"The ingredients here are all quite unique. Sanji, you can take a good walk around the shopping streets in the back. But for safety sake, Seijuro will go with you."
Seeing the little yellow cat face instantly droop, Sherwin then turned to Huamei Meow and said, "Huamei, keep an eye on them. At the same time, you can also see if there are any books related to sailing on the Grand Line."
Sanji Meow face, which had just collapsed, instantly lit up with joy.
"Boss Sherwin, you're truly wise and mighty, meow!"
Sherwin rolled his eyes, too lazy to bother with this two-faced yellow cat. Then he reached over and lifted Haibara Meow off another Bull:
"You two little ones will follow me. In the meantime, give some opinions on the design of our new ship. haibara, you'll probably need a dedicated infirmary and laboratory, right? And Sanji, once you've finished buying the ingredients, hurry over as well so the shipwrights can design the kitchen according to your requirements."
"Got it, meow!" Sanji Meow, who had just received his "reward," responded enthusiastically.
After all, this was about his workplace—the kitchen. The little yellow cat had long grown tired of those stoves that didn't match his size.
As for Haibara Meow, who had been swinging her little cat fists in protest after being picked up and carried around by Sherwin, she stopped her flailing…
Since it was about designing her own infirmary and laboratory, she would graciously forgive that foolish two-legged creature for his earlier disrespect, meow.
Of course, her dissatisfaction with Sherwin still had to be shown—
"Hmph!"
(=`へ=)
"Sherwin-nii! Can Klee also have a laboratory, meow?!" The little ragdoll stared at Sherwin with burning eyes.
(=ω=)
"Uh… well…" Sherwin scalp instantly tingled.
"If you can promise not to blow the laboratory up, then giving you one isn't impossible, meow," Huamei Meow spoke up from the side.
"But if you blow it up even once, that place will become your confinement room from then on. Are you sure you still want that laboratory, meow?"
"Meowuu…"
(=`△=)
Klee Meow lowered her ears and snuggled into Sherwin arms. But after hesitating for a while, the little ragdoll peeked out half her head and said firmly,
"This laboratory—Klee is definitely having it, meow!"
Once the discussion was over, Sherwin separated from Sanji Meow and the others. Riding on a Bull, he headed toward the center of Water 7—the "Shipbuilding Island," where the Galley-La Company was located.
It had to be said, even in the pirate world with its countless strange climates and geographical environments, Water 7 was a place with extraordinary uniqueness.
Along the way, not only were Klee Meow and Haibara Meow turning their little heads nonstop and exclaiming in wonder, even Sherwin himself felt a bit overwhelmed by it all.
Amid Sherwin and the two little cats' constant exclamations of wonder, they arrived at the uniquely designed Water Gate Elevator, which connected to the upper level of Water 7.
The so-called Water Gate Elevator was essentially an enclosed tower. When a ship entered and the massive doors closed, seawater would pour in from above, rapidly raising the water level inside. This created an elevator-like effect, lifting the ship up to the central streets on the higher level.
On the upper level of Water 7, the land area greatly increased. Although there were still waterways providing easy access to different districts, overall it resembled other islands much more closely.
Sherwin and the others temporarily left their Bulls at a nearby holding area, then walked to the entrance where a massive iron gate stood, marked with the number "1."
However…
"Does this thing really serve any purpose?"
Sherwin glanced at the iron gate and the so-called fence beside it, which was nothing more than a shabby wooden railing—so short it wasn't even taller than Klee Meow.
He promptly classified it as one of those nonsensical settings in the pirate world. In other words, something not worth wracking his brain over, lest it ruin his mood.
Setting aside the pointless giant iron gate, Sherwin stepped up to the railing and waved toward the shipwrights working inside. "Hello, sorry to bother you!"
"What do you need?"
At his call, a burly man walked over. He was bare-chested, with a small mustache, wearing narrow sunglasses.
The tattoos on his chest and arms were striking, but what stood out the most was his hair—though his head was shaved nearly bald, one long, sharp lock of hair stuck out at the front, growing wildly like it had a will of its own.
Peepley Lulu pressed that rebellious strand of hair down with his hand, then asked once again, "What do you need?"
However, the moment that tuft of hair was pressed down, it immediately "grew" back out from the back of his head...
Such bizarre hair instantly made Sherwin remember who the man was—one of the five foremen of Dock One. As for his name... he couldn't recall.
"Oh, I came to commission a ship from you," Sherwin replied as he pulled out an identification slip.
"A few days ago, a log of Treasure Tree Adam should've been delivered here from St. Poplar. That was the material I prepared. This is the auction house certificate."
"So that piece of material was yours!" Peepley tone rose slightly, clearly showing how irresistible Treasure Tree Adam was to shipwrights like him.
"Please wait a moment, Mr. Iceburg would like to meet with you."
After saying that, Peepley turned and ran off to inform Iceburg.
"Sherwin-nii, that uncle hair is so funny, meow. Klee Meow wants to press it too!" As soon as Sherwin was done with business, the little ragdoll tugged at his sleeve and said eagerly.
"Uh... when he comes back, you can ask him yourself if he'll let you play with it..." Sherwin patted Klee Meow head, then turned his gaze toward the group of shipwrights walking toward them.
Sherwin recognized three of them—Rob Lucci, Kaku, and Paulie, whose name he only remembered after his memories were awakened.
As for the rest, he didn't recall much about them. A few faces looked vaguely familiar, but just like that odd-haired guy earlier, he couldn't put names to them.
Still, judging by the way they were lined up, it seemed Lucci and Kaku, hanging at the back of the group, didn't hold very high positions at the moment...
"Sherwin, those two don't feel right, meow." Haibara Meow tugged at Sherwin pant leg, whispering, "They feel really similar to that woman, meow."
"Mm, it fine," Sherwin picked up the rare moment of obedient Haibara Meow, gently patting her back as he comforted her.
"We have no conflict with them. Whatever their true identities are, it doesn't matter."
Since she had already experienced this once before, Haibara Meow quickly calmed down under Sherwin reassurance.
The tsundere little cat pushed away Sherwin hand, then flipped over and perched on his shoulder.
Just like Klee Meow, she started toying with his ear, though her attention remained quietly fixed on Lucci and Kaku.
"We finally get to see you!" As soon as the four of them walked up to Sherwin, Blueno—who was outgoing and seemed to be the leader of the group—greeted him in a familiar tone.
Then, pretending to be upset, he complained, "Do you have any idea how torturous it is to place the Treasure Tree Adam in front of a group of specialists and then not let them touch it?"
Sherwin chuckled but didn't respond. Like Haibara Meow, most of his attention was focused on Lucci and Kaku standing at the back of the team.
And perched on Sherwin other shoulder, Klee Meow was doing the same thing…
Or to be precise, the little plush cat attention was on the pigeon resting on the shoulder of that same hat-wearing uncle.
"Uncle with the top hat, the pigeon on your shoulder looks really tasty, meow."
(=﹃=)