It Came True!
"So, Captain? What did the divination reveal this time?"
After waiting for a while, the crew member asked.
Is it good or bad?
What is the probability?
People gradually approached.
The members of the Hawkins Pirates are very familiar with their captain's abilities. Their Hawkins Pirates's growth to where they are today is largely due to their captain's divination skills, which have enabled them to escape danger. In the early days of the One Piece crew, they didn't possess such combat power... and faced many perilous situations.
On one occasion, they were surrounded by several naval warships, and it was only thanks to the captain's divination of the direction of survival that they escaped unharmed.
Since then, they have had unwavering faith in Basil Hawkins's divination abilities.
But faced with the crew's questions and their expectant expressions...
Hawkins looked at the images on the tarot cards but fell silent.
He, who usually seemed expressionless, also showed a rare look of shock.
The others peered out and glanced at the cards, completely bewildered.
They don't know divination, and even if they saw it... they couldn't interpret it.
A month later, the Hawkins Pirates changed course, preparing to venture into the Grand Line.
The North Blue has become dangerous due to the appearance of the Hell Pirates.
In a short period of time, the number of people persecuted by the Hell Pirates... has increased rapidly.
The Hell Pirates rose to power so quickly that it caught everyone off guard.
Destroying Doflamingo's businesses, selling weapons... participating in national wars, quelling island rebellions, and reaping war wealth as 'mercenaries'—these were all considered 'normal' methods. But soon, people noticed something was amiss... Several battles in which the Hell Pirates participated were quickly and decisively ended because of their appearance.
However, in addition to an astronomical sum of money, they also seized the resources and industrial chain of their employer country. Given the reputation and power of the Hell Pirates in the North Blue, these impoverished countries that had just ceased hostilities and were already exhausted naturally dared not resist.
Because these One Piece possessed the power to destroy them, they had no choice but to compromise and make concessions.
Some island nations, under the guise of being protected by the Hell Pirates, have become the territory of these One Piece, who currently consist of only four members and don't even own a proper ocean-going ship.
Their flags were also planted there.
These small countries' resources aren't exactly a huge business, but the quantity is considerable. Frankly, they're scraps that even a 'big shot' like the Donquixote Family wouldn't bother with, but combined, they're still quite valuable. And this was just the beginning of the Hell Pirates showing their fangs... Subsequently, the Hell Pirates engaged in a major battle with a mercenary gang in the North Blue. The mercenary gang's headquarters, an entire island, was completely destroyed after a day and night of fighting, leaving no survivors.
That island is one of the most well-known military bases in the North Blue, boasting cutting-edge combat capabilities and high-tech defenses. Its ability to remain a constant presence on the North Blue's "dinner table" speaks volumes about its strength. Rumor has it that this organization originally had a cooperative relationship with the Hell Pirates, providing them with "jobs" and information. However, it seems that a dispute over the distribution of profits displeased the Hell Pirates, leading to their annihilation.
There was a little twist to this story.
Upon receiving the news, a naval branch in the North Blue immediately dispatched troops to the location.
They're planning to use a classic case of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind
After all, this mercenary organization is extremely powerful. Even if the Hell Pirates win, they will definitely be 'exhausted', which is perfect for the Navy to pick up the pieces.
It's important to understand that capturing and imprisoning the Hell Pirates —the most notorious One Piece in the North Blue, considered a major threat by the Navy—would be a significant achievement, enough to secure promotions for all high-ranking officers in the Navy. However, reality is far from ideal; it's said that the Navy fleet ultimately failed to capture the Hell Pirates.
On the contrary, several ships were destroyed and sunk into the sea... becoming a joke.
Then, there are the recent events.
As more and more battle achievements were revealed, the Hell Pirates' reputation soared.
At this critical juncture, whether intentionally or not, the Hell Pirates turned their guns on their 'Accompany,' that is, One Piece.
The Hell Pirates are robbing other One Piece crews active in the North Blue.
That's right, One Piece robbed One Piece.
That's normal.
What's frightening is the manifestation of the situation at sea.
The Hell Pirates were like a great white shark that had fallen into a school of fish, frantically 'preying' on them. No One Piece they encountered was spared; they were all robbed clean, leaving no stone unturned. The number of One Piece who died as a result was countless.
In just one day, three One Piece crews were killed... Of course, there were also survivors.
It seemed that as long as one handed over all the money with both hands and did not resist, one could avoid being killed.
Judging from the Hell Pirates' history of how they made their fortune, their goal was very clear: to amass wealth like crazy.
The number of members in the Hell Pirates has increased dozens of times, now exceeding one hundred. Since they were all One Piece to begin with, the Hell Pirates are undoubtedly the strongest. As a result, many One Piece who had contact with the Hell Pirates, whether they were originally wavering in their stance, chose to join them out of admiration, worship, or fear of death.
The Hell Pirates were already short-handed, so they accepted anyone who came... In a very short time, the number of crew members increased to a certain level.
Of course, those who are chosen by them will at least receive a high reward.
According to Hawkins' information, several captains of well-known One Piece crews in the North Blue, whom he had even heard of, had also chosen to disband their crews, transforming from One Piece leaders into crew members of the Hell Pirates.
Hawkins sensed something was wrong, so... he decided to head to the Grand Line.
The Hell Pirates have clearly set their sights on the One Piece of the North Blue; things are getting a little off... those guys aren't just 'doing business' in the North Blue.
Ultimately, they were still a group of One Piece, fundamentally different from other forces or organizations at sea.
None of the people at the North Blue dining table, including the Donquixote Family, expressed anything about this newly arrived member... or rather, they chose to remain silent.
The Donquixote Family, as the undisputed leader of the North Blue, strangely did not intervene when the Hell Pirates tried to steal food from the table.
As for other forces, they initially had some complaints or wanted to take action against the Hell Pirates, but after the headquarters of that mercenary organization was destroyed, they all fell silent.
Today, the sky was overcast, making people feel a little depressed.
Moreover, Hawkins had been very uneasy ever since he woke up.
I don't know why...
"..."
As noon approached, he stood on the bow of the ship, gazing out to sea.
A black dot suddenly appeared on the distant horizon.
At that moment, he knew the reason.
His intuition told him that his premonitions and divinations had all come true.
He remained silent for a moment.
"Captain..."
Meanwhile, a crew member observing through binoculars cried out, his lips trembling.
His face was deathly pale.
"It's... they..."
The man saw the flag symbolizing the Hell Pirates, and on that ship hung... a skull with will-o'-the-wisps emanating from its eye sockets! "It's...they...it's... the Hell Pirates!"
Then, the crew member began to shout incoherently.
Remind all crew members on board to immediately enter combat readiness!