Just as Sherwin and the others were welcoming their new companion...
To be more precise, even before they had departed from Wano, the latest issue of the World Economic Journal had already been spread across the entire ocean by the News Birds.
Previously, everyone only knew that Kaido had been defeated by Sherwin. However, as Morgans, who possessed "insider information," revealed the details of that battle to the public, nearly everyone was shocked.
"Two... two Kaidos?!!"
"Does that mean there are two Emperor-level figures within the Felyne Investigation Team?!"
"Don't forget about 'The Escaping Sun' who truly caused Kaido retreat and blew off one of his horns!"
"Fortunately, the Hunter isn't a pirate in fact, he just like before, still cracking down on other pirates."
"But he also wanted by the World Government, so he definitely isn't a good person!"
"Has the World Government not framed enough people? Besides, the crime the Hunter is wanted for is..."
"Shhh! Do you want to die?"
The concept of the Five Emperors was far too distant for the vast majority of common folk, so most treated it as nothing more than idle gossip after a meal.
The ones truly paying attention to this information were the major, world-renowned powers across the seas...
"Hahahaha! Sherwin really went and did it!"
Shanks, who had known of Sherwin intentions long ago, laughed out loud as he looked at the newspaper.
"What a shame I couldn't see the battle between two Kaidos. That must have been quite interesting."
Benn Beckman, on the other hand, stared at the massive "Ringo Inland Sea" shown in the paper, clicking his tongue in wonder.
"I didn't expect that little Klee Meow, as cute as she is, could actually create such a terrifying weapon..."
The other members of the Red-Haired Pirates all voiced their agreement.
The charm of the little angel Klee Meow naturally went without saying. During their time with the Felyne Investigation Team, every single member of the Red-Haired Pirates had grown incredibly fond of the little Ragdoll.
Perhaps only Suika Meow, who could provide fine sake, could compete with her in terms of popularity.
Although they had long known that Klee Meow was a user of the Logia-type Flame-Flame Fruit, the fact that she could injure Kaido with a single bomb was still far beyond their expectations and imagination.
After all, the Red-Haired Pirates had clashed with the Beast Pirates more than once or twice, yet aside from Captain Shanks and Vice-Captain Benn Beckman, no one else could leave even a scratch on Kaido, let alone break off one of his horns.
It was at this moment that Lucky Roux, the cook of the Red-Haired Pirates, suddenly remembered something...
Then, under the astonished gazes of the others, he dropped the meat on the bone that almost never left his hand and began fumbling around his body with his greasy hands.
A moment later, Lucky Roux pulled a small red-and-white ball with a cute design from the depths of his pocket.
"That... this is a 'little gift' little Klee gave me. She said if I ever encountered an enemy I couldn't beat, I should squeeze it hard for ten seconds and then throw it..."
Trembling, he held the Jumpy Dumpty (Compressed Version) gifted by Klee Meow in his palm and told everyone about its origin.
"You idiot! Why didn't you say earlier that you were carrying something so dangerous?!"
Except for Shanks, the members of the Red-Haired Pirates retreated ten meters away from Lucky Roux in the blink of an eye, and even the usually composed Benn Beckman was no exception.
Lucky Roux, however, had a perfectly valid excuse: "I didn't know little Klee could make something so terrifying!"
Only Shanks, with his immense skill and bold heart, stepped forward nonchalantly to pick up the Jumpy Dumpty: Compressed.
He patted Lucky Roux on the shoulder and began mocking everyone with broad taunts, "Hahahaha! You bunch of cowards, Klee Meow is so well-behaved, how could she give such a dangerous bomb to Lucky? The power of this little thing definitely can't be that strong."
As he spoke, he curiously squeezed the round, "cloth-made doll" in his hand...
"Did Klee Meow really tell you to use this against enemies? I don't feel like this thing is a bomb at all?"
"That really what she said. Otherwise, why don't you give it a try, Captain?"
Although Lucky Roux felt that his captain made a lot of sense, once he thought about those Felynes around Sherwin who were each more extraordinary than the last, he decided to play it safe. So, while egging Shanks on, he retreated back to the side of his other crewmates.
"Honestly, you guys are far too timid."
After squeezing it for ten seconds, Shanks casually tossed it forward.
The compressed version of the Jumpy Dumpty inherited the characteristics of the original, dutifully hopping forward a few times after hitting the ground.
"Hahahaha! See, isn't this just a toy..."
"BOOM—!!!"
Before Shanks could finish his sentence, the Jumpy Dumpty: Compressed suddenly exploded.
"Captain—!"
"Not good! Boss is almost finished!"
"Where the doctor? Doctor, save him quickly!"
"Dammit! So Sherwin actually found something this good back on Punk Hazard? I should have forced them to stay!"
BIG MOM had lost count of how many times she had regretted that decision. When she looked up, intending to vent her frustration on her "useless" daughters once again, she found only her eldest son, Perospero, and second son, Katakuri, present.
Upon seeing the newspaper, Katakuri hadn't even needed his future-seeing Observation Haki to guess what BIG MOM would do, so he had ushered all his younger siblings away early on.
Unable to release her anger, BIG MOM grew restless, her gaze gradually becoming dangerous.
Fortunately, Streusen chose that moment to wheel in a cart of snacks, instantly diverting her attention.
Perospero and Katakuri exchanged a glance, both secretly breathing a sigh of relief.
Taking advantage of BIG MOM improved mood brought on by the food, Perospero quickly spoke up.
"There is no need to worry, Mama. Don't we still have a decent relationship with Sherwin? Besides, he promised to translate the Poneglyphs for us. Even if we couldn't keep him in Totto Land, we can still continue to improve our ties with him, lick."
Katakuri chimed in as well. "That right, Mama. This year Tea Party is approaching soon we can just send Sherwin another invitation then. Our sisters are all so lovely—if we try a few more times, we're bound to capture Sherwin heart eventually."
"Ma-ma-ma-ma... you two have a point."
BIG MOM licked the food residue off her fingers, easily swayed by her two sons.
"By the way, since Vegapunk is so formidable, do we have a chance to capture him and bring him to Totto Land?"
Like Kaido, BIG MOM had set her sights on Vegapunk, and she smacked her lips with a hint of regret.
"I shouldn't have killed that scientist who lied to me so easily... He used to work with Vegapunk, didn't he?"
"We can ask Feld didn't he used to fund Vegapunk?" Perospero suggested immediately.
"Exactly! Exactly! Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma! Katakuri, contact Feld, right now!"
"Yes, Mama."
"Gurarararara! Those cat-mink tribe members under kid Sherwin command are truly something else!"
Whitebeard laughed heartily as he put down the newspaper in his hand and picked up the giant sake barrel beside him...
Carefully, he took a tiny sip.
That brat Sherwin! He has no sense at all! The small amount of Ibuki Sake he left last time was nowhere near enough! If he hadn't been stingy and rationed it out, it would have been gone long ago!
After a moment of resentful grumbling in his head, Whitebeard face quickly broke into a grin again.
Although he couldn't bring himself to ask Sherwin for Ibuki Sake directly because he had to maintain his dignity, he now had a perfectly reasonable excuse—Izo and Ace were clamoring to go to Wano to check on the situation.
So, along the way, the Whitebeard Pirates had not only refrained from hiding their tracks but were making a grand spectacle of it, precisely because they wanted Sherwin to know they were heading toward Wano so he wouldn't leave too quickly.
While the members of the Whitebeard Pirates gathered together to discuss Sherwin and his Felynes, Teach was clutching the newspaper with a heavy expression...
If Vegapunk could achieve the replication of Devil Fruits, was there still any point in him waiting bitterly for the Dark-Dark Fruit within the Whitebeard Pirates?
Although the Dark-Dark Fruit was extremely special, if he could replicate the powers of Whitebeard or Kaido, he wouldn't necessarily need the Dark-Dark Fruit!
Teach suddenly felt that his decades of lying low within the Whitebeard Pirates were somewhat wasted.
However, he quickly pulled himself together again...
He could totally use the strength of the Whitebeard Pirates to find a way to kidnap this Vegapunk fellow!
As for the reason, it was simple—
"Zehahahahaha! Pops, since that Vegapunk is so incredible, why don't we go find him and have him treat your illness?!"
And so, following Big Mom and Kaido, the future "Blackbeard" Marshall D. Teach had also quietly set his sights on Vegapunk.