Here is Where the Horrors Lie

The people of Germa were expelled from their homeland by neighbouring kingdoms after they lost a major conflict leading to their land being annexed with some approval from the World Government

Due to inflation and taxes being paid to these kingdoms (and the World Government, as per their orders), a large percentage of Germa's people ended up in severe poverty due to the shutting down of workplaces leading to mass unemployment

Judge's grandfather was the ruler of Germa when the people were expelled from their homes and his father was ruling when the economy was on the verge of collapse

Thanks to his work in MADS and several changes to existing laws, Judge was able to provide enough money to overturn most of the people's economic issues and provided employment for many within Germa 66

Many women from other kingdoms who married and had families with Germa men were beaten, raped and sometimes deported from their homes

Meanwhile, their children were socially excluded, bullied, and, in extreme cases, institutionalised because of their parentage

Judge, like many others, blames the neighbouring kingdoms and the World Government for their people's misfortunes, and any dissenters are turned into scapegoats (+ end up being used in Germa 66's scientific experiments)

Stays in touch with Garling and relays important information to him regarding the movement of influential pirates, Marines and the Revolutionary Army

Keeps a close eye on the former Roger Pirates, particularly Rayleigh, whom he has a deep-seated grudge against

Violence is very controlled, and still only uses it when it's the sole remaining option, but is much more merciless and willing to kill

Compartmentalises much more than he already does (acts similarly to Shamrock in that regard)

Much more focused on his appearance (shaves regularly, clothes are a combination of his usual attire + Noble regalia, etc)

Gaban is the only member of the Roger Pirates he still feels any love towards, but still despises the navigator for leaving him behind

Envious of Buggy because he got to have a regular childhood and was favoured by Rayleigh (ie got lighter punishments when the two got in trouble, was given more free time etc)

Parentified as fuck. Would dab Roger's forehead with a cloth if Crocus was busy/asleep and take care of Rayleigh when he was drunk

Self-harm in the form of cutting, disordered eating and overexertion are his primary coping mechanisms

Mu first sees him in his room. Garling is curled up in a ball, muttering prayers, even as his own voice fights against him. Such faith is admirable, even to the Great One. What surprises Mu, however, is how... alone the boy is. No servants are at his side to placate him. A familiar ache resurfaces, but is quickly snuffed out. The Great One watches closely from then on. Sees how the fools and idiots of the Holy Land beat and tease Garling as though he were a bound dog. This will not do. But the blond will not let himself be crushed underfoot; instead, he fights back. He establishes himself firmly, refusing to allow anyone any opportunities for provocation and making his rightful place in the hierarchy abundantly clear. Then, he ambushes the old tutor parasite in the dead of night and spills his first blood. The Great One is fascinated.

Such potential cannot be wasted.

In the confines of a laboratory, Saturn pokes and prods at the blond, testing the limits of the human body and observing what makes him tick. Perhaps Garling has even sliced open his own torso within the comforts of his estate and sketched what he could see, only to then meticulously sew it back up as if nothing had happened? Once the mark of a Holy Knight appears on his back, a brand, a symbol of his strength and unyielding faith, the tests become more rigourous. Body parts are removed to monitor how fast they could grow back. Muscles strain until they rip. Bones hold on until they break. And Saturn writes all of it down, taking note of how the blond is more resilient than most. Bits of bone marrow, muscle and sinew are stored in test tubes; vials are filled with his blood - and something else... - for safekeeping. Perhaps they could be useful in future experiments.

Garling does not fight, does not protest. Because he knows that this is all for the Great One; all for his GOD. What else can he give in return for Mu's grace and belief in him? He will see to it that the Great One will never be disappointed.

The final straw comes when the former Supreme Commander - a coward beyond all measure - leaves him to rot during a mission gone wrong. Only, Garling doesn't die; he rises from the ashes and goes on the hunt. By the time he catches up, his superior can do nothing as he is thrashed into the ground. His skin is sliced into tatters and his bones snapped until they start peeking through. A Haki-infused blade and Conqueror's Haki unlike anything he's felt before is what ultimately puts the Supreme Commander out of his misery. And it's that which confirms it for Imu.

Out of envy (and some twisted form of longing), Shamrock manages to infiltrate every part of his twin's life. Friends, family... everyone loves him, and through some twist of fate, they do not seem to care that the redhead among them is from a world so different than theirs. He is clean (far too clean) and well-dressed (never settling for anything less than the best). Everyone thinks that Shanks has cleaned up more than usual, and taken a slightly different turn.

Meanwhile, Shanks watches from the shadows. Watches as his brother occupies all the space that he used to. It's a slap to the face. And yet, what's even worse is that Shamrock not only occupies those spaces, but fills them out in ways that Shanks never could. Of course he does... he's so much better in every possible way (even if he is a bit of a snob, and can be an asshole sometimes).

However, the ruse doesn't last forever. Doubt begins to spread among the crew, particularly when they see how out of touch this redhead is. Gaban is also suspicious, given how pompous and casually cruel Shamrock could be. The doubt spreads... Someone notices Shanks is missing. The alarm is raised.

But by the time they realise, it is all too late. Shanks is long gone - his vivre card torn to shreds. Nothing can trace him anymore. Any and all attempts to track him are useless. It's like he's vanished into thin air.