"Meow! An enemy!"
(=`ω=)l▄︻╤
Jinx Meow reacted fastest, whipping out her Pow-Pow without another word.
Baccarat and Mr. Tanaka visibly froze for a moment. Clearly, they had received no prior instructions from Gild Tesoro about turning hostile, either. But Gild Tesoro had already made a business out of setting traps and putting on acts here, so they soon responded...
Tanaka, who possessed the Warp-Warp Fruit, instantly sank into the floor. There was no telling whether he had gone for reinforcements or was waiting for an opening. Meanwhile, Baccarat, standing beside Xie Wen, discreetly removed her black glove and reached toward him, still keeping up the act as she said, "Everyone, please calm down. Lord Gild Tesoro invited you here as guests. Perhaps there's been some misunderstanding."
But before her hand got halfway there, flames flung out by Klee Meow forced her back.
"Klee doesn't know why, but Klee's instincts say Klee can't let you touch Big Brother Xie Wen, meow!"
(=`ー=)
The Little Plushie flattened her ears and stared hard at Baccarat.
"W-wait! Big Sister Jinx! Everyone!" Shirahoshi reached up and plucked the little lunatic cat, who was about to fire, off her head. "This mister doesn't seem to mean us any harm. It really might be a misunderstanding!"
"Huh?"
(=ω=)
Prompted by that reminder, the Little Plushie tilted her head toward Gild Tesoro, who had remained standing still and smiling after speaking. "Oh, right. Big Brother Xie Wen, Klee doesn't feel like this mister wants to do anything bad either, meow."
Once Gild Tesoro passed Shirahoshi and Klee Meow's double "friendliness check," everyone-and every cat-who had been ready to fight instantly relaxed.
Except, of course, for Xie Wen, who had already more or less guessed what Gild Tesoro was thinking. He had been exceptionally calm from the start.
Still