The Hell Pirates' reputation had spread like wildfire across the North Blue's vast waters, their name whispered with a mixture of awe and terror in every pirate haven and marine outpost. The devastating display of power that had obliterated an entire fleet still echoed through criminal networks months later, serving as both inspiration and warning to anyone who dared challenge the established order.
Even Doflamingo's continued calls for their elimination had begun yielding diminishing returns. While the Heavenly Demon's influence remained vast, fewer crews were willing to risk annihilation for the promise of his favor. The wreckage littering the ocean floor served as stark reminders of what happened to those who underestimated the Hell Pirates' capabilities.
But the seas would always harbor desperate souls seeking fortune through violence, and such individuals continued testing their luck against impossible odds.
None returned to tell of their experiences.
The latest vessel claimed by the Hell Pirates bore little resemblance to their original modest craft. That ship had been destroyed during the chaotic battle at Fishhead Island, forcing them to appropriate increasingly sophisticated vessels from their defeated enemies. Their current flagship, a sleek predator stolen from a merchant syndicate foolish enough to challenge them, represented the accumulated spoils of dozens of victories.
Yet as comfortable as their new accommodations were, Oboro found himself increasingly aware of their operational limitations. A three-man crew could achieve remarkable things through individual excellence, but they couldn't maintain the kind of sustainable presence that true power required.
"We need more hands," he mused, watching Dom practice his swordsmanship while Dolan struggled with both navigation and sail management simultaneously.
The isolation was becoming problematic beyond mere logistics. Ships carried their own psychological pressures, the endless expanse of ocean, the routine of daily survival, the absence of varied human contact. Even experienced pirates could succumb to madness without proper outlets for social interaction and entertainment.
That's why successful crews prioritized musicians, cooks, entertainers, and other specialists whose skills went beyond combat effectiveness. A lively ship was a stable ship, and stability translated directly into operational capability over extended periods.
Helmsmen, doctors, carpenters, navigators, each position represented crucial expertise that couldn't be indefinitely covered by untrained personnel. While Dom and Dolan had proven capable of handling emergency situations, their divided attention compromised both their primary duties and their personal development.
More importantly, Oboro recognized that his ultimate objectives would require an organization of considerable size and complexity. Three individuals, no matter how capable, couldn't challenge the World Government's institutional power. The Celestial Dragons ruled through networks that spanned the globe, dismantling such systems demanded equally extensive counter-networks.
The next morning brought them into the North Blue's colder maritime zones, where sporadic snowflakes danced across grey waters that stretched toward a horizon painted in shades of winter. The temperature drop was dramatic enough to require additional clothing, though Oboro's enhanced physiology made such adjustments unnecessary.
A pirate vessel appeared on their starboard horizon, its crew undoubtedly scanning the approaching ships for potential opportunities. But the moment their lookouts identified the Hell Pirates' distinctive flag, the enemy vessel executed an immediate course correction that carried them away at maximum speed.
Such reactions had become routine during their recent voyages. Word of their devastating combat capabilities had filtered through the North Blue's communication networks with remarkable efficiency, transforming them from unknown rookies into a force that established crews actively avoided.
"During our time on these waters, we've eliminated at least sixty pirate organizations," Oboro observed with casual satisfaction, settling into the deck chair they'd acquired from their latest prize vessel.
Dom paused in his training routine, sweat streaming down his face despite the cold air. The intensive physical conditioning that Oboro had prescribed was showing clear results, his speed, strength, and endurance had all improved dramatically compared to their early days together.
"Our reputation in the North Blue is essentially established now," Dom replied, wringing seawater from his shirt. "Few groups bother challenging us anymore unless they're either completely desperate or genuinely suicidal. I expect Doflamingo himself will make an appearance soon."
His predatory grin reflected genuine anticipation rather than fear. The prospect of facing one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea represented the ultimate test of their enhanced capabilities, and an opportunity to cement their status among the North Blue's apex predators.
"The outside world has started classifying us as an 'anti-government force,'" Dom continued with obvious pride. "We're not being lumped in with typical pirate rabble anymore."
The distinction mattered more than simple semantics. Organizations designated as anti-government forces received fundamentally different treatment from routine criminal enterprises. They attracted Admiral-level attention, triggered specialized response protocols, and became subjects of international intelligence gathering that ordinary pirates never experienced.
Such recognition represented both achievement and danger in equal measure.
"The World Government works quickly when it suits their purposes," Oboro noted, raising the newspaper that contained their first official bounty notices.
North Blue Hell Pirates
Captain: Hell King - 37,000,000 Berries
Officer: Night Walker - 15,000,000 Berries
Crew Member: Ghost Messenger - 10,000,000 Berries
The wanted posters bore deliberately obscured images rather than clear portraits, blurred silhouettes that captured their general appearance without providing useful identification details. More significantly, their backgrounds remained completely classified, their real names replaced with question marks, and their origins listed simply as "unknown."
The government clearly suspected something about their true identities but lacked sufficient evidence to make definitive connections. Or perhaps they simply preferred to avoid drawing attention to certain possibilities that might prove politically inconvenient.
The bounty amounts themselves reflected the careful balance between acknowledging genuine threat and avoiding excessive publicity. Thirty-seven million berries represented serious money in the North Blue, enough to attract professional bounty hunters while remaining below the threshold that would trigger automatic Admiral deployment.
"They'll piece together the truth eventually," Oboro continued with philosophical acceptance. "Perhaps they've already connected the relevant dots but can't spare resources for confirmation. The New World demands constant attention, and this new generation of pirates creates additional pressure on their already strained forces."
He gestured toward the newspaper's other pages, where familiar faces appeared alongside their own bounty notices.
"We can use this wave of emerging talent as camouflage, blending into the broader phenomenon until we're ready for full revelation. When that time comes, probably during our Grand Line campaign, the World Government will face a very different political calculation."
The timing was indeed fortuitous. Their emergence coincided with an unprecedented surge of talented pirates throughout all four seas, creating what maritime historians would eventually term the "Worst Generation", a collection of individuals whose combined impact would reshape the world's power structure.
Trafalgar Law commanded the lead position on the North Blue's most wanted list, his Heart Pirates having established dominance through systematic elimination of rival crews. The young doctor's tactical brilliance and surgical precision had earned him both fear and respect throughout these waters.
Basil Hawkins occupied the second position, his Magician's fortune-telling abilities combined with devastating Devil Fruit powers making him one of the most dangerous figures currently operating in the North Blue. Unlike Law's methodical approach, Hawkins preferred psychological warfare that left his enemies questioning reality itself.
The Hell Pirates held third position, remarkable progress for a crew that had formed mere months ago.
Flipping to the South Blue section revealed equally impressive talent. Eustass Kid's red hair and rebellious expression dominated the page, his magnetic abilities and volcanic temper having already claimed dozens of ships throughout those waters. His partner Killer complemented Kid's raw aggression with lethal precision that had earned him the epithet "Massacre Soldier."
Scratchmen Apoo's long-armed clan heritage gave him unique advantages in both combat and leadership, his musical Devil Fruit abilities creating a distinctive fighting style that had captured the South Blue's imagination.
The West Blue showcased Capone "Gang" Bege, whose transformation from mafia don to pirate captain represented a calculated business decision rather than romantic adventurism. His "Flame Tank Pirates" combined organized crime efficiency with maritime expertise, creating a hybrid organization that traditional pirates struggled to counter.
Only the East Blue seemed relatively quiet by comparison, though Oboro's enhanced knowledge suggested that situation would change dramatically within the next few months. Monkey D. Luffy's eventual emergence would trigger events that would overshadow even the current generation's accomplishments.
"The Straw Hat Pirates will represent the fastest rise in pirate history," Oboro mused, studying the East Blue listings with strategic interest. "From Luffy's departure to reaching Sabaody Archipelago, barely six months of total sailing time."
Such rapid progression was virtually unprecedented in modern piracy. Most crews required years to develop the experience and resources necessary for Grand Line navigation, yet the Straw Hats would achieve supernova status through a combination of exceptional talent, incredible luck, and the kind of narrative momentum that seemed to bend probability itself.
Of course, their route selection played a crucial role in such rapid advancement. The Grand Line offered multiple navigation methods, fixed magnetic paths that connected specific islands in predetermined sequences, or random magnetic readings that led to unpredictable destinations based on natural field fluctuations.
Most pirates chose random navigation for the adventure and unpredictability it provided, treating their voyages as extended explorations rather than focused campaigns. Such approaches naturally extended travel times as crews dealt with unexpected discoveries, environmental hazards, and spontaneous conflicts.
The Straw Hats would follow the most direct route available, their determination to reach specific objectives overwhelming their curiosity about alternative destinations. Combined with their extraordinary combat capabilities and Luffy's mysterious ability to inspire absolute loyalty, they would accomplish in months what typically took years.
"The World Government has excellent reason to classify regional pirate groups as emerging threats," Oboro continued, folding the newspaper with deliberate care. "But 'new star' status represents only the beginning of their evaluation process."
The terminology was deliberately hierarchical. "New stars" encompassed roughly a hundred pirate crews across all four seas, ambitious organizations that had demonstrated sufficient capability to warrant governmental attention. But achieving "supernova" classification required surviving the transition to the Grand Line and establishing sustainable operations in that far more dangerous environment.
Historical survival rates hovered around ten percent. Of every hundred crews that achieved new star status, only ten or eleven would ultimately reach supernova recognition. The selection pressure was brutal but necessary, the Grand Line's supernatural hazards, political complexities, and enhanced opposition eliminated everyone except the truly exceptional.
For those who did survive the transition, the rewards justified the risks. Supernova status commanded global recognition, attracted high-quality recruits, and provided access to information networks that could reshape entire regions. Such crews became players rather than pieces in the world's ongoing power struggles.
"The Marine training programs seem inadequate for producing talent that can match this generation," Oboro observed with strategic satisfaction. "Their elite academies focus on discipline and conventional tactics, while these new pirates represent innovation and adaptive thinking."
The contrast wasn't entirely accidental. The World Government's institutional culture prioritized stability and predictability over creative problem-solving, producing officers who excelled at maintaining existing systems but struggled with unprecedented challenges. Pirates, by contrast, survived through constant adaptation to changing circumstances.
"The Worst Generation will ultimately include thirteen members," Oboro concluded with predatory anticipation. "Twelve official supernovas plus Marshall D. Teach, whose timeline places him outside normal generational boundaries."
The addition of two extra members, himself and potentially Dom, would create ripple effects throughout the established order that no amount of governmental planning could fully anticipate.
"Captain!" Dolan called from his position at the bow, his weathered voice cutting through the cold air. "Destination spotted ahead!"
A snow-covered island emerged from the grey horizon like a frozen jewel, its white peaks and ice-covered shores promising new opportunities for recruitment and resource acquisition. The Hell Pirates' next phase was about to begin, and with it, their inexorable march toward challenging the powers that ruled the world.
As their ship adjusted course toward the mysterious island, Oboro allowed himself a moment of satisfaction. Every piece was falling into place exactly as he'd envisioned. The Worst Generation would indeed reshape the world, but not in ways that anyone except him could possibly predict.
The game was entering its most crucial phase, and the Hell Pirates were perfectly positioned to exploit every opportunity that emerged.