Just as the various factions, because of the news spread by Doflamingo and the CP agents, were all moving in unison toward the palico Investigation Team, the very target of all this attention was still sailing leisurely upon the sea.
As usual, making use of the rare good weather, Sherwin set up a lounge chair on the deck, basking in the sun while idly petting Sanji Meow in his arms.
Robin, who had not worn a maid outfit again since that day—something that greatly disappointed Sherwin—was in much the same state at the moment, except that the one in her arms was Shermie, dressed in a maid outfit.
Unlike Robin, who had little interest in maid outfits, Shermie actually liked this kind of clothing quite a lot. She even designed and tailored several sets of maid outfits in different styles herself…
As a result, Sanji Meow had been a little anemic lately.
Between Sherwin and Robin lounge chairs was a small three-legged table, on which were placed drinks and snacks carefully prepared by Sanji Meow…
The atmosphere was so relaxed it could not be more relaxed.
As for the other members on the ship, they were likewise not the least bit tense.
Seijuro Meow and Suika Meow had just finished a sparring match and were now pulling Link Meow and Huamei Meow along for a little drink together.
Klee Meow and Haibara Meow, the pair from the "kid group," were huddled together, seemingly planning to do something to Dodo the Wirebug .
After hearing their discussion, Purah Meow also set aside the Guardian Core she was tuning and went over to join in.
The only one actually doing something serious was Shirahoshi. Under Jinx guidance, she was carrying out combat training.
Of course, to Jinx, this was nothing more than playtime.
Just as Sherwin, amid the alternating purrs of Sanji Meow and Shermie and under the rare clear sunlight, was gradually growing sleepy, Klee Meow—who had been busy messing with Dodo—suddenly bounced over and then landed heavily on his face.
"..."
Any trace of drowsiness vanished instantly. With a helpless expression, Sherwin let the little ragdoll burrow against his face for a moment before finally pinching the scruff of her neck and "lifting" her off his face.
"Weren't you messing with Dodo with Haibara? What are you up to now?"
"Klee wasn't messing with Dodo at all!"
(=н=)
The little ragdoll retorted in a puffed-up huff, "We're helping Brother Sherwin think of a way to solve Dodo launch speed problem, meow!"
"So? Did you solve it?"
"No, meow!" The little ragdoll shook her head righteously.
"Originally, Klee wanted to install a gunpowder launching device on Dodo to increase the firing speed, but Big Sister Haibara said that after Dodo switches to the grasshopper form, its body strength isn't as high as in the armguard form anymore, so that method won't work, meow!"
Good thing it won't work! Otherwise, I wouldn't dare use the Wirebug ever again!
Sherwin secretly rejoiced in his heart.
However, on the surface he still showed a regretful expression. "That really is a shame…"
After casually brushing off Klee Meow with that remark, Sherwin decisively changed the subject, so that the little one in front of him wouldn't continue thinking about stuffing bombs into his armguard.
"Since it didn't work, then why did you suddenly jump over here?"
"Oh right! Klee almost forgot, meow!"
∑(=ΦДΦ=)
Only then did the little ragdoll remember her original purpose. She raised her little paw and pointed toward the side of the Dodo Advance.
"Brother Sherwin, look over there! There a patch of purple clouds, it so strange! Let go take a look, okay, meow?"
(=ω=)σ
"Of course, no problem!"
As long as it was something Klee Meow was interested in, Sherwin would support it unconditionally… well, except when she wanted to play with bombs.
So Sherwin stood up from the lounge chair with Klee Meow and Sanji Meow in his arms, walked over to the side of the Dodo Advance, and looked in the direction Klee Meow was pointing.
In the distant sky, they could see a palm-sized patch of purple haze rising up. Rather than clouds, it looked more like some kind of purple smoke.
But there were all sorts of bizarre weather phenomena on the Grand Line. Sherwin and the others had even encountered strange things like yellow rain, black snow, and green hail before, so this little bit of purple mist was nothing worth making a fuss over. Even if it were seven-colored, it wouldn't have surprised him.
Normally, when encountering such strange weather on the Grand Line, one would naturally choose to detour.
But once Klee Meow spoke up, the situation instantly became different. Even if they only found some explosives she liked, they could still be used to give Jinx a little extra "snack."
So very quickly, the previously leisurely Sherwin and the Felynes sprang into action, turning the bow of the Dodo Advance and heading straight toward that patch of purple haze.
As they drew closer and closer to the purple mist, Sherwin soon discovered that beneath the haze, the vague outline of an island could be seen.
Could it be?!
With a guess forming in his mind, Sherwin looked at Klee Meow in his arms in pleasant surprise and found that the little ragdoll just seemed cuter and cuter the more he looked at her!
An island filled with purple mist, and located in the early part of the New World—what came to Sherwin mind immediately was naturally Punk Hazard, the place that might one day be jointly transformed by Akainu and Aokiji into an island of ice and fire.
It was just that at this point in time, Punk Hazard was still shrouded in the poisonous gas leaked from Caesar experiments and had been abandoned by the World Government.
"Haibara, have you prepared a gas mask for Shirahoshi?" Sherwin thought for a moment, then added, "It would be best if it protective gear that can completely cover her whole body."
"Hmph~ You already know what kind of place that is again, meow?"
(ω)
Haibara Meow narrowed her eyes and looked at Sherwin.
Sherwin nodded and replied, "Do you remember when we previously ran into Admiral Kizaru?"
"Punk Hazard?"
When it came to intelligence, Haibara Meow was definitely among the top in the Investigation Team, and since many of the things she usually researched came from Germa, she quickly connected it to the information Sherwin had once used to exchange for the raid suits with Germa.
"Mm. Although I can't be one hundred percent certain either, there a very high chance I'm right."
Sherwin lifted the small cloth doll in his arms a little higher.
"What wrong? Does it have something to do with Klee Meow?"
(=ω=)
"Of course it does. If it weren't for you, Klee Meow, how would we ever have discovered this island?"
Sherwin pressed a heavy kiss onto the little doll head, instantly making the confused Klee Meow break into a wide smile.
"Ehehe~"
Haibara Meow, standing to the side, frowned and answered Sherwin original question,
"The gas mask isn't a problem, but Shirahoshi body is far too large. Even if we make a protective suit on the spot, it won't be finished in time, meow."
At this moment, Suika Meow staggered over, took a swig from the gourd in her hand, then patted her chest and said,
"Leave that problem to me… hic! You just make a small-sized one first, then I'll use my Devil Fruit ability to enlarge it, meow!"
"No, that won't work, meow." However, Haibara Meow shook her head and explained,
"Your ability adjusts size by changing density. Once the protective suit is enlarged, its airtightness can't be guaranteed—unless you can shrink Shirahoshi herself, meow."
"My ability only works on myself and inanimate objects. For now, I still can't change other people body size, meow." Suika Meow scratched her head.
"But isn't it enough to just increase the density? That not difficult for me, meow."
It had to be said that the Density Fruit was an almost perfect match for Suika Meow.
She had already developed the ability to increase or decrease an object density out of thin air within certain limits without changing its size.
However…
"In that case, the protective suit would be far too heavy. Shirahoshi wouldn't be able to wear it, meow." Haibara Meow once again vetoed Suika Meow proposal.
"Then I really don't have any way to deal with it, meow…"
╮(●ΦωΦ●)╭
The little drunken cat spread her hands.
"It a pity that the bubble coral from Fish-Man Island can't be used once it leaves the range of the mangrove trees…" Sherwin sighed.
"All we can do now is hope that the poisonous gas on the island won't be able to contaminate through the skin."
However, that possibility was not very great. Although Caesar was a piece of trash as a person, he was truly skilled when it came to toxin development.
Sherwin did not believe he would only make the most basic inhalation-type poison gas.
Moreover, if the poison gas were only at that level, the World Government would not have so easily abandoned Punk Hazard.
After all, relocating an entire experimental base required an enormous amount of manpower, material resources, and time.
"I'll be fine," Shirahoshi said considerately when she saw everyone worrying about her. "I can stay behind and watch the ship."
Her words instead reminded Haibara Meow.
"That right! Why are we making things so complicated? We can just sail the Dodo Advance straight up there, meow!"