I Can Copy Any Talent in the World of One Piece

Robin watched Noil without letting anything show.

Noil noticed her looking, turned his head, flashed his big white teeth, and grinned like an idiot.

Uh...

Could this guy really stand up to Crocodile?

Nothing happened along the long road through the yellow sands.

Mr. 2 had reluctantly left after completing his mission.

Wrapped up tight against the blowing sand, Robin and Noil spent several more days crossing the desert.

At last, they reached a building standing in the sand.

"Spider Cafe?"

Noil stared at the sign, baffled. "A coffee shop in the middle of the desert? What genius came up with that idea?"

Robin pushed the door open and went inside. "It's just a contact point for Baroque Works' Senior Agents. It's supposed to be in the middle of nowhere."

They entered. Just as Noil expected, there wasn't a single customer inside.

The woman behind the counter, though, was quite a sight.

She wore a short-sleeved crop top and a headscarf, with long, wavy blue hair spilling out beneath it.

Her eyes behind her blue-framed glasses were captivating. When she saw them come in, she smiled. "Welcome back, Miss All Sunday."

Robin nodded. "Paula, get us something to drink."

"No problem."

Paula turned away, walking with a catlike sway and making quite a show of her hips.

Good grief. Every step was a wave.

Noil's eyes followed every movement.

"Ahem."

Robin cleared her throat, and Noil hurriedly sat up straight and looked away.

A little later, two cups of coffee were set on the table.

Paula gave Noil a sultry glance. She leaned forward, showing off her generous figure, then winked at him with a soft laugh.

She smiled at Robin before turning and swaying away.

And Noil's eyes went right along with her...

Robin couldn't help rolling her eyes.

Only when Paula was out of sight did Noil turn back. He took a sip of coffee with a perfectly straight face and sighed. "This coffee's huge..."

Robin couldn't be bothered with him. After finishing her coffee, she walked over to Paula and murmured in her ear, "I'm going to contact the boss. Keep an eye on him."

Paula nodded with a smile. "No problem."

With that settled, Robin went around the corner into a hidden room behind the cafe.

The room was bare, holding only a large square table covered in Den Den Mushi.

There were more than a dozen ordinary blue Den Den Mushi, black Listening Den Den Mushi, and white Anti-Listening Den Den Mushi...

Robin picked up a Den Den Mushi marked "0" and placed a call. Its face immediately took on the brooding expression of a middle-aged man.

"Have you brought him?"

The Den Den Mushi spoke with Crocodile's expression.

"He's at Spider Cafe."

Robin's voice was perfectly even. "He's much stronger than the Senior Agents. He's a Logia user."

"A Logia?"

Surprise crossed the Den Den Mushi's face, quickly giving way to delight. "I'll be glad to have him working for me."

Robin sneered inwardly. "He's confident in his strength. I doubt he'll agree to work for you so easily."

Crocodile's voice dripped with disdain. "He gets lucky enough to eat a Logia Devil Fruit, and suddenly he thinks he can defy me?"

"I'll show him that Devil Fruit users aren't all equal."

Robin said nothing. Crocodile continued, "Bring him in. I want to talk to him."

Robin set down the Den Den Mushi, went outside, and called Noil over.

Noil, who had been absorbed in watching the "sights," hurried after her.

Back in the hidden room, Noil picked up the Den Den Mushi. "Hello, hello?"

After a moment, Crocodile's voice came through. "Noil?"

"Oh, Crocodile. Why are you putting on that deep, handsome voice?"

Noil spoke without a care in the world.

Crocodile Is on His Way

Crocodile froze for a few seconds at Noil's way of addressing him, then quickly recovered.

The Den Den Mushi carried his icy voice. "How do you know who I am?"

"Did Miss All Sunday tell you?"

Noil smiled. "She had nothing to do with it. I've known who you are all along."

"What do you want?" Crocodile asked, his expression darkening.

"I just came to see what all the fuss was about..."

And to get Robin away from you.

Noil added the rest in his head.

Crocodile gave a cold laugh. "So you never intended to work for me."

Noil nodded as though it were obvious. "Of course not. I just wanted to cause you a little trouble."

"You're a nobody," Crocodile said contemptuously. "Do you think I care what a weak little ant does?"

"Really?" Noil remained utterly unconcerned. "A Shichibukai plotting to steal a country and seize an Ancient Weapon..."

"If the World Government found out..."

On the other end of the call, Crocodile's relaxed expression abruptly turned ugly.

The plot to take the country. Pluton. How did he know about either of them?

Anger simmered in Crocodile like a volcano ready to erupt. "How do you know about that?!"

"Are you threatening me?"

If Noil told the government or the Marines, Crocodile's plans to seize the country would be ruined, if nothing else.

And that was before they even got to the Ancient Weapon, a taboo subject for the World Government.

Crocodile gradually calmed down and decided to keep him occupied. "Heh. Actually... we could work together."

Noil raised an eyebrow. "On what?"

Crocodile spoke slowly. "Once we have the information on Pluton and I've taken Alabasta, I could make you the ruler of a country!"

Noil couldn't help laughing softly. "That does sound tempting."

Crocodile's voice took on an almost hypnotic quality. "You can take charge of Baroque Works right now. Use my people however you like."

"How generous of you." Noil had heard enough of Crocodile's empty promises. He handed the Den Den Mushi to Robin.

When Crocodile heard Robin's voice, he ordered, "Miss All Sunday, go to the Royal Capital and check on the progress of the Dance Powder plan."

"Leave Noil in charge there. Someone will arrive shortly to hand things over to him."

He couldn't leave Noil with Robin, who knew how to read Ancient Script. It was too dangerous.

So he used the assignment as an excuse to separate her from Noil.

What he didn't know was that this suited both Noil and Robin perfectly.

The corner of Robin's mouth lifted. "As you wish, boss."

As soon as he had given his orders, Crocodile hung up and strode outside.

He plunged into the yellow desert sands. His body turned to dust and swept up countless grains as he flew off in one direction.

Working with Noil? That had only been a lie to keep the boy there.

Once he reached Spider Cafe, he would kill him!

Then there would be no problem at all!

While Crocodile raced toward the cafe, back inside...

Robin calmly set down the Den Den Mushi and looked at Noil. "He's coming to kill you."

Noil nodded, speechless for a moment. "Does Crocodile think I'm an idiot?"

"He can't seriously expect me to believe a word he said."

Robin sat on the table and laughed softly. "He doesn't care whether you believe him. He just needs you to stay here for now."

Noil gave a wicked grin. "I'm not going to sit here waiting for him."

Robin looked puzzled. "Then what are you planning to do?"

Noil clenched a fist and smiled mischievously. "While he's away, I'll raid his headquarters."

Robin drew a sharp breath. "Aren't you afraid he'll come after you?"

"Come after me?"

Noil scoffed. "I already told you I'm not afraid of him."

Then he remembered something and looked at Robin. "Once you get into the Royal Capital and see the history in the Underground Hidden Sacrificial Hall, will you leave with me?"

Robin didn't answer. She headed out through the cafe's back door.

At the doorway, she paused in thought, then gave him an elegant smile.

"That... we can talk about later."

With that, Robin pushed through the door and disappeared into the yellow sands.

Noil watched her retreating figure and shrugged helplessly.

If he thought about it rationally, Robin probably wouldn't leave with him.

She was too cautious to trust anyone before achieving her goal.

Yet despite her tragic childhood and dark past, there was still light in her heart.

That was why she devoted everything she had to finding the Poneglyphs.

Perhaps that was why he wanted to help her.

While Robin went to the Royal Capital to search for a Poneglyph, Noil set his own plan in motion.

He left the hidden room and returned to the front of the cafe.

Paula was still sitting there, studying him with interest.

Miss All Sunday had said this handsome young man, despite his wandering eyes, was a new member of their organization and not someone to underestimate.

Paula adjusted her glasses and propped her chin on her hand, every movement full of allure. She teased him in a husky voice:

"Handsome, now that Miss All Sunday's gone, how about a drink alone with Big Sister?"

Noil glanced at Paula, and an idea suddenly came to him.

A smile spread across his face as he walked over and sat down in front of her.

"Big Sister, you're one of Baroque Works' Senior Agents too, aren't you?"

Paula frowned. "Did Miss All Sunday tell you that?"