"Wuuuu… Shirahoshi, you must take good care of yourself out there. Remember to eat on time, and call your father whenever you can…"
King Neptune clung to his daughter while crying and fussing over her nonstop.
The Shirahoshi who used to burst into tears at the slightest thing now wore a determined expression, gently patting Neptune back.
The way the two behaved made it seem like their personalities had completely swapped.
Meanwhile, Sherwin was still in a daze…
Wait—did he skip a scene by accident? How did things suddenly jump to Shirahoshi leaving with them?
It wasn't his fault he looked so confused. After Shirahoshi earnestly explained her aspirations to King Neptune, the big merman uncle was instantly moved.
And then everything just… fast-forwarded straight to the scene before him…
Nobody even asked him, the supposed leader of the investigation team, or Haibara Meow, the real leader, for their opinion!
"Uhh…"
Just as Sherwin finally snapped out of his confusion and tried to speak, the cats around him had already burst into cheers.
"Fantastic, meow! Big Sister Shirahoshi is joining our team, meow!"
"Meowhahahaha! From now on we'll have a mermaid tail to munch on, meow!"
"Hehehe… we've gained a very valuable research subject, meow…"
"You two… do you want to be put in confinement again, meow?"
"Let have a banquet! I'll definitely prepare a grand welcome feast for Sister Shirahoshi, meow!"
"Aiyaa~ should I cuddle Sherwin when I sleep? Or cuddle Sister Shirahoshi? Such a hard choice, meow~"
"Sister Shirahoshi probably won't move well on land, right? But don't worry, I'll make you a mobility assist device, meow! Check-it!"
(ゝω)~☆
"Everyone, rest assured. Sherwin-dono and I will protect Princess Shirahoshi, meow."
Because Shirahoshi had that special kind of charm toward the Felynes, all the cats immediately welcomed her in their own unique ways.
But after hesitating for a moment, Sherwin still said, "Shouldn't you think this over? Shirahoshi is still very young. Having her sail with us like this feels a bit inappropriate."
It wasn't that he was worried about ancient weapons. After all, the blueprints of Pluton had already been looked over by Purah Meow and Haibara Meow, and he already had Nico Robin with him.
Adding Poseidon to the mix was just one more debt, one more flea—nothing to stress about.
His real concern was that Shirahoshi was only around eleven or twelve, and she still had her father and three older brothers at home. There was absolutely no need for her to rush into going out to sea.
"What wrong with being young, meow?! Klee Meow is even younger than Sister Shirahoshi, and she still goes to sea with you, Sherwin-nii, meow!"
(=`н=)
"Exactly! Are you looking down on us kids, meow?!"
Jinx and Klee Meow each grabbed one of Sherwin ears and cheeks, tugging hard while shouting indignantly.
What really sent a chill down Sherwin spine, though, was Haibara Meow watching him with a sly glint in her eyes.
Her little paws rummaged through her space pouch nonstop while she muttered,
"Not this one, it'll kill someone, meow… not this either, too easy to get caught, meow… this one too weak, not satisfying enough, meow…"
"D-Did I do something wrong…? Does Sherwin not want me?" Shirahoshi looked at him with teary eyes.
"Don't make trouble. Your situation is different from theirs…"
Sherwin pulled the two mischievous little cats off his ears and cheeks, then shot a fierce warning glare at Haibara Meow before explaining to Shirahoshi:
"I'm not saying you're unwelcome. I just think there no need for you to rush into going out to sea, and also…"
He turned his head toward Jinbe. "Compared to our investigation team, wouldn't staying with you be a better choice?"
But the blue whale-shark fishman immediately shot that down. "Even though Sherwin and I are both Shichibukai, I am still, in the end, a pirate.
Fishman Island isn't like Amazon Lily, so Princess Shirahoshi isn't suited to join the Sun Pirates.
Your investigation team is different. Even if she joins you, it won't harm the reputation of the Ryugu Kingdom."
"Is Mr. Jinbe forgetting that I'm also in the investigation team?" Robin reminded him.
But Jinbe simply nodded calmly. "It precisely because Miss Robin is by Sherwin side that I believe Princess Shirahoshi is even more suited to join your group."
He was clearly connecting Robin—who could read the ancient script—with Shirahoshi, who was an ancient weapon.
He found the coincidence far too significant, and with Madam Shyarly prophecy in mind, Jinbe felt this was "destiny."
"And also…" Jinbe looked toward Sherwin, who had recently made a spectacular display at Marineford, as well as the two Logia Felynes.
He spoke sincerely. "I trust that you have the strength to protect Princess Shirahoshi."
Then King Neptune, finally done crying, added, "I believe in Shirahoshi choice, and I am willing to trust you as well. Perhaps this will become the turning point for Fishman Island and humanity to coexist peacefully."
With things said to this extent, Sherwin no longer had any reason to refuse.
Besides, the idea of gently influencing Shirahoshi personality over time felt strangely rewarding.
As for her ability to command Sea Kings, it didn't matter much to Sherwin group.
Not only were they unafraid of Sea King attacks, but her ability also wasn't something suitable to reveal publicly…
Sherwin didn't believe for a moment that the World Government knew nothing about "Poseidon." At the very least, that mysterious Imu definitely knew.
Even if it all seemed a bit casual, maybe even like a joke from Sherwin perspective, Shirahoshi was taken away by him exactly as Madame Shyarly had foretold.
Fortunately, Shirahoshi was still young and hadn't yet grown into that future height of over ten meters. Even so, she was already around six or seven meters tall—about the same size as Kuma in Sherwin eyes…
The Dodo Advance still needed modifications!
Considering Shirahoshi future size, expanding the ship had to be part of the plan.
Right—wasn't there supposed to be someone on Fish-Man Island? Tom brother, the mentor of Iceburg and Franky… what was his name again?
But even if he couldn't find him, it didn't matter. Shirahoshi would still need years before she grew up, and the Dodo Advance could technically still fit someone over ten meters tall.
It would just be inconvenient. Besides, as a mermaid, Shirahoshi could swim alongside the ship, so there was no need to worry too much for now…
Muttering to himself, Sherwin made his way once again to the Ryugu Treasury.
Originally, since Shirahoshi had become a member of the investigation team, Sherwin didn't feel right accepting King Neptune "reward." After all, he had basically taken the man daughter away—walking off with the treasure too felt a little too much…
Tch! Why did that sound so weird?
In any case, Sherwin had no intention of choosing treasures from the Ryugu Treasury, but King Neptune absolutely refused to agree.
If previously it was merely a "reward," then now it was a "gift bag" meant to strengthen Sherwin in any way possible for the sake of his daughter safety, as well as a plea for him to take good care of her.
Realizing this, Sherwin no longer tried to refuse.
The last time they came, they hadn't even opened the door before leaving because of Hody Jones. Now on their second visit…
"Huh? The lock been changed?"
"Ahem…" King Neptune scratched his cheek awkwardly. "What you all said before made sense, so I found some time to replace it."
King Neptune unlocked the newly installed mechanism—which was clearly far more complicated than the previous one—and then pushed open the door of the Ryugu Treasury.
Just as Sherwin expected, although everything glittered with pearls and gold, it was still just ordinary treasure. There wasn't a single Devil Fruit, nor even a famed blade. After one glance, Sherwin immediately lost interest.
"You all pick something. See if there anything you like," Sherwin said to the Felynes.
Although the Felynes weren't interested in treasure either, their curiosity made them enjoy the "exploration" itself.
Then…
Robin, Huamei Meow, Haibara Meow, and Charmy all chose some pretty jewelry and ornaments.
Link Meow picked a few small decorations made from shells and coral. Purah Meow grabbed a few inconspicuous metal pieces. Seijuro Meow didn't take anything.
Meanwhile, Klee Meow and Jinx returned carrying a small, Japanese-style box together.
"Wait," King Neptune said with a helpless smile,
"that one is actually the Tamatebako. The deadly drug inside was already stolen by Hody Jones, so you two should pick something else."
"Meow?"
(=ω=)
The little plush-like Klee Meow tilted her head in confusion. "But Klee smells a bomb inside, meow!"