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

When Crocodile saw what Noil had swept up with the sand, his eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. "No!!"

Noil shot high into the air, then exploded outward in a cloud of sand.

Countless pieces of glittering gold and silver treasure, along with high-denomination Beli notes, rained down from the sky.

Bathed in a rain of money, Noil shouted so loudly that the whole of Rainbase heard him.

"Crocodile's handing out cash to everyone!!"

The Poneglyph

After a huge sandstorm swept through, the people of Rainbase opened their eyes with difficulty.

Beli notes were falling before them like rain.

Combined with Noil's shout as he scattered the money, the sight sent the whole city into a frenzy.

"Crocodile's giving everyone money!"

"Stop grabbing! Don't push me!"

"Money! Give me that money!"

"Bastard! Put down those Beli notes!"

Crocodile felt as if his heart were bleeding.

Rain Dinners was one of his most powerful moneymakers.

That single casino brought in as much as all of Baroque Works.

Behind the chaotic crowd, Noil slung two sacks of Beli over his shoulders and grinned. "Well, I'll be going now, Lord Shichibukai~"

Looking insufferably pleased with himself, Noil swept up the money and turned into sand, sinking underground.

Now even Crocodile couldn't tell where he had gone.

Like an enraged lion, Crocodile erupted with fury. "Noil!!"

Though Crocodile had become the nation's "hero," that honor wasn't enough to make people hand back money they already held.

Besides, Noil had scattered it in Crocodile's name!

When the farce finally died down, Crocodile returned to his office, exhausted in body and mind.

At the sight of his wrecked casino and empty vault, nothing remained in Crocodile's heart but rage and hatred.

He forced himself to calm down and think through Noil's motives.

Crocodile had been the one to target Noil. That much was true.

But Noil knew far more about him than Crocodile had imagined.

Stealing the country and finding Pluton—Noil had seemed to know his plans from the start.

But if Noil knew something that important, why had he come to Rainbase to waste time?

Was he trying to draw Crocodile away?

If so, Noil had information Crocodile didn't.

For instance, the location of the Poneglyph concerning Pluton!

But what good would that do him?

Unless... he had an accomplice who could examine the Poneglyph while Crocodile was distracted.

A thought struck Crocodile, and a woman's face came to mind.

Nico Robin? The woman I sent away?

If Noil could have heard Crocodile's theory, he would have settled in with a snack and applauded.

Noil's reason for causing a scene at Rain Dinners had been simple: he wanted to steal some money.

Yet through sheer speculation, Crocodile had stumbled onto the real reason.

Noil hadn't expected that.

Crocodile paced his room. The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

He picked up his personal Den Den Mushi and called Robin.

Brrring, brrring, brrring...

No one answered. Crocodile felt even more certain he was right.

Nico Robin and that Noil have been working together all along!

Crocodile rallied himself and rushed toward the Royal Capital. This time, he couldn't be wrong!

As Crocodile flew off amid swirling sand, Noil slowly poked his head out in a Rainbase alley and said, puzzled:

"Damn it... why's he heading for the Royal Capital?"

"I wonder if Robin's finished yet."

With the Beli on his back, Noil turned and walked out of the alley.

After only a few steps, he hesitated.

"Forget it. I'd better follow him..."

Alubarna, the Royal Capital of Alabasta.

An uninvited visitor had entered the normally heavily guarded palace grounds.

At the entrance to the Royal Cemetery on the palace's western side lay more than a dozen skilled soldiers.

Several arms had suddenly sprouted from the guards' shoulders and backs, locking their throats and joints in moments.

Crack!

After several crisp snaps of bone, the guards collapsed unconscious without a sound.

Robin withdrew her power and quietly slipped through the gate into the cemetery.

The Hidden Sacrificial Hall is underground...

As Robin searched, she turned the thought over in her mind. At last, she found the mechanism.

She gently activated it. With a dull rumble, a heavy door fitted seamlessly into the floor slowly rose.

There really is an underground palace.

Delighted to find the entrance, Robin grew more confident that she would find the Poneglyph.

She wasn't disappointed. After passing through a long, narrow corridor, she emerged into a vast space.

There, in the underground hall, stood the blue stone Robin had dreamed of seeing day and night!

The Poneglyph!

Robin gently ran her hand over the cold stone.

She could feel the engraved characters beneath her fingers, filling her with a sense of reassurance and excitement she couldn't put into words.

Her beautiful eyes moved across the stone inscription, character by character. To Robin, the obscure Ancient Script was as clear as ordinary writing.

Only when she had read the entire record did Robin let out a long breath.

Just as she and Crocodile had suspected, the stone contained little historical information.

It recorded the location of Pluton, one of the Three Ancient Weapons and the most fearsome warship in history.

But rather than stirring any greed in Robin, reading it left her deeply disappointed.

Robin's dream was simple. She wasn't hoping to gain anything from the Poneglyphs.

Pluton, the Ancient Weapons—Robin didn't want any of them.

She only wanted to know the complete history. That was all.

But Robin's dream had too many enemies in this world.

Gifted with a perfect memory, Robin committed the record about Pluton to memory before leaving the tomb.

Though she hadn't found the clue to the missing hundred years she wanted most, Robin was content to have learned a different piece of history.

Using the Flower-Flower Fruit to scout for danger, Robin got out of the heavily guarded palace with only a little trouble.

Darkness had fallen. As Robin stepped across the soft sand, she felt both relieved and troubled.

She was relieved because she had finally read Alabasta's hidden Poneglyph.

But the last lead she had on a Poneglyph had now been exhausted. What came next?

Poneglyphs weren't something she could find whenever she wanted.

As Robin worried, Noil's face appeared in her mind again.

Should I accept his invitation and search with him?

It wouldn't be such a bad thing...

At worst, I can do what I've always done. If staying with him turns dangerous, I'll betray him and run...

After all, I'm still the Devil Child.

At that thought, Robin gave a self-mocking smile, though endless bitterness lay behind it.

"Nico Robin, where are you going?"

A deep voice rang out. Robin's eyes trembled, and fear seized her heart.

"Crocodile..."

A Heroic Rescue

Robin turned. A tall figure stood before her, the Golden Hook on his hand giving off purple poisonous fumes and glinting coldly in the moonlight.

Crocodile looked down at Robin, unmistakable killing intent in his eyes!

"What are you doing here?" Crocodile demanded in a low voice, blowing out a smoke ring.

Robin suppressed her fear and forced a calm smile. "Didn't you send me here on a mission, boss?"

"Did I?" Crocodile asked with a sneer. "Did a Baroque Works mission require you to sneak into the palace?!"

With that, Crocodile lunged. He seized Robin by the throat with his right hand and hauled her into the air.

His eyes bloodshot, Crocodile barked, "Talk! What did you find in the palace? Was it the Poneglyph?!"

With her throat caught in his grip, Robin's face turned blue from lack of air. She struggled to force out a word. "Yes..."

"What does it say? Is it about Pluton?!" Crocodile roared impatiently.

Robin's consciousness was fading, but she still denied it. "No... it only tells... Alabasta's history..."

"Bullshit!"

Crocodile slammed Robin to the ground at his feet, drawing a trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth.

"You're still trying to fool me?!" Crocodile swung his Golden Hook, taking out his anger at Noil on Robin.

As the Golden Hook came down, Robin, able to breathe again, hurriedly rolled aside. But the sharp, poisoned tip still carved a vicious wound across her fair-skinned waist.

Blood poured from the wound. Robin pressed a hand to her waist and endured the searing pain without a sound.

Crocodile had clearly begun to lose his reason.

In just this one day, he had suffered one disaster after another.

First, a ridiculously powerful newcomer had uncovered his secret. Then, while Crocodile had gone out to catch him, Noil had robbed him at home!

When Crocodile returned to his base, the bastard had destroyed his source of income right in front of him!

Now, before he could even recover, Crocodile had discovered that Robin had robbed him of what he wanted most!

Someone had beaten him to the thing he had pursued all this time. Crocodile was so furious he wanted to rip the knowledge straight out of Robin's head.

Then he would see exactly what was written on that stone!!