After deciding to take Shirahoshi with them, Sherwin didn't rush to leave.
Since it was the first time the young girl had ever traveled far, and it had been ages since she last stepped out of the Hard-Shell Tower, he wanted to let her stay in her homeland for a few more days.
Of course, Sherwin and the others didn't stay idle. After asking Jinbe, they soon found Tom younger brother on Fish-Man Island—an eastern wolffish fish-man named Dan.
With his help, they expanded the Dodo Advance, and Purah Meow conveniently added a few new functions to it as well.
As for the materials, Sherwin had even less to worry about. Dragon Palace City could easily provide everything they needed.
Only after the expansion of the Dodo Advance was fully completed did Sherwin and the others depart from Fish-Man Island with Shirahoshi.
"If you really can't bear to leave, it still not too late to turn back," Sherwin said to Shirahoshi, whose entire face was pressed against the protective barrier at the stern as she gazed longingly toward Fish-Man Island.
For a mermaid princess who had lived inside the Hard-Shell Tower since the age of six, this was her first time leaving her home. Feeling nervous or even regretful was completely understandable.
But Shirahoshi withdrew her gaze, scrubbed her eyes with her arms, and said firmly, "I really hate to leave Father and my brothers, but I won't regret it!"
Just like most people in this pirate-filled world, once she found her goal, the soft and timid Shirahoshi became much stronger.
"Since you've already made up your mind…" Sherwin rubbed his chin, then turned to Sharmie, who was currently controlling the Dodo Advance with her ability.
"Let not rush to the surface yet. Down here in the deep sea, no one will bother us. It a good chance for Shirahoshi to train her ability—see if there are any Sea Kings nearby."
"Got it, meow~"
Sharmie winked at Sherwin. After sensing the surroundings with Observation Haki, she controlled the Dodo Advance—currently in its great sea-dragon form—to turn and swim toward a dark, deep region to the lower right.
"Whether this works or not is up to you," Sherwin said, patting Shirahoshi tail. "If you can't control the Sea Kings, we'll have to step in."
"I—I'll do my best!"
Shirahoshi balled her hands into fists in front of her chest, cheering herself on.
And then…
"Aah!"
Her tail was suddenly bitten by Jinx and Klee Meow.
"Baai-henng gei-gei qiaa-yo meow!" (Shirahoshi big sister, you can do it!)
"You need this kind of spirit, meow!"
The two mischievous little cats gnawed on her tail while cheering her on.
Meanwhile, Purah Meow and Haibara Meow had brought over a pile of strange instruments from who-knows-where—devices Sherwin couldn't understand at all.
They pulled out several things that looked like electrode pads from a therapy machine and stuck them onto Shirahoshi forehead, temples, behind her ears, and on her wrists and over her heartbeat.
"Eh? W-What is all this for?"
Shirahoshi asked helplessly, but she still stood obediently in place, letting the two cats hop all over her.
"We plan to observe your body reactions and brainwave frequency when you activate your ability, meow," Haibara Meow said after patting her paws clean.
"Maybe—based on the data—we can even replicate your ability, meow!" Purah Meow continued.
"Even if we can't fully copy it, creating a device that can communicate with Sea Kings would be super interesting, meow! Check-it!"
(ゝω)~☆
"Sherwin~ Sea Kings are approaching, meow~ And not just one," Sharmie said as sparks flashed across her body. She tilted her head and asked, "Should we 'greet' them first, meow?"
"No!" Shirahoshi quickly stopped her. "Let me try!"
The mermaid princess—now wrapped in wires—hopped to the front of the ship and pressed her forehead against the Dodo Advance protective barrier.
She shut her eyes, focusing hard on trying to communicate with the approaching Sea Kings, while Purah Meow and Haibara Meow stared intently at the bewildering array of dials on their instruments, constantly recording every bit of data that appeared.
Those few Sea Kings seemed to sense Shirahoshi presence as well. They showed no hostility toward the Dodo Advance, simply floating quietly outside.
Their enormous eyes stared straight through the protective barrier at the inside.
After a while of this peaceful stillness, the Sea Kings suddenly turned around and left. Shirahoshi slowly opened her eyes and let out a long breath.
"Shirahoshi big sister, how was it meow? Did you end up chatting with those Sea Kings meow?"
(=ω=)
Klee Meow darted onto Shirahoshi shoulder, tugging at her hair with her tiny paws as she asked curiously.
"Mmm." Shirahoshi first nodded, then shook her head.
"My ability isn't stable. The communication with them kept breaking off, so we didn't really talk much. The thing I heard the most was 'not yet'… I don't know what they meant."
"Maybe they mean it not the right time for you to use the power of Poseidon yet?" Sherwin guessed based on what he'd seen in the manga.
After all, Roger, who once reached Laugh Tale, had said they came too early, and he'd specifically gone to Fish-Man Island to inquire about the Ancient Weapon.
And those Sea Kings had already known ten years before Shirahoshi was born that a new mermaid princess would be coming into the world.
So Shirahoshi ability to command the Sea Kings might not be something she could just train to control.
It might slowly awaken on its own as she grows older, and the way she summons the Sea Kings when she gets emotional seems more like a built-in safety mechanism.
"Even if that the case, it doesn't matter meow!"
＜(=`=)＞
Haibara Meow stood with her paws on her hips, lifting her small head proudly.
"Based on the data we just collected, we've roughly mapped out the changes in Shirahoshi big sister brainwaves when she establishes communication with the Sea Kings.
With a few more tests, Purah big sister and I are confident we can create a device that enhances her ability.
That way, even if Shirahoshi big sister hasn't reached the proper age yet, she'll still be able to communicate with the Sea Kings easily, meow!"
"That right, meow!" Purah Meow struck her signature pose and continued after Haibara Meow,
"And if we can decipher the meaning behind those wave pattern changes, making a Sea King translator isn't impossible either, meow! Check-it!"
(ゝω)~☆
"Alright, the experiments involving Shirahoshi can wait. Communicating with the Sea Kings is mentally taxing for her. You two should focus on designing a device that helps her move more easily on land first."
Sherwin looked at the slightly fatigued Shirahoshi and decisively redirected the attention of the two research-crazed feline scientists.
"I—I can still keep going!" Shirahoshi forced herself to stay energetic.
But Haibara Meow shook her head. "Data collected when you're not in good condition isn't necessarily useful. It not an urgent matter anyway, so there no need to push yourself, meow."
"Little Ai is right. Scientific experiments can be bold and aggressive, but they must never be rushed, meow! Check-it!"
(ゝω)~☆
Even in their "research frenzy," the two feline scientists still maintained the necessary calm.
In fact, Haibara Meow still had a vitality potion she developed herself, but she didn't take it out to make Shirahoshi continue the tests.
After all, the cats knew very well that Shirahoshi was now a friend and companion of the Investigation Team, not some pawn… little test mouse they could squeeze at will.
Seeing the two scientific cats say this, Shirahoshi naturally didn't insist any further the communication just now had indeed been quite draining.
"Um…"
While Purah Meow and Haibara Meow finished packing their instruments and began measuring their own body data with a measuring tape, Shirahoshi quietly made a small request—
"If possible… could you make a set of those outfits that turn you into a cat for me too?"