After deciding to help Sherwin and the others deal with Crocodile, Nico Robin left behind a Log Pose pointing to the next island. Then she rode off toward Cactus Island on a turtle called Bongey, which could travel both on land and sea.
In fact, she could have given Sherwin the Log Pose to the Kingdom of Alabasta directly.
But how could Sherwin and his crew possibly change their course just because of one mere sand crocodile? Besides, Robin also needed some time to collect evidence.
Since the Log Pose to the next island only needed three days to reset, Sherwin simply took that one.
"Tch! Not even a shard."
After seeing Robin off, Sherwin opened the Hunter Handbook and looked at the newly added entry for Bongey, clicking his tongue in annoyance.
He remembered that this giant turtle had appeared in the manga. Though he couldn't recall if its name was mentioned, it was still a story-related creature, and quite a large one at that… Yet the handbook still didn't give him a shard.
Even the "most generous" monster card pool had started getting stingy now…
After grumbling unhappily, Sherwin decided to go bid farewell to Dorry and Brogy. Since he already had the Log Pose pointing to the next island, there was no need for them to linger here any longer.
"You're planning to leave already?"
The two giants were a little reluctant… After all, Sherwin group had good food, fine drink, and adorable cats.
But giants were never ones to be overly sentimental. After offering a few words of blessing, they helped move the Dodo Advance back into the sea.
"Ah, right, there one more thing," Dorry said after setting the ship into the water. "There another reason those humans trapped on this island were never able to leave…"
"…It because in the sea leading to the next island, there lives a gigantic goldfish monster that eats everything—an Island-Eater," Brogy continued.
"Wait a second… That doesn't make sense." Sherwin cut them off. "When Robin came and left, she didn't run into any Island-Eater at all."
In the original story, Mr. 3 and the others also casually came to Little Garden, only showing up after Luffy group was about to leave.
"Oh, that because the turtle that little girl was riding earlier went around the Sea Island Monster hunting range," Dorry explained.
"But if you sail straight ahead in the direction pointed by the Log Pose, you'll definitely run right into it."
"So, after you head out to sea, remember to make a big detour, or else that giant goldfish monster will swallow you whole, and you'll end up as long, stinky goldfish poop! Gababababababa!"
Clearly, although they had gotten along well with the two giants earlier, Dorry and Brogy had no intention of helping Sherwin the way they later helped Luffy, even at the cost of breaking their weapons, to clear the way.
But whether they helped or not, Sherwin wasn't planning on avoiding that Sea Island Monster…
After all, it was a super monster that had appeared in the manga. Sherwin had been eager to find it, so how could he possibly avoid it?
"Thanks for the reminder." Sherwin grinned at the two giants. "But I still want to see for myself what this Sea Island Monster you speak of looks like."
"Ahh… looks like our weapons won't be safe after all." Brogy scratched the horn on his helmet with a troubled expression.
"GiaGiaGiaGiaGia! Just take it as the cost of their meal and drinks!" Dorry laughed heartily.
Well, Sherwin relationship with the two giants wasn't as deep as Luffy later would be, but it wasn't too far off either. After all, Luffy had saved their lives, so it was natural that he couldn't quite compare.
Of course, Sherwin wouldn't hold that against them. Half-joking, he waved it off: "Don't forget, I've already defeated pirates with much higher bounties than yours. It just a goldfish—no need to trouble you both to make a move."
"Gabababababa! You sure dare to boast!" Brogy and Dorry weren't angry at all. "Then let us witness your strength."
Even so, the two giants still gripped their weapons, clearly intending to step in and save Sherwin group if things turned dire.
Waving toward the giants, the Dodo Advance slowly sailed away from Little Garden, heading in the direction indicated by the Log Pose.
"Sherwin-nii, can Klee throw bombs, meow?!"
(=ω=)
They hadn't gone far when everyone Observation Haki sensed a massive creature rapidly approaching from beneath the waves. Little plush Klee immediately pulled out one of her bombs.
"Of course." Standing at the bow, Sherwin took a stance, his hand poised for an iai draw. "I'll trouble you to blast that Sea Island Monster out of the water."
"Yay!" Klee Meow cheered, hurling the oversized bomb she held high into the sea. "Explosion Release · Bouncy Bomb, meow!"
The round, bouncing bomb skipped a few times across the surface before sinking. Moments later—
BOOOOM!!!
A towering column of water shot skyward. Amidst the crashing spray, a massive goldfish with a white body and red spots whipped its tail as it was flung into the air. If one looked closely, they could see a portion of its belly already scorched golden-brown, as though roasted.
The spray turned into a torrential downpour, crashing down toward them, but Klee Meow thrust her paws upward, shouting: "Fire Release · Cat Flame Serenade, meow!"
Several blazing cat-shaped fireballs shot from her hands, evaporating every drop of seawater before it could drench the Dodo Advance.
At that very moment, Sherwin, who had been charging his strength, also made his move. Facing the descending Sea Island Monster, he unleashed a fierce slash.
Monster Hunter Style · Secret Art · Crimson Heaven End!
The massive strike, infused with the technique of Elbaf Spear, roared through the air and struck the enormous goldfish as it flailed midair.
Without suspense, the blade cleaved the monster clean in two. The colossal corpse split and crashed into the sea on either side of the Dodo Advance, throwing up two towering waves—only to be vaporized once again by Klee Meow "Fire Release."
"Gabababababa! These little brats really are strong!"
"GiaGiaGiaGiaGia! I'm feeling itchy now. Even though the volcano hasn't erupted yet, let fight anyway, Brogy!"
"Just what I wanted! This time, victory will be mine!"
"Bullshit! It me who'll win!"
The two giants bickered as they clashed, beginning their usual daily duel.
Meanwhile, after dealing with the Sea Island Monster, Sherwin didn't even have time to savor the improved version of Crimson Heaven End. In a hurry, he pulled out the Hunter Handbook…
"Finally dropped!"
With the familiar milky-white glow, the monster card pool summoning ticket fragments had once again reached two pieces.
Over on Crocodile side there was still a whole swarm of Banana Gators. On top of that, the Alabasta Kingdom also had Sea Cats, Moving Crabs, Kung-Fu Dugongs, Super Spot-Billed Ducks, and a bunch of other story creatures. Collecting the third fragment shouldn't be too difficult.
Originally, Sherwin had planned to head to Drum Kingdom first to meet Chopper, let Haibara Meow and Kureha exchange medical knowledge, and at the same time take down Wapol to see if he could extract the Munch-Munch Fruit from him.
But considering that he still needed to face Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and later negotiate with King Cobra, it was necessary for now to maintain his current "law-abiding citizen" status.
If he attacked Wapol and got branded a pirate by the World Government, it would be much harder to earn people trust.
Sure, he could always contact Morgans to sway public opinion, but why make things more troublesome than they needed to be? Once the Alabasta matter was resolved, going back to cause trouble for Wapol would be no big deal.
Of course, the most crucial point was—he currently didn't even have a Log Pose pointing to Drum Kingdom.