When Crocodile heard how Noyer addressed him, he froze for a few seconds before reacting.
The Den Den Mushi transmitted his icy voice, "How do you know my identity? Did Miss All Sunday tell you?"
Noyer smiled, "It has nothing to do with her. I've known your identity for a long time."
"What's your goal?" Crocodile asked, his expression shifting unpredictably.
"I just came to watch the show…"
And to poach Robin while I'm at it, Noyer added silently.
Crocodile sneered, "It seems you never intended to become my subordinate from the start."
Noyer nodded matter-of-factly, "Of course not. I just wanted to cause you some trouble."
"Insignificant nobody." Crocodile said contemptuously, "Do you think I would pay attention to a weak ant?"
"Is that so?" Noyer looked completely unconcerned, "A mighty Warlord of the Sea plotting to steal a country and scheming for an Ancient Weapon… If the World Government found out…"
On the other end of the phone, Crocodile's previously leisurely expression turned ugly. Stealing a country, Pluton — why would he know these two things?
He said with fury, like a volcano about to erupt, "How do you know?! Are you threatening me?"
If Noyer told the government or the navy about this, forget anything else — the plan to steal the country would fall apart.
Not to mention the World Government's taboo: Ancient Weapons.
Crocodile gradually calmed down and decided to stabilize him first, "Hehe, actually… we can cooperate."
Noyer raised an eyebrow, "Cooperate on what?"
Crocodile said slowly, "Once we obtain information about Pluton and take Arabasta, I can make you the ruler of a nation!"
Noyer chuckled, "Sounds very tempting."
Crocodile's voice took on a bewitching quality, "You can take over Baroque Works right now. You can command my people as you please."
"You're really reliable." Facing the empty promises, Noyer didn't want to continue this nonsense and handed the Den Den Mushi to Robin.
When Crocodile heard Robin's voice, he instructed, "Miss All Sunday, go to the royal capital and check on the Dance Powder plan. Let Noyer take over here. Subordinates will come to meet with him soon."
He couldn't leave these two together — not with this woman who was proficient in ancient glyphs. That would be too dangerous. So he used the mission as an excuse to separate her from Noyer.
But what he didn't know was that doing so played right into their hands.
The corners of Robin's mouth curved up slightly, "As you command, Boss."
After giving his orders, Crocodile hung up the phone, stood, and strode outside.
Plunging into the desert's yellow sand, his body transformed into dust, stirring up countless grains as he flew in one direction.
Cooperation with Noyer — that was just nonsense to stall him. As long as he reached the Spider Cafe and killed that kid, everything would be fine!
While Crocodile rushed at full speed, back at the cafe…
Robin unhurriedly put down the phone and looked at Noyer, "He's coming to kill you."
Noyer nodded, "Is Crocodile's brain waterlogged? He doesn't really think I believed him, does he?"
Robin sat on the table with a light laugh, "He doesn't care whether you believe it or not. As long as he can keep you here temporarily, that's enough."
Noyer showed a mischievous smile, "I don't want to just wait here for him."
Robin looked puzzled, "Then what do you plan to do?"
Noyer clenched his fist and smiled with ill intent, "While he's out, I'll raid his base."
Robin gasped, "Aren't you afraid of his retaliation?"
"Retaliation? I already said I'm not afraid of him." Noyer snorted. Then he remembered something and looked at Robin, "After you infiltrate the royal capital and see the history in the underground burial chamber, will you come with me?"
Robin didn't reply. She walked toward the back door of the cafe. At the doorway, she paused with a thoughtful expression, then revealed an elegant smile.
"That… we'll talk about it later."
With that, she pushed the door open and walked into the yellow sand.
Noyer looked at her back and shrugged helplessly.
Whether she would go with him — thinking rationally, she probably wouldn't. Given her caution, unless she achieved her goal, she wouldn't trust anyone.
However, despite her tragic childhood and dark past, her heart was still bright. That's why she devoted all her energy to searching for the Poneglyphs.
Perhaps that was why he was willing to help Robin.
Robin went to Alubarna to search for the Poneglyphs. Noyer was about to start his own plan.
Walking out of the secret room, he returned to the cafe's front hall.
Shop manager Paula was still sitting there, watching him with interest. According to Miss All Sunday, this somewhat roguish-looking handsome young man was a new company member with considerable strength.
She adjusted her glasses, propped her chin up with an enchanting air, and teased in a sexy, husky voice, "Little handsome guy, Miss All Sunday has left. Want to have a drink alone with your big sister?"
Noyer glanced at Paula, and an idea suddenly popped into his mind.
His face broke into a smile as he walked over and sat down in front of her.
"Big sister, you're also a senior agent of Baroque Works, right?"
Paula frowned, "Did Miss All Sunday tell you?"
Noyer was noncommittal.
Her expression relaxed slightly, "Since she already told you, I won't hide it. My code name is Miss Doublefinger, and I'm Mr. 1's partner."
Noyer nodded, quietly noting her name, and smiled, "I'll remember that. Thanks."
With that, he reached out toward her face.
Paula's face flushed red. So hasty?
Noyer's large hand gently touched her face, and his handsome face leaned closer.
Warm breath washed over her. Paula wanted to push him away in embarrassed anger, but after seeing his face, she surprisingly couldn't bring herself to do it.
Such a handsome young man — it should be fine to let him take a little advantage, right?
Facing Mr. 1, that bald guy all the time, Paula didn't even know how long it had been since she'd seen a handsome man.
But just as she was lost in fantasy, Noyer's magnetic voice rang out:
"Big sister, take a look at who I am."
Hearing his words, Paula froze. What kind of new flirting technique is this?
She looked at his face in confusion, and her beautiful eyes instantly widened in terror!
Why? Why had this guy transformed into her own appearance?
Paula was so startled that she sprang up from her chair.
Mr. 2?
The name flashed through her mind.
Paula's face turned cold as she cursed furiously, "You damn okama! What are you doing transforming into a handsome guy and flirting with me?!"
Watching her instantly turn into a shrew, Noyer's face darkened.
Your dad's the okama! Your whole family are okamas!
"Wait, something's not right…" After finishing her tirade, Paula suddenly realized something was off.
Wasn't Mr. 2 on a mission? He should have left after dropping Noyer off here, right?
She looked at him warily, "Who exactly are you? Why can you change your appearance?"
Noyer ignored her confusion. He mimicked her posture, swaying his hips as he walked two steps, then winked at her charmingly.
Finally, with an excessively flamboyant tone, he asked in a "delicate voice", "How's my imitation?"
Noyer's clumsy cross-dressing performance enraged Paula completely. She threw off her glasses and unwrapped her headscarf. A head of blue afro hair burst out.
She glared at him viciously, "Dare to play me? I'll break your legs!"
Paula stretched out both hands, activating her Toge Toge no Mi (Spike-Spike Fruit) ability. Her delicate hands transformed into sharp spikes.
The spikes stabbed forward. Noyer, who was leisurely admiring his new figure, remained unhurried and smiled lightly.
Paula's thorns drove toward his heart. He activated his Armament Haki. His chest instantly turned black and hard. The spikes hit like they'd struck iron and shattered.
Paula recoiled, shocked and angry, clutching her hands in pain.
Damn it! What kind of technique is this?
Her spikes could pierce solid rock! So why is he so hard?
Protected by his Armament Haki, Noyer had only felt a slight itch from the full-power strike. He even reached out to scratch there…
When Paula saw this, she nearly exploded with rage!
This person had copied her face and figure, and now dared to touch himself like that?!
Utterly disgusted, Paula flew into a rage and screamed, "I'll fight you to the death!"
Fueled by her fury, spikes erupted across her entire body as she charged straight at Noyer!
Noyer frowned. This imitated body was inconvenient. The imitation was so accurate that even his physique had weakened. His use of Haki was restricted, too.
And the most unbearable part? His chest felt so heavy…
Noyer touched his face with his left hand and immediately reverted to his original appearance. His Haki and physique returned to normal.
He covered his entire body in Haki and charged toward Paula!
The outcome was obvious. How could mere spikes withstand his Armament Haki?
The moment they made contact, the spikes on Paula's body crumbled like paper. Noyer punched her hard in the stomach, knocking her out cleanly.
He looked at the unconscious woman and said in a low voice, squinting his eyes with apparent reluctance, "Amitabha, this humble monk means no offense. Your clothes are fated to be with me. Pardon me…"
With that, Noyer swiftly stripped off her clothes.
He threw Paula — now wearing only her underwear — into the secret room, put on her clothes himself, and used his imitation ability to transform into her appearance.
Noyer, now perfectly transformed into Zala, looked at himself in the mirror with satisfaction.
Perfect!
Now he just had to wait for Crocodile to take the bait.
◇◆◈◆◇
After waiting for a long time — until Noyer was about to doze off — Crocodile finally arrived.
The door opened softly. The drowsy Noyer snapped awake and prepared to act.
The door opened gently, revealing a figure in a black robe. Thick fabric covered every inch of exposed skin, leaving only a pair of eyes visible.
"Miss Doublefinger." The person said in a deep voice.
Does Croc really not want anyone to know his identity that badly?
Noyer stared at him speechlessly and asked with feigned hesitation, "Boss? Mr. 0?"
Crocodile nodded, entered the shop, and looked around with a frown.
"Where's Noyer?" Crocodile asked suspiciously.
Noyer, having already prepared his excuse, quickly replied, "Mr. Noyer said he wanted to go out for a walk and headed toward a nearby city."
"He left?" Crocodile's frown deepened.
He had rushed here at top speed, and this guy had just left on his own?
Even the calculating Crocodile couldn't help but feel annoyed.
Noyer watched his aura gradually turn cold and tentatively walked over.
"Boss, would you like something to drink?" he asked in Paula's tone while pulling out a Copy Card from the system.
Crocodile shook his head, "No, I still have business to attend to."
Noyer quickly seized the opportunity to grab his hand, "Boss doesn't need to work so hard. Have a cup of tea?"
The Copy Card hidden in his palm merged gently into Crocodile's body, and the imitation fruit ability activated simultaneously.
『 Ding!〔 Devil's Dwelling · Suna-Suna 〕has been Copied! 』
Appearance and ability, acquired!
Noyer stayed composed, cheering inwardly.
Crocodile pulled his hand away and looked at "Paula" strangely.
What's up with this woman? Hitting on him?
Unfortunately, Croc wasn't that kind of guy!
Crocodile snorted coldly, "Cut the nonsense. Which way did Noyer go?"
"Paula" walked to the doorway and pointed in a direction.
The oblivious Crocodile glanced that way, activated his ability, and flew off. Only after he'd gone far did Noyer breathe a sigh of relief and release the imitation.
He rubbed his hands vigorously in disgust, "Touching a man's hand is so disgusting…"
But his sacrifice was worth it — the Red/2nd Rank Suna Suna no Mi ability.
Combined with the Mera Mera no Mi, another Logia-type, plus the Zoan-type Kuma Kuma no Mi, Model: Brown Bear and the Paramecia-type Mane Mane no Mi (Clone-Clone Fruit)…
Noyer was now the world's only four-Devil-Fruit user!
Though aside from the Bear-Bear Fruit, the other abilities had limited growth potential under the system's restrictions, they still created powerful synergies when combined.
{T/N: Flame and Sand Devil Fruits are both Red Rank and the other two Blue Rank.}
His right hand touched his face lightly. Noyer's physique and appearance shifted rapidly until he'd transformed into Crocodile.
"Crocodile" chuckled, "Old Croc, your casino — I'll be taking over now…"
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T/N: Comment, give me Power Stones, like and favorite, it all supports me and makes me go foward with this. Appreciate my other stories as well, I guarantee the good work!
If you want more chapters of this novel or enjoy a large catalog of good novels with excellent translations: MrBlackWing (you know where to search)
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)