Hera and the others first returned to Marineford with Tom. After the argo sailed back to Marineford, an unexpected person was standing there, waiting for Hera.
Before Hera could disembark, a cloud of smoke drifted up. Smoker's upper body reformed, and Armament Haki gathered on his fist as he punched toward Hera.
Hera's Observation Haki had long since detected Smoker's surprise attack. She likewise coated her fist with Armament Haki and struck back at Smoker's fist.
Smoker flew back faster than he had arrived. Hera shook her hand, looked at Smoker, who had knocked down a row of wooden stakes, and said, "You have to pay for what you break."
Smoker shook his slightly aching fist, took out a cigar, and lit it. "Mind your own business. See? I've cultivated Armament Haki now."
Smoker was actually a little depressed. He had thought that by mastering Armament Haki, he was a little closer to Hera's strength, but he was still sent flying by a single punch.
Feeling a bit down, he asked, "How much force did you use just now?"
Hera replied, "About 10 percent. You still need to practice more."
Upon hearing this, Smoker became completely depressed, muttering, "That shouldn't be right. Instructor Zephyr said I was talented during our New Recruit Training Camp."
Zephyr, who had heard the commotion nearby, looked at Smoker and couldn't help but comfort him: "You know, there is also a huge difference between geniuses."
Smoker looked at Teacher Zephyr, who was comforting him, his eyes filled with gratitude: "Teacher Zephyr."
Zephyr continued, "But your gap is truly too large. Don't think about sailing out yet. Come and practice with me. I can't afford to be embarrassed by you."
Upon hearing this, Smoker immediately wanted to turn into smoke and escape. "No way! I already agreed with Hera that as long as I could cultivate Two-Color Haki, she would let me go capture the Straw Hat."
Hera heard this, crossed her arms, and said, "Who agreed to that? I only said you could return to Marineford. If you can't even take 10 percent of my strength, you should go practice more with Teacher Zephyr."
Zephyr's Observation Haki anticipated Smoker's attempt to turn into smoke and escape. The large hand he grabbed Smoker with was coated in Armament Haki, pulling him back from his smoke form into human form.
Zephyr dragged Smoker toward the Training Ground. "Trying to run away from me? You must be itching for a beating! I'll use the fastest method to help you train your Armament Haki."
Soon after, Smoker's screams and sounds like metal being hammered could be heard.
Hera looked at Perona, Nami, and Reiju—who hadn't yet awakened Armament Haki in her crew—and thought, "You three need to work hard too. As members of the argo, how can you not have Two-Color Haki?"
Feeling the pressure, the three immediately headed toward the Training Ground. Ain said, "I'll go supervise these three and help them formulate a training plan," and then left as well.
Now, only Hera, Kuina, and Marianne, who had pulled out a Canvas wanting to record Marineford, remained, along with Tom, who had just disembarked.
Hera said to Tom, "You are a Fishman, so I probably don't need to send you to the East Blue, right? Go to Loguetown in the East Blue, find Sabo of the New Navy, and he will make the arrangements."
Tom said, "Don't worry. The sea is the homeland of the Fishmen. I, the famous Tom, can naturally travel to the East Blue myself."
After speaking, he jumped into the sea and left.
Kuina saw that Hera still had matters to report, so she said, "I'll go home and tidy up first. You take this child to report in."
Hera pulled Marianne, who wanted to paint Marineford, and first took her to see Grandma Tsuru.
Hera walked to the door of Grandma Tsuru's Office, knocked, and after hearing Grandma Tsuru's response, pushed the door open and entered.
Grandma Tsuru saw Hera leading someone in and said, "Is this your new companion? Do you need help with something, or is there an issue with her identity?"
Hera quickly shook her head and said, "No, no. Didn't I bring you a Disciple? Grandma Tsuru, how can you manage without anyone by your side?"
Grandma Tsuru laughed upon hearing this and said, "Oh, so now people are starting to arrange staff for me?"
Hera quickly said, "How can you call it arranging staff? I saw that this little girl is very talented and very suitable to be your Disciple, which is why I recommended her to you."
Grandma Tsuru took a sip of tea and said, "You just won't let an old person rest. Tell me, what talent does she have? Is she a Devil Fruit User?"
In her heart, she was also full of curiosity about the little girl Hera had recommended.
Hera said, "She doesn't have a Devil Fruit ability, but the colors she draws can influence the emotions of others. The Seven-Color Rainbow she paints can even turn people into their ideal selves."
Grandma Tsuru heard this, became interested, and asked, "Such a special ability? Where did you find this person?"
When Hera heard Grandma Tsuru actually ask about her background, she immediately stammered.
Grandma Tsuru saw Hera's reaction and, connecting it to where she had been, understood: "She's one of Sir Crocodile's Baroque Works people, right? I wondered why that little one Hina only sent back three people."
"What about the others? They didn't escape from under your nose, did they?"
Hera quickly massaged Grandma Tsuru's shoulders and said, "The others went to open a Coffee Shop. They will absolutely not commit crimes or appear on Wanted Posters again."
Grandma Tsuru said, "You always manage to stir up trouble. How many people know that she was part of Baroque Works?"
Hera said, "Don't worry. The Baroque Works members are all kept secret; only a few people know. Besides, her ability is too rare. Color alone has this kind of effect, so the effects of her paintings must be even greater."
"For example, she could paint a morale-boosting picture in the Training Ground, a calming picture in the Conference Room, or a pain-reducing picture in the Infirmary, and so on. Give her a chance to atone for her past mistakes, right?"
Grandma Tsuru nodded upon hearing Hera's suggestion. This little girl's emotion-soothing paintings were very similar to her own Wash-Wash devil fruit, and she was indeed suitable to follow her.
Grandma Tsuru then asked, "Why didn't you bring her onto your ship? Doesn't she meet your standard for joining a crew?"
Hera said, "No, no. She wants a more stable life. Joining me isn't suitable; she's better suited for the Marine's Logistics Department."
Grandma Tsuru turned to look at Marianne, who hadn't spoken, and asked, "What are your thoughts? Are you willing to stay at Marineford?"
Marianne nodded: "As long as I can create more paintings, yes."
Seeing Grandma Tsuru agree, Hera also breathed a sigh of relief. She said to Grandma Tsuru, "Grandma Tsuru, Marianne will stay here then. I'll head back now."
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