Even though Whitebeard shouted tough words like "I don't need treatment," he was eventually half-coaxed and half-tricked by his sons—and motivated by Sherwin promise of several more barrels of Ibuki Ale—into being sent to Haibara Meow medical room.
"Zehahahaha! Hello there, little Klee, it such a pity I didn't get to see you last time!"
While Whitebeard was undergoing examination and treatment by Haibara Meow, Teach immediately seized the opportunity to approach and try to act friendly with Klee Meow, who was perched on Sherwin shoulder.
Klee Meow reaction was somewhat strange...
The little Ragdoll cat first flattened her ears, but immediately after, a look of confusion appeared in her ruby-like large eyes.
After tilting her head and sizing Teach up for a long while, she decisively turned her body around, completely ignoring him.
"Hahahaha! Teach, with a face like yours, you won't be able to win the favor of these little cuties!"
Beside him, "Diamond" Jozu laughed and slapped his back, then thrust his own angular face—which wasn't much better than Teach—in front of Klee Meow, asking as gently as possible, "Isn't that right, little Klee~"
The little Ragdoll blinked and, showing no courtesy at all, turned around again and jumped directly into Sherwin arms.
She buried her small head into his chest and nudged around a few times, settling into a comfortable position before becoming still. She looked just like a shy and introverted little lady...
However, Sherwin knew this little troublemaker true nature. This wasn't shyness or introversion at all she was simply feeling lazy after eating her fill and didn't want to deal with these two weird uncles who, in her eyes, were complete strangers.
"Zehahahaha! Captain Jozu, you're just as unpopular with little Klee as I am!"
"Maybe in little sister Klee eyes, Captain Jozu looks aren't any different from Teach?"
"No, even in our eyes, there isn't much difference between the two of them, right?"
"Hahāhahāhahā!"
The members of the Whitebeard Pirates didn't care about who was a commander or not, and they all joined in mocking Jozu for making a fool of himself.
Since Jozu was usually quite a quiet person, and speaking so softly like he just did was a first, they naturally weren't going to let this good opportunity pass.
Having been ignored, Jozu naturally wouldn't—and was too embarrassed to—take it out on a cutie like Klee Meow, but those fellows who dared to mock him wouldn't have such good luck...
"Since you all have so much energy, why don't we have some after-dinner activities!"
Jozu grabbed two of his companions who were laughing the loudest, one in each hand, and dragged them toward the open space by the shore.
Sherwin ignored the rowdiness of these pirates and instead gently stroked Klee Meow little head, feeling a bit of surprise in his heart...
Judging from the little Ragdoll reaction just now, she didn't seem to perceive any malice from Teach.
He didn't know if it was because Teach, who was currently lying low, had backed down so completely that he truly harbored no ill will, or if he had a technique similar to Observation Killing that could bypass Klee Meow perception, or perhaps he was actually targeting Klee Meow ability to make bombs and planned to recruit her later?
To this end, Sherwin also took a special glance at Shirahoshi and found that she likewise had no reaction.
However, thinking about it carefully, this situation didn't seem surprising. Although Observation Haki that could perceive malice and emotions was rare, it wasn't unique to Klee Meow and Shirahoshi.
With Whitebeard experience, it wouldn't be strange for him to have encountered or even have members with similar Observation Haki, so regardless of the case, Teach likely had a way to deal with it.
It was a pity... if Klee Meow and Shirahoshi could have reacted, it might not have led to taking Teach out directly, but at least it would have put Whitebeard and the others on guard.
Sherwin shook his head gently, still not intending to act rashly. At worst, after Haibara Meow finished treating Whitebeard, he would remind him and Ace in private as for whether they believed him or not, that was beyond Sherwin control.
After Teach met with a lack of interest from Klee Meow, he didn't give up on his plan to cozy up to the Felynes.
However, he stopped pursuing Felynes like Klee Meow, who stuck close to Sherwin or others and ignored outsiders. Instead, he turned around and joined the other pirates to start a drinking contest with more approachable Felynes like Suika Meow, Kaido Meow, and Seijuro Meow.
Kaido Meow and the others naturally welcomed all challengers, and Suika Meow was more than eager to have more people to drink with.
Sherwin cast a casual glance toward Teach direction but had no intention of stopping him.
In any case, it was impossible for that guy to do anything to the Felynes right now. As for using this to build a good relationship with them and then poaching them from Sherwin, that was even more of a joke. There was absolutely no need to worry.
"They're out!"
Not long after Teach ran off to drink with Suika Meow, Haibara Meow and Whitebeard emerged from the medical room.
Worried about Whitebeard health, Ace and the others rushed forward and surrounded the two of them.
Teach was even among the first few to run to the front.
"How is Pop health?"
"Little sister Haibara, are you confident you can cure Pop illness?"
"As long as you can cure Pops, the Whitebeard Pirates will definitely fulfill any request you have in the future!"
"Sherwin said your medical skills are not inferior to Vegapunk, so you must have a way, right?!"
"So annoying! Everyone get away, meow!"
(=`Д=)
The little kitten, who already had a bit of a temper, instantly bristled in this chaotic situation of everyone talking at once. She reached out a small paw and patted the little white bat on her shoulder.
"Vermouth, treat these idiots for their stupidity, meow!"
"Screech—!"
The little white bat spread its wings, its body color instantly switching to emerald green. Following that, a cloud of mist of the same color rapidly spread outward with the vibration of its wings, enveloping the group of pirates surrounding Haibara Meow in the blink of an eye.
"Ughhhhhh—!!!"
"Awoooooo—!!!"
"Oh no! It that thing from last time... No, it even harsher than last time... Wahhhhhh—!!!"
The defenseless pirates clutched their noses and mouths, screaming as they collapsed onto the deck.
Ace, who had the "fortune" of previously tasting one of Haibara Meow "prototype potions," possessed a bit more resistance than the others.
However, faced with the even more potent Satan Potion, he couldn't hold out for long and soon followed in the footsteps of the rest.
Amidst the screams of the crowd, Sherwin heard a familiar voice and catchphrase—
"Such... misfortune meow..."
Well, the unlucky Touma Meow had somehow been swept along toward Haibara Meow by the surging crowd of pirates, becoming the sole innocent victim of this incident.
The pirates who had been a step too slow and were blocked on the periphery secretly rejoiced while quickly covering their noses and fleeing from the dissipating green mist.
"Hmph~"
(=`へ=)
The kitten lifted her chin, sweeping a commanding and disdainful gaze over the pirates who hadn't been taken down. Then, she skipped over to Sherwin side and squeezed into his arms along with Klee Meow.
"Don't worry, what Haibara just released was actually a healing potion the smell is just a little bit terrible."
Sherwin explained to the worried Whitebeard and the remaining pirates, "They'll be fine once they recover their strength."
"A little bit..."
Whitebeard and the others twitched their lips, looking at their comrades scattered across the ground, completely speechless.