"There a Mink Tribe and even Zou?! There actually such an amazing place in this world?!"
After listening to Klee Meow explanation about the Sulong form, Chopper immediately revealed a look of longing.
Because he had eaten the Human-Human Fruit, he was neither accepted by the reindeer nor regarded as human, instead being treated as a monster by most people. So after learning that Zou existed as a homeland belonging to "beastmen," he naturally wanted to see it for himself.
"There also Fish-Man Island! That big sister Shirahoshi hometown, meow!"
(=`=)σ
The little kitten pointed at Shirahoshi not far away, proudly introducing her to Chopper.
"So mermaids really do exist! And she huge!"
It seemed Chopper had only just noticed Shirahoshi tail. His jaw dropped so far in shock it was practically about to hit the ground.
At that moment, Sherwin walked over and directly picked up Chopper, who had already returned to his usual small form.
Perhaps because of the Felynes, he didn't hide from Sherwin like he had in the manga. Although his body was still a little stiff, he obediently let Sherwin hold him.
"Doctor Kureha, this little guy… isn't a Mink, is he?"
After "examining" him for a while, Sherwin asked knowingly.
"No. In fact, I only learned about the Mink Tribe after seeing your news in the newspaper."
Kureha shook her head and replied, "Chopper is actually just an ordinary reindeer who ate the Human-Human Fruit."
"So it a Devil Fruit, huh? That not interesting at all, meow…"
(=3=)
Only then did Klee Meow belatedly realize what was going on with Chopper three forms. The little kitten enthusiasm visibly deflated.
There were already several Zoan users in their investigation team. It was just that Kaido Meow rarely switched forms, and Sherry, Vermouth, and Gin didn't have so-called human-beast forms at all—only elemental forms and elemental beast forms—so Klee Meow hadn't reacted right away.
Meanwhile, Sherwin continued pinching here and rubbing there on Chopper. With his innate talent "Friend of the Furry" working together with the divine technique Cat Hand of Kato Meow, even Chopper, who wasn't good at interacting with humans, was quickly won over by the Hunter.
However, at that moment, Sherwin shook his head and put Chopper back down.
"The feel isn't as good as my cats at home, and there aren't any paw pads to squeeze… though these antlers do feel pretty nice."
As he gave that evaluation, he casually stroked Chopper antlers, then picked up Klee Meow beside him and squeezed her soft pink little paw pads.
Chopper: ???
"You're one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Stop teasing our silly little guy."
Kureha, who already treated Chopper like her own son, couldn't stand it anymore. She walked over, picked up her little reindeer, and shot Sherwin a fierce glare.
It was only because she still didn't know Sherwin well and was somewhat wary of his status as one of the Seven Warlords. If it had been someone else, Kureha would have already kicked him.
Now that they had met Chopper, Sherwin and the others took their leave after Robin asked two more questions. Kureha merely waved them off casually, but Chopper was clearly reluctant to see them go.
After all, it was his first time meeting so many "beastmen" similar to himself.
"Don't worry. We'll come by again in a few days. I'll introduce a few more new cats to you then."
Sherwin patted Chopper antlers and promised.
Klee Meow, crouching on Sherwin shoulder, nodded her little head and added, "And big sister Haibara Meow is a doctor too! You'll definitely become good friends, meow!"
(=´=)
"Doctor ! Did you hear that? Besides me, there are other 'non-human who've become doctors!"
Kureha looked at Chopper, who had already begun looking forward to meeting Sherwin and the others again, and let out a complicated sigh.
And then…
"Be quiet! You stupid reindeer!"
Kureha smashed her fist down on Chopper head, forcing him—who had been jumping up and down in excitement—to clutch his head and quiet down.
"Have you finished processing the herbs we gathered today?! And you still have time to run around here?!"
After Chopper went off rubbing his head to deal with the herbs, Kureha took another hard swig of alcohol and let out another complicated sigh.
…
On the other side, after Sherwin left Kureha treehouse, he didn't even make it out of the forest before pulling out the Hunter Handbook and quickly flipping to the page that recorded Shirahoshi, Sherry, and Zunesha…
But he didn't see Chopper figure.
That made sense. Even though Chopper would be a member of the future protagonist crew, he was still just a reindeer who had eaten the Human-Human Fruit, It really wasn't appropriate to put him together with Shirahoshi and the others.
But if that was the case… the probability of obtaining fragments would be much lower…
So Sherwin first rubbed Klee Meow little head, then flipped the Hunter Handbook back to the page of the small monster field guide.
"Tch!"
I should've rubbed Klee Meow little head before taking out the Hunter Handbook…
Not seeing the familiar white light, Sherwin sighed inwardly.
Still unwilling to give up, he deliberately opened the "Reindeer" entry in the field guide to take a look.
After all, like Shirahoshi, it was possible that Chopper might need to be "captured" before being recorded.
However, regrettably, the minimum size listed under "Reindeer" had already been updated. In other words, Chopper had in fact already been recorded by the Hunter Handbook… as an ordinary reindeer.
"Tch!"
With his last sliver of hope shattered, Sherwin clicked his tongue again and stuffed the Hunter Handbook hard back into his waist pouch.
…
"Huh? You want me to take Chopper away?"
A few days later, after Haibara Meow and Purah Meow had finished their exchange at "Doctor 20," Sherwin immediately brought them over to Dr. Kureha place.
In the end, Kureha pushed the discussion about medical techniques onto Chopper to handle, while she herself pulled Sherwin aside and made the request she had mentioned earlier.
"Chopper… has a huge wound in his heart…"
Facing Sherwin puzzled look, Kureha did not explain directly. Instead, she began recounting Chopper past with Hiluluk.
Sherwin did not interrupt her. Although he had read the manga before and already knew Chopper story, he had indeed forgotten some of the details. Hearing it again wasn't bad at all.
Most importantly, having been taught since childhood to respect the elderly and care for the young, he felt he should still show proper respect to Kureha, this centenarian old lady.
"…After meeting you that day, Chopper heart had already begun to heal. And after learning of Zou existence, he been thinking every moment about setting out to sea on an adventure… These past few days he hasn't even been reading medical books. Instead, he been reading travel journals and adventure stories."
At this point, Kureha shook her head, both exasperated and amused. Then she looked at Sherwin seriously and continued, "So I think that if he can go out to sea with you, one day the wound in his heart will completely heal."
When parents love their children, they plan for them far into the future.
Even though Kureha and Chopper were not even the same species, she truly treated Chopper as if he were her own son.
However…
"I refuse!"
Sherwin decisively made an X sign in front of his chest.
To be fair, Sherwin actually quite liked Chopper. Even though his role overlapped with Haibara Meow and his strength was rather average, none of that was the reason Sherwin refused.
As for the excuse that he was a member of the protagonist crew—having already brought Robin aboard, Sherwin cared even less about something like that.
The reason Sherwin did not intend to let Chopper join his ship was very simple. Under Hiluluk influence, Chopper would only want to set out to sea as a pirate.
Just like Luffy and Ace, in Chopper heart, the identity of a pirate was something special.
"…And before I became a Shichibukai, I was a bounty hunter. Even now, I still return to my old trade from time to time. So even if I really agreed to you, Chopper wouldn't leave with me."
Sherwin was completely confident about this.
Because…
People in the world of pirates are all damn stubborn and single-minded!