"Whew! I told you we couldn't let that old bastard get away with it!" A man in prison garb slapped Red Hair on the shoulder, his clown-like red nose twitching with barely contained glee.
"And you! Look how badly Uta and I suffered! You actually considered leaving right after trading intel for us?"
"Well, you know... I was just trying to uphold some honor..." Shanks scratched his head awkwardly. "I mean, Buggy..."
"Don't 'Buggy' me! What honor is there with that old bastard who kidnapped your sworn brother and daughter?!" Buggy rolled his eyes dramatically. "If I hadn't snapped you out of it and made you attack, he'd have escaped scot-free!"
"Ahahaha, but I listened to you in the end!" Shanks forced a laugh before turning to Uta. "You two... really went through a lot these past days."
"It wasn't that bad..." Uta mused. "That old man threw us in a Celestial Dragon prison, but the security was lax. He visited every day to chat, especially asking about my relationship with you..."
She frowned. "Honestly, for an enemy, that's just bizarre behavior..."
Shanks' mouth twitched.
Figarland Garling seemed unusually interested in Uta as "Shanks' daughter."
Probably assumed she was a Figarland descendant.
The thought almost made him laugh.
Though Uta wasn't biologically related to him, their matching hair color and mannerisms created an uncanny resemblance.
Anyone would assume she was his biological daughter.
It seems Figarland Garling suspects that Uta's status as a "foster daughter" might actually be his biological child...
So, this is probably the biggest reason why Buggy and Uta were able to remain unharmed, right?
After much deliberation, Shanks finally decided to reveal his true origins to his crew.
"Buggy, Beckman, Yassop, Lucky, everyone..." Shanks raised his head, looking earnestly at his comrades who were watching him with concern.
"There's something I must tell you..."
"Huh? What is it?"
Buggy blinked, his expression instantly turning serious.
The look in Shanks eyes right now was terrifyingly resolute.
Was he preparing to deliver his last words!?
"About my origins... You all know I was found as a baby inside a treasure chest by my former captain, the Pirate King Gol D. Roger, during the God Valley Incident..."
"You've mentioned that before," Ben Beckman nodded, lighting a cigarette he held between his lips.
"Didn't you say you were probably the child of some slave hidden in the treasure to conceal your existence?"
"I wish that were true... If I were just the son of some slave, things would be simpler." Shanks let out a bitter laugh.
"But that old man who kidnapped Buggy and Uta—Figarland Garling, the former leader of God's Knights who was driven out of Mary Geoise by Michael—told me I'm his son. His biological son. And that I even have a twin brother."
Shanks' words were like a bomb dropped into a calm lake... exploding violently, sending shockwaves in all directions!
"Wha—!?!?!?"
Every crew member stared at Shanks in disbelief.
Including Uta.
Buggy, however, raised an eyebrow...
With a look that said, "So that's how it is."
"No wonder! After you cut off one of his arms, that old bastard who never smiled actually cracked a grin... I couldn't figure out why at the time. I thought, 'Is this geezer some kind of freak?' But now that you mention it, it makes sense—he was just proud of how much you'd grown!" Buggy slapped his thigh.
"I knew it! The first time I saw that old coot, I thought he looked familiar. Now that I think about it, if you shave off that ridiculous crescent-moon beard and hair, he's practically a carbon copy of Shanks!"
Buggy's words made the rest of the Red Hair Pirates catch on.
They nodded in agreement.
"But if the captain's a Celestial Dragon... won't that make him a target for that terrifying guy, Michael?" Yassop suddenly raised a critical question.
By now, anyone who'd made a name for themselves on the seas had at least heard of Michael.
And Michael's hatred for Celestial Dragons was no secret.
Over time, everyone knew Michael's stance on Celestial Dragons...
He'd kill them without a second thought.
Which was why the Celestial Dragons now cowered inside Pangaea Castle, too afraid to step outside...
Occasionally, one or two brave souls would emerge, but without exception, they all met their end in the sea.
Though the manner and cause of death varied, all were ultimately pinned on Michael.
After all, he was the only one who could kill a Celestial Dragon and have the World Government stay completely silent, pretending nothing had happened.
"This... you don't need to worry about," Shanks shook his head. "Michael-san seemed to have known my identity much earlier... He made it clear to me that he only targets those pigs in Mary Geoise."
"That makes sense. The Nefertari family of Alabasta is also descended from one of the Twenty Kings who founded the World Government. Even though they returned to Alabasta to live there, they're still Celestial Dragons by nature," Yassop sighed in relief. "As everyone knows, Alabasta has always been on the same side as Michael!"
At this thought, everyone relaxed.
Then they scattered to gather ingredients so Lucky Roux could start cooking.
Two of their comrades had just returned after enduring great hardships—of course, they deserved a good meal.
Shanks watched his utterly unfazed crewmates and couldn't help but feel a bit speechless...
This wasn't quite what he had expected...
When they learned he was a Celestial Dragon, they were just shocked for a moment and that was it? No hatred toward him?
"What are you thinking, idiot?" Buggy turned around.
Having grown up together, he could see right through his old friend.
"Don't underestimate the bonds between comrades! So what if you're a Celestial Dragon? Have you ever colluded with those bastards in Mary Geoise for even a single day? If not, then why should we abandon our captain over something he had no control over?"
"That's a fair point..." Uta nodded repeatedly. "But didn't you forget something? You handed over intel about Uncle Michael to that cheap grandfather of mine..."
"...Yikes. If I go apologize now, he probably won't kill me... right?"
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