Chapter 5: I Have Been Very Cooperative
"At first, I didn't know," Ian began, his tone even and calm, occasionally allowing a thoughtful, reminiscent look to cross his face—not a single flaw in his performance. "After I accidentally ate the Human-Human Fruit, I didn't feel any major changes, except that I became a bit stronger."
"A few years later, I found a book... a Devil Fruit Encyclopedia!" he continued. "It recorded the names and abilities of many Devil Fruits, some even with detailed illustrations of the fruits themselves."
"The Zoan-type, Ox-Ox Fruit, for instance, is shaped like a banana. The Logia-type Flame-Flame Fruit resembles a burning fireball. The Paramecia-type Ope-Ope Fruit looks like a red heart..."
"And the Zoan-type Human-Human Fruit I ate was shaped like a mushroom, exactly matching the one in the illustrated book."
"Later, I understood why I had eaten a Devil Fruit but didn't seem to gain any overt superpowers or transformation abilities."
This reason was, of course, fabricated. He had anticipated such questions upon arriving at Marine Headquarters and prepared accordingly. Devil Fruits with strong, obvious visual traits didn't require much explanation. But a human who ate the Human-Human Fruit and could accurately identify it as such? That needed a plausible story.
Judging by Hina's expression, she didn't seem to detect any lie.
"Understood. Recorded. Moving to the second question," Hina said, her pen scratching against the notepad. "A characteristic of Zoan-type Devil Fruit users is their ability to transform through three distinct forms after consumption. Commodore Jock Ian, please demonstrate these three transformations for us. Hina is very eager to see them."
After asking the second question, she fixed her unwavering stare upon Ian once more.
"Alright!" Ian agreed without hesitation.
Following this, the two of them sat in absolute silence, staring at each other without moving a muscle. The hall was utterly quiet.
Hina raised a slender eyebrow slightly: "..."
Ian maintained a completely blank expression: "..."
After a long, protracted stare-down, Hina was the first to relent. "Commodore Ian, please cooperate."
"I have been cooperating," Ian said, leaning back in his tiger-skin chair. "Haven't I, Nami? Have I been cooperative?"
Nami, suddenly named, jumped slightly. "You have been cooperative, sir."
Lieutenant Morgan, standing behind Hina, glared at Nami with displeasure. "What kind of cooperation is this? Aside from your seated posture, there's been no change at all!"
"Hey, you. What's your name?" Ian pointed at Morgan, his face darkening with clear displeasure.
Morgan straightened his posture and answered seriously, "I am not 'hey,' Commodore Ian. My name is Morgan, Lieutenant, Marine Headquarters, aide to Captain Hina. I am here to assist Captain Hina in completing her mission in the East Blue."
Ian nodded dismissively, then leaned back in an exaggerated manner and asked Nami in a deliberately loud voice, "Nami! My memory isn't the best. What title is written on my letter of appointment? What position am I to assume at Marine Headquarters?"
Nami suppressed a smile and imitated Morgan's stiff posture, standing ramrod straight. "Reporting, Commodore Ian! You are to be appointed as a Commodore of Marine Headquarters!"
Upon hearing this, Ian muttered meaningfully, "Oh, a Commodore... Hiss... Compared to a Lieutenant..."
The corner of Morgan's mouth twitched. A cold shiver ran down his spine, for Ian's gaze had sharpened into twin blades, a glint of cold light flashing in his pupils as they locked onto Morgan. The unspoken message was clear: It is not your place to speak here!
Hina敏锐地察觉到了Ian的潜台词.
She immediately spoke with stern authority, "Commodore Ian, mind your attitude. Following the orders of a superior officer is the duty of every Marine! Until you arrive at Headquarters and complete the investiture ceremony, your rank remains that of a Branch Commodore. And Hina is a Captain of Headquarters. Please remember your position and continue to cooperate with our review. Do not be idle, and do not joke around. Hina is very dissatisfied with your performance!"
Although both held the rank of Captain, the difference between a Headquarters Captain and a Branch Captain was a world apart. Captain Hina, sent from on high, couldn't help but let her sense of superiority show. Unable to win the argument on merit, she fell back on pulling rank.
Ian didn't particularly dislike the practice of using authority to suppress others—after all, he was cut from a similar cloth.
"Alright, very good. I am happy to cooperate," Ian said, his tone shifting. "You were the one who started the jokes, Captain Hina! You asked me to demonstrate my three-stage transformation, didn't you? Human Form, Human Form, and Human-Human Form! I ate the Human-Human Fruit; what else did you expect me to transform into? A giant monkey? I'd do it if I could!"
Hina: "..."
She had a strong feeling Ian was deliberately causing trouble, but she had no proof. If she continued like this, the mission assigned by her superiors would be a complete waste.
"Fine. After eating the Human-Human Fruit, did you gain any special abilities?" Hina changed her approach and continued the questioning.
"Yes, of course!" Ian agreed readily. "The greatest ability is a body of steel and iron bones, possessing immense strength. Just think about it—I am a human, and I ate another 'human.' Being stronger and more durable makes perfect sense, right?"
Hina kept writing in her notebook. "Iron bones, immense strength... Can you elaborate on what that specifically entails?"
Ian was amused and continued with enthusiasm, "How about I have a couple of men bring in a large paving stone? I could perform a chest-splitting stone breaking demonstration for everyone?"
Hina was shocked: "???"
Is this man insane?
Every answer was completely outside her expectations.
"Ian, be serious!" Hina slapped the armrest of her chair in anger.
"Hmm? I am being serious," Ian retorted. "I said I'm made of steel, and you asked me how strong that is. Don't I need to prove my toughness? If you don't like demonstrations, fine, no problem. That standing... Mo-something... Little Mo! You! Come over here and punch me in the stomach a couple of times so your boss can see. Go on, don't hold back. Hit with all your might. I promise I won't retaliate."
Ian's torrent of words was overwhelming. Morgan was even more horrified. How could he, like a fool, actually go up and do it? Even with Hina as his backer... his Lady Hina was just a Headquarters Captain! The man in front of him was about to become a Commodore, with a bright future ahead!
Hina sighed in helpless frustration. She didn't know if Ian was a natural-born troublemaker or just had extremely strong anti-interrogation awareness. And the instruction she had received was merely to inquire. Her superiors had never explicitly authorized her to personally test Ian's skills and strength through physical combat. If she continued down this line of questioning, she probably wouldn't get any serious answers.
"Never mind, Commodore Ian. Let's move on to the next topic," Hina said, finally conceding defeat.
Seeing Hina's frustrated surrender, Ian felt a secret sense of triumph.
Want to investigate me?
Send a few of the old guys from Headquarters next time!
...
After another ten or so minutes of similarly fruitless "questioning," Hina gave up the investigation and put away her notepad. It had been a truly unique interrogation session. The result was that she had found out absolutely nothing.
"Commodore Ian, you have one hour to prepare," Hina stated, standing up to leave. "Regarding voyage preparations and the number of personnel you may bring, Hina has already provided the detailed list. We will depart from the port in exactly one hour. Hina will be waiting for you."
Hina finished speaking and made to leave.
"Wait," Ian said suddenly.
Hina paused. "Is there something else?"
"It's nothing major. Just a sincere invitation for everyone to attend my award ceremony," Ian said, a sly, slightly vengeful smile playing on his lips. "Especially you, Captain Hina, and your clever, capable aide, Little Mo."
Hina: "..."
Morgan: "..."