"Damn that Garp! Saying it's all because I'm too soft a teacher, that you've been seduced by the outside world, and worse, into a woman's arms! Hmph! When he gets back, I'm going to knock some sense into his thick skull!"
Inside Zephyr's office, a bruised and battered Hammer rubbed his sore face helplessly.
Meanwhile, Zephyr continued his furious rant.
Clearly, this situation had genuinely ticked him off.
Just as Hammer was starting to relax a bit, a large hand suddenly clamped down on his head.
Zephyr smiled sweetly at him, eyes narrowing:
"You've got some nerve, kid. Hiding all those fancy items and even selling them outside? Made a decent profit, huh? X-ray goggles? Invisibility hat?"
As he spoke, his gaze slid to Hammer's right hand. Hammer immediately hid it behind his back.
"And let's not forget that storage ring. Hammer, Hammer... I always thought you were such an obedient student. Who knew you had so many tricks up your sleeve, huh?"
Zephyr's deceptively gentle tone and smile sent shivers down Hammer's spine. He hurriedly tried to explain: "Let me explain, Teacher Zephyr…"
"Explain my ass! You can explain it to my fists!"
"Look, I get it, you forged these items yourself. But you know how valuable they are, and HQ has... concerns."
"So I hope you'll be reasonable and sell a certain number of your items to HQ. It'll benefit you, and it'll benefit us."
Despite his reluctance, Hammer nodded and agreed. After all, he had made the items using Headquarters' forge and materials. Vice Admiral Tsuru had even mentioned before that the Marines would pay for them.
In the end, Hammer handed over five items to HQ in exchange for 200 million Berries.
Zephyr was quite pleased and promptly agreed to cover Shirley's identification paperwork and living expenses.
He casually picked up a Den Den Mushi to make a call about Shirley's identity issue.
And if there was anyone in Navy HQ best suited to solve tricky matters, it was none other than the Marine's top strategist and Chief of Staff, Vice Admiral Tsuru.
After Zephyr hung up, Hammer took Shirley straight to Vice Admiral Tsuru.
He pushed open the door to her office and saw her buried in mountains of paperwork.
"Sorry to disturb you, Vice Admiral Tsuru."
Without even looking up, she responded, "Hammer, right? Zephyr has already told me about the mink girl."
"With your personal guarantee, there's no problem with her identity. The question now is about her future."
"She can either join my division in an administrative role..."
"Or she can enter the second training camp and be assigned after graduation."
Hearing those two options, Hammer's eyes lit up. That beating was worth it after all. In his heart, he silently gave a thumbs-up to Teacher Zephyr.
"Shirley, why don't you join the training camp? You'll become stronger that way. After all, Zephyr-sensei's teaching is very effective."
…Well, maybe just a notch below "Teacher" Kaido, he thought.
Shirley glanced timidly at Hammer, then looked over to the focused, working Tsuru.
Though she was only in her forties, years of stress from the sea and duty had already turned her hair silver.
But instinctively, Shirley could tell this woman was kind.
Hammer: '…Wait, this is going way too smoothly.'
"Um… I wanted to ask… If I join the training camp… Will I still be able to see Hammer every day?"
Her soft, delicate voice made Tsuru raise her head instinctively.
That one glance stunned her.
With her snowy white fur, about 167cm in height, and exquisite features, Shirley was undeniably beautiful.
"My, what a lovely girl, joining the Marines will definitely not disappoint you. Actually, forget the training camp, why don't you come work directly under me? And if you want to sail, I can make that happen too."
Tsuru's warm tone made Shirley smile softly.
But Shirley still chose to stick with Hammer.
"I want to stay with him. He saved me..."
Tsuru's smile vanished. She shot Hammer a glare that could melt steel.
"...Fine. She'll attend training with you."
'Geez, talk about a shift in attitude…'
He received Shirley's official identity papers, then respectfully took her back to the recruit camp.
"Teacher Zephyr, we're back."
"Yup. Shirley's joining the next training camp."
"Good. The Mink Tribe's natural talents are excellent. With proper training, she'll become quite the fighter."
"...Fighter, huh… sure. But, Zephyr-sensei, is everyone back yet?"
Hammer suddenly remembered, not all the participants of the graduation assessment had returned.
At his words, Zephyr's expression darkened slightly.
Hammer's heart skipped a beat.
"No… as far as I know, several have already been killed…"
So it was like that...
"But including you, over 40 have returned. The fastest few made it back in about ten days and already passed the assessment…"
"...some completed their missions while others were brought back wounded..."
Zephyr's tone grew increasingly grave, casting a shadow over Hammer's expression as well.
"You, on the other hand, did quite well. To capture a pirate with a bounty of 100 million, impressive. This Shield-Shield Fruit user Batu has sunk many Marine warships in the Grand Line with his formidable defensive abilities. Good job."
Under normal circumstances, Hammer would be overjoyed to receive praise from Instructor Zephyr.
But with half his comrades still unaccounted for, possibly dead, how could he be happy?
"Teacher… I want to stay in Marineford."
Zephyr sensed the gloom in his voice and grew curious.
"My forging skills allow me to create many items with special abilities. This mission made me witness the darkness of the sea firsthand."
"In terms of combat ability, I can't compare to Sakazuki and the others. But I have my own advantage—blacksmithing."
"I want to make my mark at Marineford, fully utilizing my forging skills to help enhance the combat capabilities of our officers as much as possible."
A flicker of pride flashed in Zephyr's eye, but he still held great confidence in Hammer's strength and potential. Keeping him at Marineford would be a waste of his talent.
"Don't underestimate yourself. Your strength and potential are among the best. What you lack is experience and a bit of tempering."
"Though your forging skills are indeed impressive. That sword alone has already led Kong astray."
Speaking of Kong, Zephyr shook his head in resignation.
That old man now spent all his free time in the training grounds, looking for people to spar with using his sword.
He didn't know real swordsmanship at all, he just wildly swung that sword around.
Yet the damn thing could unleash sword slashes just like flying slash attacks, allowing him to win repeatedly. He was having the time of his life.
"Uhh..actually, Teacher Zephyr, I'm just too lazy to go out to sea. Plus, I have no sense of direction. If Sherry hadn't helped me, I'd never have made it back."
"Wait, Instructor Zephyr, please reconsider-"
"Are you leaving or not?"
A dark aura began to spread.
"Alright, I'm going, I'm going..."