Inviting Robin / The Spider Café

Even her dream—the pursuit of Poneglyphs.

An Invitation to Robin

On the breezy deck, a handsome man and a beautiful woman stood facing each other in the faint light. They looked like a perfect match.

Little did anyone know, Robin wanted to stab Noil to death.

After years spent lurking in the underworld, she had forged a heart as cold and hard as steel.

But never before had she felt such a strong urge to kill.

Robin couldn't understand how a man she'd just met could know so much about her.

For her, the best way to stay safe was to make anyone who knew her secrets disappear.

Seeing the wariness deepen in Robin's eyes, Noil smiled helplessly. "Stop glaring. You can't kill me."

She knew she couldn't take him down.

If she could have dealt with Noil, she would already have killed him to protect herself.

Robin smiled again, but this time her smile held a clear note of distance and hostility.

"You know so much," she said softly. "You must want something."

"Why are you looking for Crocodile? Or... were you looking for me?"

Noil saw through her probing. "No need to beat around the bush. I came for you."

"But don't worry. I know you can read Ancient Script, and I'm not interested in it at all."

It was the truth. Noil had no curiosity whatsoever about Poneglyphs or the world's missing hundred years.

Apart from the World Government, only schemers and ambitious people cared about Robin's identity.

But Robin didn't believe him.

After countless betrayals and counterbetrayals, Robin wasn't about to take Noil at his word.

She didn't show her doubts, though. Instead, she asked with feigned curiosity, "If not that, then what do you want?"

Noil straightened and looked into Robin's beautiful eyes. "I want you to join me."

Looking into his ink-dark eyes, Robin was surprised to find sincerity in them.

...And tenderness?

For some reason, she almost believed him. "What do you get out of it?" she asked hesitantly. "And what's in it for me?"

"I'm safe under Crocodile's protection, you know."

Noil shook his head. "Your own safety isn't what matters most to you."

"You're working with Crocodile because he's looking for a Poneglyph too. Your goals happen to align."

Robin fell silent. From a certain point of view, he was right.

She could hide behind Crocodile's Shichibukai title, but sooner or later, someone would uncover her identity.

And even without that protection, Robin had spent years moving from place to place. The sea was vast.

As long as she refused to be caught, finding her would be difficult.

She had joined Crocodile only after learning there was a Poneglyph in Alabasta.

This was the closest Robin had come to a Poneglyph in all those years!

This might be her last hope of fulfilling her dream.

She didn't want to give it up!

Sensing her resolve waver, Noil pressed on. "Don't you want to sail the seas, pursue your dream, and discover more of that lost history?"

Robin gave a cold snort. "I've searched for years and found only this one lead. What makes you think you can do better?"

Once she'd said it, she let out a breath of relief.

She had admitted Noil's earlier guess was right—and openly acknowledged who she was.

It was the first time in years Robin had spoken her mind so frankly.

Leaning back in her chair, she gently stroked the cover of the old book. "This is my only chance, and maybe my last, to see the true history."

"So I'm sorry, Mr. Noil. I..."

"You don't have to answer yet."

Noil cut her off and said confidently, "Then I'll help you find that Poneglyph in Alabasta first."

Robin gave him a startled look. "You? Forget it. You may be strong, but you're no match for Crocodile."

"How would you know until we fight?" Noil protested. "I'd beat him easily."

Robin shook her head. She clearly didn't believe him.

Then again, this man seemed to know a great deal...

Robin studied Noil for a moment before asking, "Is the Poneglyph in Alabasta really about the Ancient Weapon Pluton?"

Noil nodded calmly. "It should be."

The light in Robin's eyes dimmed. What she wanted to read was a Poneglyph about the missing hundred years.

Now that they had spoken openly, the mood between them eased again. At last, the system's voice rang out.

"Host has met an important figure. Rewards issued: Universal Talent Copy Card ×1, Special Whitening Water ×10."

Noil stared at the bottles of cosmetics the system had given him.

Why did meeting Robin earn him whitening water?

Was he supposed to give it to her?

Noil stole a glance at Robin.

Hmm... A lot of people would call her wheat-toned skin dark...

It didn't take away from Robin-chan's beauty, but fairer skin might add a little something, right?

While he debated whether to give it to Robin, Mr. 2 suddenly ran out and broke the strange mood between them.

"Oh! Little Noil, what are you two doing?" Mr. 2 asked brightly, pirouetting like a ballet dancer.

Noil's eyes lit up at the sound of his voice. Right—there was something else he needed to do.

Noil hurried over and slung an arm around Mr. 2's shoulders. "Nothing. Just chatting."

As he did, Noil quietly took a Copy Card from the system and pressed it against Mr. 2 without anyone noticing.

Blue talent, Demon Possession: Clone—acquired!

Satisfied, Noil drew his hand back.

Some Devil Fruits were poor in a fight, but their other uses were incredible.

Take the Clone-Clone Fruit. It couldn't attack anyone, but for assassinations, infiltration, framing people, sneaking a peek at the women's ba—

Ahem. Scratch that last one.

For the rest, it was a godsend.

The more Noil thought about it, the more excited he became. Finally, he threw back his head and burst out laughing.

Mr. 2, still under his arm, asked in confusion, "Little Noil, what are you laughing at?"

Holding back his laughter, Noil made up an answer. "I'm glad I met you, my friend!"

Mr. 2 brightened at once. He fluttered a hand in mock shyness and laughed. "Oh, you flatter me, my friend! Hahaha!"

And so, for no apparent reason, the two of them stood on the deck in broad daylight, laughing like lunatics.

Robin watched them quietly, then remarked without expression, "You look like two grinning monkeys."

"Hahaha—hic..."

Their laughter stopped dead. Noil and Bon Clay froze in place.

Spider Cafe

Robin's remark finally silenced Noil and Mr. 2.

Robin sighed. At last, she could read in peace.

But as she lowered her head, something Noil was wearing caught her eye.

It was the pendant that had been with him since childhood, engraved with the name he'd been given in this life.

A memory jolted Robin. She had seen a pendant like that somewhere before.

When was it?

That was right. Before Ohara's destruction, she had seen something like it in a book.

"Sorry to bother you, Mr. Noil," Robin asked quickly, "but what's your full name?"

Caught off guard, Noil answered without thinking. "Kielros D. Noir."

Robin sank into her childhood memories. Kielros and D—both matched what she had read in that book.

Noil gave her a puzzled look, but she seemed lost in thought and said nothing more.

With nothing else to do, Noil followed Mr. 2 inside to eat.

Only much later did Robin emerge from her thoughts. A faint smile touched her lips.

If her suspicion was right, Noil might truly be the same kind of person she was.

Robin had something on her mind, and over the next few days of travel, Noil barely spoke with her.

Before long, Mr. 2 brought Noil into Alabasta.

Surrounded by windblown sand, Noil changed into an outfit fit for a desert traveler.

Across both his lives, this was Noil's first time in a desert.

He sidled up to Robin and asked curiously, "My lovely Robin-chan, is Crocodile going to reveal himself and meet me in person?"

Robin frowned. "Of course not. He'll speak to you directly through a Den Den Mushi."

"And could you call me something else?"

Noil thought for a moment, then tried, "Gorgeous?"

"Try another."

"Sweetheart?"

"Another!"

"Nico Nico Ni?"

Robin glared at Noil, then said helplessly, "Use my codename while we're here. Knowing who I am won't do you any good."

Noil shrugged. "It's fine. I'm not afraid of a Shichibukai."

Robin gave a weary nod.

She didn't feel like explaining a Shichibukai's strength again. Perhaps he really was that powerful...

As they traveled, Robin recalled what Noil had told her aboard the ship.

"The Poneglyph that records information about Pluton is hidden in the Underground Hidden Sacrificial Hall beneath the palace in the Royal Capital."

Robin had no idea how Noil knew that.

Even after years of infiltration, she and Crocodile had yet to uncover that closely guarded secret.

Still, she didn't think Noil was lying. He had nothing to gain from it.

Now that she knew where the Poneglyph was hidden, Robin decided to find a chance to sneak in and see for herself whether Noil was right.

But if someone could keep Crocodile occupied while she did...