Shanks looked at the face identical to his own, a helpless expression on his face.
He suppressed the turmoil in his heart and turned to look at the crescent-headed man in the garden:
"So, what exactly is going on here?"
Garling slowly put down his teacup, his eyes filled with scrutiny:
"Seeing him, I think you should already know what's going on."
"You and Shamrock were twins, but during that chaos, you were taken away by a group of criminals who disrupted order."
He stood up, his voice carrying an undeniable authority:
"Your bloodline is the answer."
"Being adrift is a disgrace to the family, and now it's time for it to end."
"Disgrace?"
Shanks' eyes narrowed slightly, unconsciously caressing his sword hilt:
"I'm actually very grateful for the experiences of these past years."
Garling's gaze swept over Shanks, his aura suddenly surging, and Conqueror's Haki erupted with a roar:
"It seems that Roger, that criminal, taught you to be as arrogant as him!"
Shanks pulled down the brim of his hat, and a similar Haoshoku Haki rose from him:
"Captain Roger showed me the true freedom of the sea, and you all..."
"Can't even see the world beyond Red Port!"
Although his harsh words held the upper hand, Shanks was, after all, only in his twenties, not yet the most domineering man on the sea.
Soon, Garling, whom Rocks regarded as a speed bump, suppressed Shanks' Haki.
However, Garling did not press his advantage, but instead laughed loudly:
"Good! It seems you do have the right to return!"
"Come with me!"
Shanks was a little bewildered by this sudden change in attitude and turned to look at Shamrock.
Shamrock gave him a challenging look, then turned and left with Garling.
Shanks hesitated for a moment, but finally gritted his teeth and followed.
Since he was here, he might as well resolve all the problems at once!
Garling's pace was not fast. After passing through several archways, they arrived at a circular training ground built of white megaliths.
He stopped at the edge of the field, his tone returning to that condescending calm:
"Shamrock, you test his measure!"
"I was just thinking the same thing!"
A slightly eerie smile played on Shamrock's lips.
Despite having the same face as Shanks, his temperament was completely different.
He leaped into the arena without hesitation, a luxuriously decorated longsword now in his hand, its tip pointing directly at Shanks:
"Come! Let me see what you've learned on the sea all these years?!"
Shanks frowned, looking at Shamrock in the arena, then at Garling, who was already seated on the high platform, attended by servants:
"I'm not here to fight you!"
"That's not for you to decide!"
Garling didn't answer, but Shamrock's words were accompanied by a sword qi slash.
Shanks instinctively drew his sword and shattered the sword qi, but what followed was a sword edge that suddenly pierced through the air.
Shamrock showed no intention of holding back, and in desperation, Shanks had no choice but to respond with full force.
The two were indeed brothers, their strength evenly matched.
The difference was—
Shanks' swordsmanship was more unconventional, often launching attacks from unexpected angles.
Shamrock's swordsmanship was more systematic, embodying the precision born of rigorous training.
Garling watched from the side, nodding repeatedly, feeling pleased.
Who else in Mary Geoise could have two such talented and hardworking sons like him?
Although the other son had gone a bit astray, it didn't matter. Garling believed that as long as he brought him back to Mary Geoise, he could definitely correct him with his "Love Slash."
The battle between Shanks and Shamrock quickly entered a fierce stage. Just as the two were at a stalemate, Shamrock suddenly retreated several steps, and the longsword in his hand glowed with a dark red light:
"Awaken! Kerberos!"
In an instant, the sword body suddenly twisted and deformed like a living creature, dark red fur rapidly covered the hilt, and expanded rapidly!
Accompanied by the bone-jarring sound of growing bones, a majestic and ferocious three-headed hellhound appeared forcefully.
Its two side heads simultaneously let out deafening roars, pouncing on Shanks with terrifying pressure!
When had Shanks ever seen such a scene?
If it were a member of the God's Knights, they would probably panic for a moment when first facing this, unsure how to react.
But Shanks' many years of experience on the sea were not for show. He instantly unleashed two sword slashes, striking the two heads of the three-headed dog separately.
The last head bit down with a gaping maw, and Shanks raised his sword to block—
Clang! Crack!
First, there was a clang of metal, followed by a crisp snap.
Shanks stumbled backward, clutching the remaining sword hilt, blood seeping from his tiger's mouth.
He looked down at the longsword that had accompanied him for many years, his expression complex.
"Enough! That's enough!"
Garling finally raised his hand to stop Shamrock, who wanted to continue attacking.
The three-headed dog's form shrank back into a longsword. Shamrock sheathed his sword and stood, his chin slightly raised in triumph.
Shanks looked down at the fragments on the ground, his face gloomy.
"Did you see?"
Garling slowly walked down the high platform:
"This is the power the Figarland Family should possess."
He gave a meaningful glance at the broken blade in Shanks' hand:
"Stay here, and you will receive a weapon worthy of this bloodline."
Shanks shook the blood from his hand, then suddenly grinned:
"What a good sword..."
He bent down and picked up the largest fragment:
"However, I will repair the broken sword myself."
He looked up at Garling, his gaze sharp as a knife:
"Just like my life."
Garling was unfazed by the sharpness in Shanks' words, merely stating in a calm, factual tone:
"I allow you to keep your attitude, but I will not allow you to leave!"
His gaze swept over the sword hilt tightly clutched in Shanks' hand:
"I will have someone send your sword back to your ship, and include enough Berries for them."
"This is enough to express my sincerity!"
"As for you..."
Garling's voice carried an undeniable authority:
"Until you forge yourself into a sufficiently resilient sword, you will not be granted permission to leave Mary Geoise!"
It must be said, Garling had some potential as a 'King of Coercion.'
Whether it was facing Rocks back then, Christopher and Dragon two years ago, or Shanks now, he absolutely had to maintain his imposing aura!
Shanks tightly clenched the broken sword in his hand, looking around.
The tall walls and standing guards were nothing; the two unfathomable individuals before him were his greatest obstacles.
After Garling finished speaking, he no longer looked at him, turning and leaving the training ground.
Shamrock still wore a strange smile as he approached Shanks:
"Come on, I'll take you to a good place."
Shanks watched Garling's retreating back, understanding that at this moment, neither argument nor direct confrontation would be meaningful.
He took a deep breath and tucked the broken blade into his waist:
"Lead the way!"
He decided to temporarily endure and see what this blood-related father truly intended.
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