"It really is… thank you so much!"
After the Hoof of the Dragon mark on their backs had been removed, the three Boa sisters wept with joy, each hugging a Felyne in their arms and thanking them over and over.
Even Hancock, who always liked to put on airs, was no exception. Holding Klee Meow, she cried with overwhelming emotion—far more miserably than Sherwin had after drinking the Crying Mushroom wine not long ago.
Of course, now that Sherwin and the others knew the whole story, they had no intention of laughing at the three of them. Even Klee Meow and Haibara Meow, who usually didn't get close to outsiders easily, obediently let the sisters hold them, occasionally rubbing their heads against them.
"Thank you. From now on, the Kuja will be your eternal friends."
After venting their emotions, Hancock once again expressed her gratitude to the Felynes and, in a very "pirate-like" manner, invited them, "Tonight, I will hold a banquet on the island. You must all attend."
"Then… can Brother Sherwin come too, meow?"
(=ω=)
Little angel Klee Meow immediately asked.
While Haibara Meow and Jinx had been busy dealing with the Hoof of the Dragon over the past few days, aside from the Dodo Advance, which disliked meeting strangers, the other Felynes had taken turns visiting Amazon Lily to play, including the few who hadn't set foot on the island before.
Only Sherwin, because he was a man, could still only wander around this stretch of beach.
After Klee Meow had spent the first two days touring all over Amazon Lily and satisfying her curiosity, she had stayed with Sherwin and the Dodo Advance ever since.
So if Sherwin still wasn't allowed into the city this time, the little Ragdoll wouldn't go either.
Hancock naturally understood the implication in Klee Meow words. She hesitated only briefly before decisively saying,
"Of course there no problem! You are my benefactors, which means you are the benefactors of Amazon Lily!"
Amazon Lily had always been Boa Hancock domain. As long as she agreed, no one else would have any objections.
Sherwin hadn't expected this either. He had already given up hope of ever entering the "Land of Women," yet in the end he benefited from the Felynes and could experience being a "Tang Monk" in the world of pirates…
Klee Meow is still the best to me!
If the situation weren't so inappropriate right now, he would have already rushed over, hugged little angel Klee Meow, and showered her with kisses.
However, Sherwin joy didn't last long…
"So this is what a man looks like? It my first time seeing one!"
"He really does look different from us."
"His chest feels so hard when you touch it—how special!"
After Sherwin left the beach called "Rocky Shore Bay," he hadn't even entered Kuja City yet—he had only passed by a village built outside the city—when he was suddenly surrounded by a crowd of women…
And as the news spread, more and more Kuja women rushed over from all directions.
Most of the women on Amazon Lily had never seen a man before. Once they surrounded Sherwin, they immediately began excitedly touching him all over, as if he were some rare and fascinating animal.
In order to better "study" a man, they even kept trying to strip all the clothes off his body.
So even though many of the women surrounding Sherwin were quite beautiful, with outstanding figures and rather revealing outfits, he couldn't muster any improper thoughts at all…
Just preventing them from stripping him completely had already consumed all of Sherwin focus—how could he possibly have the energy to think about anything else!
"I heard he also one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, just like Snake Princess-sama."
Suddenly, that remark came from somewhere, and the women around him instantly lit up with excitement in their eyes.
As mentioned before, Amazon Lily is a nation of warriors. Here, strength is directly linked to beauty.
The reason Boa Hancock is so adored by the entire island is not only because of her own appearance and the influence of the Love-Love Fruit, but also because of her outstanding power… probably.
In short, after hearing that Sherwin was also one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, just like their beloved Snake Princess-sama, the Kuja women surrounding him became even more enthusiastic. Some who had not been that excited before also began squeezing their way over.
That scheming little brat!
Even though the voice had been altered, Sherwin immediately recognized who had spoken just now…
Other than Haibara Meow, that little black-bellied troublemaker who loved setting him up, who else could it be?!
"Stop clinging to Big Brother Sherwin! Klee is going to get angry, meow!"
(=`皿=)
Just as Sherwin was struggling to deal with the overly curious women, the little ragdoll cat jumped into the middle of them, her fur puffed up into a ball as she bared her teeth at the women surrounding him.
As expected of little angel Klee Meow—always saving the Hunter from disaster…
Though every now and then, she also throws the Hunter into disaster herself.
"Eh… I still wanted to take a closer look and see what else is different about men."
A few Kuja women who were more familiar with the little ragdoll were still unwilling to give up, but Klee Meow firmly guarded her Big Brother Sherwin, refusing to let them touch him again.
At this moment, Sandersonia and Marigold also arrived, leading a squad of national guard warriors.
"Disperse. By order of the Elder Sister, the Felyne Investigation Team is invited to proceed to Amazon Lily."
They drove away the Kuja women who were still craning their necks to stare at Sherwin, then led him and the others toward the city.
With the deterrence of the two sisters, the other Kuja women finally stopped surging toward Sherwin.
You should've come to escort me from the start!
At last able to breathe, Sherwin grumbled inwardly.
Then he hurriedly followed close behind them.
There was no helping it. Although those women were no longer rushing at him in a swarm, they were still staring at him from not far away with looks that made his scalp prickle, leaving Sherwin not daring to stray too far from Sandersonia and the others.
"What a pity, meow?"
(=ω=)
As Sherwin felt his shoulder sink, a certain black-bellied little kitten leaned in with a teasing grin, gently poking his cheek with her tiny paw.
You little brat still dare to come over?!
Sherwin turned his head and glared at the mischievous kitten who had set him up again and again, grabbed her off his shoulder in one swift motion, and vigorously rubbed her fluffy little head.
Just then, Sanji Meow also slipped over to Sherwin side.
The little yellow Felyne looked at Sherwin with an expression of exasperated disappointment and sighed, clutching his chest.
"You idiot, you don't know how lucky you are, meow! If I could be surrounded by so many beautiful big sister Felynes, I'd be willing to die on the spot, meow!"
"Get lost! I'm not like you, you little idiot!"
Sherwin irritably made a mock kick at him. "And didn't you have a similar experience back in Zou? I told you to stay there at the time, but you refused."
"How is that the same! The big sisters of the Mink Tribe and the big sister Felynes are totally different, meow!"
＜(=`へ=)＞
The little yellow cat planted his paws on his hips and retorted with complete confidence.
Amid the playful bickering with the Felynes, Sherwin and the others finally stepped into Nine Snake City and went straight to Hancock palace.
"You've finally arrived!"
Hancock hurried excitedly to Sherwin, then spread her arms wide—
—and reached toward Klee Meow, who was squatting on his shoulder.
Unfortunately, the little ragdoll refused to cooperate. With a twist of her body, she darted behind Sherwin back, then peeked out half her head and refused, "Klee wants to stay with Brother Sherwin, meow!"
(=`=)
Hancock then shifted her gaze to Haibara Meow on his other shoulder—
"Hmph! I won't forgive you that easily like Klee does, meow!"
(=`へ=)
The little kitten decisively turned her head away.
Next, Purah Meow also rejected her invitation, saying she wanted to sit together with everyone else.
"Mm…"
Boa Hancock looked crestfallen at Sherwin, who was surrounded by the Felynes, wearing such a pitiful expression that Sandersonia and Marigold beside her nearly had the urge to snatch the cats from Sherwin and place them directly into her arms.
However, Sherwin had already developed strong resistance to the powers of the Love-Love Fruit, so not only did Hancock display fail to soften his heart, he even felt she was acting overly affected and manipulative.
So—
He decisively picked up Klee Meow, buried his face into her body, and took a deep inhale.
Boa Hancock: "..."