For a period of time, Garling continuously tried to transform Shanks into a Celestial Dragon.
He arranged many unique entertainments for Shanks.
They went to the newly built Slave gladiator arena, which was even more spectacular than before it was burned down, featuring exotic races and fierce beasts from all over the world performing or fighting.
This was essentially similar to what Blake did to the maids.
Of course, Shanks was not Robin or Perona; being over twenty and strong-wwilled, he was not so easily twisted.
He frowned, looking at Garling, who was leisurely sipping red wine beside him:
"Are you just going to make me adapt to this?"
"Don't like it?"
Garling raised an eyebrow, not refuting or arguing, but merely said indifferently:
"Then let them change the location!"
This sentence made Shanks fall into deep thought.
He realized that in Mary Geoise, his will could indeed easily change a person's fate.
This was Garling's plan.
Give him extravagant pleasures, give him a life of debauchery, make him forget his origins, and ultimately accept the identity of a Celestial Dragon.
But at the same time, the combat power and mental will in this world are positively correlated.
It's not about being a fool in battle and not knowing how to dodge that constitutes mental will; this is a more idealistic power.
Garling hoped that Shanks could maintain his due combat power while returning to being a Celestial Dragon, so he had to ensure that Shanks adapted to the lifestyle without a significant decline in his will attribute.
So he didn't preach at all, but let him experience it firsthand.
The expensive floor underfoot, the priceless paintings on the walls, constantly reminded him—you are a Celestial Dragon!
These fragmented daily routines converged into a powerful inertia, attempting to remold him into another Shamrock.
Similarly, the clashes between Shanks and Shamrock did not end; every once in a while, Garling would ask the two to fight.
After one training session, Shanks finally couldn't help but ask Shamrock:
"What exactly does he want to do?"
Although he believed his lineage, he still couldn't accept the Celestial Dragon father who suddenly appeared.
Shamrock didn't care, sheathing his rapier as he replied:
"To make you the person you're supposed to be, not someone who thinks about hanging out with those pirates all day."
"They are my companions!"
Shanks immediately retorted.
Shamrock merely shrugged, saying indifferently:
"Whatever, come with me, the sword prepared for you is ready."
Seeing that the other party had no intention of continuing to dwell on his identity, Shanks's attention was instantly diverted, and he hurried to follow.
Shamrock led Shanks through several opulent corridors to a high-tech secret room.
On the weapon rack in the center of the secret room, a simple yet elegant rapier was displayed, its smooth lines gleaming with a cold metallic luster under the lights.
"This is your new sword—Griffin!"
Shamrock picked up the long sword and casually tossed it to Shanks:
"Like my Cerberus, it is also a living weapon."
"Living... weapon?"
Shanks murmured, the memory of that day's battle still fresh in his mind.
The combat power between the two was almost equal; Shanks even felt that in terms of pure strength, he was slightly stronger.
As a result, Shamrock didn't play fair; his weapon directly transformed into a dog, literally biting his sword to pieces.
Shanks felt at the time that the guys in Mary Geoise were really impolite.
He didn't know what kind of dog Cerberus was, but Shamrock was definitely a bit of a dog.
Although his mind was racing, Shanks subconsciously caught the rapier, and a strange sense of resonance came from the hilt.
The moment he gripped Griffin, the sword suddenly vibrated.
In a dazzling golden light, a pair of sharp eagle eyes seemed to open on the guard, golden feather patterns appeared on the blade, and a powerful pressure instantly filled the entire room.
"Feel it."
Shamrock's voice rang out at the opportune moment:
"It's different from all the weapons you've ever seen."
Shanks focused his senses and immediately perceived a complete "life" contained within the sword.
Following his thoughts, Griffin seemed to awaken in his hand, displaying the unique vitality and power of a Mythical Zoan.
"A Griffin, huh..."
Shanks lightly stroked the blade, feeling the immense power brought by the Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit.
"Ordinary weapons can't withstand your fighting style."
Shamrock watched his interaction with the sword, arms crossed:
"As a World Nobles, you should always have a weapon worthy of your status."
Shanks did not answer; he was completely immersed in Griffin's throbbing, the roaring sense of power convincing him: this was the power he wanted.
After returning to his residence, Shanks sat silently for a long time, finally arriving at Garling's manor.
"You said that as long as you forged me into a sword tough enough, you would let me leave."
Shanks directly stated his purpose.
Garling's gaze swept over Shanks, understanding.
Over these past few months of subtle influence, although Shanks had not fully embraced everything about the Celestial Dragons, he had become less resistant to this identity.
At least it had transformed from an "identity to be rid of" into an "objective fact that can be temporarily set aside."
Garling nodded:
"Alright!"
Before Shanks could rejoice, he heard Garling continue:
"But before that, you need a formal identity!"
"A formal identity?"
Shanks was stunned by this remark; wasn't his current identity formal enough?
"God's Knights!"
Garling slowly spoke, uttering a term that was considered a secret even on the Grand Line.
As expected, Shanks showed wariness and confusion:
"God's Knights? What is that?"
Clearly, Roger hadn't told him much about the events of that year.
Garling explained:
"It's an army!"
"An army belonging only to the World Nobles, responsible for eliminating all threats by force."
"Its members are composed of the strongest warriors among the descendants of the Creators, and they are our true military foundation."
Shanks fell silent for a moment, subconsciously associating the God's Knights with the strength of Garling and Shamrock.
He hadn't expected the World Government to hide such a powerful force.
Garling stood up:
"Now, follow me!"
"I will take you to meet the true God and complete the final identity confirmation."
"The true... God?"
Shanks murmured to himself, subconsciously following behind Garling, having received too much information at once, making his already not-so-bright brain a bit overwhelmed.
The two passed through layers of guards, finally stopping before a massive stone door.
Before them was a circular hall of unimaginable size, its emptiness seemingly capable of swallowing all sound.
The hall's dome was high and distant, lost in deep shadows.
At its center was the Empty Throne, adorned with countless weapons, symbolizing "no single king in the world."
However, at this moment, a figure sat upon the throne, his face and form shrouded in hazy light and shadow, as if he himself were a part of the rules of this space.
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