"Yes." Mousse nodded immediately.
Then the middle-aged man replied in a calm tone that still carried unmistakable longing:
"I hope for an ability that can alter the terrain. It would be even better if it could change the land and water as well."
Mousse's heart jolted, because he recalled that his family happened to possess a Devil Fruit like that. He immediately asked the middle-aged man why he wanted such an ability.
With deep yearning, the middle-aged man spoke of the Flower Kingdom people's hopes of several thousand years:
"With such an ability, I could deepen the channel of Murky Water, this 'river above the ground,' and lower it far enough beneath the horizon that it would never flood again!"
"With such an ability, I could carve canals through towering mountains, diverting the excess water in the south to the water-starved north, turning two evils into two benefits!"
"With such an ability, I could flatten the rugged mountains within the Flower Kingdom, so farmers would never lack land to cultivate, so merchants and travelers could go anywhere without obstruction, and so everyone could live better lives—at the very least, without having to fear hunger!"
After hearing this, Mousse felt an even greater kinship with him. This was the first person besides himself who wanted to use a Devil Fruit ability to improve the people's lives. Still, he smiled in surprise and said:
"People eat Devil Fruits to increase their combat power. Is that all you want, sir?"
The middle-aged man pointed at Mousse's nose and laughed.
"Don't try to fool me, little brother. You're clearly very clever yourself. I don't believe you can't see it—how could a Devil Fruit that can alter terrain possibly be weak?"
Mousse laughed as well, silently grumbling, *You don't know it, but under the development