It's very much possible that Shanks knows about the Nika fruit fully.
In fact, didn't Roger want his son to be the next Joyboy in the Oden flashback?
Add that up with Shanks being seen around East Blue after stealing the Nika fruit, to me it sounded like Shanks was there to give the Nika fruit to Ace but rather ended up giving it to Luffy. Which is probably the bet on the new Era that he took
In fact, didn't Roger want his son to be the next Joyboy in the Oden flashback?
Add that up with Shanks being seen around East Blue after stealing the Nika fruit, to me it sounded like Shanks was there to give the Nika fruit to Ace but rather ended up giving it to Luffy. Which is probably the bet on the new Era that he took
Spoilers indicate that shanks got flashback of how he stole the fruit and luffy ate it after he saw Luffy's bounty poster.
I think even shanks didn't realise at that time that the fruit he stole was nika.
After hearing rumours of Luffy being monkey monster and seeing his bounty poster he connected the dots.
To me, real question is why he backed out and declared to go after one piece?