Montblanc Norland served as an admiral and explorer for the Lvneel Kingdom in North Blue approximately 400 years before the main series events. He undertook multiple expeditions into the Grand Line, including the perilous New World, renowned for his discoveries and commanding deep respect from his crew and kingdom. His most significant journey brought him to Jaya, where he found the Shandia tribe ravaged by "tree fever." A skilled botanist and doctor, Norland identified diseased sacred trees as the plague's source. Despite initial resistance due to the trees' cultural importance, he insisted on felling them to save lives. He further intervened to halt a human sacrifice ritual, killing Kashigami, the giant serpent worshipped as a god, thereby saving Mousse, daughter of the tribal chief Kalgara. His actions and expertise eradicated the plague, forging a profound friendship with Kalgara built on mutual respect and trust. During his time on Jaya, Norland discovered Shandora, a city constructed entirely of gold, and was deeply moved by the sound of its golden bell guiding him through a storm. Learning the felled trees were sacred, he and his crew took no gold, leaving it all behind as an apology. Upon returning to Lvneel, Norland reported his findings to King Aruyutayan V, who demanded to see the city of gold. Norland guided the king and inexperienced soldiers back to Jaya. Unbeknownst to him, a massive oceanic eruption (the Knock Up Stream) had propelled the section of Jaya containing Shandora into the sky one year prior. Finding only jungle where the city stood, the enraged king accused Norland of deception. Despite loyal crew testimonies affirming his honesty, the king arranged a false witness. Norland was publicly executed, maintaining until death that the city of gold existed and expressing concern for Kalgara. Following his execution, King Aruyutayan V commissioned the children's book "Liar Noland," distorting Norland's image into a grinning fool whose tall tales caused his downfall. This defamation persisted for centuries, causing his descendants, including Montblanc Cricket, to suffer ostracization and ridicule. The Montblanc family was exiled from Lvneel, with generations grappling with shame. Cricket dedicated years to searching the seas around Jaya for remnants of the gold city, aiming to confront his family's burden, not clear Norland's name. Centuries later, Norland's account was vindicated when the Straw Hat Pirates reached Skypiea, confirming Shandora and its golden bell existed in the sky. The ringing of the bell during the Skypiea Arc proved Norland's truthfulness and fulfilled his promise to Kalgara. Beyond the Shandia, Norland was revered as a hero by the Tontatta Tribe of Green Bit in the New World for protecting them from human invaders 400 years earlier. They erected a statue in his honor, and their descendants continued to view him as a legendary figure. Physically, Norland was a tall, well-built man with tanned skin, brown hair, and a distinctive large chestnut-like growth on his head—a hereditary trait. He typically wore a high-collared black coat secured by a belt, an orange scarf, striped blue-and-white pants, and carried a katana with a chestnut-shaped tsuba. A large cross-shaped scar marked the left side of his chest. His personality contrasted sharply with his storybook depiction. He was honest, brave, and compassionate, prioritizing human life above tradition or superstition. He demonstrated remorse upon realizing the cultural offense caused by cutting the sacred trees. His flaw was acting decisively without prior consultation, believing his actions served the greater good. Norland possessed exceptional physical abilities and combat prowess. He displayed immense strength and swordsmanship, capable of killing Sea Kings underwater to feed his crew and defeating Kashigami in a single strike. He endured being trapped for hours within an earth fissure under immense pressure and still managed to move the crushing weight slightly. As a diver, he could reach extreme depths for prolonged periods, hunting sea monsters with ease. His keen hearing detected the faint sound of Shandora's bell during a storm. He was also a skilled navigator and leader, commanding his crew's respect through multiple successful Grand Line voyages. His legacy endured through his descendants' struggles, the cultural memory of the Shandia and Tontatta tribes, and the eventual confirmation of Shandora, validating his lifelong honesty.