One by one, the Marine officers snapped out of their daze, their composure as veterans of countless battles completely shattered.
"Unbelievable… How did you do that, brat?!"
Vice Admiral Garp stared wide-eyed, then burst into shocked laughter as he swallowed hard.
"If Bartholomew Kuma is still alive, then the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi cannot reincarnate elsewhere…"
Vice Admiral Tsuru narrowed her eyes sharply.
"Are you telling us this is an artificial Devil Fruit ability? They actually replicated it?!"
Even for officers who had witnessed Vegapunk's Pacifista program, this was beyond imagination.
"A machine… that can wield Haki and a Devil Fruit power?"
Admiral Aokiji (Kuzan) opened his mouth in rare astonishment.
"That's not just a weapon anymore. That's practically an obedient Shichibukai."
Sakazuki took a slow drag from his cigar, smoke curling around his stern face before he spoke.
"At first, I thought this was childish exaggeration. But if what we just witnessed is real… then you are either a prodigy beyond reason—or something even more troublesome."
Kizaru lazily adjusted his sunglasses and grinned.
"See? Didn't I tell you? This little guy is my younger brother~ Scary, right?"
"A genius that appears once in a millennium."
Natsume folded his arms like a miniature adult.
"It's not that complicated. Earlier models like the Pacifista couldn't wield Haki or Devil Fruit abilities because their structural integrity and processing capacity were insufficient."
"As for the Paw-Paw Fruit ability… I extracted and reconstructed the corresponding Lineage Factor from Kuma's blood samples. You can regard it as an artificial Nikyu Nikyu no Mi."
The room fell silent.
Unlike the Smile fruits created by Caesar Clown—which were unstable and incomplete—this was a perfect replication of a Paramecia ability.
Sengoku's breathing became heavy.
Mass production.
If such humanoid weapons could be mass-produced, they would surpass the original Pacifista program entirely.
The balance between the Three Great Powers—the Marines, the Shichibukai, and the Four Emperors—would collapse overnight.
Sengoku suddenly grabbed Natsume's small hand.
"No more procedures. From today onward, you belong to the Marine Science Unit."
"Focus solely on your research."
His eyes gleamed.
"If this weapon were mass-produced… how much would it cost?"
Natsume smiled faintly.
"For full deployment? Around 50 billion Berries."
The room froze.
"Fifty billion?!"
Even Sengoku was stunned.
That wasn't pocket change. That was a number capable of shaking the annual Marine allocation approved by the World Government.
Kizaru silently calculated.
Even if he worked as an Admiral for decades… that amount was absurd.
Natsume raised a finger.
"Allow me to explain clearly."
"The current Seraphim prototype—comparable to the Seven Warlords of the Sea—costs 2 billion Berries per unit."
"Ten units would require 20 billion Berries."
The officers exchanged looks.
Two billion for a perfectly obedient, fully controllable Warlord-class combatant?
That was, in pure military logic, cheaper than maintaining an actual Shichibukai—who demanded political concessions, immunity, and constant surveillance.
Even a single Marine battleship could exceed one billion Berries depending on armament and crew.
"However," Natsume continued calmly,
"I also possess Admiral-class Seraphim technology."
The air turned heavy.
"To develop the first Admiral-level model, I require 20 billion Berries in research funding."
"Once development stabilizes, each unit will cost 10 billion Berries."
"Total required: 50 billion Berries."
He spoke as though stating basic arithmetic.
But every senior officer felt their heartbeat quicken.
An Admiral-class Seraphim.
That meant a construct comparable to Sakazuki, Kuzan, or Borsalino.
In the world of One Piece, Admirals were monsters who could reshape climates permanently.
Punk Hazard still burned and froze because of two of them.
Even possessing one additional Admiral-level combatant would drastically alter the New World's balance.
Mass production?
That would be world-ending.
Sakazuki narrowed his eyes.
"Brat… do you understand what an Admiral represents?"
"Devil Fruit mastery. Advanced Haki. Decades of combat experience."
"Even prodigies spend a lifetime climbing to that level."
"If your 'Admiral-class' machine only matches a Vice Admiral, ten billion would be a waste."
Tsuru remained silent, but her expression was grave.
Fifty billion Berries was not a trivial sum.
Such an expenditure required World Government authorization.
If it failed, Sengoku would shoulder the political fallout before the Five Elders.
Kizaru sighed lazily.
"Natsume, you'd better be confident. If this backfires and they dock my pay, that'd be troublesome~"
Natsume waved his small hand dismissively.
"Brother, if I say Admiral-class, then it is Admiral-class."
"You are an Admiral. I've studied combat data released internally by the Marines. I understand the destructive capacity required to match that title."
His tone was steady.
No hesitation.
Sengoku closed his eyes.
Even the original Pacifista program had been a gamble.
This… was far beyond that.
But the temptation…
If even two Admiral-class Seraphim were completed, the Marines could permanently suppress the Four Emperors' expansion.
The risk was enormous.
The reward was immeasurable.
"How long?" Sengoku asked quietly.
"The Warlord-class models are complete. Ten units can be produced within three days."
"As for the Admiral-class model… development will take fifteen days. After that, production speed will increase."
Fifteen days.
That was practically impossible by conventional science.
Sengoku clenched his fist.
He had already crossed the line the moment he considered it.
"Very well."
"I will secure 50 billion Berries for you."
"If it fails, the responsibility is mine."
Garp raised an eyebrow. Tsuru exhaled softly.
They knew what that meant.
Sengoku was staking his position as Fleet Admiral.
Natsume smiled faintly.
The system requirement would be fulfilled.
"Uncle Sengoku, all I need is an independent laboratory within the Marine Science Unit. No interference."
"I guarantee results."
Sengoku nodded decisively.
"You will report directly to the Science Division at once."
"I will personally handle your appointment and clearance."
"Focus only on your research."
Without wasting a second, Sengoku and Kizaru escorted Natsume onto a Marine warship bound for the Marine Science facilities.
For Sengoku, time now equaled political risk.
For Natsume, time equaled technological evolution.
Before departure, Sengoku issued one final order.
"Assign a Vice Admiral to rotate as his personal guard."
"This child is now a strategic asset of the Marines."
"Under no circumstances can anything happen to him."