"Miss?"
Momonga's voice cut through the room calmly.
Makima blinked, then straightened slightly. "Makima. My name is Makima."
Momonga nodded once in acknowledgment. "Makima-san. I heard from Homes that your seven-year-old son was able to singlehandedly take down an infamous pirate crew."
His sharp eyes studied her carefully.
"So I came here to confirm whether this is true," he continued. "Of course, you understand how unbelievable that sounds. But… it isn't entirely outside the realm of possibility."
Makima frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"
Momonga added, "Especially with the existence of Devil Fruits."
Makima tilted her head. "Devil fruits?" she repeated, clearly confused.
Before Momonga could continue, Doctor Ruki stood up from behind his desk and gestured politely toward the seating area.
"Please, Captain Momonga," Ruki said. "Take a seat."
Momonga inclined his head. "Thank you."
He and Homes moved to sit across from Makima and Ruki.
Once seated, Momonga straightened his posture, folding his hands calmly in front of him. "I do have my suspicions," he said, "but I'd like to hear the details of what happened directly from you."
Makima glanced at Homes. "Homes hasn't explained it to you yet?"
Homes shrugged lightly. "Tenjin isn't my son Makima-san. I didn't know whether you wanted his situation explained to outsiders."
Makima nodded slowly. "Oh… I see. Then I'll explain it."
Momonga leaned forward slightly. "Please do."
Makima took a breath, steadying herself.
"Tenjin did indeed defeat all those pirates," she said. "Or at least… I think so."
Her hands clenched slightly in her lap.
"But the strangest thing, no, the thing that terrifies me the most is that my son turned into a forest. Or something like that."
That made Momonga's eyes sharpen instantly.
"A forest?" he repeated. "That piques my interest. Tell me more."
Makima swallowed. "All of a sudden, Tenjin was able to control wood. He could turn into it. And… he couldn't die even when cut."
Her voice wavered slightly.
"At one point, they even cut off his head," she said quietly. "And it just… regrew."
Momonga inhaled sharply.
"Well," he said slowly, "that confirms it. My goodness… what a ridiculous power."
Homes leaned forward. "So you know something, Momonga-san?"
Momonga nodded. "Yes."
He turned back to Makima. "Tell me, did your son mention eating a certain fruit?"
Makima's eyes widened. "Yes. He said he ate some disgusting fruit he found."
Momonga smiled knowingly. "Makima-san, your son ate a Devil Fruit."
Makima whispered, "A Devil Fruit…"
"It's a fruit that grants various abilities," Momonga explained.
Makima frowned faintly. "Devil Fruit… it sounds ominous."
Momonga chuckled softly. "They do sound that way."
He raised a finger. "Devil Fruits are categorized into three types: Paramecia, Zoan, and Logia."
Makima listened intently.
"Paramecia fruits grant special abilities," Momonga continued. "They may alter your body, allow you to create or control something, or give you a unique power. The user remains fundamentally human, but just abnormal."
Homes nodded slowly.
"Zoan fruits," Momonga said, "allow the user to become a living creature. They grant transformation into animals or mythical beings, along with their strength and instincts. Zoan users have at least three forms: normal, hybrid, and full transformation."
Makima's eyes widened slightly.
"And finally," Momonga said, "Logia fruits."
His tone became serious.
"They allow the user to become an element of nature. Fire, smoke, light, magma, things like that. The body becomes non-solid, allowing attacks to pass through unless countered by Haki or a natural weakness."
He looked directly at Makima.
"Based on what you've told me, I believe your son has become an element of a forest."
Makima leaned back in her chair, stunned.
"So… Tenjin is immortal in a way?" she asked. "And he's going to be fine? There are no side effects?"
Momonga chuckled. "He's not immortal."
He raised a hand. "First, he can be touched by those who use Haki. Second, Logia fruits have natural counters."
Makima's heart skipped. "Counters?"
"I'd guess fire would be a counter to your son's ability," Momonga said. "As for side effects, there are none. Your son is perfectly healthy."
Makima let out a shaky breath.
"The only real weakness," Momonga added, "is water."
Homes blinked. "Water? Why water?"
"It's said the God of the Sea cursed Devil Fruit users," Momonga replied. "As long as Tenjin doesn't drown, he'll be fine."
He paused.
"If anything, he's most likely the most dangerous person in the North Blue right now."
Makima stiffened.
"There are no known Haki users here," Momonga continued calmly. "Which means your son is effectively untouchable."
He smiled thinly. "Even I wouldn't be able to do much against him."
Makima sighed deeply, relief washing over her face. "I don't know about all that," she said softly. "I'm just happy my son is healthy."
She looked down briefly. "I don't care if he's become dangerous. He's still my son."
Momonga smiled. "That's fair."
But internally, his thoughts raced.
An incredibly powerful Logia… that explains part of it.
Still, something bothered him.
But could a seven-year-old who just gained his powers really defeat a hundred pirates?
He then voiced his concern.
"It makes sense… somewhat," Momonga said carefully. "But I find it hard to believe he defeated a hundred pirates alone. Did he receive outside help?"
Homes shook his head. "To be fair, he only fought four directly."
Momonga blinked. "Only four?"
Homes nodded. "The others all mysteriously passed out when Tenjin got angry. We still don't understand exactly what happened there."
Momonga shot to his feet.
"Impossible!"
Ruki, Makima, and Homes all stared at him in surprise at his sudden outburst.
Makima asked nervously, "Captain Momonga… is there a problem?"
Momonga's eyes burned with certainty.
"There's no mistake," he said firmly. "That was Conqueror's Haki."
Makima blinked. "Conqueror's Haki? What are you talking about?"
But Momonga barely heard her.
An unbelievable talent, he thought. At any cost, I have to get him into the Marines.
An incredibly powerful Logia Devil Fruit… and the potential to awaken all three forms of Haki.
Could this child become an Admiral one day?
He smiled faintly.
Makima snapped him out of his thoughts. "Captain Momonga, please explain."
Her voice trembled. "Is this some kind of disease?"
Momonga smiled reassuringly. "Makima-san, your son is special."
He met her eyes seriously.
"A one-in-a-million talent."
Then, with firm resolve, he said:
"Makima-san… how would you feel about Tenjin joining the Marines?"