Oboro didn't think much about it initially.
Pirates... it was normal for them to be killed. That was simply the harsh reality of life on these dangerous waters.
What truly puzzled him was how a newcomer pirate could eliminate crew members who had been enhanced by his system cards. Those pirates aboard his vessels represented the elite of North Blue's criminal population, even before evolving into demon bloodline carriers, each had commanded substantial bounties that reflected genuine individual capability. Now, after enhancement through his cards, their comprehensive combat abilities far exceeded anything ordinary North Blue pirates could hope to achieve.
Moreover, they had been receiving his personal "training" throughout recent months, systematically developing their supernatural capabilities under direct supervision.
In the current North Blue environment, even newcomers who had just set sail possessed at least rudimentary knowledge about the Hell Pirates' fearsome reputation. With the "golden signboard" of their organization providing implicit protection, any enemy encountered in these waters should display appropriate caution, if not outright terror.
"The casualties weren't limited to a single individual," Dom continued with a mixture of contempt and barely controlled anger radiating from his bandage-wrapped form.
His voice carried the frustrated disgust of someone witnessing incompetence among supposed elites.
"Initially, it was just a small squad of three or four personnel. They encountered this pirate during routine operations and engaged in combat. When the situation deteriorated, they contacted the rest of our crew requesting immediate reinforcement... Every soul who responded to that call was systematically eliminated. Eleven deaths total."
Dom's tone reflected his fundamental disdain for the trainee crew members who had proven themselves worthless despite their supernatural enhancements. No matter how extensively they were trained, these recruits remained garbage at their core, individuals who believed joining the Hell Pirates granted them immunity from consequences, leading to the kind of arrogance that inevitably proved fatal.
The contrast with his own background couldn't have been more dramatic. As a veteran of Grand Line operations with the Flame Dragon Pirates, Dom had encountered countless life-threatening situations that taught him respect for the ocean's genuine dangers. His experiences had instilled awareness that the seas harbored monsters and powerhouses whose capabilities transcended anything ordinary forces could resist.
While his enhanced strength had certainly increased his confidence, deep within his heart remained a fundamental sense of awe for the maritime world's true threats. This reverence served as constant motivation to push beyond his current limitations.
The dead trainee crew members represented everything he despised about the newer recruits. Their narrow horizons and limited experience had bred overconfidence without corresponding wisdom. They had never witnessed the kind of overwhelming power that could reshape entire regions, never faced opponents whose mere presence could drain the will to fight from seasoned warriors.
Their deaths were inevitable, perhaps even beneficial for organizational efficiency. What disgusted Dom was the dishonor they had brought to the "Hell Pirates" name through their spectacular failure.
"What's their name?" Oboro asked with growing amusement, his scarred features showing genuine curiosity.
He was inquiring about the new pirate, specifically, the identity of whoever had accomplished such an impressive feat.
Understanding began crystallizing in his analytical mind as he contemplated the parallels to his own organization's experiences. When the Hell Pirates had destroyed Doflamingo's Fishhead Island operations, the Donquixote Family had faced an identical situation, some "young upstart" emerging from nowhere to challenge the established authority of North Blue's most powerful criminal organization.
As the Hell Pirates had grown in influence and territorial control, Captain Oboro found himself responsible for an ever-expanding array of concerns: subordinate personnel, industrial operations, and most crucially, reputation management. Failing to eliminate this challenger or respond with appropriate force would invite mockery from other powers who constantly sought signs of weakness to exploit.
The "name" of the Hell Pirates demanded protection through decisive action.
This dynamic explained Doflamingo's relentless pursuit when he'd returned to North Blue waters, the Heavenly Demon had been defending his organization's prestige against unprecedented humiliation.
When someone achieved the status of a major power, "face" became a resource as valuable as treasure or territory.
"Hadori... the Hadori Pirates," Dom replied, his voice carrying implications that suggested this wasn't just another ambitious rookie.
"Current intelligence indicates the organization consists of a single individual."
"Hadori?"
The moment Oboro heard the name, recognition flickered through his enhanced memory like lightning illuminating familiar landscape. The sensation was unmistakable, these syllables connected directly to canonical knowledge from his previous life, though the specific context remained frustratingly elusive.
Such familiarity meant the name "Hadori" must relate to some character or significant role within the original plot structure, though he couldn't immediately place which individual or storyline carried that designation.
The gap in his recollection was troubling. His knowledge of One Piece's future events remained one of his most valuable strategic advantages, when that knowledge failed him, the implications could prove dangerous.
"Let's investigate personally," Oboro declared, brushing accumulated snowflakes from his elegant black coat as he rose from his meditation position. "Allow the others to continue their training here."
Genuine curiosity burned within him regarding this mysterious newcomer. Anyone capable of eliminating eleven enhanced demons immediately after setting sail possessed extraordinary potential that demanded careful evaluation.
Could there be another significant figure among the North Blue's emerging generation beyond Hawkins and Trafalgar Law? Someone whose importance he had somehow overlooked or forgotten?
The possibility seemed unlikely, yet the evidence suggested otherwise.
"Understood," Dom acknowledged, immediately activating his Den Den Mushi to contact Dolan.
The slimy executive was currently positioned elsewhere on the island, overseeing Yingge and Kaka's survival training against the local wolf packs. After explaining the situation and providing necessary instructions for maintaining the training regimen, Dom prepared to accompany his captain to their anchored vessel.
But rather than proceeding toward the coastline, Oboro remained motionless while invisible currents of compressed air began gathering around both their positions. Without warning or visible mechanism, the atmospheric manipulation lifted Dom from the ground with gentle precision.
Within moments, two figures shot skyward and vanished beyond the horizon, leaving only the crackling bonfire as evidence of their presence.
The Hell Pirates had suffered casualties.
The perpetrator was a rookie pirate.
News of this unprecedented development spread through the North Blue's underground networks with viral intensity, attracting attention from every major power throughout the region. Most observers harbored barely concealed satisfaction as they anticipated the Hell Pirates' response to such an audacious challenge.
During the organization's current period of absolute dominance, when they stood "at their peak" of regional influence, no one had expected such a dramatic "slap in the face" from unknown opposition.
The broader maritime community adopted an almost universal attitude of "gloating" toward this unexpected reversal.
The emergence of any new major power inevitably disrupted established hierarchies, forcing existing "diners" to surrender corresponding interests when newcomers claimed seats at the political "table." Therefore, numerous forces secretly hoped the Hell Pirates would suffer defeats or complete organizational collapse.
Such was the brutal beauty of maritime politics, "accidents" could occur anywhere, at any time.
Unpredictable situations constantly reshaped the balance of power in ways that no amount of strategic planning could fully anticipate.
Who could have predicted that someone would dare challenge the Hell Pirates' authority during their period of maximum strength and influence?
But the Hell Pirates' response proved swift and decisive. Within days, their "public announcement" circulated throughout the North Blue's underground forces, offering substantial financial rewards for information leading to the location of the Hadori Pirates' captain and sole member.
While this wasn't technically an official "wanted notice," experienced observers understood the implications perfectly. Given the Hell Pirates' notorious reputation, such intensive investigation could only be motivated by revenge and the need to restore their damaged prestige.
The hunt had begun in earnest.
Several days later, Oboro and Dom arrived at a small island in the North Blue's remote waters.
The landmass was remarkably modest in scale, lacking significant natural resources or strategic value. The local population survived primarily through fishing and subsistence agriculture, their economic circumstances reflecting the island's geographic isolation and resource poverty.
Paradoxically, this very insignificance had protected the community from the warfare that plagued more valuable territories. Even ambitious pirates typically ignored such locations, recognizing that the minimal "meat" available hardly justified the effort required for conquest.
Occasionally, passing pirate crews would stop for basic provisions or entertainment, providing modest economic benefits to the struggling population. But these visits remained infrequent enough that the island maintained its peaceful character despite the chaos consuming the broader North Blue.
On the shoreline, Oboro and Dom stood side by side, studying a small single-person sailboat floating in the shallow waters nearby.
The vessel was only slightly larger than a basic fishing boat, perhaps ten meters in length with capacity for five or six passengers. However, except for a wooden storage chest, the craft remained completely empty of crew or cargo.
A pirate flag hung prominently from the simple mast, its design immediately identifying their quarry.
Hadori Pirates.
"Definitely a newcomer who recently set sail," Oboro observed with genuine amusement.
Such modest vessels represented the harsh reality facing most aspiring pirates, including legendary figures like Ace and Luffy during their early careers. Financial limitations forced the vast majority of maritime criminals to begin their careers with whatever transportation they could afford or acquire.
Organizations like the Hell Pirates, who could purchase vessels worth tens of millions of berries immediately upon entering piracy, represented extreme exceptions rather than normal progression patterns. The simple truth was that most individuals who became pirates came from backgrounds of desperate poverty, their criminal careers representing final attempts to escape impossible circumstances.
Special cases with abnormal psychological motivations were rare outliers in an ocean dominated by survival necessity.
"He's made no attempt to conceal his whereabouts or identity," Dom noted with cold analysis, his enhanced vision scanning the peaceful harbor for signs of deception or tactical preparation. "This suggests either complete resignation to his fate, or confidence that concealment would prove futile anyway. Otherwise, he wouldn't display the pirate flag so brazenly."
Dom's investigation had revealed troubling patterns in the fugitive's recent movements.
"Intelligence indicates he visited several islands before arriving here, and was consistently recognized despite making no effort to disguise his identity. Rather than lowering his flag or adopting false colors, he maintained his pirate identification throughout his journey."
The tactical implications were disturbing from a strategic perspective.
"Fear of association with his crimes led multiple communities to refuse him landing permission. In one coastal town, local residents actually drove him away personally, terrified that our retaliation would destroy their settlement along with our primary target."
"Do we truly possess such a fearsome reputation?" Oboro asked with sardonic amusement.
"Publicly... it's thoroughly negative," Dom replied with matter-of-fact honesty. "In the eyes of ordinary civilians, we're probably categorized as 'extremely evil', monsters who bring death and destruction wherever we operate. However, from the perspective of other pirates, I believe our reputation is actually quite positive."
"Indeed," Oboro nodded with understanding.
His gaze drifted back to the simple pirate flag hanging from the modest vessel, noting something unusual about its design. The skull that typically adorned such banners appeared to have been modified into what resembled a pigeon's head rather than traditional human remains.
A pigeon?
The artistic choice triggered another wave of familiar recognition, though the specific context remained maddeningly elusive.
"Let's proceed with the introduction," Oboro declared, turning away from the harbor toward the island's modest interior.
Whatever answers awaited them lay with the mysterious individual who had accomplished something that experienced North Blue criminals had failed to achieve, dealing genuine damage to the Hell Pirates' reputation through direct confrontation.
The encounter promised to be enlightening, one way or another.