As the sun set and the sky grew dark, the Research Commission members who had entered the interior of Amazon Lily also returned to the ship.
Boa Hancock had, of course, tried to persuade them to stay, but the cats preferred to remain by Sherwin side. Naturally, they declined her kindness without hesitation.
Even Robin, who had spent the entire day in the royal palace reading documents, did not stay behind and instead returned together with the cats.
In addition to that, Boa Hancock and her two younger sisters also came back with the cats…
And judging by their expressions, they seemed to be getting along quite happily with Klee Meow.
Sherwin: ???!!!
He knew very well that the cats were all great at socializing, and that Klee Meow, the little angel, was beloved by everyone—but hadn't she disliked Hancock at first? How did their relationship suddenly become so good?!
Meanwhile, the moment the Dodo Advance saw the three sisters, it swiftly burrowed into the deck and vanished without a trace.
"Brother Sherwin, Klee is back, meow!"
(=`=)
Before Sherwin could voice his doubts, the little Ragdoll had already slammed into his arms like a cannonball.
Catching Klee Meow, Sherwin still hadn't had the chance to ask anything before the excited little Ragdoll grabbed him and began sharing her experiences on the island with him and with Shermie Meow and the three other cats who hadn't gone ashore earlier. Haibara Meow occasionally chimed in from the side, adding a few details, and also…
Making sure that Klee Meow, this little dummy, didn't accidentally let something slip.
Shirahoshi, who had fought two battles today, was just as eager to share. Even though she already knew that Sherwin and the others had watched the broadcast, she still couldn't help but ramble on about her state of mind and inner journey.
On the other side, Sanji Meow took the ingredients he had obtained today and immediately dove into the kitchen. After placing the small trinkets he had collected in their proper spots, Link Meow followed him into the kitchen as well to help out.
As for the uninvited Boa sisters…
They were actually being entertained by Jinx! Robin, who had originally been getting along fairly well with Hancock, instead found herself unable to really join the conversation.
So… just what exactly happened on the island today?
At this moment, Sherwin felt as if a Felyne were scratching away at his heart. Yet he forcibly suppressed his curiosity and didn't interrupt Klee Meow enthusiastic—but completely all-over-the-place—storytelling.
They were his own cats, after all—of course he had to spoil them.
Besides, maybe as Klee Meow kept talking, she would end up clearing things up for him herself. So Sherwin wasn't actually in that much of a hurry.
Unfortunately, after the little Ragdoll chirped away for quite a long time, she never once mentioned Hancock.
Only after Sherwin patiently listened to Klee Meow and Shirahoshi sharing, and very cooperatively gave the two little girls plenty of feedback to lift their moods, did he finally ask the question he had been holding in all this time…
"What going on with them, then?"
Sherwin pointed toward the Boa sisters, who were still with Jinx. "Didn't you all dislike them before?"
"I can't say, meow. Klee promised Sister Hancock to keep it a secret. We didn't even tell Sister Shirahoshi or Sister Huamei, meow!"
(ω≡ω)
The little Ragdoll shook her head rapidly, refusing to tell Sherwin what had happened.
Haibara Meow nodded along as well, then raised a finger to her lips in a shushing gesture.
Shirahoshi, on the other hand, puffed out her cheeks unhappily. "We clearly discussed it together at first, but now they're keeping it a secret even from me. That really too much!"
"Sorry~ Klee already promised Sister Hancock. Sister Shirahoshi, don't be angry, meow~"
(=ω=)
The little Ragdoll immediately hopped onto Shirahoshi shoulder, rubbing her head against the princess cheek in an ingratiating way.
Already soft-hearted to begin with, the mermaid princess quickly lost her temper under the cat spoiled manner and started laughing and playing around with her.
As for Sherwin, he rubbed his chin thoughtfully…
Getting Klee Meow to change her attitude wasn't really a big deal, but the fact that even Haibara Meow and Jinx no longer minded how Hancock had bullied the cats before—and were even actively helping her keep a secret—meant there was probably only that one matter.
Having read the manga, Sherwin found it easy to guess the truth. After all, the only thing about Hancock that truly needed to be kept secret was that mark of a Celestial Dragon slave.
"Brother Sherwin…"
(=ω=)
At some point after soothing Shirahoshi, Klee Meow had slipped back to Sherwin side and gently tugged at his sleeve.
"Sister Hancock already promised Klee that she won't casually bully cats or other small animals anymore, so don't hate her either, okay, meow? She actually very pitiful. It just that Klee has to keep her secret, so I can't tell you, meow."
As expected, it was that matter…
Hearing the little plush say this, Sherwin became even more certain about what was going on.
It was just…
How did these little furballs manage to sneak off and peek at Boa Hancock body right under Huamei Meow nose?
Sherwin reached out and rubbed Klee Meow little head, feeling a bit envious despite himself…
After all, she was the most beautiful woman among pirates. To say he had no impure thoughts at all would be a lie—he wasn't some enlightened monk who had severed all earthly desires.
He shook his head, casting off that trace of envy. After hesitating for a moment, he deliberately blurred the subject and asked, "Is it about that mark?"
"Meow!"
∑(=⊙Д⊙=)
Klee Meow eyes instantly went wide. "How did Brother Sherwin know that too, meow?!"
Haibara Meow, on the other hand, looked completely calm.
"Your special source of information again, meow?"
"Ahem… uh… yeah."
Sherwin froze for a second, then nodded instinctively.
Hmm, this excuse really had been used a bit too often—so much so that even the cats had learned to questions it.
While Sherwin and the cats were speaking in riddles over here, Shirahoshi, who had just been comforted by Klee Meow, was upset again on the other side…
"That unfair! Way too unfair! Doesn't that mean I'm the only one who doesn't know?!"
The "little" mermaid stared at Sherwin and Klee Meow with a wronged expression, tears already welling up in her eyes.
"That not quite right~ We're just as confused too, meow~ Sherwin dear, aren't you going to explain, meow?"
Shermie Meow, sprawled on Sherwin shoulder, licked his ear and asked with a curious look on her face.
Seijuro Meow and Purah Meow also turned their inquisitive gazes toward Sherwin almost in perfect sync…
After all, they were all Felynes—curiosity came naturally.
"Uh… well… this is…"
Sherwin was instantly at a loss.
It wasn't that he intended to hide anything from the other Felynes, but since Klee Meow had just promised Hancock to keep it secret, he naturally couldn't undermine his own little angel.
"Can you tell me… how you found out about this?"
Just as Sherwin was caught between a rock and a hard place, Hancock and her two younger sisters walked over on their own. Their expressions, however, were far from pleasant…
In fact, ever since boarding the ship, Hancock had been secretly paying attention to Klee Meow side.
Although she was willing to trust the Felyne promise, that was still the dark past that the three sisters could never bear to look back on—it was impossible not to care.
What Hancock never expected was that Sherwin had already known about this.
If that were all, Hancock could barely accept it, because…
She couldn't beat Sherwin anyway.
Of course, the most important reason was that Sherwin had once freed slaves at the Sabaody Archipelago, so Hancock was still willing to trust him, just as she had previously trusted Klee Meow and the others.
But what truly unsettled Hancock was the possibility that the "special intelligence source" mentioned by Haibara Meow might have already told this secret to other people…
Just imagining that possibility made Hancock feel a chill run through her entire body.