Sherwin spent a bit more time explaining to Morgans that he could actually claim a slight connection to Shanks as well, and only then did the latter gradually calm down…
Even so, judging from his tone and the expression relayed through the Den Den Mushi, he clearly didn't seem to believe Sherwin all that much.
Tch!
I've already said that I, this Hunter, treat people with kindness—why won't this birdman believe me?
Sherwin smacked his lips in annoyance and couldn't be bothered to keep explaining to Morgans. After exchanging a few casual remarks, he quickly hung up the call. Of course, he had already gotten Red-Hair location.
It was just that compared to Whitebeard, Shanks position information was a little outdated.
After all, the Red-Haired Pirates were just a single ship, and their movements were elusive to begin with. Even if Shanks didn't deliberately hide his whereabouts, he still wasn't that easy to pin down.
In any case, Sherwin primary target was Whitebeard, so it didn't really matter.
"Come to think of it, where exactly is that… what was it called… the A-something sea?" Sherwin muttered.
After hanging up, he turned his head to look at Huamei Meow.
Although he wasn't a hopeless navigator like that green-moss head Zoro, without the dynamic map and Log records in the Hunter Handbook, he was just as clueless about this bizarre and gorgeous sea.
As for the pile of island and sea names that were mostly Western-style, he couldn't remember more than a few of them anyway.
"It the Audris Sea," Huamei Meow corrected him helplessly, shooting her useless Hunter a glance.
She then had Sherwin take out the Hunter Handbook, opened the dynamic map, and pointed to a fog-covered area. "As far as I know, it should be right around this region, meow."
Sherwin took a look and saw that it was an area even closer to the Red Line than Totto Land, though it wasn't along their current sailing route.
"So that means we'll have to turn back?"
Actually, turning back wasn't that big of a deal. After all, Sherwin and the others didn't have a definite destination right now anyway, so going wherever made little difference.
They could even take the opportunity to fill in more of the map. It was just that…
"At this distance, if we sail normally, we probably won't make it within five days, right?"
Previously, it had taken them more than a week just to reach Totto Land. After that, they had chased after Zunesha for another stretch of distance.
Then, during the more than a month they stayed on Zunesha back, although the giant elephant movements were completely random, overall it was still heading "forward."
Even though they later backtracked a short distance while searching for an uninhabited island to summon a new cat, they more than made up for it over at the Dyna stone area.
"Mm," Huamei Meow nodded. "Even if we don't stop at any islands along the way and just rely on the map to guide us, it would still take at least around twelve days to get there, meow… and that assuming we don't run into particularly bad weather."
"So… we can only fly there, huh…"
As Sherwin spoke, he turned to look at Haibara Meow beside him, who was putting on a show of forced composure.
"What are you looking at me for, meow?!"
(=`皿=)
The guilty little kitten bared her claws at Sherwin and shouted, "I'm not scared at all, meow!"
"I haven't said anything yet."
Sherwin chuckled and rubbed the head of this silly little fool who had given herself away…
And, as expected, he got bitten.
[Big Sister Ai, don't worry! I'll try my best to fly as smoothly as possible, meow!]
Dodo Advance ran over to Haibara Meow side and rubbed its head against hers to comfort her.
"Hmph! I already said I'm not scared, meow!"
Haibara Meow kept talking tough, but right after that she turned around and hugged Dodo Advance, licking her fur to show her gratitude.
After the two little kittens shared a moment of affectionate interaction, Dodo Advance slowly sank back into her main body.
[Sailboat Cat! Transform and depart, meow!]
Under Dodo Advance control, the ship swiftly switched into the Valstrax form, and from the tips of the claw-wings on both sides, three jets of flame each burst out—clearly a bit shorter than usual.
Obviously, in order to take care of Haibara Meow, Dodo Advance didn't immediately push the speed to its maximum.
Sherwin spread open the dynamic map page of the Hunter Manual on the deck for Dodo Advance to use for positioning, then stepped forward and picked up the little kitten whose body had already begun to stiffen.
"Hmph~ I-I'm not scared at all, meow. You're the one who wanted to hold me, meow."
(=`へ=)
This little tsundere four paws were already clinging tightly to Sherwin, yet she was still stubbornly refusing to admit it.
"Yes, yes… it me who wanted to groom Lord 'Haibara,' after all."
At a time like this, Sherwin naturally wouldn't provoke the silly little one. He scratched under Haibara Meow chin while gently coaxing her along.
Just then, Klee Meow also jumped into Sherwin arms, squeezing in together with Haibara Meow.
"Hehe~ Sister Ai, Klee here to keep you company, meow!"
(==)
The little ragdoll kitten hugged Haibara Meow and went on a vigorous licking spree.
"Baa-ow."
And Sherry also climbed up, gently licking the other side of Haibara Meow face.
With the combined soothing from the three of them, Haibara Meow finally stopped being so tense, and her body gradually relaxed.
At this time, Dodo Advance had also begun to steadily increase her speed. As the claw-wings on both sides rotated slightly, the Dodo Advance gradually lifted away from the sea surface, rising quickly yet smoothly into the air.
As Dodo Advance ascended, Haibara Meow body stiffened again—but very soon, curled up in Sherwin arms, she lifted her head…
"Huh?"
The little kitten glanced at the scenery retreating on both sides, then took the initiative to wriggle out of Sherwin arms and ran to the edge of the ship, pressing her face against the protective barrier…
"See! I told you I wasn't scared at all, meow!"
(=`=)
Coming back to her senses, the little kitten bragged smugly at Sherwin.
At the moment, both Dodo Advance altitude and speed were far inferior to when they had gone up to the Sky Island or evaded Kaido, perhaps even not as fast as a passenger airplane on Earth.
And at this level, it wasn't frightening to Haibara Meow in the slightest. Naturally, the little kitten could start showing off again.
"Then how about I let Dodo Advance fly a bit higher and faster, and throw in a few fancy maneuvers while we're at it?"
Sherwin cast a sidelong glance at the overly smug Haibara Meow and "threatened" her in a sinister tone.
"Hmph! Dodo Advance would never do something like that, meow!"
(=`н=)
Haibara Meow immediately rushed over and bit and kicked Sherwin at the same time, while also nervously glancing toward the Valstrax figurehead at the bow of the Dodo Advance.
[Mm-hmm, I won't do that, Big Sister Ai, don't worry, the Dodo Advance flies very steadily, meow!]
The Hunter, as always, had absolutely no presence within the Research Commission…
"Hahahahaha! Sherwin, you idiot! The Dodo Advance is a good child—it wouldn't listen to your random orders at all, meow!"
(=`=)
After receiving the Dodo Advance promise, the little kitten grew even more arrogant, hopping back and forth in front of Sherwin and shamelessly rubbing it in his face.
"Look at how smug you are…" Sherwin had only been joking to begin with, so naturally he wasn't angry.
Amused, he patted Haibara Meow little head and reminded her, "If you really weren't scared, why would you be this excited?"
"!!!"
∑(=ΦДΦ=)
"I—I—I… I just can't stand that self-satisfied look on your face, meow!"
(=`Д=)
The Haibara Meow who had been basking in triumph panicked and bit Sherwin in return, but she knew she was in the wrong. After forcing out a flimsy excuse, she decisively chose to make a run for it…
"I'm going to do experiments, meow!"
(=ω=)