The Red Hair Pirates are not a real crew but actually the God’s Knights who masquerade as pirates and patrol the sea.
Instead of a self-interested pirate Shanks actually keeps the balance in the sea. Kind of the same objective as the World Government, specifically the 5 Elders.
- We have seen Shanks warn Whitebeard about Blackbeard and asked Ace not to chase him.
- Shanks stops the Marineford War and Sengoku “only because it’s you” agrees despite a heavy Marine victory. Almost as if Shanks had some form of authority and respect aside from being a Yonko.
- Shanks actually stopped Kaido on his way to intercept Whitebeard.
All these things Shanks does to keep the balance and peace
We see Shanks talk to the Gorosei about a certain pirate. Shanks, a Yonko walks into Mary Geoise, and gets a audience and they ask the guards to leave, they completely trust Shanks. They show Shanks respect “since it’s you we made time”.
Shanks is of Celestial Dragon Lineage, he is from the Figarland Family & looks just like Garling Figarland when he was younger, so likely he is his father.
Mind you, Shanks got an audience with the Gorosei, after he stole the Nika fruit and gave it to a D clan member, Luffy.
We have seen the World Government holds grudges and never forgives traitors, we see this with Doflamingo’s family, the Royal family of Alabasta the original 30, yet somehow Shanks gets a free pass.
Shanks despite having given the Nika fruit to Luffy isn’t a threat to Imu, or the World Government. One must ask why?
I believe the answer is he works with them. Shanks is aware of his lineage.
The silhouettes of the God Knights have a eerie resemblance to the Red Hair Pirates.
Given Chapter 1095, we see Shanks celebrating something in the ruins of an abandoned place, we know Shanks was found in a chest at God Valley.
Note- the picture has crosses on it, why would Oda add such symbolism? Plus the silhouettes, I think it’s clear foreshadowing of the true nature of the Red Hair Pirates.
The image of the Red Hair Pirates having very weak fleets and protecting them, seems almost like propaganda, as if Shanks is putting on a facade to instill a certain image.
Another key fact is Benn Beckman was implied to have cut Kidd’s arm off. Cut not shoot but cut.
I believe the Red Hair Pirates will be revealed to be the God’s Knights but Shanks is a very grey character and likely has his own ambitions and agenda, ones beyond Pirate King fitting the man with the strongest Conqueror’s Haki in the series.
I also believe Shanks knows exactly where and what the One Piece is, as he was on Roger’s crew and intends to use Luffy/Nika against Imu. All this time, he waited and declared to only go after the One Piece after Luffy awakened Gear 5 Nika.
*Theory by GojoxPower
