"Sherwin, Sherwin! Is there another fight to pick, meow?!"
Because she didn't know Bonney, Jinx didn't crowd around the Den Den Mushi with Klee Meow and the others.
Instead, she ran over together with the unsteadily swaying Suika Meow and asked excitedly.
"Yeah. If nothing unexpected happens, quite a few powerful enemies should appear next," Sherwin replied calmly.
He reached out and gently stroked the small heads of Jinx and Suika Meow.
With his practiced cat-petting technique, the little drunken cat didn't even care about her drink anymore.
Together with the little blue cat, they both narrowed their eyes and let out soft purring sounds.
Through his previous exchanges with Rayleigh and Hawk-Eyes, Sherwin was very confident in the current strength of the Investigation Team.
What was more, they had recently gained a particularly strong addition—Suika Meow.
After fully mastering the abilities of the Density Fruit, this little drunken cat who swayed even while walking could actually suppress Seijuro Meow, who had already mastered a warrior style.
If Link Meow hadn't relied on his shield counters to stay undefeated, he most likely wouldn't have been able to beat her either.
Therefore, as long as it wasn't a Yonko personally arriving, the Felynes Investigation Team had the power to fight.
And even if Kaido and Big Mom really did show up, Sherwin was confident he could retreat by relying on the capabilities of the Dodo Advance.
After all, the rapid emergency disengagement device that Purah Meow had prepared just in case during their voyage to Marineford hadn't even been used yet.
So from beginning to end, Sherwin never felt panicked at all.
Of course, the ever-cautious Hunter did not become complacent because of that.
After all, there were still non-combatants like Shirahoshi and Haibara Meow on their ship. So calm as he was, certain preparations still had to be made.
After petting the cats for a while, Sherwin gathered Hua Mei Meow, Seijuro Meow, Char Meow, and several other cats with relatively high combat power to discuss their battle arrangements.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't really a battle plan—just an assignment of everyone respective protection duties, and…
Making sure those few little troublemaking cats wouldn't get carried away in a fight and fall into the enemy trap.
While Sherwin and the others continued to sail leisurely according to their plan, those great pirates who had received the news—especially those who possessed Poneglyphs, or had rubbings left behind from them—also began to take action one after another.
…
On Cake Island in Totto Land, Charlotte Linlin gathered together with her many children.
"Mamamamama… Back then, for Morgan sake, I didn't bother with that audacious little brat. Now is just the right time to settle the old score as well."
Charlotte Linlin swept her gaze over the Sweet Commanders, of whom only two remained now, and finally fixed her eyes on the "greatest masterpiece of the Charlotte Family."
"Katakuri, go bring Nico Robin, that Hunter, and all those Felynes under his command who know how to cook back here together. This time, I don't want to hear any more news of failure."
"Understood, Mama. I won't disappoint you."
"Ma ma ma ma ma!" Charlotte Linlin clearly trusted Katakuri, her strongest son.
She nodded in satisfaction, then put on a terrifying yet slightly childish smile and cheerfully shouted, "Then, let eat!"
With Long Bread at the lead, the chefs of Totto Land swiftly carried in all kinds of delicious food.
Charlotte Linlin immediately focused all her attention on the feast, while Katakuri, who had always preferred to dine alone, quietly left the place.
"Brother Katakuri!" Cracker chased after him.
"Please take me along on this mission! I must wash away my former shame and reclaim my 'salt-and-pepper pretzel' from that Hunter!"
"Fine."
Katakuri nodded. In truth, even if Cracker had not asked, he had already planned to bring him along this time.
"I'll give you a chance to redeem yourself. But if you still cannot defeat him…"
"Then I will know when to retreat and will not cause any obstruction to this mission!" Cracker immediately swore.
Besides Cracker, Pekoms, the lion mink who had pledged his allegiance to the Big Mom Pirates, also wanted to act together with Katakuri this time.
However, considering that not long ago Pekoms had pleaded with Mama for mercy because several other minks had stolen a Road Poneglyph, and fearing that he might again act on impulse because of the Felynes on the Hunter ship, Katakuri ultimately refused him.
"This matter is something Mama takes very seriously, so you'd better not act on your own." After foreseeing Pekoms next move with Observation Haki, Katakuri immediately warned him, "Don't force me to kill you myself!"
Pekoms, who had originally planned to sneak onto the ship, could only give up in regret, while praying that those never-before-met "kinsmen" of his would behave themselves and follow Katakuri back without resisting.
…
On Onigashima in the Land of Wano, Kaido of the Beasts was once again in the middle of a drunken rampage.
"Everyone, run! The Governor has gotten drunk again!"
The Beast Pirates member who had intended to report the news about Nico Robin was now busy fleeing for his life.
"Waaaaah! My foolish son! Why can't he understand my good intentions no matter what!"
While chugging alcohol for himself, Kaido swung his kanabo, "Hassaikai," smashing everything around him into pieces.
"I might as well just die!"
After crying and throwing a tantrum for a while, Kaido seemed to come up with some "brilliant" idea for suicide.
He directly transformed into a blue dragon, shot straight into the sky, shattered the ceiling, and in the blink of an eye flew off to who knew where.
The members of the Beast Pirates were long used to their captain behavior. They let out a long breath of relief, then began cleaning up the mess.
On the other side, the Beast Pirates member who had rushed over to deliver the intelligence skillfully handed Robin information directly to the All-Stars, King and Queen.
As for the remaining All-Star, Jack…
He had always abstained from participating in the Beast Pirate decision-making and was only responsible for fighting.
"The sole survivor of Ohara who can decipher the Poneglyphs?" King quickly made his decision.
"Send the Flying Six… No, it possible others have also received the news. Jack, make a trip yourself. Remember—capture her alive. But if you can't seize Nico Robin, then kill her outright, so no one can have her!"
Jack silently nodded, then moved decisively to rally his subordinates.
…
On Hachinosu Island.
Wang Zhi looked at the information delivered by his subordinate and fell into deep thought.
As a former member of the Rocks Pirates—and even a high-ranking officer at that—Wang Zhi was extremely displeased that he had been overtaken by juniors like Linlin, Kaido, and Shanks. But he also knew that he truly could not defeat them.
Even so, Wang Zhi still harbored the ambition of becoming the Pirate King.
However, a very realistic problem lay before him: if he were to seize Nico Robin, Linlin and Kaido—who had refrained from attacking him out of past ties—would no longer continue to coexist peacefully with him.
And either one of them alone was more than his Hachinosu Island could withstand.
But to give up just like that made Wang Zhi unbearably unwilling.
So was there a way to seize Nico Robin without being discovered by the others?
The answer was naturally yes.
Because among Wang Zhi subordinates, there was a rather special Devil Fruit user hidden away.
"Triff, I have an important mission for you!"