Shiki's explanation was a bit amusing, even to Whitebeard, and he chuckled. Of course, he was already smiling, so it wasn't very noticeable.
His words just now were hard to believe.
Whitebeard had been on the same ship with him for many years, and they understood each other deeply.
In fact, judging from Shiki's later actions, his relationship with Whitebeard should have been quite good, as he went to Whitebeard to reminisce immediately after escaping Impel Down.
Whitebeard knew Shiki's character inside and out, so he didn't believe a single word of the latter's nonsense.
And Whitebeard's personality was straightforward. He couldn't be bothered with Shiki's cunning tricks, so he sneered mockingly on the spot.
"Have all your ships sunk? Do you not even have a single target ship?"
"Don't brag about being a Pirate Fleet Admiral anymore, just be an honest Pirate Captain."
"Oh, I almost forgot, you don't seem to have a ship anymore, so come be a sailor on mine."
Whitebeard's tone was calm, and he didn't curse, but it infuriated Shiki, who was in mid-air, almost making him rush down to fight Whitebeard face-to-face.
Shiki, who had always prided himself as a 'Pirate Fleet Admiral' and boasted about his massive fleet, was hit where it hurt.
The power of Whitebeard's mockery was like a direct punch to Shiki's face. However, Shiki's furious state only lasted for a few seconds before he quickly regained his composure.
"Hmph! Newgate, first consider your own situation!"
After sensing Whitebeard's condition again, Shiki's face gradually returned to a arrogant smile, his gaze chilling, and he threatened.
"Whether you live today depends on my attitude!"
At this point, Shiki suddenly reined in his killing intent, changed the subject, and his tone became much friendlier.
"But you're lucky, I'm in a good mood today, so I'll let you off…"
Listening to Shiki's condescending remarks, Whitebeard was naturally annoyed. As a Legendary Pirate, he also had a temper.
Besides being annoyed, Whitebeard also had many doubts in his heart.
'Given Shiki's personality… this doesn't sound like something he'd say, does it?'
"Shiki! What trick are you really up to?" Whitebeard didn't bother to guess and directly demanded.
However, to everyone's surprise, Shiki in the air actually responded.
"Jihahahaha! Don't try to pry into my secrets!" Shiki first sneered, then a look of smugness suddenly appeared on his face, as if he couldn't contain himself.
When a person gets carried away with pride, they tend to blurt things out. Shiki was no exception.
"Hmm, considering our past relationship… I'll tell you a little secret."
As he spoke, Shiki's lips curved into a smug smile, and then he said mysteriously, "This Marine warship… is a treasure trove!"
"Treasure trove? What do you mean?" Whitebeard frowned, re-examining the floating warship.
He looked left and right, but no matter how he looked, he didn't see any dazzling treasure light emanating from the Marine warship, not like it contained any treasures.
In fact, from below, the floating Marine warship looked like an old ship that had been in service for a long time.
However, this ship had sailed the seas for many years, enduring countless storms, so its hull material must be extremely tough. From this perspective, it could be considered a 'treasure ship'.
After all, for those who spend years at sea, having a sturdy and durable ship is more valuable than most treasures.
Seeing Whitebeard's puzzled expression, Shiki felt quite displeased.
The reason he had revealed a part of his secret was to show off, especially to an old acquaintance who was both an enemy and a friend for many years, and then watch the other party show a shocked expression.
That kind of satisfying sense of accomplishment was something Shiki had long desired.
If you don't show off when life is going well, do you wait until you're down and out to be ridiculed?
"Jihahahaha! You really have no eye, Newgate!" Shiki mocked mercilessly.
"The value of this Marine warship is much higher than your Moby Dick."
Whitebeard raised an eyebrow at that, his face full of disdain, his eyes telling Shiki 'Really? I don't believe it.'
"Hmph! What an ignorant fellow." Shiki pouted, his face full of contempt, even wondering to himself why he would consider such an idiot an opponent.
"Your intelligence network needs an update, Newgate."
Shiki's voice got softer and softer as he spoke, finally saying in a voice only the two of them could hear, "That old man Kenji, he got quite a few good things recently…"
Just as Shiki felt the situation was settled and was letting loose with his bragging, the onlookers outside the battlefield found that they could no longer hear Shiki's voice.
Especially Kuzan, who was furthest away, staying outside the battlefield, and even the Whitebeard Pirates inside the battlefield couldn't hear clearly, let alone him, Kuzan.
"What is that Golden Lion saying?"
Kuzan watched the battlefield from afar, feeling as if he was watching a silent movie, with only visuals and no sound.
"Damn it, I can't hear what he's saying at all."
Kuzan was very annoyed. Even Shiki, a Legendary Pirate, was speaking so cautiously. It was foreseeable that what he was about to say must be some important secret.
It's human nature to want to uncover secrets, and Kuzan felt an unbearable itch at this moment.
"I really want to rush over and listen carefully to what he's saying."
Kuzan, who was near the battlefield, couldn't hear the conversation between Shiki and Whitebeard.
However, Kenji, who was in the inland of Wano Country and listening to the battle through a Den Den Mushi, could hear Shiki's voice.
Kenji heard the conversation between the two in the center of the battlefield clearly.
"…So that kid Shiki was after my Devil Fruit." Kenji finally figured out Shiki's true purpose for coming here.
And it was confirmed by the information Shiki himself spoke.
It must be said, this was quite a ridiculous situation.
And Shiki also paid the price for his arrogant attitude.
"Strange, where did he get his information?" Kenji recalled carefully.
He had obtained those powerful Devil Fruits in Elbaph, the country of giants.
After leaving Elbaph, he didn't encounter any pirates along the way, and few short-sighted pirates dared to ambush an Admiral's ship. After that, he arrived in Wano Country.
"Where exactly was the information leaked?"
Kenji did not suspect his own crew, these Marine officers had followed him for many years.
Moreover, when he entered the Heaven World of Elbaph at that time, he didn't bring anyone else. He was the only one from the Marine who went to the Heaven World.
"Forget it, guessing back and forth is useless."
After a moment of thought, Kenji shook his head and pulled back his thoughts, then he decided to use the most direct yet effective method to get to the truth.
That was to ask the person involved directly!
"Later, I'll just ask that kid Shiki!"
Of course, Kenji wasn't so naive as to think Shiki would honestly answer his questions. But he wasn't worried. He had ways to make the other party speak the truth.
It's just that at this moment, he was a bit tied up…
"Hmm, first, I'll remotely call Shiki over…"
Kenji lowered his gaze, looked at the busy Oiran in front of him, and raised his hand to give a 'pat'.