Soon after the transaction's completion, Germa's floating "kingdom" vanished beneath the horizon, disappearing into the vast expanse of the North Blue as silently as it had arrived.
The members of the Hell Pirates rushed to the agreed coordinates by sea shortly after receiving Oboro's signal. In addition to their flagship, two smaller pirate vessels now served to transport the Germa soldiers, elite combatants who could be enhanced with low-level system cards to rapidly form a battle-ready force. As the Hell Pirates continued their operations throughout the North Blue, they would systematically recruit additional "pirate cannon fodder" to bolster their numbers. By the time their forces reached sufficient scale, they would be ready to navigate Reverse Mountain and return to the Grand Line.
This time, Oboro had no intention of taking the Calm Belt route. Instead, they would follow the traditional path used by countless other pirate crews, a deliberate choice designed to announce their presence to the World Government and Marine. Consider it an early "vaccination," a clear declaration of his powerful return to the world's most dangerous waters.
Among the recruited forces, nearly ninety-nine percent were destined for abandonment when the crucial moment arrived.
From the Hell Pirates' inception, Oboro had maintained a fundamental principle: their strength lay not in numbers, but in individual quality. In this world where personal power gaps could be astronomical, as demonstrated during the War at Marineford, even a crew as small as Red-Haired Shanks' could claim Emperor status through sheer individual strength. To establish dominance in these waters, massive armies and countless subordinates weren't necessary.
Raw power was enough. Power sufficient to make others fear challenging you was all that mattered.
Blu blu blu.
As expected, the Den Den Mushi in Oboro's hand began ringing shortly after the two forces separated. He had been anticipating this particular call.
Reiju's voice came through the transponder snail, her inquiry focused entirely on information about Sanji. Oboro shared everything he knew, explaining that her brother now worked as a chef at a renowned restaurant in the East Blue. Upon learning that Sanji was safe and apparently living well, Reiju's relief was palpable as she expressed her heartfelt gratitude.
She clearly had no intention of informing her family about Sanji's whereabouts, especially not Iji and the others.
Reiju possessed sharp intelligence. From Oboro's carefully worded hints about Sanji, she understood that this man had confirmed the connection between her brother and the Vinsmoke family. His approach to her represented a calculated "transaction" rather than casual conversation.
Oboro had sought to establish a direct line of communication with Reiju because he harbored doubts about Judge's reliability. The old man was an arrogant megalomaniac whose primary concern was personal gain. In terms of trustworthiness, Oboro's confidence in him remained limited at best.
Through Reiju's obvious affection for Sanji, he had identified a potential "weakness" in an otherwise emotionally distant woman.
This wasn't exactly a threat, more accurately, it represented strategic leverage.
Even if Reiju chose not to share inside information with him, Oboro had no intention of using Sanji's safety against her. Despite the cold, calculating environment of the Vinsmoke household, Reiju had proven herself to be a genuinely caring sister.
That earned her a small measure of respect in his estimation.
Several days later, the two parties completed their clandestine "handover" on a remote island in the North Blue.
Germa's representatives consisted of Reiju and Iji, both arriving with the professional efficiency expected of their military organization.
"The payment is aboard that vessel," Oboro indicated, gesturing toward a large ship moored along the coastline.
The entire craft was loaded with containers filled with gold, silver, and various precious treasures, a fortune that represented years of accumulated wealth from their North Blue operations.
"Understood," Reiju responded with a diplomatic smile and a simple nod.
They would depart without conducting a detailed inventory. Assets of this magnitude couldn't be concealed in a few deceptive containers, and she trusted that Oboro wouldn't attempt to cheat them on such an important transaction.
"Father has commanded them to follow your orders from this point forward," Reiju explained, her tone maintaining professional courtesy. "Excluding members of the Vinsmoke family itself, you possess absolute authority over these soldiers. You may deploy them for any purpose you deem necessary."
Oboro acknowledged her words with understanding.
"Then... farewell."
After completing the necessary explanations, Reiju boarded their departure vessel alongside Iji without further conversation.
Iji's obvious impatience had made prolonged discussion inadvisable.
"Let me clarify something immediately," the leader of the five hundred Germa soldiers stepped forward after the Vinsmoke representatives had left, his voice carrying the rigid formality of military discipline. "Although our commander has ordered us to obey your instructions, we remain soldiers of Germa Kingdom, not members of the Hell Pirates!"
"That's perfectly acceptable," Oboro replied calmly.
His casual response drew irritated glances from several Hell Pirates, but Oboro showed no concern about the distinction.
These soldiers were essentially sophisticated "puppets", genetically modified beings who retained individual consciousness and could function as living people, despite their artificial origins.
The following day, the Hell Pirates' three-ship formation resumed their journey through the North Blue.
Hundreds of Germa personnel occupied the two smaller pirate vessels, maintaining deliberate separation from Oboro's core crew. He had chosen not to immediately use system cards to "evolve" their capabilities, understanding that these soldiers almost certainly possessed methods of communicating with Germa Kingdom. They would likely report every significant development within the Hell Pirates back to Judge.
This communication concern represented one of the primary reasons for keeping the Germa forces isolated from his regular pirates.
The Hell Pirates' transaction with Germa had been conducted with utmost secrecy, attracting no public attention or generating discussion throughout the North Blue.
Half a month later, the Hell Pirates engaged a marine squadron near Petrel Island in the North Blue.
The result was complete annihilation of the government forces.
Rubeck Island, Petrel Island, Mignon Island, these three landmasses belonged to the same maritime region that had once hosted the Ope Ope no Mi transaction. Generally speaking, given the Hell Pirates' current notorious reputation, ordinary marine bases possessed enough sense to avoid direct confrontation with their forces. However, the circumstances that triggered this particular battle proved quite interesting.
The conflict had originated from recent pirate activity in waters near a World Government member nation, disrupting crucial shipping routes and affecting commercial transportation. The affected king, finding these pirates increasingly troublesome, had pressured the Marine to eliminate the criminal presence in his territory.
The marine response had been... inadequate.
Across the island, fleeing marine soldiers abandoned their positions in complete disarray, many discarding weapons and equipment in their desperate attempts to escape. The scene represented a total rout, with overall troop quality proving vastly inferior to Grand Line standards. The pirates' triumphant laughter and battle cries echoed through smoke-filled air as their enemies scattered like leaves before a hurricane.
Despite the marine force possessing three times the Hell Pirates' numbers, over a thousand soldiers, they had gained no meaningful advantage from their numerical superiority.
The Germa soldiers had not participated in the engagement.
In a dense forest overlooking the battlefield, Oboro and his high-level combatants rested in scattered positions, observing the carnage without feeling any need to personally intervene. The regular crew members were thoroughly enjoying this one-sided slaughter.
Oboro smiled with genuine satisfaction.
His expression reflected deep contentment as he watched the proceedings unfold.
He was deliberately cultivating his pirates' arrogance, allowing them to gradually become intoxicated with their own power and lose sight of reality. When individuals slowly abandon their rational judgment, they become incapable of recognizing genuine threats.
Therefore, when the decisive confrontation at Reverse Mountain forced them to face admirals and vice admirals from Marine Headquarters, these overconfident fools would charge into battle without hesitation at his command. They wouldn't realize the fundamental difference in opposition quality, remaining blissfully unaware of their impending doom.
Pirates from the four outer seas called the Grand Line a "newcomer's paradise" for excellent reasons, the power disparity between regions represented entirely different levels of danger.
The marine soldiers being slaughtered so effortlessly today would present completely different challenges once they reached the Grand Line.
"Captain," Dom called from his position against a nearby tree trunk, arms folded as he studied the distant battlefield, "the pirate crew you mentioned before... their captain was..."
"Trafalgar Law," Dom finished.
"What about him?" Oboro asked, shifting his attention from the smoke-filled conflict.
"Intelligence reports suggest they're approaching the 'entrance' and should be preparing to enter the Grand Line," Dom reported.
"Hehe," Oboro chuckled with genuine amusement.
The Hawkins Pirates had failed to escape his influence, but Law had proven far more cautious and intelligent in his approach. During the Hell Pirates' period of North Blue dominance, the outside world had received virtually no information about Law's crew activities, they had remained essentially invisible, clearly seeking to avoid any encounter with Oboro's forces.
Perhaps his reputation had motivated them to depart for the Red Line earlier than originally planned.
"What about the East Blue?" Oboro inquired, remembering another matter of interest.
"Nothing yet," Dom shook his head. "The Straw Hat Pirates you mentioned, and that kid named Luffy... I haven't found any mention of them in recent newspapers."
"It should be soon," Oboro murmured thoughtfully.
"Is he someone you know personally, Captain?" Dolan asked with obvious curiosity.
"I know him, but he doesn't know me," Oboro smiled mysteriously. "But I'm confident that in the near future, his name will resonate throughout the entire ocean."
The expressions of his subordinates varied noticeably upon hearing this declaration. Even Yurivich, who had been sitting silently with his head down, looked up with sudden interest.
They had already witnessed their captain's incredible power firsthand. For this man to speak with such certainty about someone else's future impact suggested that individual must possess truly extraordinary potential.
"Oh, by the way," Dom suddenly remembered another matter, "that Marine colonel named Sith requested a meeting with us in Flevance."
"He's Marine... why would he want to meet with pirates?" Dolan asked, clearly confused by the contradiction.
"We've established a factory on that island nation, and his people have been causing problems for our operations recently," Dom explained with a cold smile. "Since it's a non-member country, they receive no World Government protection. The Marine can commit whatever atrocities they want there under the banner of 'justice'... honestly, their behavior resembles pirates more than ours does."
"I know that guy!" Kaka suddenly raised his hand enthusiastically. "Mad Dog Sith, he's one of the most dangerous characters in the North Blue Marine! This bastard has eliminated numerous pirate crews throughout his career. Moreover, he operates differently from traditional marine officers... rumor has it that if you provide sufficient bribes and benefits, he'll overlook certain activities. Many North Blue pirate crews have established 'arrangements' with him."
"No wonder," Dom's expression showed sudden understanding.
In the North Blue's current environment, corrupt marine officers represented a predictable phenomenon.
Similar situations existed throughout all four outer seas.
However, the North Blue and West Blue should be considered the most prevalent examples of such corruption.
When surrounded by so many illegal organizations, including pirates, generating enormous profits through criminal enterprise, maintaining one's original principles became extraordinarily difficult for anyone.
"Flevance..." Dolan mused thoughtfully. "Isn't that country most famous for being the 'White Town'?"
After operating in the North Blue for such an extended period, they had naturally learned about some significant local "history."
"Indeed," Dom sneered. "That falls under Sith's territorial jurisdiction. It must feel safer for him to conduct business negotiations within his own sphere of influence."
"Paying protection money to the Marine?" Oboro found the concept genuinely entertaining.
"Since they've already extended an invitation, it would be somewhat rude to decline their hospitality," he said, slowly rising from his position and leading the way.
His subordinates heard the decision and laughed knowingly as they followed.
Numerous underground organizations and pirate crews maintained active operations within the Kingdom of Flevance.
However, they weren't targeting Flevance itself, but rather using it as a base for activities in neighboring countries.
Flevance had been thoroughly destroyed in flames and chaos.
This wasteland was also Trafalgar Law's birthplace.
The devastation resulted from the truth behind the "White Town" and the lead poisoning disease that had consumed its population.
To exploit amber-lead resources, the World Government had deliberately concealed the toxic nature of the substance, causing massive civilian deaths and creating the "White Town" phenomenon. Furthermore, for years afterward, the government had ignored the suffering "patients," systematically suppressing information and implementing population blockades. When the crisis eventually became public, neighboring countries mistook the condition for a dangerous infectious disease, leading to war between nations.
Law's parents had also perished due to government negligence and deliberate cover-ups.
Since then, seeds of vengeance had taken root in that young man's heart. When Doflamingo appeared, he had successfully recruited Law into the pirate world.
This place still bore the name Flevance, but it had truly become a "Kingdom Cemetery."
Even now, whenever North Blue residents mentioned the White Town, those unfamiliar with the real story could barely hide their disgust and revulsion.
The true perpetrator hiding behind the scenes remained the World Government.
Several days later, the Hell Pirates accepted the invitation to Flevance.
When they approached the coastal waters, a massive marine fleet came into view. Rather than immediately opening fire, the warships formed a coordinated formation that surrounded the pirate vessels and "escorted" them toward shore.
Upon reaching land, the Marine's deployment proved even more impressive.
Looking in every direction, soldiers in white uniforms had arranged themselves in precise square formations. A rough estimate suggested approximately three thousand personnel.
Naturally, the Hell Pirates hadn't arrived casually. They had established a specific meeting time with Captain Sith before departing.
Obviously, this represented a "Hongmen Banquet", a trap disguised as negotiation.
However, they possessed the courage to attend because failure to appear would certainly result in Sith's forces "targeting" their North Blue business interests.
Oboro brought only Dolan and Dom ashore, leaving everyone else aboard their vessels to avoid potential conflict with marine forces for the time being.
The Marine was clearly well-prepared for this encounter.
"Follow me," a long-haired man wearing glasses approached the three pirates, speaking with cold formality before turning to lead them inland.
This individual seemed thoroughly familiar with the "procedures" involved in negotiating with criminal organizations.
After walking along a grassy path for several minutes, they arrived at what could only be described as a "pleasant" location.
Lush flowers and vegetation carpeted the ground beneath their feet, creating an unexpectedly beautiful environment.
Not far ahead, a senior marine officer sat at an elegantly appointed dining table, consuming Western cuisine with refined manners while wearing a napkin around his collar.
Most notably, his blade and fork appeared to be crafted from pure gold, as if specially commissioned for his personal use. Ten fingers displayed brilliant jeweled rings, creating an overall impression that had nothing to do with marine service and everything to do with newly acquired aristocratic wealth.
Behind him, several junior marine personnel acted as service staff, some pouring wine, others organizing his dishes with meticulous attention.
Hearing approaching footsteps, the man looked up and immediately focused on Oboro. He dabbed his mouth "exquisitely" with his napkin, then raised one hand. A soldier immediately provided him with a lit cigar, which he placed between his lips.
"Set places for my guests," Sith commanded through exhaled smoke, laughing heartily.
A young recruit with distinctly childish features quickly positioned a chair on the opposite side of the table, directly facing the colonel.
He showed no trace of the tension typically associated with confronting dangerous pirates.
"I have to admit... this is quite the romantic setting," Oboro observed with mild amusement, glancing around the carefully arranged scene.
"Aren't we alive simply to enjoy this kind of lifestyle?" Sith replied philosophically.
"Yes... that's absolutely correct," Oboro agreed thoughtfully, then took his seat.
"Business matters aren't urgent," Sith continued with apparent enthusiasm. "First, let's sample these dishes. This is our base's specialty, meals prepared by top chefs that outsiders simply cannot experience."
While speaking, the nervous young recruit carefully arranged a complete set of silverware in front of Oboro with "proper" attention to detail.
The positioning, angles, and spacing of the utensils followed formal dining etiquette with meticulous precision.
Oboro glanced at the boy, then studied Sith across the table, his analytical mind processing the underlying dynamics of this carefully staged encounter.