"All right, now we just wait for a reply from Uncle Kody side. In any case, don't even think about getting the Dyna Stones in the short term."
After putting away the Den Den Mushi, Sherwin picked up the two Bomb Felynes, one in each hand, and leaned in to rub his face against theirs.
The two little cats hugged Sherwin head in return and responded affectionately.
"Ehehe~ Thank you, Brother Sherwin, meow~"
(==)
"Don't worry, Sherwin. Klee Meow and I will do our best to use it to make powerful bombs to thank you, meow!"
(=)
…No, if that the case, it would be better if you didn't thank me at all…
Sherwin rolled his eyes speechlessly, then carried the cats as he walked toward hilnan, who was keeping watch for them in the distance.
With the matter of the Dyna Stones settled, and the map already fully explored during their earlier stroll around the Marine base, Sherwin and the others no longer had any other needs on this island.
However, leaving just like that would seem a bit too utilitarian and rude, so Sherwin decided to stay a little longer…
At the very least, he had to fulfill hilnan earlier invitation for them to dine at the Marine canteen.
"All right, I'll continue taking you around to see the remaining spots!"
Seeing Sherwin come over, hilnan didn't ask anything at all. As if nothing had happened, he simply continued leading them around the base.
…
"Come try this! This is the most delicious dish in our base!"
"Don't listen to this tasteless guy spouting nonsense! These charcoal-grilled scallops are the real best!"
"You idiots! Kids obviously like sweets! Little Klee Meow, come here—uncle got you some delicious cake~"
"Miss Suika, come try this fine wine I dug out from under Colonel Chaos bed!"
"Wait a second! How did you know I hid the wine there?!"
"Hahahahaha! Back when I was following you, Colonel, at the 211th Branch, I already knew about your habit of hiding good stuff under your bed!"
"I heard you two are swordsmen as well. I'm off duty this afternoon—how about we spar a bit?"
"Aaaaah! Lady Haibara Meow look of disgust is so cute too!"
"This pan-seared beef crown steak is my proudest creation. Please give me your guidance, Lord Black Claw!"
Earlier, when these Marines were on sentry duty and training, it wasn't very noticeable.
But once mealtime arrived and Sherwin and the others entered the canteen, all the Marines crowded over.
Even the chefs from the back kitchen ran out to exchange culinary skills with Sanji Meow.
Everyone was so enthusiastic that they even squeezed hilnan, the highest-ranking officer, off to the side.
"All of you, move it! If you're done eating, go train! Stop pestering others!"
Having been pushed out of the crowd, hilnan roared as he tried to drive his subordinates away.
Only the enlisted Marines and lower-ranking officers left with disgruntled expressions.
Those higher-ranking officers like lieutenant colonels and commodores weren't afraid of him at all—not only did they keep crowding around the cats, they even started stirring up the crowd from the side—
"Vice Admiral Hilnans must be trying to drive us away so he can stay here alone with these adorable cats."
"A Marine vice admiral actually abusing his authority for personal gain! Protest! Protest!"
"Oppose the vice admiral tyranny! The cats belong to everyone!"
Emmmm… how should I put it? The Marines at this base felt a little too cheerful. Were they really some kind of SHIELD special unit?
Sherwin looked speechlessly at the officers who were stirring up the crowd and suddenly felt that, if they had used the Dodo Advance to secretly sneak onto the island from the start, they might have already stolen the Dyna stone by now.
Amid this somewhat joyful atmosphere, after finishing lunch, Sherwin and the others stayed on the island a while longer.
After sparring with several fairly strong Marine officers, they finally departed the island, seeing all the Marines off with great reluctance.
…
The Dodo Advance had just sailed out of the Marine harbor when her ship spirit emerged from the deck.
Because of her "social anxiety," she once again hadn't managed to act together with everyone, so the moment they left the Marine line of sight, the little one immediately clung to him.
[Brother Sherwin, where are we heading next, meow?]
As she casually asked, she skillfully climbed onto Sherwin head. The two little paws hanging down were anything but well-behaved, fiddling with his nose and turning it into a pig-nose shape.
Lifting this mischievous little one off his head and giving her bottom two light pats, Sherwin thought for a moment before answering,
"Let go find Whitebeard. Shirahoshi probably really wants to see him too, right?"
He absolutely did not dare let Klee Meow "draw lots" again. This time it was Dyna stone next time, who knew, she might end up running off to Egghead Island.
Although in Sherwin plans they were meant to make a trip to Egghead Island eventually, the timing was not right yet.
Not only had Egghead Island not fallen into chaos, but Vegapunk Pacifistas and Seraphim should not have been created yet either.
Taking everything into consideration, going to pick a fight with the Heavenly Yaksha would actually be a pretty good choice, but just like before, he still had to take Law situation into account.
On top of that, he had just gotten off the phone with Uncle Koby to discuss a transaction with the World Government.
Before the deal involving the Dyna stone was completed, it was better not to do anything too outrageous to provoke them…
It was definitely not because he was too lazy to turn the ship around.
"Mm!" After hearing Sherwin decision, Shirahoshi nodded happily. "Father said that when I was very little, Father Whitebeard even held me in his arms. It a pity I was too young back then and don't remember it."
"…"
So people in the pirate world were used to saying that too?
Sherwin smacked his lips speechlessly and, in the end, did not voice his complaint.
As for Whitebeard exact whereabouts, they were actually not hard to find.
Although that old man did not stay in his own main base all year round like Kaido and Big Mom, he was used to moving around with his "sons," so every time he set sail it was an enormous spectacle…
Besides the massive Moby Dick, there were usually several slightly smaller pirate ships sailing alongside it, managed by the other division commanders.
Letting Huamei Meow casually contact an information broker would be enough to get their location.
What more…
Sherwin also had a well-informed "Scribe Squad."
"Wahahahaha! How come you suddenly have time to look for me lately, Sherwin?" Morgans sounded extremely excited after receiving Sherwin call. "Is there another huge scoop?"
"I'm a peace-loving Seven Warlords. Where would I get that many big news stories for you?" Sherwin curled his lips, then rolled his eyes.
On the other end of the line, Morgans rolled his eyes as well, then smacked his beak.
His bird beak opened and closed a few times, but in the end he still didn't voice any rebuttal against Sherwin shameless remark.
"So then, what do you want with me?" Morgans asked.
"Oh, I just want to ask you about Whitebeard current location. I'm planning to go see him," Sherwin said calmly.
The result was that Morgans on the other side instantly jumped up.
"Isn't that huge news?! The Seven Warlord Hunter once again challenges a Yonko! Are you going to look for Red-Haired next?! Are you planning to challenge all the Four Emperors one by one?!"
"…"
Listening to Morgan excited shouting and the news headline he casually made up on the spot, Sherwin felt that this News Bird had a serious misunderstanding about him.
"I'm taking Shirahoshi to meet him… King Neptune and Whitebeard are good friends. Back then, he even helped stop the Beasts and Big Mom because of that. I'm just going over to thank him while we're at it…
What do you mean I'm challenging all the Four Emperors? I've only fought Kaido, alright? And even that was forced. I don't want to stir up trouble at all! If possible, I just want to travel peacefully with the cats."
Sherwin explained helplessly.
"Heh heh heh… Only Kaido? You're still underestimating my intelligence network! Back in Totto Land, didn't you also clash with BIG·MOM when her hunger pangs flared up?"
After showing off smugly for a bit, Morgans then complained in a joking tone, "You actually didn't tell me about news this big. Watch out, or I'll dock your pay."
"You already said that BIG·MOM was having a hunger pang attack at the time…" Exhausted, Sherwin couldn't be bothered to keep arguing with him and dragged the topic back.
"So do you actually have any news about Whitebeard or not?"
"Of course I do. The movements of the Whitebeard Pirates aren't hard to track. They're currently near the Audris sea region. If nothing unexpected happens, they should stay there for three to five days."
"Alright, thanks!"
After saying that, Sherwin was about to end the call, but at the very last second before hanging up, he suddenly stopped, then spoke again—
"Uh, by the way, you might as well give me Red-Haired location too."
"Sherwin! And you still say you don't want to stir up trouble?!"