As a rather well-known medical powerhouse, it wasn't difficult to find a Log Pose pointing to Drum Kingdom in fact, it was quite easy.
Sherwin and the others bought one on just the second island they landed on after leaving the Calm Belt.
Moreover, after learning their destination, the merchant selling the Log Poses immediately took out, in one go, all the Log Poses for the islands they would need to pass through from this island all the way to Drum Island…
"Hunter-sama, please rest assured. This route is the safest and most pleasant one we've tested after traveling to Drum Island many times."
Dressed like an Arab, the Log Pose merchant rubbed his hands together and eagerly promoted his wares. "If not for the fact that fewer and fewer people have been heading to Drum Island in recent years, it wouldn't have been so easy to gather all the Log Poses for this entire route."
"Hm? Why is that, meow? What happened to that island, meow?"
(=ω=)
Squatting on Sherwin shoulder, Klee Meow asked curiously.
"I'm not entirely sure either. It just what I've heard from others…" The merchant, who usually read the newspapers, didn't dare underestimate the small doll-like Felyne before him and quickly replied,
"Drum Kingdom changed to a… very terrible king a few years ago. Many people went there seeking treatment, but never returned. The few who did come back weren't cured either. It said that the new king has all the doctors under his control. Not only people from other islands—even the residents of the island itself can no longer find a doctor."
Having read the manga, Sherwin naturally already knew what kind of person Wapol was. Yet with the sea remarkable knack for "matching" people to their fates, the fact that Wapol had managed, in just a few short years after taking the throne, to "make a name for himself" beyond Drum Kingdom spoke volumes about how utterly inhuman he was.
Of course, this also had something to do with Drum Kingdom own reputation, since it had long been famous as a great medical nation.
"Oh right, Robin also mentioned that that king isn't a good person, meow."
Klee Meow nodded, then excitedly tugged at Sherwin ear. "Sherwin, are we going to blow that bad king away, meow?!"
(=ω=)
"Oh my, the weather today is really nice… It just that the thunder is a bit loud. I can't even hear what others are saying."
The Log Pose merchant immediately looked up at the sky and exclaimed loudly.
Clearly, he was worried that Sherwin might silence him, so he was showing his loyalty on the spot.
"Meow?"
(=ω=)
The little doll-like Felyne twitched her ears and looked up at the clear, sunny sky in confusion.
"Was there thunder just now, meow? Why didn't Klee hear it? Big Sister Haibara Meow, did you hear it, meow?"
With a bewildered cat face, the little Felyne stretched her neck and asked Haibara Meow on Sherwin other shoulder.
"Hmph~ You little dummy, that wasn't thunder he was talking about, meow."
(=)
Haibara Meow licked her paw and mocked her.
"Klee isn't a dummy, meow! Big Sister Haibara Meow is the dummy for calling Klee a dummy, meow!"
(=`н=)
The puffed-up little Felyne instantly forgot all about the thunder and began bickering with Haibara Meow across Sherwin head…
As usual, most of their little kitty punches landed squarely on Sherwin head.
Naturally, Sherwin had no intention of making things difficult for the innocent Log Pose merchant. So, to keep the man from continuing to panic, he calmly paid for all the Log Poses and then carried the two mischievous little Felynes away at once.
…
"Mm… Is this really okay, meow?"
(=ω=)
After returning to the Dodo Advance, with Huamei intimidation hanging over them, the two little cats who had been bickering the whole way naturally quieted down at once. Haibara Meow also seemed to remember the important matter and reached out a small paw to tug at his ear.
"What is it?"
Sherwin didn't quite understand what the little kitten meant.
"Isn't the new king of the Drum Kingdom terrible? And those doctors are all under his control… He might not allow me to interact with them, right? You only just dealt with the World Government in a perfunctory way not long ago. Shouldn't we keep a low profile, meow?"
When it came to important matters, this mischievous little cat was even more reliable than Seijuro Meow, the combat cat who only knew how to fight.
Sherwin rubbed her little head with satisfaction and said nonchalantly, "It fine. I'm one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. I still have that much face. As long as he isn't stupid beyond saving… uh…"
At this point, Sherwin suddenly faltered, because Wapol level of stupidity did not seem much different from those Celestial Dragons. He really wasn't sure whether the other party would behave and cooperate out of respect for a Warlord status.
However, Sherwin quickly continued, "Even if a conflict really breaks out, the World Government most likely won't pursue it. You saw the newspaper too, didn't you? Someone already took the blame for what happened last time."
Although his words carried some reassurance, they were not exactly lies.
To say the Marines held no resentment would be nonsense. The same went for the World Government.
While they might not care much about the Marine feelings, they were equally displeased with a Warlord who had brushed them off. It was just that the current situation left them with no spare energy to trouble Sherwin or the other Warlords who had been slacking.
Just like after the summit War in the manga, the World Government did not pursue those Warlords who had held back.
Instead, they even recruited Buggy, who had participated in the prison break, into the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
But if Sherwin were to do something to Wapol in the Drum Kingdom, proactively giving the World Government and the Marines an excuse, there was still a chance they would seize the opportunity to sanction him and vent their frustration.
After all, with Akainu taking the blame and Sengoku stepping down, the conflict between Big Mom and the Marines had also subsided. At that point, they would indeed have the spare hands to "teach" Sherwin a lesson.
However, it wouldn't go so far as to directly strip him of his position as one of the Seven Warlords. After all, Sherwin status as a Warlord was rather special. So even if the World Government really came looking to cause trouble, it would most likely still be within a range he could handle.
Sherwin guessed that, at most, they would ask him to deal with some particularly troublesome pirates again.
"And besides… even if they really decide to pursue it, it not like I absolutely have to remain a Warlord. Back then, the only reason I agreed to become one—aside from protecting Robin—was for convenience. It not like I'm actually afraid of them."
"But if we fall out with the World Government, won't we be unable to get Klee Meow Dyna Stone, meow?"
"Right! Sherwin brother! Where Klee Meow Dyna Stone?! Didn't you already help the Marines beat up that super gluttonous old hag, meow?!"
∑(=ΦДΦ=)
Reminded by Haibara Meow, the little ragdoll finally remembered. Jinx, who had been maintaining her weapon, immediately perked up and darted over the moment she heard the keyword.
"That right, that right! Even if you were slacking off during the fight, Sherwin, the reward still has to be paid, meow!"
Sherwin: "..."
He had been deliberately avoiding the topic of Dyna Stone before, hoping to delay the moment these two bomb-loving Felynes remembered it. Yet because of Haibara Meow rare bout of "kindness," his plan had completely fallen apart…
Well, considering that they would most likely have to make a move once they met Wapol, it was indeed necessary to secure the Dyna Stone beforehand.
"Alright, alright. Wasn't I just like you, overwhelmed by too many things and forgot for a moment? I'll call Uncle Cody later and urge him about it, okay?"
Sherwin scratched under Jinx chin and pinched Klee Meow cheek, soothing them repeatedly.
After he made the promise, the two bomb-loving Felynes finally stopped making a fuss. However, they didn't let him off that easily either. The two little cats said nothing, just stared straight at him without blinking.
Their big round eyes were adorable, but being fixed with such resentful gazes for so long was still uncomfortable. Left with no choice, Sherwin obediently went to make the call to Cody.
However…
"Buru Buru Buru Buru…"
Before Sherwin could even pick up the receiver, the Den Den Mushi rang first.