At that mont, an aged yet authoritative figure silently appeared beyond the crowd.
The newcor similarly possessed striking red hair, though silver strands of ti were ticulously combed through it.
Clad in the distinctive white robes of a Celestial Dragon, his every movent exuded an iron-willed dignity far surpassing ordinary world nobles.
This was one of the candidates for the Five Elders, Saint Figarland Garling.
Ignoring the continuous gazes directed at him, Garling solemnly strode through the crowd toward the crater's edge.
The marines, CP agents, and even mbers of the God's Knights instinctively parted to either side behind him.
Garling's gaze fell upon the disheveled Shanks in the crater, his expression complex - containing both icy disappointnt and a barely perceptible flicker of emotion.
"Shanks, you should have returned long ago!"
After a brief silence, Garling suddenly sighed and continued.
"The current situation in the Grand Line is far more complicated than you perceive. Not only is the Grand Line facing a restructuring of order, but the World Governnt is undergoing an unprecedented reshuffling! In such overwhelming tides, whatever ambitions or other notions you harbor are rely specks of dust upon the seas - no matter how you struggle, you cannot create even a ripple!"
Releasing his hand from his chest, Shanks forced himself upright to et Garling's gaze, speaking with detached calm.
"Are you lecturing now... Father?"
"Lecturing?" Garling paused montarily before taking a step forward to look down upon Shanks.
"When Saint Orion sent you from the New World to the Holy Land, it wasn't rely for you to visit - it was to give you a chance! If you stubbornly choose to return to the Grand Line, this crater will beco your final resting place!"
"So Shanks, will you choose to rejoin the Holy Land as a mber of the Figarland family, or remain as a commoner from the lower world and sleep eternally here?"
Before Shanks could respond, Gringo abruptly shifted tone and made the choice for him.
"Excellent. Since you've chosen to return to the family, co with to the estate."
After a slight pause, Garling imdiately turned to Shamrock. "Take him back."
"Yes, Father."
Shamrock acknowledged, his figure flashing instantly to Shanks' side before bringing him back behind Garling.
Surprisingly, Shanks offered no resistance.
Though sent back to the Holy Land by Orion without life-threatening injuries, the churning blood within constantly warned him against reckless actions.
Now situated in the most heavily fortified Holy Land, any careless movent might provoke attacks from Doflamingo's watchful Donquixote Family mbers and the surrounding marines hungry for military rits!Of course, none of that mattered.
Orion hadn't killed him but instead sent him flying from the New World back to the Holy Land, clearly giving him a final choice!
He wanted to see what changes had occurred under Orion's managent of the Holy Land!
Escorted by Garling and Shamrock, Shanks staggered out of the artificial forest and entered Pangea Castle under countless murderous gazes.
The mont he stepped into Pangea Castle, Shanks' pupils involuntarily contracted sharply.
Because what unfolded before his eyes was no longer the Holy Land Mariejois he rembered!
On the streets, a Celestial Dragon who once delighted in torturing slaves and was always surrounded by entourages whenever he went out, now wore a crisp World Governnt staff uniform, hurriedly carrying a stack of docunts toward the World Governnt headquarters building.
When passing another similarly uniford "colleague," this Celestial Dragon actually stopped, turned toward the other person, and bowed slightly in polite greeting.
"Good afternoon."
"Good afternoon. This report needs to be delivered to the Five Elders' office imdiately. Please hurry!"
After a brief polite exchange, they both went about their respective tasks.
The entire interaction was gentlemanly, courteous, and efficient.
Shanks' footsteps halted.
What was he seeing?
Celestial Dragons actually working? And politely greeting each other?
Just as Shanks stopped walking, the gates of a nearby Celestial Dragon mansion suddenly opened, and two Celestial Dragons walked out side by side.
There were no servants behind them, no slaves, and no bodyguards constantly protecting them.
Upon seeing a patrol of Marine soldiers across the street, the two Celestial Dragons suddenly stopped, straightened their postures, raised their right hands, and solemnly shouted in unison.
"Loyalty!"
In response, the patrolling soldiers raised their hands in salute while continuing their march.
Only after the Marine patrol disappeared around the corner did the two Celestial Dragons lower their hands, then naturally quickened their pace in another direction.
Witnessing this scene, Shanks thought he had co to the wrong place and instinctively scanned his surroundings.
Clean streets, busy yet polite World Nobles, Marine soldiers patrolling throughout Pangea Castle—everything gave Shanks the illusion of being in a fantasy.
What exactly was happening?
Shanks' heart was overwheld with shock.
Was this the Holy Land under Fleet Admiral Orion's managent? Such changes! Were they right? Were they real?
Making these Celestial Dragons—who considered themselves descendants of gods, with arrogance and privilege etched into their bones—take off their holy robes, engage in work, and learn courtesy?
This wasn't sothing that could be achieved through re force; it was a fundantal, complete subversion of the entire world order from its roots!
Just as Shanks was reeling from the shock, Garling, walking at the front as if discerning his thoughts, suddenly stopped and looked back, spoke calmly.
"Surprised?"
Hearing this, Shanks quickly collected himself and said incredulously, "I knew Orion was reorganizing the World Governnt, but I never expected it to be so thorough. Is this still the Holy Land I rember? It's simply... unbelievable!"
Garling nodded with a smile, "Setting aside strength, there's one point of Saint Orion's view that I fully agree with. Rather than allowing external forces to continuously challenge and attempt to overthrow the World Governnt, it's better for the World Governnt to conduct internal reforms!"
After a slight pause, Garling slowly walked up to Shanks, reached out to pat his shoulder, and spoke earnestly.
"Shanks, it's ti to return to the Holy Land!"
"From now on, whether it's the Holy Land, the Grand Line, or the four seas, although there will no longer be distinctions between commoners and World Nobles, for the World Governnt to operate stably, soone must stand in the appropriate position to wield authority!"
"Saint Orion sending you back to the Holy Land is giving you a chance to choose your own position."
At this point, Garling's tone suddenly turned cold, carrying a murderous intent: "But, if you choose to leave without hesitation like you did back then, you will definitely be the next one publicly executed!"
"Not only will you be publicly executed, but your identity as Shamrock's twin brother will also be revealed to the whole world before the execution!"
"Because no execution would be more intimidating than executing you, who possesses both the status of a Four Emperor and a Celestial Dragon!"
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