Though they had switched to automatic navigation during this period, Lord Huamei sailing skills had not dulled in the slightest.
Under her command, even without using cat-powered propulsion, the Dodo Advance still quickly caught up to the pirate ship that was fleeing ahead.
"What pirate crew is that?"
As the distance between the two ships closed, Sherwin finally saw the pirate flag flying on the other vessel.
Mm… as expected, he didn't recognize it at all.
So Sherwin could only turn his head and ask Nico Robin, who was also skilled in intelligence work.
After identifying it for a moment, Robin shook her head as well. "No impression. They're probably pirates who've only just gone to sea and haven't made any kind of name for themselves yet."
While they were speaking, the Dodo Advance had already caught up to the unknown pirates. Under Huamei Meow command and Kaido Meow control, the Dodo Advance performed a gorgeous drift across the sea, cutting in front of the pirate ship and forcing it to stop.
"Seven minutes and twenty-six seconds! Huamei big sister, mission accomplished, meow!"
∠(=ΦωΦ=)
Sanji Meow immediately reported to Lord Huamei.
After enjoying a bit of high-speed sailing, Huamei Meow was in an excellent mood. She even took the initiative to pat Sanji Meow on the head, making the little yellow cat so happy that snot bubbles nearly popped out of his nose.
After placing the Dodo Advance, who disliked strangers, onto a chair, Sherwin walked to the ship rail and shouted toward the pirate ship, "Where your captain? Tell him to come out!"
"Y-you don't be so arrogant! A Warlord isn't— isn't anything special! We're subordinates of Whitebeard, one of the Four Emperors!"
A chubby-looking guy, so fat you could hardly see his neck, was shoved to the bow of the ship. Putting on a fierce face while trembling inside, he shouted at Sherwin.
"Oh? What a coincidence. I was just planning to go look for Whitebeard," Sherwin raised an eyebrow. "But… I don't think Whitebeard subordinates would be as cowardly as you lot."
"I'm terribly sorry! I lied just now!"
With a thud, the fat man dropped to his knees, prostrating himself flat on the deck as he begged for mercy. "We're just a group of small-time pirates who only recently set sail! We don't have any bounties on us. Please, Hunter, spare us!"
Behind him, that motley crew of ugly, mismatched sailors all knelt down as well.
"Enough. I wasn't planning to do anything to you in the first place," Sherwin said, having no interest in such small fry. He waved his hand and continued, "I'm just here to ask for directions. What the nearest island from here? And do you know where the Whitebeard Pirates are right now?"
"We do, we do! The Whitebeard Pirates invaded our homeland not long ago! We had no choice but to flee and become pirates!"
The fat man spouted nonsense without even blinking, while the pirates behind him all chimed in. A few particularly talented ones even started putting on a crying act.
What a bunch of prodigies.
Because their story was so absurd, Sherwin couldn't even work up the energy to get angry.
Of course, that was only because Sherwin had a certain understanding of Whitebeard. That was why he found their excuse so ridiculous. If their target had been ordinary civilians, or even some members of the Navy, they might actually have managed to fool quite a few people.
Wait a second… this fat guy looks kind of familiar…
Sherwin, who had been watching the farce like a circus show, suddenly took a closer look at the fat man who was presumably the captain…
Isn't this the damn guy who would later impersonate Luffy at the Sabaody Archipelago?!
Even though Sherwin couldn't remember his name, that appearance was far too distinctive. So even though he had only shown up briefly in the manga, Sherwin still recognized him at a glance.
How should he put it… the difference between this guy and Usopp was probably just that he never joined the Straw Hat crew, and that he didn't have a Red-Haired Pirates sniper for a father…
After being speechless for a moment, Sherwin finally spoke up and cut off their performance. "If you don't start telling the truth, then prepare to sleep here forever."
The moment those words fell, the pirates who had been "getting into the mood," huddled together and crying their hearts out, instantly fell silent.
"We're sorry! We lied again just now!"
That bunch of clowns dropped to their knees before Sherwin once more, loudly begging for mercy. "The truth is, on the last island we were on, we only saw the Whitebeard Pirate fleet from far away, and then we immediately ran for our lives!"
"Mm… this time it actually sounds pretty real…"
Sherwin rubbed his chin, then said, "But I don't trust you anymore. Originally, I only needed you to hand over your Log Pose. But now, you'll have to personally lead me to Whitebeard."
Demaro Black face instantly turned pale. He didn't dare disobey Sherwin, and at the same time he regretted his habitual lying even more.
There was one thing he hadn't lied about, though—that they really were just a group of small-time pirates who had only recently set sail. So at this point, Black was still very timid. Normally, he only dared to brag in front of his own crew or civilians who didn't know any better. He was nowhere near the version of himself who would later dare to impersonate Luffy and openly recruit other pirates.
Sherwin didn't care whether he was brave or not. In any case, this guy wasn't anything good. If he couldn't lead them to Whitebeard, then Sherwin would just kill him along the way.
And if they did find him… ''
He would simply tell Whitebeard all the lies he had told before whether he could survive or not would depend entirely on Whitebeard mood.
Danmaro Black had no idea what Sherwin was planning, so he could only lead the way ahead with a gloomy expression…
"Don't even think about taking me in circles. If I don't see an island or anyone from the Whitebeard Pirates by the end of today, I'll throw all of you into the sea to feed the fish."
Sherwin warning made Black and his men dare not harbor any other thoughts. To save time, the people on their ship even picked up the oars on their own and rowed with all their strength.
Thanks to the efforts of Black group, Sherwin and the others soon saw the silhouette of an island in the distance.
As they gradually drew closer, the Whitebeard Pirate massive whale-shaped main ship, the Moby Dick, as well as three slightly smaller escort ships, appeared before Sherwin eyes.
"Th-then… we can leave now, right?"
Danmaro Black asked cautiously.
Whether Sherwin was going to challenge Whitebeard or had some other purpose had nothing to do with a small fry like him. After confirming that Whitebeard and his crew had not yet left the island, the still-timid Black intended to make his escape.
"That won't do!" Sherwin said with a straight face as he spouted nonsense. "Who knows if those ships are something you prepared to trick me? I have to actually see Whitebeard for myself!"
"…"
Black fell silent for a moment, then turned around and jumped straight off the ship.
Fond of bragging and lying as he was, he had naturally guessed Sherwin intentions, so he chose to abandon ship without the slightest hesitation…
At the very least, falling into the sea still offered a chance to survive.
His subordinates were also quite sharp. Seeing Black jump ship, they all followed suit, leaping into the sea one after another like dumplings being dropped into a pot.
Sherwin thought about it and did not stop them. After all, they had guided him here, so he could not be bothered to hunt them down to the last man.
However…
"Klee."
"Oh—!"
(=`=)
The little ragdoll two paws rapidly flailed about in front of her for a moment, and then—
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique, meow!"
Raging flames engulfed the pirate ship that Black and his men had abandoned, and within just a few breaths it was burned completely to ashes.
With such a huge commotion, it was naturally impossible for the Whitebeard Pirates not to notice. Sherwin soon felt several sharp gazes cast over from afar.
"Let go. We'll go meet the strongest man in this world."