The Fairland Family had found an opportunity to contact Shanks while he was still with the Roger Pirates.
But Shanks had refused to return to Mary Geoise.
The second time came after the Roger Pirates disbanded, and Shanks had refused again.
Garling had not forced the issue. Shanks's identity would not change, after all.
Neither would the ties of blood between them.
It was enough that Shanks knew who he was.
There was nothing wrong with him having goals of his own.
Besides, the World Government was now about to disband, and they would no longer be Celestial Dragons.
Shanks had a father, a younger brother, and a home. He was not an orphan.
A fighter of his caliber was indispensable to the Fairland Family, which had suffered devastating losses.
After arriving on Paros Island, they had met with the Red Hair Pirates and spoken with them.
The Red Hair Pirates had already proven their strength. Every member was someone worth winning over for the Clairet Kingdom.
As it happened, the members of the Red Hair Pirates were sitting right beside them.
The Red Hair Pirates nearby heard the two of them talking.
Even now, they could still recall their shock when they had learned their captain's true identity not long ago.
They had never imagined that their captain was born a Celestial Dragon, much less that he was the prince of a kingdom in the West Blue.
Just like that, their Red Hair Pirates had shed their reputation as a "broke" pirate crew.
The Clairet Kingdom had sent them not only local specialties and fine wine from the West Blue, but plenty of treasure as well.
As far as the Clairet Kingdom was concerned, the Red Hair Pirates were their own people.
Even the Supreme Grade Sword in Shanks's