Doflamingo spread his arms, letting out his characteristic laugh, his lips curving into an exaggerated arc.
"I never expected the esteemed Whitebeard, Edward Newgate, to grace my humble kingdom with his presence! It truly brightens this place!"
Despite maintaining a calm and welcoming demeanor on the surface, his slightly tensed jawline and the cautious gaze hidden behind his sunglasses betrayed the apprehension in his heart.
No one could truly relax when faced with the personal arrival of one of the Four Emperors.
Whitebeard didn't bother with pleasantries, getting straight to the point, his deep voice echoing through the hall: "I came here to ask about your underground channels. Have there been any top-tier Devil Fruits for sale recently?"
Doflamingo's eyebrow twitched, seemingly surprised, but he quickly returned to his usual flippant self:
"Fufufu… Devil Fruits? Of course! It just depends on what type you're looking for? Logia? Paramecia? Or…"
Marco, standing beside Whitebeard, took a step forward, adjusted his glasses, and calmly spoke, his voice clearly stating their objective:
"Zoan. Preferably a Mythical Zoan, or an Ancient Zoan or special Zoan with extremely strong recovery or physique. A Devil Fruit with powerful healing effects would also be acceptable."
Every word Marco uttered represented the pinnacle of power in the Grand Line.
Doflamingo's smile subtly receded, and the gaze behind his sunglasses sharpened.
He stroked his chin, letting out an ambiguous laugh: "Fufufu… Right off the bat, you're asking for the very best… Mythical Zoan, healing abilities… This is truly…"
Doflamingo's lips curled into a cold, playful smile as he leaned back into the luxurious sofa, though after a moment's thought, he sat up straight.
"A healing-type Devil Fruit user? What a coincidence, I happen to… have one right here!"
He snapped his fingers, signaling Trebol, who immediately understood, letting out a gurgling laugh.
"That's right~! She's in our hands~!" Trebol twisted his body proudly, "It's Princess Mansherry from the Tontatta Tribe of Green Bit! She ate the Heal-Heal Fruit!"
Doflamingo continued: "Her tears, even her saliva, can become a panacea for injuries and illnesses. Fractures, internal injuries… even more severe wounds, can be quickly healed. Fufufu… Sounds perfect, doesn't it?"
He suddenly changed his tone, a hint of cruel mockery in his voice: "But—! There's a small 'side effect.' If she uses her ability to forcefully heal others, especially very severe injuries… it will consume her own lifespan!"
"Consume… lifespan?!" Marco's golden pupils suddenly contracted upon hearing this.
Whitebeard, who had been sitting calmly in the main seat, finally showed a change in his usually serene expression, his brows furrowing tightly like rising mountains, forming a deep 'Sichuan' character.
His deep voice rumbled like muffled thunder, carrying clear displeasure: "Healing others requires consuming the user's own lifespan?"
His massive body leaned slightly forward, and an invisible pressure seemed to lower the temperature in the hall by a few degrees. He looked directly at Doflamingo and asked the crucial question:
"Then, if used to heal oneself? Does it also require paying the price of lifespan?"
Before Doflamingo could answer, Whitebeard had already shaken his head, his tone resolute and without the slightest hesitation:
"If healing comes at the cost of burning someone else's or one's own life, then such power is not worth having."
His words carried an undeniable decisiveness and a profound benevolence.
To him, whether it was sacrificing the princess he had never met or potentially sacrificing his own future lifespan, both went against his principles.
"My body is far from needing to be sustained by overdrawing life."
Doflamingo was momentarily stunned by Whitebeard's resolute refusal. Then, his gaze, hidden behind his sunglasses, flickered with a hint of scrutiny and an imperceptible calculation, turning once again to the giant seated before him.
He interlaced his fingers before his chin, probing in a deliberately casual tone:
"Fufufu… So resolutely refusing this 'life for a life' healing method… Let me guess,"
His lips curved into a playful arc, "Whitebeard, you are so urgently seeking top-tier healing or recovery abilities, even going so far as to come to me…
Is it to heal the increasingly severe 'illness' and old injuries on your body?"
These words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, attempting to stir ripples.
However, the response he received was Whitebeard's cold snort, like muffled thunder!
"Hmph!"
It was merely a cold snort, yet it seemed to contain a tangible weight!
The next second, an indescribably profound and terrifying Haki, like the vast, unfathomable ocean, suddenly erupted from Whitebeard's massive body!
This was not a targeted attack, but merely the natural overflow of a strong person's aura when certain bottom lines were crossed!
But even so, Doflamingo, who bore the brunt of it, instantly felt as if an invisible mountain had crashed down on his spine!
His smile completely froze on his face, his pupils beneath his sunglasses contracted violently, and fine cold sweat instantly seeped from his temples and sideburns, his back clothes drenched by the sudden outbreak of cold sweat!
He forcibly controlled himself to avoid falling backward in an undignified manner, but his fingers on the armrest involuntarily dug tightly into the wood, his knuckles turning white from the effort.
A Four Emperor!
This was the pressure of a Four Emperor!
Just a slight emanation of his aura was almost unbearable for him!
Too strong!
Whitebeard's deep and cold eyes looked down at Doflamingo, his voice low and full of undeniable authority, every word like a heavy hammer striking Doflamingo's heart:
"Brat, it's best you don't pry into my affairs."
The terrifying Haki slowly receded, but the suffocating pressure still lingered in the hall.
"You just need to answer, yes or no."
Doflamingo took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the shock in his heart. The flippant smile on his face had long disappeared, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity and caution.
He picked up the wine glass on the table, his fingertips trembling slightly as he took a sip, using it to cover his gaffe, and then spoke:
"Fu… Fufufu… I spoke out of turn."