Before heading out to witness the ferocious beasts of this place, Sherwin made a request on behalf of Haibara Meow to see that IQ first.
Shiki, who had already agreed previously, naturally had no intention of going back on his word. He called over his top researcher and ship doctor, Dr. Indigo.
"Puji, puji, puji..."
Accompanied by a series of strange footsteps, a fellow wearing a white lab coat and a blue scarf with yellow spots approached Sherwin and the others.
Dr. Indigo looked normal enough in other respects, except for the clown makeup on his face and those soft shoes that made strange noises.
Speaking of which, the look of a comical clown seemed quite popular among pirates. Aside from Buggy with his natural red nose, whom Sherwin hadn't managed to meet, he had already encountered several pirates who intentionally dressed up as clowns.
"Indigo, take our future allies to visit the IQ and your laboratory."
Then, the clown-faced doctor began to gesture wildly with his hands.
"What are you trying to express?!"
As usual, Shiki failed to understand.
Just as Indigo was about to explain, Klee Meow, perched on Sherwin shoulder, tilted her head and answered first: "This strange uncle should be saying, let us be careful not to mess up his laboratory, meow?"
"...You actually understood?!"
After a moment of silence, Indigo clutched his head with both hands and shouted in shock.
"So you can speak!" After habitually complaining, Shiki was equally shocked: "Was her understanding actually correct?!"
"Although this uncle expressions and movements aren't as intuitive as Brother Link, Klee can still understand them, meow! Klee is very smart!"
(=`▽´=)
The little Ragdoll cat placed her paws on her hips, triumphantly tilting her small head up.
Based on what Klee Meow meant, she had understood Indigo strange movements by applying what she learned from being used to Link Meow way of "speaking" only through expressions?
But didn't even Indigo himself sometimes not know what his own movements meant? Besides, I chat with Link Meow all the time how come I can't understand them?
Sherwin looked blankly at the other cats, finding that they all wore expressions similar to his own—even Link Meow was the same.
"Boss Sherwin, I can also understand what this uncle is saying!"
Shirahoshi jumped out and spoke with a face full of excitement.
Well, it seemed to be the credit of Observation Haki—specifically, that so-called "Voice of All Things."
After Shiki and Indigo heard Klee Meow explanation, they subconsciously looked toward Link Meow...
(눈_눈)
"I actually understood that too!"
"This kitten insults are so foul! I am not just performing randomly!"
After forcing out a defense for himself, Indigo immediately collapsed into an ORZ pose on the ground, indignantly pounding the floor with his fists.
"Dammit! My personal gimmick actually lost to a cat!"
(=益=)
The look of disdain on Link Meow face intensified...
He didn't want to be compared to this guy who looked ridiculous and seemed a bit slow in the head, meow!
"Sherwin, when are we going to see the IQ, meow?"
(⇀‸↼‶)
Although the antics of Shiki and Indigo were quite amusing, Haibara Meow, having entered research mode, was completely uninterested. The kitten tugged at Sherwin pant leg and asked impatiently.
Reminded by the kitten, everyone finally returned to the main topic. Led by the "puji puji" footsteps of Dr. Indigo, they soon arrived at an indoor garden filled with small pinkish-white flowers.
"So this is IQ Meow? It really is a direct and appropriate name..."
(=ˇˇ=)つ
Haibara Meow plucked one and held it before her eyes, observing it closely.
This plant, known as IQ, possessed pinkish-white flowers. However, unlike most floral species, this flower did not have distinct petals—or rather, its petal was a single, complete sphere.
On this spherical petal was a circular opening, the edge of which was lined with a ring of pink. A long, similarly pink stamen extended from this opening like a tongue. When viewed from the front, it looked exactly like a pink letter "Q."
Klee Meow leaned in curiously, peeking out from behind her as she spoke. "This flower looks so interesting, Haibara big sister! Can we plant some on the ship too, meow?"
(=ΦωΦ=)
"Mmhmm..."
The kitten, having already entered her research state, gave a few absent-minded hums of agreement. She swiftly pulled five cylinder-shaped instruments—each about the size of a soda can—from her pocket and lined them up in front of her. Then, using a pair of tweezers, she took small tissue samples from the leaves, roots, stems, petals, and stamens of the IQ plant and placed them into the small canisters.
"T-That the latest model of the portable component analyzer?!"
Indigo, who knew his trade, shouted in a trembling, disbelieving voice. "The price of one of those things is comparable to a Devil Fruit, and ordinary people can't even buy them! You actually have five?! And they're special models specifically adapted to your size!"
His voice even carried a hint of jealousy.
After all, although Shiki had been a world-renowned pirate twenty years ago, he had ultimately been captured by the Navy. Furthermore, he had spent the last twenty years hiding his tracks, so his finances were somewhat strained.
He could certainly afford the research on IQ, but providing the most cutting-edge equipment was beyond his reach. Moreover, many devices required going through World Government channels to obtain, which was even more difficult for Shiki.
Consequently, for the past twenty years, Indigo could only drool as he watched research equipment being updated generation after generation.
And yet, the very treasures he had longed for but could never obtain, this little kitten before him could casually pull out five of them...
And they were custom editions!
How could Indigo not be jealous in a situation like this?
"Because we made them ourselves, so they didn't cost any money meow."
(=`=)
Since waiting for the analysis results would take some time, Haibara Meow had the chance to respond.
"Y-You made them yourselves?!" Indigo became even less composed. "But isn't that World Government technology? Even if Sherwin is a Warlord, there no way he could get his hands on that!"
"Oh, that because we once reached Punk Hazard. That was the original base for the World Government Science Unit and Vegapunk former laboratory."
Seeing Haibara Meow already buried in recording data, Sherwin took over and answered for her, "An experimental accident occurred there, and it was covered by a massive amount of toxic gas, so the World Government simply abandoned it. Because it was a sudden event, a lot of equipment and materials couldn't be taken away in time. The blueprints for this analyzer were found there."
After hearing Sherwin explanation, Indigo eyes filled with tears of envy. Without a word, he performed a sliding kneel and grabbed Sherwin leg.
"Lord Sherwin! You must join forces with Lord Shiki! Or... does your Felyne Survey Corps still need a ship doctor?!"
"I'm still standing right here!"
Shiki slapped the back of Indigo head and roared in exasperation.
However, beyond his anger, he grew increasingly expectant of the alliance with Sherwin.
He had originally thought Sherwin joining would only add a few high-end combatants, but he hadn't expected it to simultaneously boost their technological level.
Sure enough, using "Sakura Ten" and "Kogarashi" to win Sherwin over was truly the right move!
Shiki, who had felt a bit of reluctance before, was now considering whether he should just detach the two swords from his legs right now and stuff them directly into Sherwin arms.