Kruukas was somewhat surprised upon hearing this: "Do you know the value of these three swords? Who is this Zoro?"
Hera said: "He is Kuina's childhood rival, the man who wants to become the world's greatest swordsman. Most importantly, he is the swordsman on my brother's ship."
"And why take so many swords? Kuina and I both have our own blades. Not everyone is a Three-Sword Style user like him."
Kuina was curious: "How can you be so sure Zoro will become a pirate? When the three of us were together, didn't we spend several years as pirate hunters?"
Hera smiled mysteriously: "It is, of course, the choice of destiny. I have seen the encounter between Luffy and Zoro."
"Moreover, people who want to become strong attract each other. Don't you think the man who wants to be the Pirate King and the man who wants to be the world's greatest swordsman should be crewmates on the same ship?"
As she spoke, Hera gave an example: "Look, the girl who wants to be the world's greatest swordsman and I, the girl who wants to be the Marine King, aren't we together?"
Kuina's face turned red at these words, and she gave Hera a sidelong glance: "Tch, what do you mean 'together'? We're adventuring together."
Then she muttered softly: "It's not like I was attracted by your dream; I was attracted to you as a person first."
Brook said: "Yo-ho-ho-ho! A man who wants to be the Pirate King? That's truly something to look forward to."
Hera said: "Don't worry. Based on the timing, he's already sixteen. Every year, he will bring his crew here. He will convince you to join him."
Brook replied: "Is that so? Then I'll look forward to it a little bit."
Seeing Hera put down 'cherry ten' and 'Withered Wood', Kruukas waved his hand with feigned impatience: "Since you've finished your business, hurry up and leave. Stop eyeing my private collection."
Hera made a face at Kruukas: "Tch, stingy old man. Don't regret it when you chase me away."
Kruukas said: "Greedy brat, I won't be bluffed by you. Don't you have things to do? Are all Marines as idle as you?"
Hera also pretended to be angry: "I was going to leave you some gold from the Sky Island for the sake of the medicine, but I didn't expect you to dislike me so much. Fine, I'll just leave."
After speaking, she jumped back onto the argo with Kuina: "Tch, I have plenty of things to do. You can just rot on this island, boring old man!"
The hand Kruukas raised to beckon her back froze mid-air when he heard 'gold'. Although Hera spoke that way, his Observation Haki had already detected several pieces of gold left in his small hut.
He waved toward the direction Hera was leaving and complained: "Brats these days... are they all this wicked now? Not cute at all."
Brook waved goodbye: "Beautiful ladies, may your journey be filled with blessings."
He took out the score for 'Binks' Sake' stored inside his skull and began to play his violin. Accompanied by Laboon's parting cry of 'Hooo-eee-luuu!!', the argo set out on its journey once more.
Re-entering the Grand Line, the argo went full throttle. It quickly bypassed the first half of the Grand Line and arrived at the beginning of the New World.
Along the way, some blind pirates saw the luxurious argo and harbored ill intentions. However, those small-time pirates who hadn't even mastered Haki were no match for Hera and the others.
These weaker pirates were left for Nami and the newly joined Reiju to practice on. Hera's City of Devouring Time provided them with protection while simultaneously turning those greedy pirates into nourishment for Zafkiel.
Reiju stood beside a pile of pirate corpses, watching them sink into the shadows, and remarked: "Why are there so many coming to their deaths? And I always feel like we're the evil side."
Hera immediately retorted, turning her back to Reiju to show off the large 'Justice' written on her Marine cloak: "What are you talking about? We are clearly Marines, representing the side of justice."
Perona nodded in agreement. She had long felt that Hera's style was a bit off. Was devouring corpses something a righteous person would do? Moreover, since following Hera, she hadn't seen her leave any survivors.
Ain also nodded. Devouring corpses and even demonstrating the ability to alter others' thoughts—the shadows of the City of Devouring Time and those eerie shadows didn't look like Marine abilities no matter how you viewed them.
Hera said: "There are no evil abilities, only evil uses. Besides, Zafkiel is a gentle ability."
She thought of the one known as the 'Nightmare', considered the most dangerous spirit by others, yet beneath that dangerous power lay hidden gentleness.
The City of Devouring Time crawled up Hera's arm, pulsing in her palm.
Soon, the argo docked at Punk Hazard. Hera and the others stepped off the ship. Upon sensing the poisonous gas in the air, Reiju immediately activated her Raid Suit and absorbed the toxic mist near everyone.
Sensing the highly toxic substances in the air, Reiju frowned: "The environment here is far too harsh. It's hard to believe anyone could survive in these conditions."
Hera said: "This place was originally a forest used by Vegapunk and Caesar Clown as an experimental base for weapons."
"However, due to a failed experiment, an explosion occurred here. Poisonous gas gradually spread across the entire island, and the World Government sealed off this area."
Looking at the icy, snowy environment, Hera took out thick clothes from the City of Devouring Time and had everyone change into them.
Soon, Hera and the others saw the ruined experimental base and prisoners in prison uniforms collapsed on the ground.
Nami frowned as she looked at the collapsed prisoners: "Who are these people?"
Hera expanded the City of Devouring Time: "These are prisoners who were used for human experimentation. They've all been paralyzed from the waist down because of the gas."
Then, the dark shadows from the City of Devouring Time launched an attack. The prisoners, who had lost all hope for the future, didn't even resist, letting the shadows devour them.
Hera's tone was full of sentiment: "I'm a kind-hearted person; I can't stand to see others suffer so much. I'll help set you free."
Kuina had some concerns: "Is it okay to do this? If Reiju absorbs the toxins from their bodies, they might still be saved, right?"
Hera shook her head: "These people were originally World Government prisoners. Being used as test subjects wasn't exactly innocent either. I'm just giving them a painless death."
Just as Hera was about to finish devouring the prisoners in this area, snowflakes appeared in the sky, and a voice drifted over:
"Your savior has arrived. He will dispose of the poison gas here and provide scientific legs for those of you who cannot move, granting you freedom once more."
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