Garp asked while picking his nose with his pinky, "What did that old man Sengoku say to you again? Is there something I'm not allowed to hear?"
Hera coughed twice, cleared her throat, and stood up. "Sengoku gave me a mission to stop the cooperation between Donquixote Doflamingo and Caesar Clown. Also, I'll be a Vice Admiral soon, so I'll be at the same rank as you."
Hera, who was growing in strength rapidly, could be said to have the fastest promotion speed in the Marine. She rose from Lieutenant Commander to Vice Admiral in just two years. Besides her own rapid growth, the support of Garp and Sengoku was also a reason.
As long as her strength and achievements were sufficient, she would be promoted; for Hera, there was no such thing as waiting for seniority.
Moreover, with Zephyr's approval, and with Garp, the most prestigious man in the Marine, and Zephyr, who had disciples all over the world, standing up for her, no one would question Hera's record.
Garp looked at the somewhat smug Hera. His 'Iron Fist of Love' swung toward her head, but halfway there, his fist relaxed into a palm and patted her head.
"Hahahaha! So what if you're a Vice Admiral at the same rank as me? You're still my granddaughter."
Hearing Garp's words and feeling the gentleness on her head, Hera pouted. "I told you, getting patted on the head will stop me from growing taller. The fact that I'm still 150cm is definitely your fault."
Although she said that, she still didn't dodge Garp's hand patting her head.
Garp continued to laugh but withdrew his hand. "Alright, alright, I won't pat it then. Eat more; you need to eat more to grow tall."
Hera held a piece of roasted meat while her mouth was stuffed full, looking like a hamster.
Watching Hera eating frantically, Garp still warned her worriedly, "Be careful when you reach the New World, especially pay attention to the movements of the Four Emperors."
Hera nodded and said while eating, "Don't worry, I'm going to the early part of the New World, so I won't run into those people. Besides, the argo is much faster than their ships."
Garp nodded upon hearing this and stopped speaking.
After staying in Loguetown for another two days, Hera, who had mostly recovered, decided to set sail. This was mainly because after Smoker saw that Hera hadn't left immediately, he ignored her protests and delivered many New Navy documents to her bedside.
Suffering from the torment, Hera could no longer stand the tedious paperwork. To her, dealing with these headache-inducing documents was worse than having another satisfying battle with the Golden Lion.
During this time, Hera finally remembered Indigo, who was still being held. She took the time to use her ability to convert him into one of her own. For someone who had committed so many evils, Hera's conversion was not so gentle.
Her ability only preserved his research abilities, while his original personality was completely destroyed. He was sent to Judge's place, where he could only spend the rest of his life contributing to Hera.
Additionally, after absorbing the Golden Lion, Hera felt she was very close to unlocking the 'Eighth Bullet'. Before the Marineford War, when Luffy and the others went to Impel Down, absorbing a large amount there should be enough.
Although the current Portgas D. Ace was much stronger than in the original story, Blackbeard's strength at that time had always been a mystery. It wouldn't hurt to make more preparations.
Hera gathered her companions and prepared to set off immediately for Punk Hazard.
Before leaving, Hera specifically used the 'Seventh Bullet' to freeze Smoker and left him a note that read: "For external matters, ask Sabo; for internal matters, ask Koala."
During her days recovering in Loguetown, Hera saw that some Revolutionary Army cadres who were not on the bounty list had joined the New Navy. Sabo and Koala had become high-ranking officers of the New Navy by virtue of their excellent strength.
On the ship, Hera bid farewell to Tashigi, who was looking at her with a worried face. "Don't worry, the effect will wear off after a while. Remember to have him practice Haki more. He can't even dodge a bullet; he's really a disgrace to our New Navy."
Then she waved her hand. "I'm off. Don't contact me unless something big happens in the New Navy. Contact me again when you're short on money."
With that, electricity surged from Nami's body as she controlled the argo and left.
Nami asked Hera, "Where to next? Do we go through Reverse Mountain or the Calm Belt?"
Hera thought for a moment, thinking of the Golden Lion's two famous swords in the City of Devouring Time, and said, "Go through Reverse Mountain. Let's see if there are any pirates along the way. Also, I haven't seen Laboon and Brook for a long time; I wonder how they're doing."
Upon hearing this, Nami changed direction and headed toward Reverse Mountain.
Under the powerful propulsion of the argo, the group soon reached Reverse Mountain. Laboon sensed a familiar aura and emerged from the sea.
"Hooooeh~ru!!" Laboon's voice echoed throughout the sea. His massive body charged out from the side, leaped out of the water, flew over the argo, and sprayed Hera and the others with water in mid-air.
Hera shook her head, her Haki circulating to evaporate the moisture on her body. She patted Laboon's head as it poked out of the water and laughed. "Long time no see, Laboon! You look much more energetic than the last time I saw you."
"Hooooeh~ru!!" Laboon cried out joyfully; one could feel his happiness from the sound.
Sensing Laboon's movement, Crocus and Brook walked out.
Seeing it was Hera's group, Brook said, "Yohohoho! The Marine ladies have become quite a bit more beautiful. May I have the honor of seeing your panties?"
Hera stuck out her tongue. "No way, you perverted skeleton."
Brook said, "Yohohoho, that's truly a shame."
Crocus looked at Hera warily. "What are you here for? Let me say this first: I don't have any spare medicine."
Hera said dissatisfactorily, "You stingy man. I only asked for a few bottles of medicine from you, and you remember it for so long? I already helped you heal Laboon; why are you still keeping so much medicine?"
Crocus said, "This is my retirement money, old man! Besides, these are all reserved for that kid who inherited the straw hat. If you want to steal your brother's things, then come and take them."
Hera pouted at Crocus. "Hmph, if you won't give them, you won't. I'm here for something else."
With that, Hera took out the Golden Lion's two famous swords, 'cherry ten' and 'Withered Wood', from the City of Devouring Time.
The sharp-eyed Crocus recognized the origin of these two swords and said in surprise, "I saw in the newspaper a couple of days ago that you defeated the Golden Lion, but I didn't expect it to be true."
Hera said proudly, "Hmph hmph hmph, are you scared? I'm not the same person I was when I first set out to sea."
Then, she handed the two famous swords to Brook. "Keep these here for now. Remember, when you meet Luffy, if there's someone named Roronoa Zoro on the ship, give him these two swords and 'Shusui'."
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