Just like when he first arrived at the South Blue, upon entering the North Blue, Sherwin immediately took out the Hunter Handbook and had Huamei Meow plan out the route for this journey.
"…Admiral, if you keep staring at me like that, I won't be able to properly plan the course, meow."
Huamei Meow set down the map in her paws and said helplessly to Sherwin, who was glaring at her with a face full of resentment.
Sherwin didn't say a word, continuing to stare at her with that same expression.
"Alright~ it my fault, meow~" Feeling flustered under Sherwin gaze, Huamei Meow leaned closer, rubbing her little head against his face as she acted spoiled.
"I was just humoring Haibara Meow, Admiral. Please forgive me, okay, meow?"
With Huamei Meow being this affectionate, how could Sherwin possibly refuse?The resentment on his face instantly vanished as he picked up Huamei Meow and rubbed against her lovingly with all his might.
"Alright, alright, I forgive you."
"Then hurry up and let me go, I still need to plan our next route, meow." Huamei Meow lightly patted Sherwin head, speaking in the tone one would use to coax a child.
"That right, meow! Let go of Sister Huamei, meow!" Sanji Meow kicked at Sherwin with all his strength, even coating his legs with Armament Haki.
"Klee wants kisses and cuddles too, meow~" The little ragdoll jumped onto Sherwin back, tugging at his ears and making a fuss.
"Hmph! A bunch of childish fools, meow!"
The culprit, Haibara Meow, mocked coldly from the side.
And then she was immediately scooped up by Sherwin, who started rubbing her fur like crazy. Just when she began to feel comfortable, Sherwin suddenly stopped and turned to pet Klee Meow instead.
"Ahhhhhh! Sherwin, you big stupid idiot, meow!"
Haibara Meow leapt onto Sherwin shoulder and bit down on his much-abused ear, while Sanji Meow kept hammering away at Sherwin equally unfortunate shin with relentless kicks…
No good… Just one Huamei Meow wasn't enough to keep this bunch of little troublemakers under control.
He needed to summon one or two more parent-like cats. If nothing else, cats like Seijuro Meow or Link Meow—those well-behaved ones who didn't cause much trouble—would do.
As Sherwin dealt with the mischievous bunch, he muttered to himself in his heart.
Thanks to their experience in the South Blue, Huamei Meow quickly set the course. They would make a full circle that would eventually bring them back to Reverse Mountain.
The island where they had previously encountered the Heart Pirates was also part of the plan—after all, since they had already mapped part of it, it couldn't just go to waste.
With the route confirmed, the Investigation Team set sail toward the first island. Soon, they spotted a lighthouse island in the North Blue, one that served a similar function to Loguetown and was located very close to Reverse Mountain.
And then Sherwin finally understood why the pirate forces in the North Blue were considered the strongest…
They hadn't even reached the lighthouse island port yet when they saw a group of pirates fiercely clashing in the surrounding waters.
With just a rough glance, Sherwin could tell there were at least five different factions involved in the fight.
He also noticed the wreckage of several Marine warships—clearly taken out first after being targeted collectively by the pirates.
"…Mm. What a grand welcoming ceremony this is…"
Sherwin looked at the pirate ships that had, without a word, opened fire on the Dodo Advance, and couldn't help but sigh.
Among the Four Seas, aside from the West Blue where he first crossed over, the North Blue "first impression" was by far the most unforgettable.
As for the incoming cannon fire, Sherwin naturally didn't care. With just Klee Meow alone, the barrage could easily be stopped.
But after Klee Meow intercepted the first wave of shells, Sherwin called out to the little ragdoll…
"Klee, how about we try out our combo technique against these enemies this time?"
"Yes, yes, let do it!" The little ragdoll quickly stuffed the bomb she had just pulled out back into her backpack, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Klee been wanting to try it for so long, meow!"
The other cats all turned curious gazes toward them. None of them knew when Sherwin and Klee Meow had come up with a combination technique.
"Klee!" Sherwin drew his Longsword.
"Here I come, meow!"
Klee Meow immediately leapt onto Sherwin right shoulder. At once, her entire body transformed into elemental fire—leaving only her little head and paws clinging to his shoulder.
The flames spread swiftly along Sherwin arm, wrapping around his right arm and the Longsword in his hand.
"Blaze Release: Kagutsuchi, meow!"
As the flames formed by Klee Meow completely enveloped Sherwin right arm and Longsword, Sherwin raised the flaming arm and blade high above his head. In unison, man and cat shouted:
"Ultimate Secret Sword: Kagutsuchi (Meow)!"
Sherwin then crouched slightly, pushed off with force, and leapt into the air. Swinging his right arm fiercely toward the pirate ships ahead, he once again spoke in perfect sync with Klee Meow—
"Monster Hunter Style: Heavenly Dance of Inferno (Meow)!"
A massive flaming slash shot forward, then split into countless smaller flame slashes under Klee Meow control, raining down upon the pirate ships like a blazing storm.
Whether they had attacked Sherwin and his companions or not, every pirate ship was ignited under this strike.
It wasn't that the pirates hadn't tried to block it—but a flying slash formed from the combination of a Logia fruit ability, Armament Haki, and Monster Hunter skills was something even the strongest pirates of the North Blue could not withstand easily.
Some ships carried stronger fighters, so the flames were not severe there. But the weaker pirate ships were in dire straits—not only were their vessels set ablaze, but Sherwin flying slash had carved a massive gash straight through their hulls.
"Well done, Klee! But if you burn the ships down completely, we won't be able to get the pirates treasure."
Sherwin cautioned the fiery cat on his shoulder as he used his dance-like leaps to spring toward the less-burning pirate ships.
"Oh, right! Klee almost forgot, meow!"
The little doll, who had been about to set the pirate ships ablaze again, hurriedly pulled back her outstretched paw.
At this moment, Sherwin landed on the pirate ship that had taken the least damage.
"Don't panic! He only one man! Everyone attack together!"
The lines of these disposable villains carried no originality, and Sherwin had no patience to waste words with them.
He charged directly at the one with the strongest aura, while Klee Meow, without needing his command, instinctively targeted the rest of the small fry pirates—
"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, meow!"
"Monster Hunter Style: Blazing Blade!"
With Sherwin and Klee Meow working in perfect coordination, this group of North Blue pirates—who had already exhausted themselves fighting each other earlier—couldn't possibly hold out for long. Soon enough, the man-and-cat duo had utterly shattered their formation.
What did surprise Sherwin a little, however, was that the man before him—presumably the captain—actually possessed Armament Haki.
But his Armament Haki was so feeble it was even weaker than that of the Kuja pirates. Sherwin didn't even need to use his own Armament Haki to break through the man defense.
Judging by his strength and speed, his physical ability wasn't even as good as Sherwin back when he hadn't yet realized this was the pirate world. Sherwin couldn't imagine how this guy had awakened Haki at all…
Perhaps it was related to individual talent? Could it be that those with lower overall talent found it easier to awaken Armament Haki?Sherwin thought of how, later in the manga, even ordinary marines could use Armament Haki—so maybe this wasn't entirely impossible.
"You… who the hell are you? Why are you attacking us?!"
The pirate, barely managing to block Sherwin slash with his pitiful Armament Haki, shouted in desperation.
"That a funny thing to say." Sherwin raised his burning Longsword, swung again, and replied, "Weren't you the ones who attacked me first?"
"Those damn idiots!"
The nameless captain cursed the pirates who had attacked Sherwin earlier, still trying to resist—but the difference in their strength was far too great. His struggle was meaningless…
Even the pirate ship in the best condition had fallen so easily to Sherwin and Klee Meow working together. The remaining ships naturally posed no challenge.
Before long, the once noisy sea grew silent, broken only by the crackling of flames consuming wood and the groans of a few pirates who still clung to consciousness.
After Klee Meow extinguished the remaining flames, Sherwin led the cats to begin looting the treasures from the pirate ships.
During their plundering, the Marines arrived—late, just like the cops in a movie. But the colonel leading them was sensible enough not to lay a hand on Sherwin spoils.
In fact, after taking custody of the pirates, the colonel respectfully handed over the proof of bounty exchange without Sherwin even asking, and even went so far as to invite Sherwin to visit the Marine base as a guest…
It seemed that the Marines situation in the North Blue was not very optimistic…
Watching the man obsequious attitude, Sherwin gained an initial understanding of the state of affairs in the North Blue.