To be honest, Sherwin couldn't understand why Otohime and Shirahoshi would clearly know who their enemy was yet have no intention of pursuing the matter.
But considering the pirate world was full of eccentric people…
Alright, he still couldn't understand.
"Princess Shirahoshi, then why didn't you tell us?!"
After hearing Shirahoshi explain how she learned the truth, Jinbe—who also couldn't understand—asked her.
"Because… I thought that if I said it, someone would end up hating Mr. Hody, and that would make Mother sad…"
Princess Shirahoshi explained through endless tears. "The last promise I made with Mother was that no matter who the culprit was, I must never hate them!"
So it was just because of her mother final wish? After hearing Shirahoshi explanation, Sherwin could somewhat understand why she acted that way.
After all, Shirahoshi back then was still a little girl not even ten years old. Choosing to say nothing simply because of her mother instructions did fit her personality.
But Sherwin truly couldn't understand what Princess Otohime had done—no matter if her reason was to prevent her daughter from being consumed by anger and hatred, or to stop Shirahoshi from going out of control and summoning the Sea Kings…
Hadn't she been traveling everywhere all these years for the sake of eliminating the barrier between humans and fish-men?
Yet Hody had pinned the blame for killing her entirely on humans, and she chose not to reveal the real culprit at that moment…
Was it because her Observation Haki had weakened so much while she was dying that she couldn't sense everything anymore?
Sherwin rubbed his chin, gradually piecing together what likely happened back then.
Even so, even if he understood the logic behind the mother and daughter actions, Sherwin still couldn't understand their thought process…
Especially when he saw Jinbe, King Neptune, the three princes, and Robin all showing expressions of admiration and being deeply moved—Sherwin was completely speechless.
Then he glanced toward his own cats…
(=ω=)
(ω)
(=益=)
(=⊙△⊙=)
Thankfully, the Felyne reactions were still normal.
Hmm, perhaps in the world of pirates, their reactions are actually the abnormal ones?
"You… are you a dummy meow?"
Jinx let go, lifted her small head, and spoke bluntly.
"Uu… eh?"
Shirahoshi, who had still been crying a moment ago, froze when Jinx insulted her.
"If you're not a dummy, why would you agree to such a stupid promise meow?"
Jinx curled her lips and said with a rather vicious tone, "So if someone kills your father or your brothers in the future, you're not planning to avenge them either? After all, your already-dead dummy mom would be sad, right meow?"
"Jinx!" Haibara Meow scolded, "You've gone too far meow!"
"Hmph!" The little blue cat pouted, then turned her head away and spit several "ptoo ptoo ptoo" sounds before hopping off Shirahoshi body.
She scampered up onto Sherwin using all four limbs, muttering, "I can't believe I was chewing on such a dummy for so long. What if I got infected and turned into a dummy too? Just looking at that kind of dummy makes me angry meow!"
If Sherwin merely couldn't comprehend that kind of thought process, then Jinx worldview was simply incompatible with theirs—naturally, everything about Shirahoshi rubbed her the wrong way.
"Sorry, Jinx can be a little too mischievous." Sherwin stroked the little blue cat head, apologized to King Neptune, then turned toward Shirahoshi and said, "But even if her words were harsh, I don't think she said anything wrong."
Jinx, who had originally been unhappy that Sherwin apologized on her behalf, suddenly brightened up. Her attempt to bite his ear instantly shifted into licking instead.
"You followed your mother wish because you didn't want her to be sad—that admirable. But letting go of hatred doesn't mean abandoning the responsibility of holding the culprit accountable."
Sherwin knew a few casual sentences weren't going to change Shirahoshi personality, so he chose a different way to put it.
"Looking at the bigger picture, Hody assassinated the queen of a nation—there no way he could be allowed to walk free.
On a smaller scale, it still an innocent life lost. Or are you saying that here in Fish-Man Island, killing someone doesn't require punishment?"
Sherwin cast King Neptune a faintly mocking look.
"Of course there no such thing!" King Neptune answered through gritted teeth.
"But… Mother, she…"
Seeing Shirahoshi still trying to speak up, Sherwin cut in before she could finish.
"Besides, he didn't just kill your mother—he framed humans for it and tried to destroy the dream Princess Otohime dedicated her life to.
Which also means… King Neptune, who been striving for the same goal, might really die at his hands one day."
"H–How could that be…?"
Shirahoshi covered her mouth, murmuring in sorrow.
"And most importantly…" Sherwin gently scratched Jinx under the chin.
"No matter what you intend to do, it doesn't stop us from going after Hody Jones. After all, Haibara Meow wanted item is still on him. But before that…"
He locked eyes with Shirahoshi and asked seriously, "Do you truly not have even the slightest desire to avenge your mother?"
"I…"
Shirahoshi opened her mouth, but the word "no" simply wouldn't come out.
"Even though I really want to keep the promise I made with Mother… sometimes, I still can't help but resent Mr. Hody…" After a long silence, she finally whispered her answer.
As expected—no matter how kind Shirahoshi was, the most basic emotions were still there.
"Then… will you join us in giving Hody Jones some trouble?" Sherwin asked with a smile.
"That right, Big Sister Shirahoshi, let go beat up the bad guy meow!"
From the moment earlier, Klee Meow had been sensing Shirahoshi emotions. She rubbed her cheek against hers and encouraged softly, "Crying won't help when dealing with bad guys, meow!"
"Wait, I disagree!" King Neptune suddenly spoke up.
"This is far too dangerous for Shirahoshi! She shouldn't be dragged into any of this!"
"So you plan to let her keep living naïvely like this?" Sherwin shook his head in disappointment.
The Fish-Men ending up in their current situation was something for which their leaders bore at least half the responsibility.
"Don't forget—she has another identity. It impossible for her to truly stay away from conflict…"
He looked at Shirahoshi again. "Decide for yourself. Will you come with us to deal with Hody Jones, or will you stay in the palace and keep being a sheltered mermaid princess?"
"I… I want to go with you, Boss Sherwin!" Shirahoshi gathered her courage. "I want Mr. Hody to receive the punishment he deserves!"
"Good." Sherwin snapped his fingers, satisfied with her answer.
"Hehehe~ that more like it, meow!"
Jinx nodded in satisfaction as well, then hopped back onto Shirahoshi tail…
"Ah—!"
(=`皿=)
Shirahoshi: "Ehhh?!"