Hera felt like a cat with its fur standing on end upon hearing this. The thought of introducing herself as Admiral Black Cat in the future made a shudder run down her spine; it wasn't imposing at all.
Hera acted coyly toward Garp, "No way, Grandpa. How about 'Nightmare' as my codename? I like that title; I don't want to use the color-plus-animal format."
Hearing Hera's request, Garp immediately agreed, "Don't worry, Hera. I'll definitely fight for it for you."
Then, he hung up the phone, looked at Sengoku, and said directly, "The name 'Black Cat' won't do; it's not imposing enough. I think the codename 'Nightmare' is quite good and suits Hera very well."
Sengoku couldn't help but roast his old friend, "Didn't you come up with that codename? And now you're saying it suits her? Besides, 'Nightmare'? It doesn't really fit our pattern."
Garp glared at Sengoku, then pointed his finger at his disciple, Kuzan:
"Kuzan, you brat, why don't you change your codename too? You and Borsalino are both color-plus-animal; it makes my granddaughter's 'Nightmare' look like the odd one out."
Kuzan couldn't help but point at himself, his sunglasses unable to hide the confusion in his eyes: "I have to change mine too?"
Garp nodded and said with absolute certainty, "Yes, you have to change it too."
Veins popped on Sengoku's forehead from anger at Garp: "'Nightmare' it is, then! But there's no way Kuzan's codename is changing. Give up on that idea."
Only then did Garp settle down and stop talking about changing codenames.
Sitting in the Fleet Admiral's chair, Sengoku looked at Borsalino clipping his nails, Kuzan putting on his sleep mask to take a nap, and Hera, who hadn't even shown up for the meeting. He once again questioned his decision to remain Fleet Admiral.
The current Marine was undoubtedly the strongest generation, but he felt like these people were all a bit unreliable.
Wanting to eat some rice crackers to soothe his weary heart, Sengoku reached into his bag of rice crackers, but after grabbing twice, he found nothing.
Looking down, he realized that Garp had snatched the snacks from his arms while he wasn't paying attention. No longer able to endure it, Sengoku suppressed the urge to flip the table and told everyone else to leave.
Hearing that the meeting was over, Borsalino slowly put away his nail clippers, stretched, and vanished as a beam of light.
Sengoku sighed and continued tidying the documents on the table. As the Fleet Admiral, he was different from those under him; he had many things to attend to.
News of the change in the Marine Three Admirals leaked ahead of time from an unknown source, and the News Coo spread the word to every corner of the world.
The scattered members of the Straw Hat were all surprised by Hera's rate of progress. In just a few years, she had gone from the youngest recruit in the Marine Training Camp to the youngest Admiral in the history of the Marine.
Luffy, who was training with Rayleigh, perked up even more: "Hera has been promoted to Admiral so quickly! I can't fall behind. Teacher Rayleigh, please teach me more advanced techniques."
Rayleigh couldn't help but smack Luffy on the head: "Kid, you still have a lot to learn. Take it slow; it won't do to not have a solid foundation."
The replacement of a Marine Admiral naturally required a grand ceremony. Under Sengoku's conferment, the new Marine Admiral, codenamed 'Nightmare', Hera, accepted the rank representing an Admiral.
The live broadcast that the whole world could see started once again. The guy from before had successfully expanded the Ye Shi Fan Club he founded on this island, growing from just himself to an organization of hundreds.
Sengoku detailed Hera's achievements in the Marine, ranging from the feat of taking Whitebeard's head to the proud kill count from wiping out the Blackbeard Pirates who had emptied Impel Down.
He also mentioned her saving comrades during the Marineford War, not forgetting to bring back unconscious Marines from the battlefield, and her great contribution to subsequent medical treatments.
In the battles Hera participated in, Marine fatalities were kept at a dream-like number of '0,' something that even previous generations of Admirals could not achieve.
People from the Ye Shi Fan Club cheered in front of the screen, holding fans printed with Zafkiel and her ability. The man who founded the fan club became even more determined to set out to sea.
"I will rely on my own efforts to spread Lady Hera's fame to every corner of the world."
Then, Sengoku handed the microphone to Hera, wanting her to say a few words to the Marines at this moment.
Holding the microphone, Hera was a bit at a loss for a moment. After thinking for a bit, she said: "I know many people want to know how I became so strong in such a short time."
"So today, I will tell you the secret of my strength."
The Marines below all pricked up their ears, not daring to even breathe loudly for fear of missing Hera's secret to becoming strong.
Even Kaido and Big Mom, watching the broadcast in their own territories, quieted down, wanting to know what secret this youngest powerhouse on the sea possessed.
Hera laughed, her pearly white teeth seemingly gleaming in the sunlight: "That I, Hera, have reached my current realm today is naturally due to my heaven-defying wisdom, invincible talent, and my own hard work."
"Of course, there was also a tiny bit of help from others that allowed me to grow strong so quickly."
After saying that, Hera didn't forget to make a 'tiny bit' gesture with her fingers.
The powerhouses watching the broadcast nodded in agreement: "As expected, those who can become strong rely on their own hard work."
A certain pink-haired boy who hadn't met Garp and was still a recruit at a Marine branch was also greatly encouraged upon hearing Hera's words: "As expected, even an Admiral said hard work is necessary. I must also train even more desperately."
A black-haired girl, who was currently hanging up and beating a Director who had caused a huge mess, seemed to sense something and muttered somewhat speechlessly: "What do you mean a tiny bit of help? I clearly gave a lot. Hurry up and grow up."
Then, she continued to whip the inhuman Magus in front of her, making him feel pain that went deep into his marrow.
After sharing her secret of becoming strong, Hera continued: "Of course, the strength of the Marine isn't something I can uphold alone. It's you, you Marine soldiers, who form it together with me."
"I am not a hero of the marines; I am just slightly stronger than you and can do a tiny bit more. You, who are scattered everywhere maintaining the Marine, are the true heroes of the Marines."
"Our Marine needs more than just powerhouses; it needs people like you who have justice in your hearts. Join us, and let us maintain the order of this sea together."
Hera spoke the words from her heart. She truly admired those who joined the Marine with justice in their hearts, which was why she would send out her clones to rescue Marines on the battlefield.
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