After sailing for a while, the fleet finally docked at an island called Gules, which was also the venue of the trade fair.
According to the map Sherwin had collected, the island of Gules was considered one of the larger islands in the entire West Blue.
Under the control of the mafia, a nation had even been established here. Although due to certain affiliations it hadn’t beco an official mber state, with the backing of those mafia groups behind it, there weren’t many clueless pirates who dared to stir up trouble here.
Although there were still a few days before the trade fair officially began, rchants who had arrived early had already started selling so of their less important goods in the city. Even though Cody was forced to attend, he still brought so goods along and had his subordinates sell them.
As for himself, he brought Bucks, Sherwin, and a few other experts, and checked into an inn in the city.
"Uncle Cody, can I take Klee and them out for a walk?" After settling down in the inn, Sherwin ca to the employer with a helpless face, flanked by two excited cat-cats.
He really did want to carry out his duty as a guard, but he had been pestered endlessly by the two cat-cats—more precisely, by Klee ow—so he had no choice but to co and symbolically ask the employer.
After all, in Sherwin view, there was no way Uncle Cody would agree to such an unreasonable request.
As expected, even before Cody could refuse, Bucks on the side already scolded him: "Sherwin, you’re currently a guard hired by Mr. Cody!"
Although he had a good relationship with Sherwin, Bucks was, first and foremost, a competent steward.
So after hearing Sherwin request, his previously kind deanor disappeared instantly and he beca stern. "What kind of guard leaves his employer behind to go wander around!"
After saying that, Bucks even cast a glance at Klee ow beside Sherwin. Though he didn’t speak further, Sherwin understood exactly what that glance ant—
Not only was he not staying by Mr. Cody side to protect him, but he was also dragging around a cat-cat that could very well provoke the mafia—Sherwin was really doing a poor job as a guard.
"See? Told you it wouldn’t work." Sherwin spread his hands toward Klee ow beside him.
He never really intended to take the cat-cats out anyway, but he also didn’t want to upset Klee ow. Now that Uncle Bucks had jumped in to take the bla, he had an excuse to keep Klee ow from running around.
"Uu..."
Klee ow imdiately drooped her ears, her fluffy little face looking pitiful, but although she seed a bit disappointed, she didn’t keep insisting on going out.
Seeing the little furball like this, Sherwin almost wavered. Fortunately, he still valued professional ethics, so he could only coax her gently:
"Let wait until the trade fair is over, then we’ll go have fun, okay?"
"I don’t think that very good," the one who spoke up unexpectedly was Cody. With a smile on his face, he said,
"Since Klee wants to go out and have fun, then Sherwin, you go ahead and take her for a walk."
"Mr. Cody?" Bucks looked at him in surprise.
Cody waved his hand and said, "It fine. This inn belongs to the Buono family. They wouldn’t risk ruining their own reputation. Besides, even if the mafia has so kind of sche, the trade fair hasn’t officially started yet. The guests they invited haven’t all arrived, so they wouldn’t risk alerting anyone at this stage."
"But..." Bucks hesitated for a mont and didn’t continue, though his eyes once again glanced toward Klee ow.
Even Sherwin had a "Are you sure you want to do this?" expression on his face.
Indeed, Uncle Cody analysis made a lot of sense, but all of it was based on the assumption that Sherwin and the others wouldn’t provoke the mafia controlling the island once they went out.
That assumption was practically impossible, because in the eyes of those mafia groups, Klee ow and Sanji ow were basically walking stacks of Beli. It was impossible for no conflict to arise.
"That not sothing to worry too much about either," everything Sherwin and Bucks could think of, Cody naturally had considered as well. But he acted completely unconcerned.
"In order to successfully hold this trade fair, the mafia will definitely restrain themselves before it officially begins. Besides..."
He paused, the smile on his face deepening. "I also want you all to go and test their real attitude and intentions."
In fact, even without Sherwin and the others, Cody would have found a way to have soone do a bit of probing. Kind as he may seem, anyone who could grow their business to this scale clearly didn’t lack strategy.
And among all the mbers of the trade caravan, Sherwin and his cat-cats were undoubtedly the best candidates—whether for baiting soone in or for their actual combat strength.
After Uncle Cody explanation, Sherwin and Bucks more or less understood what he had in mind. Bucks was still a little concerned, but Sherwin wasn’t too bothered. After all, this was a request from Cody as the employer—he just needed to follow orders as the bodyguard...
And while he was at it, he could also see if he could find a good blade to unlock the weapon compendium.
Just as Sherwin was making plans, Uncle Cody once again ca through in the nick of ti... handing over the remaining half of the paynt to Sherwin.
"Since you’re taking Klee and Sanji out to have fun, it always good to bring so extra money." Cody looked kindly at Klee ow, who was already cheering, and said this to Sherwin.
Ahem... anyway, well-behaved Klee ow wouldn’t spend that much.
...
"There are three major powers pulling the strings behind this country. Besides the Buono family that Mr. Cody ntioned earlier, there also the Capone family and the Simuent family."
Before Sherwin and the others left the inn, Bucks gave a serious briefing: "There are other mafia groups in the city too, but these three are the ones you really don’t want to ss with, so try not to get into conflict with them."
Hearing a familiar na out of the blue, Sherwin instinctively raised an eyebrow.
As expected, that Capone-sothing super rookie really was from the West Blue.
Since he had already suspected as much before, Sherwin wasn’t particularly surprised—just raising an eyebrow counted as paying respect to a character from the original story.
Bucks glanced at the little plush cat beside Sherwin who was clearly itching to run off already, sighed helplessly, and continued his instructions:
"Even if it does co to a fight, try to hold back a bit. At least leave so room for negotiation afterward."
He knew very well that it wasn’t realistic to completely keep Klee ow under control, so all he could do was emphasize it again with a sigh...
"At the very least, don’t blow up the whole street like you did back in Colored Paper Town."
"Klee, did you hear that?" Sherwin gently knocked on Klee ow little head.
"Yeeees~" The little plush cat stretched out her words and wrinkled her nose in annoyance. "Klee knows you’re not supposed to set off bombs in the city, ow."
"Then why did you set one off last ti?" Sherwin turned his head and widened his eyes at her.
Klee ow widened her eyes right back at him, just as surprised. "It was Sherwin-nii who told Klee to go for it, ow!"
Sherwin mouth twitched. He really must’ve been out of his mind back then—why did he tell Klee ow to make a move? Even if it wasn’t convenient to draw Longsword at the ti, with his skills he could’ve easily snatched up a random weapon on the spot...
It all the cat fault—too cute, totally clouded my judgnt.
Sherwin sighed and stubbornly tried to cover up his mistake: "You didn’t have to use bombs... Besides, I did tell you to go easy."
"You said it too slow! Klee had already thrown the bomb by then, ow!" Klee ow retorted, sounding completely justified. "And you never said bombs weren’t allowed, ow!"
"That right, ow! This is totally not Klee-chan fault. It all Sherwin the dummy fault for not explaining properly, ow!"
Just like always, Sanji ow had no hesitation picking Klee ow side.
Tch...
Little cats were super cute, but when they acted out, they could really get under your skin...
If only next ti he could summon a more mature Felyne... then he could dump the whole "discipline the little troublemaker" task onto them.
A certain unscrupulous monster hunter rubbed his chin and side-eyed Sanji ow, who was currently yowling at his feet.
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