In the World of One Piece: I Can Copy Any Talent

Noil gave no answer. Paula's expression softened a little as she said:

"Since she already told you, I won't hide it. My codename is Miss Doublefinger, and I'm Mr. 1's partner."

Noil nodded, quietly committing her name to memory. "Got it. Thanks."

With that, Noil reached out and touched Paula's face.

Paula couldn't help blushing.

Already?

Noil's large hand gently brushed her cheek, and his handsome face drew closer.

His warm breath washed over her. Paula wanted to push him away in embarrassment, but when she saw his face, she couldn't bring herself to do it.

He's such a handsome young man. What's the harm in letting him get a little closer?

After looking at Mr. 1's bald head every day, Paula couldn't remember the last time she'd seen a handsome man.

But just as Paula lost herself in the thought, Noil's deep voice sounded:

"Big Sister, take a look at who I am."

Noil the Master of Disguise

"Take a look at who I am?"

Paula froze at Noil's words.

Was this some new kind of flirting?

She looked at Noil's face in confusion, and her beautiful eyes widened in horror!

Why?

Why had this guy turned into her?

Paula sprang out of her chair.

Mr. 2?

The name flashed through her mind.

Her face turned icy, and she cursed furiously, "You damn Okama! Why turn into a handsome man just to flirt with me?!"

Seeing Paula transform into a screaming shrew, Noil's expression darkened.

Your dad's an Okama! Your whole family's Okama!

"Wait. Something's wrong..."

After cursing him, Paula suddenly realized it didn't add up.

Wasn't Mr. 2 on a mission?

He should've left after dropping Noil off here.

Paula watched him warily. "Who are you? How can you change your appearance?"

Noil ignored her questions.

He copied Paula's posture, swayed his hips for a couple of steps, and gave her a sultry wink.

Then he asked in a coy voice, "Well? Do I look like you?"

Noil's clumsy performance in a woman's body finally pushed Paula over the edge.

She flung off her glasses and pulled away her headscarf.

A blue afro sprang into view.

Paula glared at Noil. "You dare make a fool of me? I'll break your legs!"

She thrust out both hands and activated her Spike-Spike Fruit. Her delicate hands turned into long, sharp spikes.

The Spike-Spike Thorns stabbed toward him. Noil, still admiring his borrowed figure, merely smiled.

Paula aimed straight for his heart. Noil immediately activated Armament Haki.

His impressive chest turned black and hard in an instant. Paula's spikes struck it like iron and shattered.

Shocked and furious, Paula pulled back her aching hands.

Damn it!

What kind of trick was that?

Her spikes could pierce and smash solid rock!

So why was this person so hard?

Even after taking Paula's full-force attack, Noil felt little more than a faint sting beneath his Armament Haki.

He even reached up and scratched the spot...

Paula saw it, and she nearly exploded with rage.

He'd copied her face and body, and now he dared touch them like that?!

Disgust and fury overwhelmed her. "I'll kill you!" she screamed at Noil.

Fueled by her anger, spikes erupted across her body, and she charged at Noil without a thought for defense!

Noil frowned slightly.

This copied body was hard to use. The imitation was so exact that even his physical strength had weakened.

It limited his use of Haki, too.

Worst of all, his chest felt so heavy...

Noil touched his face with his left hand and instantly changed back to his original appearance.

His Haki and physical strength returned to normal.

He covered his entire body in Haki and slammed into the charging Paula!

The outcome was obvious.

Mere spikes were no match for Noil's Armament Haki.

The moment they made contact, the spikes on Paula's body crumpled like paper.

Noil drove a fist into her stomach and knocked her out cold.

Then he looked down at the unconscious Paula, narrowed his eyes with a trace of guilt, and murmured:

"Amitabha. This humble monk means no offense, but your clothes and I are fated to meet. Forgive me..."

With that, Noil swiftly stripped off her clothes.

He left Paula in her underwear in a hidden room, put on her clothes, and used his copying ability to take on her appearance.

Now a perfect copy of Paula, Noil admired himself in the mirror.

Perfect!

All he had to do now was wait for Crocodile to take the bait.

A long time passed. Noil was nearly dozing off when Crocodile finally arrived.

The door began to open. Noil shook off his drowsiness and prepared to play his part.

A figure stepped inside wearing a black robe. Thick fabric covered every inch of skin, leaving only his eyes exposed.

"Miss Doublefinger," the man said in a low voice.

Did Crocodile really not want anyone to know who he was?

Noil stared at him speechlessly, then pretended to hesitate. "Boss? Mr. 0?"

Crocodile nodded. He entered the shop, looked around, and frowned.

"Where's Noil?" Crocodile asked.

Noil had prepared his answer. "Mr. Noil said he wanted to take a walk. He headed toward a nearby city."

"He left?" Crocodile's frown deepened.

He'd rushed all the way here, and the guy had wandered off on his own?

Even the calculating Crocodile couldn't help feeling irritated.

As Crocodile's expression grew colder, Noil cautiously approached him.

"Boss, would you like something to drink?" Noil asked in Paula's manner, taking a Copy Card from the system as he spoke.

Crocodile shook his head. "No. I have other business."

Noil seized the chance to take his hand. "You work too hard, Boss. At least have a cup of tea."

Hidden in his palm, the Copy Card slipped into Crocodile's body. The Clone-Clone Fruit's power activated at the same time.

His appearance and ability—got them both!

Noil kept his expression steady, cheering silently.

Crocodile pulled his hand free and gave this "Paula" an odd look.

What had gotten into her?

Was she making a move on him?

Too bad for her. Crocodile wasn't that kind of man!

Crocodile snorted. "Enough nonsense. Which way did Noil go?"

"Paula" stepped outside and pointed in one direction with a pitiful look.

Crocodile, oblivious to the act, used his power and flew off that way.

Only after Crocodile had gone far did Noil breathe a sigh of relief and undo the transformation.

He scrubbed his hand vigorously in disgust. "Touching another man's hand is revolting..."

At least his sacrifice had been worth it.

He had gained the red-quality Sand-Sand Fruit ability.

Along with the Flame-Flame Fruit, another Logia, he had the Zoan Bear-Bear Fruit and the Paramecia Clone-Clone Fruit.

Noil was now the only person in the world with four Devil Fruit abilities!

Admittedly, the system's restrictions left little room to develop any of them except the Bear-Bear Fruit...

But together, they could produce some remarkable effects.

Noil touched his face with his right hand. His build and features shifted rapidly until he looked just like Crocodile.

"Crocodile" chuckled. "Your casino is mine to run now, Crocodile..."

The Lavish Rain Dinners Casino

In the endless desert, Noil raced toward his destination in Crocodile's form.

The shop had a map of Alabasta, which had shown him the way to Rainbase.

Rain Dinners, the lavish casino Crocodile had built at enormous expense as a Shichibukai, stood there.

As a living mass of sand, Noil had a clear advantage in the desert.

He merged with the ground and reached Rainbase with hardly any effort.

Known as the City of Dreams, Rainbase was the wealthiest place in Alabasta outside the Royal Capital.

From a distance, its greenery and water stood out starkly against the surrounding yellow desert.

Noil straightened his clothes, held his head high, and walked into Rainbase.

He had barely taken two steps into the city when the locals began looking at him with the admiration reserved for a hero.

"Lord Crocodile!"

"What a tough, manly man our Shichibukai is!"