"Brother Sherwin, there a strange person here, meow!"
Just as Sherwin was recalling what this place was, Klee Meow had already dragged out the box man who had been hiding in the bushes, trying to blend in using his hair color.
Speaking of which... what was this guy name again?
"W-what going on with you all?!"Startled by Klee Meow sudden voice, the box man could no longer keep up his mysterious act.
In a panic, he shouted, "Are you some kind of rare and exotic beasts too?!"
"Klee is a Felyne, not some meow rare and exotic beast."The little plush cat shook her head seriously and replied, "Compared to that, Uncle, you look more like a rare and exotic beast, meow."
"I'm a proper human being! I just got stuck in the box and can't get out!" the box man argued furiously.
"Should Klee help blow up the box for you, meow?"Klee Meow asked kindly, "Klee bombs are super powerful!"
"I'll get blown up! I'll get blown up too!"
"Then should I kick the box to pieces, meow?"
"I could also help and slice it open, meow."
"Actually, I'm more curious—how did you get stuck in there, meow?"
Because the box man was just too bizarre, all the curious cats gathered around and started chatting with him all at once.
Only Sherwin immediately focused on what the box man had mentioned—"rare and exotic beasts."
Right! This island had lots of unique rare beasts, and several of them had even appeared in the manga. So maybe this time, he could collect a bunch of summon ticket fragments all at once!
But to avoid causing unnecessary misunderstandings, Sherwin didn't rush off to look for those animals right away. Instead, he walked over to the box man and struck up a conversation with him.
After a brief conversation, Sherwin finally remembered the other person name—Carmon.
Thanks to the presence of the Felynes, Carmon quickly lowered his guard toward Sherwin. However, he didn't mention the treasure he had guarded for over ten years...
even though Sherwin had already recalled that part—and knew that the stone was actually covering a bunch of empty boxes.
But since the other party didn't bring it up, Sherwin naturally wouldn't ask unnecessarily.
After seeing the island "uniquely styled" animals and politely asking whether Carmon needed help leaving—only to be unsurprisingly refused—Sherwin left him some daily necessities and food prepared by Sanji Meow, then departed with the cats.
However, because the island had Carmon and the rare and exotic beasts he protected, the explosion experiment Sherwin had promised Klee Meow earlier had to be postponed again.
This made the little plush cat a bit unhappy. She lay on Sherwin shoulder, muttering things like how Sister Huamei was tricking an innocent little cat.
(〃｀3〃)
"What the use of telling me that? You should tell her."Sherwin grinned mischievously and nodded toward Huamei Meow at the bow of the ship.
The little plush cat shrank her head and whispered timidly, "Sister Huamei is so fierce… Klee doesn't dare, meow…"
But then she shook her head and explained, "Mmm… Actually, she not fierce. It, it… Klee doesn't know how to describe it, meow. It just… just that in front of Sister Huamei, Klee feels a little guilty, meow… So weird, even though Klee didn't do anything bad, meow."
At the bow, Huamei Meow, who was observing the weather, twitched her ears. Her head tilted slightly, but in the end, she didn't turn around.
Sherwin didn't keep teasing Klee Meow. He reached out to scratch the little plush cat under her chin and said,
"Alright, don't be upset. Even though you didn't get to do your experiment this time, maybe we gained something else."
"What is it, meow? What is it, meow?"Klee Meow immediately brightened up, tugging on Sherwin ear as she curiously pressed for an answer.
The other three cats also perked up their ears, casting their gazes over. Huamei Meow, with her straightforward personality, even darted straight to Sherwin side.
Felynes were still cats, and their curiosity was naturally off the charts.
Sherwin didn't explain further. He simply pulled out the Hunter Handbook and flipped to the page of the small creature bestiary.
As expected, a bunch of newly encountered animal entries from Rare Beast Island had been added—like a white-furred snake with rabbit ears, a fox with a rooster comb and tail, a raccoon covered in leopard spots, and so on…
If the animals on the island Sherwin first arrived at were creations made by this world god while drunk, then the creatures on Rare Beast Island were like someone had scrambled the parts of normal animals and randomly mashed two together.
Of course, the point wasn't the updated bestiary or the diversity of life in the world of One Piece. The real highlight came when Sherwin flipped to that very page—and sure enough, it lit up with a white glow.
I knew it! If the large creature and Sea King entries give fragments, there no reason small creatures wouldn't!
Sherwin and the cats all stared eagerly at the glowing Hunter Handbook. Moments later, tucked between the pages appeared a single milky-white summoning ticket fragment from the standard pool…
Just one?!
Even though, based on how long the small creature entries had gone without a response, Sherwin hadn't expected many fragments, still—just one was kind of...
"Yay! Just two more white ones and Klee can make another new friend, meow!"
Well… one is better than none.
Klee Meow joyful shout helped Sherwin calm down quickly. He smiled and rubbed the little plush cat head, then scooped her up into his arms.
"Does Klee want to hear a story now? Big brother will tell you a story about another little girl who was also amazing with fire. Sound good?"Sherwin gently played with Klee Meow fluffy tail as he asked softly.
"Yes, yes! Klee wants to hear it, meow!"
(=ΦΦ=)
The little ragdoll happily squirmed in Sherwin arms, then placed its tiny paws on his collar and straightened up to lick his cheek a few times.
Sherwin sat down on a chair set up on the deck, petting Klee Meow and Huamei Meow who squeezed in beside him, while telling them the story of the dark child, Annie…
Well, of course, it was the old version of the story—before the revision. The new version was too grim and not suitable for little Klee Meow to hear.
As for whether Klee Meow, after hearing it, would also want to make herself a little bear that could transform…
That would be Huamei Meow problem to solve!
"Aiya!"
Just as Sherwin shamelessly pushed the potential future trouble onto Huamei Meow, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his palm.
He instinctively pulled his hand back and then, with a mix of confusion and guilt, looked at Huamei Meow, who had suddenly bitten him.
Huamei Meow first casually licked her own paw, then licked her teeth, and only then slowly explained,
"Not sure why, meow, I just suddenly felt like you were thinking of something that would cause me trouble, meow."
"..."Sherwin was silent for a moment, then instinctively averted his gaze. Suddenly, as if something had occurred to him, he slapped his palm down.
"Don't tell me—you awakened Observation Haki?"
"So my premonition just now was real, meow?!"
(=`皿=)
Huamei Meow bared her teeth, then grabbed Sherwin hand and gave it another hard bite.
"Aiya!"