thinking about Baratie's reputation made Noil's eyes shine and his mouth water.

He had often heard people talk about it while working as a bounty hunter, but he'd never had time to visit. Now he could finally go and enjoy a proper meal.

While he was there, he could see whether Sanji had any good talents.

Noil stretched as the ship sailed steadily onward. For a while, life couldn't have been more pleasant.

But after lounging comfortably for a while, he soon found he had nothing to do.

After all, sailing alone across the vast sea with plenty of supplies, the greatest enemy left was loneliness.

To pass the time, a bored Noil fetched the dumbbells stored in the cabin and began to work out.

While Noil exercised, an unlucky fellow stood on a blue-green boulder on an isolated island in the same stretch of sea, staring blankly at the water.

The fellow had messy green hair, a white T-shirt, and three teardrop-shaped gold earrings in one ear.

Even more striking were the three swords hanging from his waist.

Zoro's eyelids drooped, and his face was dark with irritation. "Where the hell am I?"

Lost Zoro

Zoro sat cross-legged on the ground. He suddenly remembered what his master had told him before he left Shimotsuki Village.

"Zoro, take this sea chart. Follow it to a town and buy some supplies there."

Zoro unfolded the chart Master Koshiro had given him. Chin in hand and head tilted, he studied it for a while before saying, "I followed it, didn't I?"

"So where's the town?"

Zoro looked up at the desolate wilderness and began to seriously question the world.

Worse, after he reached the island, a wave had overturned his little boat. Now he couldn't even find his way back.

Just as Zoro gave up trying to figure out what to do, a sailing ship slowly passed the island.

Zoro froze for a moment, then shouted happily, "Hey! Can you stop for a second?"

Noil, who was lifting weights aboard the ship, started at the shout.

That voice sounds familiar.

He turned and saw that familiar head of green hair—and those three swords...

Zoro?

Noil was stunned. He'd barely set sail, and he had already run into someone from the main crew? He hadn't planned on looking for Zoro.

But what was Zoro doing here? Had he gotten lost again?

Noil couldn't just leave him there. He brought the ship in close to shore, and the green-haired figure immediately sprinted toward it.

Except... why was he veering off course?

Noil watched in disbelief as Zoro turned what should have been a straight run into a huge arc and charged off in the opposite direction!

Does that even count as getting lost? Is this some kind of illness?!

Noil's eyelid twitched. "Over here!"

After a great deal of trouble, Noil finally got Zoro aboard. When he asked what had happened, the answer was exactly what he'd expected: Zoro had gotten lost.