"Uh… that source of intelligence is a bit hard to explain, but you really don't need to worry…"
Sherwin naturally understood what the Boa sisters were concerned about and quickly reassured them.
"That source has already been out of contact for several years, and I can also be certain that in this world, he only ever provided information to me."
Well, that wasn't a lie. Ever since Sherwin crossed over, he truly could no longer read the One Piece manga.
Hancock stared fixedly at Sherwin. She couldn't determine whether those words were true or false, yet Sherwin strength also meant she couldn't solve the problem with force like she usually would.
"You don't need to glare at me like that. Since Klee Meow and the others have already agreed to keep things confidential for you…" Sherwin said as he spoke, reaching out to pat the little doll head, "then there no reason for me to lie to you about this."
Sherwin regard for the cats was something Hancock understood deeply…
After all, it had been because of the cats that Sherwin had broken free from her charm back then.
So when Sherwin used Klee Meow as his guarantee, her expression finally eased.
However, that look of relief didn't last long.
Because…
"As far as I know, the fruits the three of you ate were given by them, right?" After pondering for a moment, Sherwin still kindly reminded them.
"If they follow the clue of the fruits to lock onto you, it really wouldn't be that difficult."
This was something Sherwin had already been puzzled by back when he was reading the manga.
It had only been a little over ten years since the Boa sisters escaped from the Celestial Dragons.
Most of the Celestial Dragons who had 'kept' them back then were likely still alive. Yet not only did they fail to cover up the Hoof of the Soaring Dragon, unlike the Sun Pirates, they even went on to become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and made a name for themselves as the world greatest beauty…
Even if most of those Celestial Dragons prefer to hole up in Mary Geoise, pay little attention to information from the outside world, and don't care about their slaves at all, is it really fine for you to brush your presence so ostentatiously like this?
This was practically begging those Celestial Dragons to notice you!
Obviously, the Boa sisters shared that same line of thinking so common in the pirate world…
They hadn't considered this possibility at all!
So when Sherwin voiced this speculation, the faces of the three Boa sisters instantly turned pale, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
Now you know how to be afraid… what were you doing earlier?
Seeing the three of them in such a terrified state, Sherwin clicked his tongue somewhat speechlessly.
"This isn't something you need to worry about. I'll make a potion that can remove that mark as soon as possible! And besides, if I fail, can't you just learn from the Sun Pirates, meow?"
(=ω=)
At this moment, Haibara Meow stepped forward and soothed Hancock and the others.
Still, the three of them didn't look much better. The possibility Sherwin had just brought up truly frightened them.
As for Shirahoshi, who had been completely confused until now, upon hearing the words "Sun Pirates," she finally understood what was going on. She covered her mouth with her hand and looked at the Boa sisters in shock.
Clearly, she never would have imagined that the famous Boa Hancock—one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, known as the Pirate Empress—could have such a dark past.
Robin and the Felynes, who had also gathered around, showed looks of sudden realization as well.
Having heard Shirahoshi and Sherwin explain what the Sun Pirates were about, and having also heard the legend of the Gorgon Curse on Amazon Lily, it wasn't difficult for them to infer what kind of mark Sherwin was referring to.
That meant that Shermie Meow and the other two cats who hadn't gone ashore were still completely confused.
However, their confusion didn't last long. With things having reached this point, Hancock had nothing left to hide, so she straightforwardly revealed her situation…
She had already told Klee Meow and the others about it during the day anyway. Once is experience, twice is familiarity.
When she exposed the secret she had been hiding once more, Hancock suddenly realized she was far calmer than she had imagined.
Even Jinx, the ringleader among the little troublemaking cats, was good-natured at heart. So after learning Hancock secret, the Felynes who previously hadn't felt much goodwill toward her all took the initiative to show kindness instead.
Robin, who bore a deep blood feud with the World Government, felt an especially strong sense of empathy…
Hancock earlier initiative in drawing closer to Robin was probably driven by similar feelings.
With both sides expressing goodwill toward each other, the Boa sisters quickly began to get along happily with the Felyne investigation team…
Well, that didn't include Sherwin.
That said, Hancock finally stopped looking at him down her nose. Although her attitude was still cool, at least they could communicate normally now.
In this harmonious atmosphere, Sanji Meow and Link Meow pushed out the lavish meal they had prepared from the kitchen…
"What happened, meow?! What going on here, meow?!"
∑(=ΦДΦ=)
Sanji Meow and Link Meow, who had missed everything because they were busy preparing the food, were startled by the scene before them.
Sherwin hurried over to explain everything to them.
Like the other cats, after learning about the Boa sister past and their promise to stop bullying cats, Sanji Meow and Link Meow also chose to forgive them.
Once the doubts of the two chef cats were resolved, everyone gathered around together, boisterously starting a banquet that was very much in pirate style.
The specialty ingredients of Nine Snake Island didn't actually differ that much from those of other places.
At the very least, compared to the unique foods of Sky Island, there wasn't a huge distinction.
But under Sanji Meow cooking skills, these relatively ordinary ingredients were still transformed into dish after dish of delicious food, and everyone ate happily.
"Sherwin, come have a drink with meow~"
︺(●ω●)
Halfway through the banquet, Suika Meow staggered over, holding out her oversized "persuasion-for-drinking" sake dish.
Sherwin, who had already developed a certain resistance to Suika Meow drinking tactics, didn't drink it right away after taking the dish. Instead, he brought it under his nose and gave it a light sniff…
Aside from a rich, mellow aroma of alcohol, there didn't seem to be any other scent mixed in.
Even so, Sherwin still had no intention of drinking it, because…
"Tsk. Looks like there no way to force it down you. Was this also part of your plan?"
Sherwin shot a sidelong glance toward Haibara Meow beside him.
The little kitten was completely focused on the food in front of her, seemingly paying no attention at all to what was happening here.
But…
It was far too deliberate.
Having long been engaged in mind games with these little troublemaker cats, Sherwin naturally wouldn't be fooled by such a shallow façade.
In fact, back when Klee Meow was sharing her experiences with him earlier, he had already sensed that something was off.
After all, given Haibara Meow personality, after obtaining so many materials on Nine Snake Island, she should have rushed straight into the laboratory.
Instead, she stayed by Klee Meow side, helping her check for omissions and fill in gaps—already an extremely abnormal situation!
What more, Sherwin had suddenly felt a jolt during the day, so he had noticed the anomaly immediately.
After Hancock matter, he had originally thought that Haibara Meow stayed behind solely because of that.
But when Suika Meow came over to offer a drink, Sherwin suddenly recalled what had happened not long ago aboard the Moby Dick. Then, looking again at Haibara Meow extremely deliberate avoidance of his gaze…
"Spit it out. What exactly did you add into this?"
Sherwin let out a helpless sigh. There was alcohol inside, so naturally he couldn't turn it around and force it down Haibara Meow throat—she was still an underage little kitten, after all.
As for pouring it into the mouth of the "accomplice," Suika Meow…
With that little orange cat level of ability, she would react the moment Sherwin even thought about making a move.
So unless Sherwin got serious and forcibly fed Suika Meow the alcohol, there was no way a "counterkill" would ever succeed.
And Sherwin, a full-on cat slave, how could he possibly get serious while fooling around with cats?
"Tch! I got exposed, meow!"
(へ)
Having been found out, Haibara Meow stopped pretending altogether. She put down the tableware in her paws and shot Sherwin an annoyed glare.
Sherwin: "..."
You scheming little brat cat—how are you the one getting mad first?!