In One Piece: I Can Copy Any Talent

As a Marine Headquarters graduate, and especially as someone trained by Zephyr, Smoker knew just how terrifying Haki could be.

He had focused on developing his Devil Fruit powers, so he was no expert in Haki. He could not even activate Armament Haki at will yet.

But this kid, who looked so young, could?!

Still shaken, Smoker stared at Noil. Noil gave him a faint, knowing smile. "Can you hear me out now, Captain?"

The Marines led by Tashigi arrived. They raised their guns and aimed at Ace and Noil.

Smoker glowered at Noil. "What do you want to say?"

Noil held up three fingers. "First, I haven't become a pirate. I'm still a hunter."

"Second, your intelligence says Ace and I are on the same ship. The truth is, he lost his ship and has just been hitching a ride on mine."

"I haven't caught him because Ace had no bounty. I couldn't be bothered."

"Third..."

Noil glanced at Tashigi as she arrived. "I just took care of the pirates stealing children for you Marines. Shouldn't you pay me?"

Smoker studied Noil. "So you're saying you didn't catch him because he had no bounty?"

Noil nodded confidently. "That's right."

A strange grin crossed Smoker's face. He took a wanted poster from one of his men. "Pirate Ace has a bounty now. You can catch him."

Uh... you...

Noil stared at Ace's bounty in disbelief.

Forty million Beli? He hadn't even left the East Blue, and his bounty was already that high?

Noil's eyes darted over the poster. Then he brazenly said, "On second thought, forget it. I can't be bothered to catch him. I'm not short on money."

Smoker's expression darkened again. "Are you messing with me?!"

Noil showed no fear. A dangerous smile spread across his face. "And what if I am?"

The sky darkened, and a fine drizzle began to fall. The tension between Noil and Smoker grew sharper by the moment.

Only then did Ace finally understand what was happening.

Because of him, Noil was about to offend the Marines and lose his standing as a Pirate Hunter?

He couldn't let that happen.

Ace wanted Noil as a crewmate, but Noil didn't want to join. Ace considered him a friend and would never force him.

He had to help Noil!

Ace looked at Noil and suddenly shouted like a lunatic, "Ah! You bastard! Are you trying to catch me?"

Smoker and Noil both froze.

Noil looked at him in confusion. What's this oddball up to now?

In the pattering rain, Ace turned his arm into flame and charged. He swung a fist at Noil, shouting theatrically, "You'll never catch me!"

As a fellow Flame-Flame Fruit user, Noil easily caught his fist. While Ace was close, he muttered, exasperated, "What are you doing?"

Ace grinned. "You're a Pirate Hunter. Come catch me."

With that, Ace stumbled several steps backward and said "weakly," "The strongest hunter in the East Blue lives up to his name."

His line delivered, Ace turned and ran with Deuce and Skull. He even called back over his shoulder:

"Heeelp..."

Noil covered his face in embarrassment, then took off after him. "Stop running, if you dare..." he called without a shred of energy.

The bewildered Marines stood rooted to the spot.

Tashigi reported to Smoker with a perfectly straight face, "It appears Noil and the pirate Ace aren't working together."

"Like hell they aren't!"

A vein throbbed on Smoker's forehead as he snapped at his oblivious subordinate.

Their acting was so terrible that not even an idiot would believe it!

Even Vice Admiral Garp wouldn't buy it!

Smoker's face turned livid. "Leave Noil for now!"

"Go catch the pirate Portgas D. Ace!"

The Red Line

Noil was chasing after Ace as he fled.

"Come catch me~ Come on~" Ace called, letting out a string of coy laughs loud enough to rival a barbell crashing to the floor.

Cold sweat poured down Noil's face. He was so embarrassed he wanted to dig a palace into the ground with his toes.

Didn't Ace feel awkward acting like that?

But there was nothing else for it. At least they had found a decent excuse to get away from the Marines...

If the Marines actually believed it...

Through the rain came a growing clamor of footsteps and shouts as people gathered around.

A huge wave of Marines was closing in.

Cool raindrops struck Noil's face, leaving him acutely alert.

He kept thinking about turning Ace in, but he certainly didn't want Ace to meet the same end as in the Original Story.

They had spent so much time together. Even if Ace were a dog, Noil would have grown attached by now, wouldn't he?

The wind in the streets grew colder, and the rain fell harder. The townspeople retreated indoors to escape the chill.

But the Marines' determination to catch the criminals had not been dampened. If anything, it burned brighter.

The Marines attacked Ace as they chased him, their numbers swelling. Smoker led the pursuit.

Smoker rode a stream of smoke into the air, looking for all the world like Sun Wukong riding a cloud.

He flew up beside Noil and gave him a skeptical look. "You can't even catch up to him?"

Without batting an eye, Noil lied, "Uh, I haven't been feeling my best lately..."

Smoker shot him a speechless look. He could at least have come up with a better excuse.

One group fled and the other pursued, and both were nearly out of town.

With the Flame-Flame Fruit's wide-ranging attacks, Ace had little trouble fighting as he ran.

Smoker, on the other hand, had to block Ace's attacks again and again to protect his Marines. He couldn't pick up speed.

And then there was Noil, who was barely trying...

Meanwhile, Ace's new ship, the Spade A, was waiting by the shore.

Mihal, who had just come over from Noil's ship, was aboard.

At that distance, Ace and the others were little more than specks.

Mihal confidently raised his gun.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Several shots rang out in quick succession. At the edge of town, Noil suddenly sensed bullets hurtling toward them!

Mihal was sniping from that far away?

Noil was more certain than ever: Mihal had some skill in Observation Haki!

Several Marines suddenly fell for no apparent reason. Smoker's face darkened further.

There's a sniper too? Why is a four-man pirate crew this much trouble?!

With Mihal providing covering fire from afar, Ace finally made it back to shore with Deuce and Skull. They boarded the Spade A.

Ace raised the Spade Pirates' flag for the first time in ages and gave the order to weigh anchor!

Standing at the side of the ship, Ace cupped his hands around his mouth. "Sorry, Captain! The Spade Pirates are setting sail!"

"Damn pirates!" Ace's shout set Smoker's temper ablaze.

But things went from bad to worse. A Marine rushed over and reported:

"Captain! Loguetown's defenses are badly undermanned. Pirates are already coming out of hiding and attacking the townspeople!"

Smoker ran to the shore and watched Ace's crew sail farther away.

He probably couldn't take Ace down alone. He would need enough men to pin the pirates down.

He had no warship ready. If he waited for one to arrive before setting out with a large force against Ace, the pirates back in town would have free rein.

Smoker thought it over and made his decision. He couldn't keep chasing them.

As the officer commanding Loguetown's garrison, he knew his duty.

He knew which mattered more: pirates already beyond his reach, or pirates threatening the townspeople right now.

But he still couldn't let it go!

Smoker turned his attention to Noil.

Noil looked calm, but inside he was uneasy.

He had only just remembered he needed to sail away. Why's that damn smoker staring at me?

Smoker walked up to Noil and said:

"You're a Pirate Hunter, right? Bring the pirate Ace to me whenever you catch him, and I'll pay you double his bounty."

Noil cursed inwardly. You still haven't paid me what you owe me!

"The host has met an important figure. Reward granted: ten boxes of top-quality cigars."

The sudden system notification startled Noil. He asked silently, System? Aren't you upgrading?

There was no answer.

Fine. I guess the upgrade doesn't stop it from handing out rewards.

Noil smiled at Smoker, boarded his own ship, and set off after Ace and the others.

Tashigi hesitantly asked Smoker, "Will he really go after the pirates?"

Smoker's face remained grim. He shook his head and ordered the Marines back toward town.

"I don't expect him to catch them."

"But I made him an offer so he'd remember he's a hunter and keep away from criminals!"

"Come on. Let's get back to town and arrest those pirates!"

"And Portgas D. Ace's bounty needs to be raised..."

The rain grew heavier, and thunder rolled through the black clouds. The storm at sea became more treacherous by the moment. Against the boundless ocean, Noil's and Ace's ships looked like little boats.

Noil caught up to Ace's ship. Drawing on his sailing skills, he steered his own vessel and guided the others forward, tossing one of his Log Poses to Ace along the way.

Reverse Mountain lay not far from Loguetown. Noil had bought several sea charts on a street corner in town, so he found their heading easily.

After what felt like an eternity under the savage downpour, the people aboard both ships finally saw a different sight.

The vast expanse of red rock seemed to rise straight from the seabed, towering through the storm. Even the enormous waves crashing against it had failed to wear down its sharp edges.

Noil gazed at the Red Line. Its height, piercing the clouds, was daunting, and its staggering scale was almost impossible to believe.

This was the landmass that divided the world. As expected, it was a formidable barrier no human could easily cross.

Shock and awe filled Noil. Seeing the Red Line with his own eyes made him feel as though everything he had believed about the world, across both his lives, was falling apart.

And yet...

Had the Red Line really divided the entire world so neatly by coincidence?

And the Grand Line crossed it at right angles, forming a perfect cross.