Was Shanks a Holy Knight?

The spoilers of One Piece chapter 1167 are in, and we are in for a surprise as the spoilers reveal that Shanks was a Holy Knight before he became a full-fledged pirate.

When did Shanks join the Holy Knights?

The spoilers of One Piece chapter 1167 reveal that after the death of Rogers, Shanks joined the Holy Knight order, and as he is equally talented to Shamrock, the World Government accepts, but with a Shallow Sea pact to control him.

When Rogers died, Shanks was a teenager, so he probably joined the Holy Knights soon after, but Shanks did not join because he wanted to become an exceptional Holy Knight; he had a plan.

This Shallow Sea pact proved that the hand bitten by the Sea Monster while saving Luffy might be the one with the pact, so, if this spoiler is to be trusted, Shanks is the first one Luffy liberated after becoming Nikka.

Who saved Fisher Tiger?

If you are wondering how we are sure that Shanks went as a spy, it is because, according to Harald, Shanks is the one who freed Fisher Tiger and let him escape.

In a flashback scene, it is shown that a Holy Knight releases Fisher Tiger, and later, when Haralad is introduced to Shanks and Shamrock, he immediately recognises Shanks.

Shanks snaps at Harald immediately and closes the conversation.

We are not entirely sure why Shanks infiltrated the Holy Knight order. Some think that because he and Dragon worked together, while others believe it is more than that. But anyway, Shanks went in as a spy, and that fact can be confirmed.

We now know how Shanks came to know about the Gomu-Gomu fruit.