Shanks's gaze kept shifting between Xie Wen and Kaido Meow, as though he could not quite make sense of the situation.
And that was indeed the case. While it might have been possible to obtain another similar Zoan Devil Fruit that turned its user into a dragon, Kaido's signature moves were another matter entirely.
Although Shanks knew that Xie Wen had fought Kaido before, he did not believe that a single encounter would let Xie Wen copy Kaido's moves down to the last detail...
Thunder Bagua might not measure up to Divine Departure, but it was certainly not a move anyone could learn easily.
As for Kaido teaching him personally, that was even less possible. Xie Wen had a grudge against Kaido, after all.
That left only one possibility...
A look of sudden realization appeared on Shanks's face, and his gaze unconsciously turned toward Karakuri Island.
Could this Cat Mink Tribe Kaido have been "copied" using some technology of Vegapunk's? Was that why Xie Wen had made a special trip to his hometown, hoping to search for relevant records?
Because of his special background, Shanks knew considerably more about Vegapunk than most people. Although he did not know exactly what Vegapunk researched, as far as Shanks understood, copying someone or transferring someone's abilities to another person was something Vegapunk might be capable of.
And Kaido had indeed spent a long time in the World Government's custody...
Thus, using the information he possessed, along with some speculation and imagination, Shanks completed a logical chain in his mind.
Although Xie Wen did not know exactly what Shanks was thinking, the complicated look of both sympathy and curiosity he directed at Kaido Meow was enough to tell Xie Wen that he had definitely misunderstood something.
"Um... it's not what you think..."
Xie Wen