The graduation of the Elite Training Camp's first class was a minor event. It barely registered with Hades.
He paid a little attention only because his son was graduating.
A series of events had unfolded last year, some familiar to Hades and others not.
Golden Lion Shiki had reached the pinnacle. Hailed as a Legendary Pirate, he stood above the many great pirates.
Hades had expected that. For the next two years, though, Shiki would probably lie low.
The Flying Pirates' territory had reached its limit.
Expanding it further would be difficult.
Such vast holdings needed time to consolidate. Managed well, they could support an army of hundreds of thousands, perhaps even a million pirates.
Some kingdoms had armies numbering in the hundreds of thousands, after all. The Flying Pirates controlled far more territory.
Of course, some members would inevitably line their own pockets, especially among the Flying Pirates.
And even if Shiki expanded his territory, it would do little to raise his prestige. To climb higher, he would have to become the King of the World.
Hades wasn't sure about the Roger Pirates, but they probably wouldn't become Legendary Pirates.
The Flying Pirates had the full backing of the superpowers. Like the Rocks Pirates, they were a symbol of resistance against the World Government.
Those powers weren't going to find them another rival.
Besides, the Roger Pirates weren't competing for supremacy. They had no conflict of interest with the Flying Pirates.
Nor were the Roger Pirates a match for them.
At sea, if Shiki fought without restraint, the Float-Float Fruit alone would let him leave the Roger Pirates half-crippled single-handedly.
This was Shiki's era. That much was settled.
With enough to offer them, Shiki could command the vast number of pirates in the New World.
He could forge a