Just as the preparations Shiki had spent over a decade on were being torn apart by Haibara Meow, leaving both Shiki and Indigo so demoralized by the dark-bellied kitten poisonous tongue that they began to doubt their very existence, Sherwin still requested to look around and witness the fruits of Shiki labor...
This touched the nearly despairing pair so deeply that they naturally granted his request unconditionally.
Of course, Haibara Meow chose to remain in Shiki palace to continue researching the miraculous plant known as IQ, and Purah Meow also took the initiative to stay behind and help.
While little Purah research capabilities in pharmacology were "average," that was only in comparison to Haibara Meow and her own mechanical R&D skills it didn't mean she was actually mediocre in that field...
At the very least, she was more capable than Dr. Indigo.
As for the other members of the Hunter Group, they all followed Sherwin out to roam around.
Before falling out with Shiki, Sherwin did not believe he would do anything to the two Felynes in fact, Shiki would likely treat Haibara Meow—a "Felyne Intellect" whose abilities clearly surpassed Dr. Indigo—with the utmost reverence.
Furthermore, Haibara Meow had the "Black Organization" members by her side, and Purah Meow had the Guardian Legion in her dimensional bag. Purah herself was a Logia-type user of the Snow-Snow Fruit. Even if an unexpected turn of events led Shiki to attack, their confrontation with a significantly weakened "Golden Lion" would not put them in any real danger, even if they couldn't win.
...
"Sense the location of that village we saw earlier we'll head there first."
Having removed his gas mask after passing through the protective perimeter, Sherwin spoke to Shermie Meow, who was perched on his shoulder.
"Okay, Meow~"
(=ω=)
Shermie Meow, still wearing her gas mask because of that lingering stench, gave a muffled reply and nudged Sherwin cheek twice with her head. Only then did she silently spread her Observation Haki. After a moment, she pointed in a certain direction and continued in that same muffled voice, "It that way, meow~"
(=ω=)σ
After advancing for over ten minutes in the direction Shermie Meow had indicated, Sherwin and the others heard a rustling commotion not far away. Immediately following, a giant beetle with a body size nearing that of the Dodo Advance itself appeared before them.
"Hmm, looks like the scent of those trees can't be smelled here anymore..."
Sherwin cast a calm glance at the menacing giant beetle and said to the Felynes beside him, "Everyone can take off their masks now."
"Oh—!"
(=＞＜=)
Klee Meow quickly whipped off her mask and cautiously twitched her nose a few times. Finding that the unpleasant odor was indeed gone, her eyes instantly lit up as she looked at the giant beetle in front of them. She grabbed Sherwin ear and started making a fuss.
"Sherwin-brother, Sherwin-brother, can we catch a few big bugs to keep as pets, meow?!"
"Stop it, where would the Dodo Advance have enough room to raise these things?"
Sherwin gave her little head a playful knock and then looked toward Sanji Meow. "Is it edible? Does it taste good?"
The little yellow cat had a look of pure disgust. "It edible, technically, but these kinds of insects have very few edible parts and the taste is mediocre. The main issue is that they usually have scent glands inside them that are very difficult to deal with, meow."
(へ)
"In that case..."
Sherwin drew his Longsword and casually swung a massive flying slash, splitting the beetle—which was currently charging at them—clean in half.
"Next, I plan to quickly scout through all these islands. Are you all coming with me, or do you have other ideas?"
"I want to go find the animals here to pick a fight with White Star, meow!"
(=`=)
The most restless Jinx immediately started shouting.
"Eh?"
Shirahoshi froze for a moment before nodding her head as well. "Yeah! Last time in the Calm Belt, those animals were all going easy on me. This time, I want to truly fight them!"
The "little" mermaid clenched her fists and spoke with a look of determination.
"Klee wants to follow Brother Sherwin meow~"
(=`=) "I'm the same meow~"
(=ω=)
The two clingy ones on his shoulders were as sticky as ever.
"As Shermie sister guardian knight, of course, wherever Shermie sister is, I am meow!"
(=)
Since he could look for ingredients along the way while following Sherwin, there was no reason for the little yellow cat Sanji Meow to stay away from Shermie Meow.
"I'll follow you for now, and we'll talk again if I discover any ruins," Robin stated calmly.
"Master Sherwin, I also want to stay behind."
Baby-5, who had already realized her inadequacies back at Mary Geoise and had been trying to master Armament Haki recently, spoke up.
Sherwin naturally wouldn't refuse such a request furthermore, by moving together with Jinx and the others, there was no need to worry about her encountering any danger.
As for the remaining Felynes, they all indicated that they didn't have anything in particular they wanted to do separately from Sherwin...
Mainly, judging by the strength of that beetle from earlier, fighting these animals wouldn't provide much training given the Felyne current strength.
"Sigh... then I'll stay behind to look after them too."
ε=(ο｀=)
Huamei Meow sighed helplessly.
It would have been fine to let Kaido Meow stay behind, but Sherwin had other arrangements for him.
"What that meow... Sister Huamei actually doesn't trust us that much meow!"
(=`н=)
Jinx muttered angrily under her breath, not daring to let Lord Huamei hear her complaints.
Shirahoshi giggled and poked the sulking little blue cat with her finger. "It not 'u the only one Sister Huamei doesn't trust is you, Sister Jinx... Ow!"
The Mermaid Princess, whose finger had been bitten hard by Jinx, shook her hand vigorously, while the little crazy cat hung on without letting go, just as she had when gnawing on her tail before.
Huamei, standing to the side: "..."
Sure enough, things were developing in the direction she least wanted to see even the originally well-behaved Shirahoshi had been getting more and more mischievous lately...
Why did this situation occur? Clearly, not long ago, Shirahoshi was still very well-behaved...
Huamei Meow fell into deep thought.
It seemed that Shirahoshi started becoming mischievous after Sherwin egged her on to give King Neptune a fright?
The culprit has been found! It all that idiot Admiral fault meow!
The fuming Lord Huamei turned her head to look for Sherwin, only to find that he had already run off with Robin and the other Felynes to parts unknown.
Who told Sherwin to know his own Felynes so well?
When he saw Huamei Meow making a pained expression at Shirahoshi, who was messing around with Jinx, Sherwin immediately sensed the aura of danger.
Thus, taking advantage of the gap while Lord Huamei was still deep in thought, the alert Hunter took Klee Meow and the others and slipped away at the first possible moment.