Stunned by Orion remark about "Stinks," Shamrock placed a hand on the hilt of his rapier, wanting to lash out but holding back.
Of course, it wasn't that he feared Orion overwhelming strength, which could send Gunko and the other five members of the God Knights flying with his Conqueror's Haki.
Rather, he was worried that losing his composure now would jeopardize their mission.
After taking a deep breath to calm himself, he stepped forward, slightly bowing as he said.
"Figarland Shamrock, at the command of Im-sama, I am here to welcome Marshal Orion."
Orion glanced around, his brows furrowing as he ignored Shamrock and turned to Gunko.
"Miss Gunko, it seems my message wasn't delivered. If Im wants to see me, then show me your sincerity!"
As if expecting Orion question, Gunko turned slightly and waved her sleeve, saying curtly.
"Bring them up."
At Gunko command, several fully armed palace guards wearing helmets, who were standing not far behind the members of the God Knights, immediately turned and ran out.
In no time, these palace guards returned swiftly, escorting Spandine.
"Kneel!" As soon as Spandine was brought before Orion, one of the soldiers kicked him hard, forcing him to kneel on the ground.
"You can't treat me like this!"
"I am Spandine, who has made great contributions to the World Government!"
Spandine, who had been kicked to the ground, struggled to stand up but was immediately pressed down by two palace guards, forcing his head low. Despite this, he continued to struggle fiercely, roaring in defiance.
"Let me go! Damn it, you useless fools!"
Finally, after a fierce struggle, Spandine, though still unable to stand managed to lift his head again! However, he didn't look at Orion but instead turned his head to glance at Shamrock and Gunko, who were standing nearby, watching coldly.
"Hahaha, I never expected this!"
"I never thought the World Government, which has stood firm on the Red Line for eight hundred years, would stoop to compromising with traitors! The God Knights? The Five Elders? Pah! One day, you will pay a heavy price for this compromise. Orion dares to stage a coup today, and tomorrow he will surely trample the World Government under his feet..."
"Insolent!" Gunko eyebrows furrowed, and with a wave of her sleeve, she unleashed her unique Devil Fruit ability.
In the next moment, a bandage-wrapped arrow silently flew out, instantly wrapping around Spandine neck and hoisting him high into the air.
Shamrock quickly intervened to stop Gunko from killing Spandine, suppressing his anger at being ignored earlier, and spoke to orion in a measured tone.
"It's up to you to decide how to deal with him."
"Just Spandine?" Orion glanced at Spandine, who was hanging by his neck, his calm tone laced with cruelty.
"That's not enough, Shamrock. To uproot the weed, you must pull it out by the roots. If I recall correctly, Spandine has a son, what's his name... Spandam? Yes, that's it!"
"ORION!" Spandine, who was still struggling against the bandage around his neck, roared in desperation upon hearing that Orion wouldn't even spare his son.
"I alone am responsible for this! Spandam has nothing to do with it!"
"That's not how it works."
Orion waved his hand, signaling Gunko to lower Spandam, then stepped forward, looking down at the man who was gasping for breath on the ground.
"If I kill you here, it will involve your foolish son! He will surely harbor hatred for me and could be used by the Five Elders as an excuse to trouble me in the future. Even if I were to retaliate, the Five Elders could claim it was Spandam personal vendetta for his father!"
"Spandine, I must admit, you are quite resourceful. You managed to get the Five Elders to order Enies Lobby to put me on trial! If it weren't for the connections I've built over the years, I might have truly fallen into your hands this time."
"But unfortunately, no matter how cunning you are, you never expected me to stage a coup, nor did you expect that I would take full control of the Navy in just one day!"
"The victor becomes the king, and the loser becomes the bandit. You must accept this!"
"Of course, I must thank you. If it weren't for your intervention at that moment, I might not have made up my mind so quickly."
"To express my gratitude, I must reunite you with your son!"
Hearing this, Spandine eyes flashed with despair, and he roared like a madman
"ORION, YOU—"
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Before Spandine could finish his sentence, a palace guard standing nearby suddenly stepped forward, swiftly raised his gun and pulled the trigger without hesitation, aiming directly at Spandine head.
The sudden turn of events left everyone present wide-eyed in shock.
Shamrock instinctively reached for the hilt of his sword, ready to draw it.
"Marshal Orion!" Before Shamrock could unsheathe his sword, the palace guard, having emptied the magazine, immediately straightened up faced Orion and saluted.
"Please forgive me for executing this man in your presence. Emptying the magazine in one second is not my limit, but I hope it demonstrates my loyalty to you!"
"What does this mean?" Orion blinked in confusion.
As if knowing what Orion was thinking, the palace guard quickly removed his heavy helmet, revealing a young face.
"Marshal Orion, this is our first meeting. However, I've long heard of your deeds. They say you never refuse a request!"
"My parents were brutally killed by pirates a few years ago. Although my sister was saved, she became disabled due to severe injuries! All these years, I've been yearning to avenge them, but..."
At this point, the palace guard kicked the helmet aside and said with determination.
"I want to take this opportunity to ask you to take me away from the Holy Land."
"I understand" Orion nodded. "You want to leave the Holy Land to avenge your parents and sister, right?"
"Yes!" the palace guard nodded firmly.
"Alright" Orion stepped aside to make way for the palace guard.
"The path is right in front of you. Just stride forward boldly."
The palace guard was taken aback by Orion straightforward agreement. After a moment of stunned silence, he couldn't help but raise his hand in a salute and shouted.
"LOYALTY!"
Orion waved his hand. "Go ahead!"
"Yes!"
The palace guard responded again, then ignored the presence of Shamrock and his group striding confidently towards the elevator.
Just as he reached the elevator entrance, the palace guard suddenly turned around, knelt down on both knees facing Orion, and choked out loudly.
"Lord Orion, if I succeed in avenging them and return alive, can I... become your subordinate?"
Orion nodded.
"You already are, soldier!"
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