Meanwhile, in a private meeting room within the depths of Marijoa.
Saint Satan, the Science Defense God among the Five Elders, replaced the Den Den Mushi receiver with deliberate precision. His weathered features bore the weight of decisions that would reshape the world's balance of power.
"That Oboro should be preparing to enter the Grand Line," observed Saint Nusjuro, the Finance God, his distinctive bald head gleaming in the chamber's subdued lighting. The ornate sword resting across his knees reflected his martial bearing despite his administrative role. "In addition to funding, they are also expanding their manpower. With his shrewdness, he undoubtedly expects that returning to the Grand Line will trigger a life-and-death battle."
His tone carried the analytical detachment that marked all Five Elders' discussions, they spoke of global conflicts and massive casualties with the same casual interest others might reserve for weather reports.
"Although Steel Bone has assumed the position of Captain-in-Chief, his emotional attachments to the Marine remain significant," Saint Maz added, his full white beard lending gravitas to words that carried ominous implications.
The Environment God's observation touched upon one of the World Government's most persistent challenges. While the Marine served as their primary enforcement arm, complete loyalty to the Celestial Dragons remained elusive. The institutional culture that had developed over generations created competing loyalties that sometimes prioritized abstract concepts of justice over absolute obedience.
Steel Bone Kong represented this problematic dynamic in its most concentrated form. His legendary status within marine ranks meant that his personal opinions carried weight that transcended official hierarchy. If another figure had assumed the Captain-in-Chief position, someone without Kong's institutional credibility, the careful balance between government authority and marine autonomy might collapse entirely.
For various reasons, even they occasionally found themselves unable to exercise absolute dominance over Cyborg's strategic decisions.
During the Sabaody Archipelago incident, Sengoku's retention of his position despite the unprecedented failure to protect a Celestial Dragon had been largely due to Kong's intervention on his behalf.
The importance of maintaining Kong's cooperation couldn't be overstated.
"Should we deploy only him?" Saint Warcury inquired, his scarred features reflecting decades of violent experience.
"From the God Slayer's reaction, this individual possesses extraordinary alertness. If we deploy multiple agents, suspicion becomes inevitable," Saint Saturn replied with cold calculation.
"As a pirate?"
"If it's him, perhaps success remains achievable. Even if his identity becomes compromised... he will most likely escape unscathed while providing valuable intelligence about our target's capabilities."
Several figures around the ornate conference table continued their strategic discussion, their words carrying implications that would determine the fate of countless individuals throughout the maritime world.
The mysterious 'him' they referenced clearly possessed exceptional qualifications for such a dangerous assignment.
"What about Doflamingo?" Saint Maz redirected their attention to another problematic variable in their calculations.
"Our patience operates within finite parameters," Saint Saturn declared, leaning heavily on his ornate wooden cane. "Don't assume that possessing certain 'evidence' grants unlimited freedom of action. Before circumstances become truly serious, he retains adequate opportunities to demonstrate wisdom. Moreover, given his partial knowledge of certain truths, he understands perfectly well what consequences await those who oppose us. He is intelligent... though regrettably profit-motivated."
The implied threat was delivered with casual indifference, as if discussing routine administrative matters rather than potential elimination of one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
"Then the matter is settled," Saint Warcury pronounced with finality that brooked no further discussion.
North Blue, the former site of the Kingdom of Flevance.
When marine reinforcements finally arrived from neighboring bases, they discovered only smoldering ruins and scorched earth carpeted with corpses in Marine uniforms. The scene struck terror into the hearts of many recruits aboard the relief vessels, their inexperienced minds struggling to process the scope of devastation that had consumed their comrades.
Several trainee marines vomited uncontrollably while attempting to clear the battlefield, their stomachs rebelling against the carnage that painted the once-peaceful landscape in shades of crimson and ash.
Among the scattered remains, they located what appeared to be Captain Sith's body, though positive identification proved challenging given the condition of the corpse. Similarly, evidence fragments confirmed the presence of World Government agents, their specialized equipment marking them as Cipher Pol operatives.
The bodies of these personnel had been completely pulverized, reduced to fragments of flesh and bone that defied conventional analysis. Whatever force had caused such devastating injuries operated beyond normal understanding of combat damage.
The relief expedition had required a full day to reach Flevance, though their response time could have been significantly faster. Suspicions arose that Marine Headquarters had deliberately delayed their arrival, transforming what should have been a rescue operation into a corpse collection mission. Captain Sith's forces had numbered in the thousands, the commanders of other marine branches had expected any confrontation to continue for hours or even days, not conclude with such brutal finality.
After requesting instructions from superior officers, the entire collection of remains was burned on-site to prevent external investigation into the true nature of what had transpired.
However, despite these efforts at concealment, news of the Hell Pirates' systematic elimination of an entire North Blue marine force spread through underground networks with viral intensity. Captain Sith had maintained extensive relationships with various pirate organizations and criminal enterprises throughout the region. When these contacts found themselves unable to reach their marine collaborator, they activated alternative information channels, including bribed non-commissioned officers within marine ranks who possessed detailed knowledge of the disaster.
The intelligence leak was inevitable.
Once again, the Hell Pirates had dominated North Blue headlines through spectacular displays of overwhelming power.
For many regional pirates, Sith had represented a persistent obstacle, a corrupt enforcer whose cooperation came at steep prices but whose elimination required capabilities beyond their reach. Some celebrated his destruction as liberation from an expensive burden, while others cursed the Hell Pirates for destroying carefully cultivated arrangements that had provided protection from legal consequences.
After all, beyond simple piracy, numerous organizations had built profitable relationships with Sith's administration. His death eliminated their carefully placed asset within marine hierarchy, making future operations significantly more dangerous and complicated.
But such concerns held no relevance for Oboro and his inner circle.
After concluding their business at Flevance, he issued orders that scattered hundreds of Hell Pirates trainee crew members throughout the North Blue like seeds cast to the wind. They received two months of complete operational freedom, permission to "grow wildly" like weeds without supervision or constraint, before returning to designated coordinates for their Grand Line expedition.
This decision represented calculated psychological manipulation designed to further inflate the trainees' arrogance and self-confidence. Without oversight or regulation, they would inevitably magnify the darkness within their hearts, transforming from cautious subordinates into reckless predators drunk on their enhanced capabilities.
While Yurivich, Dom, and the other core members remained at his side, preparing for the intensive training that would determine their survival in the battles to come.
During the next two months, Oboro planned to provide personal instruction in advanced Haki techniques, knowledge that would separate elite combatants from enhanced cannon fodder when they faced opponents worthy of genuine concern.
For Yingge and Kaka, who had proven themselves during their disastrous encounter with the Vinsmoke brothers, the curriculum would extend beyond simple Haki development to encompass specialized combat applications tailored to their individual potential.
Yingge possessed legitimate swordsmanship skills that had been dramatically enhanced through the triple amplification provided by bloodline, experience, and skill cards. The Fire Breathing techniques he'd inherited proved particularly compatible with his natural fighting style. However, his complete lack of Haki awakening represented a critical vulnerability that would prove fatal against Grand Line opponents. Raw enhancement could ensure survival in the first half of the Grand Line, but advancement beyond that threshold demanded mastery of spiritual energy techniques.
Kaka demonstrated exceptional close-combat capabilities, his enhancement derived from bloodline and experience cards supplemented by inherited abilities from Delinger, the former Donquixote Family operative whose death had provided valuable skill templates. The young pirate had adapted Delinger's leg-based fighting techniques with impressive proficiency, though his Haki development remained non-existent.
Surprisingly, Kaka displayed remarkable natural sensitivity to spiritual energy perception, a talent that might allow him to progress rapidly once proper instruction began.
The training regimen for Dom and Yurivich emphasized mutual improvement through systematic sparring under Oboro's direct supervision. He personally engaged both warriors in round-robin combat sessions, maintaining enough intensity to push their capabilities to breaking points without causing permanent damage.
Watching these confrontations often left Dolan sweating with nervous tension. He understood Dom and Yurivich's enhanced capabilities better than anyone, yet even their combined assault never gained meaningful advantage against their captain. During the early training sessions, even Yurivich, whose monstrous physiology had earned legendary status throughout the North Blue, could endure no more than ten minutes of direct engagement before exhaustion forced withdrawal.
As time progressed, both fighters gradually adapted to the overwhelming intensity, their endurance and tactical sophistication improving through constant exposure to impossible challenges.
Several days later, Dom approached the training ground after receiving communication through their intelligence networks.
They had established their current base on an extremely remote island in the North Blue's frigid northern reaches, where perpetual winter created an environment of endless snow and howling winds. The landscape resembled a frozen wasteland where survival itself represented constant struggle against natural forces.
The island supported a unique ecosystem centered around "Tuanzi", snow wolves whose appearances contradicted their deadly nature. Despite resembling oversized, comically fat versions of ordinary wolves, these creatures possessed supernatural speed and hunting instincts that made them apex predators in their frozen domain. Their specialized fur provided perfect camouflage against snowy backgrounds, while their intelligence rivaled that of human tactical units.
These wolves hunted in coordinated packs, moving through their territory with absolute silence that allowed them to approach within striking distance before victims realized danger had arrived.
Oboro had incorporated the island's wolf population into training exercises for Kaka and Yingge, establishing complex rules and objectives that forced them to develop enhanced awareness while surviving constant predation attempts. The psychological pressure of being hunted while accomplishing mission goals created exactly the kind of stress that accelerated combat evolution.
Dom and Yurivich, having already achieved basic Haki mastery, faced different challenges that focused on refinement rather than fundamental awakening.
"Several developments require your attention," Dom announced as he approached the bonfire where Oboro sat in characteristic meditation pose.
The training ground around them bore scars from recent sparring sessions, crater impacts, scorch marks, and displaced snow that spoke to the intensity of their preparation regimen.
"Proceed," Oboro replied without opening his eyes, his enhanced perception tracking Dom's approach while simultaneously monitoring the distant activities of their other training participants.
"First, Trafalgar Law has been confirmed operating in the Grand Line's first half. Intelligence suggests his crew successfully broke through marine encirclement and established sustainable operations beyond Reverse Mountain."
Oboro showed no visible reaction, though the information confirmed his strategic calculations about timing and opportunity windows.
"Second, Marine Headquarters has dispatched a senior officer to assume control of the territories previously administered by Captain Sith."
"Captain Tina," Dom continued with obvious tension in his voice.
"You know her?" Oboro detected the subtle shift in Dom's emotional state through changes in breathing pattern and muscle tension.
"During my time with the Flame Dragon Pirates, that woman provided considerable... attention to our activities," Dom replied with bitter amusement. "In those early years, our organization operated primarily in the Grand Line's first half. I suspect we served as training exercises for promising Marine Academy graduates, small-scale opponents who provided practical experience without excessive danger."
His tone carried the self-deprecating humor of someone reflecting on past naivety.
The individuals he referenced represented the elite products of Marine Headquarters' advanced training programs, the carefully cultivated seeds of hope for institutional future. Smoker and Tina had graduated from the same class, while Dom's involvement with the Flame Dragon Pirates dated to their organization's relatively modest beginnings. At that time, their bounties and threat assessments remained low enough to serve as ideal "proving grounds" for developing marine officers.
"Naturally, for insignificant pirates like myself, even junior officers from Headquarters represented overwhelming opposition," Dom continued with cold satisfaction. "But if I encountered her now, elimination would prove... straightforward."
The observation highlighted fundamental differences between pirate and marine development paths. The Marine possessed comprehensive institutional resources, standardized training protocols, and accumulated wisdom that provided officers with substantial advantages from their first deployments. Most pirates were forced to develop capabilities through trial and error, learning survival techniques through constant exposure to life-threatening situations without guidance or support systems.
"Is there more?" Oboro inquired patiently.
"The final report concerns a recent incident involving our personnel," Dom's expression grew more serious. "We've suffered casualties."
"Oh?" Oboro's interest sharpened noticeably as a predatory smile played across his features.
"Who was responsible?"
"A newly emerged pirate crew," Dom explained. "Recently departed from their home waters with no established reputation or documented history."