"It not like we're heading to any special place," Sherwin said.
"It just that relying only on sailing on the surface sometimes feels too limiting. So I was thinking of modifying the Dodo Advance into a ship that can adapt to all kinds of situations."
Since Kalifa was always by Iceburg side, Sherwin naturally couldn't tell the truth—he couldn't let the World Government know his movements.
But his words weren't a complete lie either. Aside from the flying function, Sherwin crew had later suggested adding "land travel," "diving," and "tunneling" capabilities to the Dodo Advance.
And after watching The Sea Warrior: Sora, Klee Meow had become obsessed with giving the ship transformation abilities. Purah Meow had successfully incorporated all these requests into the new Dodo Advance design.
"By the way, I found a new companion in the Kingdom of Alabasta," Sherwin said proudly as he lifted up Little kitty to show Iceburg.
"I think Purah talent in ship design is in no way inferior to yours."
While showing off Purah Meow, Sherwin was also deliberately feeding Kalifa misleading information—that his clash with Crocodile had little to do with Nico Robin, and instead was because of Purah Meow, the "lost" companion they had reunited with.
Of course, a roundabout scheme like this wasn't something Sherwin—whose talent points were basically invested in cat-teasing and pranks—could have come up with.
It was actually devised by the farsighted Lord Tiger and the clever Haibara Meow.
Whether Kalifa or the other CP9 agents would fall for it, Sherwin didn't know, but saying an extra line cost him nothing.
"This really is an astonishing design…" Iceburg, after studying the blueprint in his hands, didn't think Sherwin was exaggerating.
"I've never imagined that a ship could be designed like this. Miss Purah talent is truly admirable."
Iceburg reaction was natural. After all, he specialized only in shipbuilding. But Purah Meow blueprint was no longer just a ship—it was a vehicle that could operate on water, land, and in the air.
What more, it included elements from the Monster Hunter world and applications of Germa technology. There were many techniques and concepts in it that Iceburg had never encountered before.
It was precisely because of this that there were some things in the blueprints he wasn't sure about…
"…Right now I can't tell you for certain whether there are problems with this ship design, because there are principles and design concepts inside that I just can't understand," Iceburg said truthfully, then looked at Purah Meow in Sherwin arms.
"So, could you explain these designs to me in detail? I won't take advantage of you for free. The labor and materials required for the refit of the new Dodo Advance will all be covered by the Galley-La Company!"
For Iceburg, being able to study—even just to gain some understanding of—the design concepts within the new Dodo Advance was far more valuable than earning a few hundred million Berries. He was even willing to pay money just to take part in the refit of the new ship.
Naturally, Sherwin didn't really mind such things, but he still asked Purah Meow and Haibara Meow for their opinions, since the blueprints had been jointly created by the two of them.
"What do you think?"
"Being able to exchange ideas with the best shipbuilding company in this world would also be a huge help to me, meow! Check-it~"
(ゝω)~☆
Purah Meow wasn't at all worried about others learning her techniques, because she believed that under the same conditions, she could always do better than anyone else.
Haibara Meow had no objections either…
After all, the technology came from Germa, stolen by her. Even if someone else picked it up, she wouldn't feel any heartache.
What more, Germa core technology lay in the Bloodline Factor. The technologies applied on the new Dodo Advance were just scraps derived from Germa combat suits and weapon designs.
That said, Sherwin wasn't without caution. They already knew there was a group of CP9 hidden within the Galley-La Company,
so naturally they wouldn't allow Galley-La people to participate in the entire refit of the Dodo Advance. Some of the more important parts would definitely be handled by themselves.
Iceburg could understand this as well. After all, what he mainly wanted to learn was the overall design philosophy. As for specific technical details, he didn't particularly care.
In fact, when it came to shipbuilding, Galley-La would often directly purchase finished products for things like weapon systems, interior facilities, and propulsion systems.
Over the next stretch of time, Sherwin and his group directly stayed at the Galley-La shipyard, working together with the shipwrights there as well as several CP9 members to carry out the refit of the Dodo Advance.
During the period of the ship modification, Sherwin also took the time to make a trip to Franky House.
It wasn't that he had suddenly regained interest in Pluton, but rather that he wanted to see whether those two King Yagara Bulls had joined the Franky Family or not.
Fortunately, this time Sherwin finally got to see the two King Yagara Bulls named Sodom and Gomorrah.
However, compared to the gigantic forms they had in the manga, the current Sodom and Gomorrah weren't very big at all— they weren't even as large as medium-sized Yagara Bulls, the kind about the size of a shark.
In other words…
These two fellows had grown from bodies of no more than five meters at most into forms over ten meters, even more than twenty meters in length, in just two or three short years.
Yeah, truly the wondrous world of One Piece.
Although their size hadn't yet reached its peak, the Hunter Notes still recognized Sodom and Gomorrah,
since they were named creatures with significant presence. Sherwin happily received a Monster Pouch fragment.
But still—only one fragment for two King Yagara Bulls? This stingy handbook was as miserly as ever!
Back at the shipyard, although the Galley-La shipwrights really wanted to get closer to the cats,
considering that Robin couldn't be wrapped up in a catsuit all day long—and in that form she couldn't even eat—most of the Felynes stayed with Robin most of the time,
deliberately putting on an air of not wanting to interact with others, except for the restless Klee Meow and Purah Meow, who often needed to communicate with the shipwrights.
Because of this, Klee Meow and Purah Meow had practically become celebrities within Galley-La.
From Iceburg at the top to the receptionists at the front desk, everyone adored the two adorable Felynes.
Purah Meow even managed, through the people of Galley-La, to stir up a craze in Water 7 of saying "Check-it!"—to the point that even Franky was influenced by it…
"Super~~~ Check-it!"
While out shopping for ingredients with Sanji Meow, Sherwin once again ran into Franky and the Square Sisters, who were busy showing off around Water 7.
Franky strange and gaudy poses were already an eyesore. But once he mixed in Purah Meow "Check-it," they became even more unbearable.
"Sherwin, can I kick that idiot to death, meow?! Purah big sister adorable move has been completely ruined by him, meow!"
(==*)
Sanji Meow glared resentfully at the cyborg pervert who was posing cutely on a rooftop, his body gradually starting to spark with blue electricity.
But then Sherwin dragged him away…
"Sherwin, let me go! I'm going to kick that bastard who destroyed Purah big sister beautiful image, meow!"
The little yellow cat struggled furiously, kicking his tiny legs toward the distant Franky.
Fortunately, even though Sanji Meow made a fuss, he still knew his limits—he didn't recklessly unleash his "Day Tiger" kick at Franky.
With the equipment and manpower support of the Galley-La Company, the brand new Dodo Advance was completed in no time.
On the outside, the ship appearance hadn't changed much. But don't forget—this new version of the Dodo Advance could transform!
Moreover, since it needed to adapt to different terrains, the new Dodo Advance wasn't limited to just one form.
Purah Meow really followed Klee Meow request and designed it based on the ship from Warriors of the Sea: Sora.
Ironically, in a bit of dark humor, when Purah Meow was working on the transformation functions, she actually referenced a lot of technology from the Germa Kingdom snail ships that could combine into "territory."
But in any case, the Dodo Advance was fully remodeled. Next, according to their original plan, it was time to head to Skypiea and try their luck at drawing the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
Just as they were about to leave Water 7, an old acquaintance suddenly appeared before Sherwin…