Before heading out to see the fierce beasts here, Xie Wen made another request on Ai Haibara Meow's behalf: she wanted to take a look at IQ first.
Having already agreed earlier, Shiki naturally had no intention of going back on his word. He called over his chief researcher and ship's doctor, Dr. Indigo.
"Squelch, squelch, squelch..."
Accompanied by a string of strange footsteps, a fellow wearing a white lab coat and a blue scarf with yellow spots came up to Xie Wen and the others.
Dr. Indigo looked fairly normal in every other respect, except for the clown makeup on his face and his rather unusual soft shoes that made strange noises.
Come to think of it, the comical clown look seemed quite popular among pirates. Aside from Buggy, whose red nose was natural and whom Xie Wen had never managed to meet, he had already encountered several pirates who deliberately wore clown makeup.
"Indigo, show our future allies IQ and your laboratory."
Then the ship's doctor in clown makeup began waving his hands and gesturing.
"What are you trying to say?!"
As usual, Shiki failed to understand.
Just as Indigo was about to explain aloud, Klee Meow, perched on Xie Wen's shoulder, tilted her head and answered first. "This strange uncle is probably telling us to be careful not to mess up his laboratory, meow?"
"...You actually understood?!"
After a brief silence, Indigo clutched his head in both hands and shouted in shock.
"So you can talk!" Shiki first delivered his habitual retort, then exclaimed in equal shock, "She actually got it right?!"
"This uncle's expressions and gestures aren't as straightforward as big brother Link's, but Klee can still understand them, meow! Klee is really smart!"
(=`=)
The Little Plushie planted her hands on her hips and lifted