As Vikengam wondered what was going on with Saint Saturn,
Garling crouched before Shanks with a cheerful smile and said, "You've suffered all these years, my child. Don't worry. Come back to Mary Geoise with me afterward, and I'll let you enjoy all the glory and wealth this world has to offer..."
Shanks froze for a moment, then said, "But... I still want to keep being a pirate with Uncle Viking..."
"Huh?" Garling was briefly dumbfounded, but quickly composed himself. "Pirates are too dangerous. You're still young. When you're older..."
"Brother Garling, Shanks is a junior I think very highly of. His talent is extraordinary. If he's properly nurtured, he'll definitely become one of the greatest figures on the seas. Sending him back to Mary Geoise now would only delay his growth, so let him stay with me. I'll take good care of him," Vikengam said, looking at Garling.
Garling frowned at that. "But he can receive just as much training in Mary Geoise..."
"Give me a break." Vikengam said disdainfully, "I lived in Mary Geoise for eighteen years and still wasn't qualified to join God's Knights. But how many years have I been at sea? Now, who on these seas wouldn't take my name seriously? I've got the right to speak on this. Trust me!"
As he spoke, Vikengam grabbed Garling's arm and pulled him aside, lowering his voice. "You can see it now, right? What kind of mission our Viking Pirates have taken on?"
Though Garling was not particularly strong, he was very well-informed.
Somaz had a big mouth, and he had long since spilled every detail about how the Five Elders had arranged for the Viking Pirates to open things up from within the pirate forces.
So Garling knew perfectly well that the Viking Pirates were pirates