As he gazed at the young man before him, an indescribable joy welled up in Sengoku's heart.
He couldn't help but say, "You truly make me happy boy. What you just said—I look forward to it. I look forward to the day you sit in my seat, haha! But I still have questions for you. Can you control the range of that power, or is it indiscriminate?"
"I can determine the scope based on the extent of my Observation Haki. Additionally, I can sense their hostility towards me. Within the range of my Observation Haki, none can escape my detection."
Hearing this, Sengoku found himself at a loss for words to describe Jake's Devil Fruit ability.
If he had to sum it up in one word, it would be... absurd!
Healing abilities, lightning control, sin-based gravity, sensory range...
Compared to the Devil Fruit Jake had consumed, Sengoku genuinely began to doubt whether his own fruit was a fake.
They were both Mythical Zoan types—so why did his own abilities seem so lacking in comparison
Could it really be as that bastard Garp said, that he had been developing his Devil Fruit abilities in the wrong direction?
But even as this thought crossed his mind, he maintained the composed demeanor befitting a fleet admiral, then turned to Jake and said.
"Master this power well and no one will be able to ambush you. It's an extremely important safeguard for your safety. By the way, these should be all your abilities, right?"
As he spoke these words, Sengoku actually felt a twinge of apprehension.
The surprises this kid Jake had brought him were already more than enough.
Any more, and he'd genuinely start wondering if he was dreaming.
Or rather, any more and he'd begin worrying whether Jake might die young from being too gifted.
And what Jake said next made his already suspended heart leap into his throat.
"Well, there is more. But this power isn't for personal use—it's a group enhancement for allies. I call it Guardian's Blessing. As for its specific effects, please allow all senior officers here to experience it briefly. Rest assured, this power is purely beneficial and won't cause any negative effects."
With that, Jake stood in place and slightly raised his head.
A pale golden light slowly emerged from behind him and almost instantly, everyone present felt as though they were soaking in a hot spring.
Their bodies brimmed with strength—not just physical power, but their defensive capabilities, mental state and stamina recovery speed all received noticeable boosts.
Though the enhancements weren't substantial, for top-tier fighters like them, even minor improvements were tremendously significant and hard to come by.
And this kid Jake?
He'd just buffed every high-ranking Marine officer present!
If this power could be maintained long enough, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say Jake could increase the entire Marine force's combat effectiveness by ten percent!
At this thought, Sengoku's face flushed with excitement.
Looking at Jake, even the composure befitting the "Resourceful General" had completely vanished as he asked.
"Jake! How long does this power last? What's the current maximum number of people and range it can affect? Can it be further enhanced? What's the toll on you? How many times can you use it per day at most?"
Seeing Sengoku's uncharacteristically excited state, Jake was somewhat surprised but answered honestly.
"The duration is five minutes, with a maximum of eight people. The range is quite extensive—it can affect anyone within my Observation Haki's perception. The drain on me isn't heavy and I can use it about ten times a day."
Hearing this, Sengoku immediately turned to everyone present and declared sternly.
"All information regarding Jake's abilities is now classified as top secret! Not a single word of this is to be leaked to anyone!"
Having personally experienced the power and considering Jake's importance, everyone naturally understood the reasoning behind this decision.
However, Jake was somewhat puzzled by Sengoku's decision.
Even at maximum capacity, his ability only lasted fifty minutes total—less than an hour.
In the world of One piece where battles between monsters could last days, shouldn't this enhancement be relatively insignificant?
What Jake didn't know was that the greatest use of his abilities didn't lie in evenly matched battles, but rather with these aging powerhouses!
Whether it was Zephyr or Garp, their strength had declined compared to their peak years—especially someone like Zephyr, who was plagued by illness in his old age.
Being able to exert even 70% of his full power was already impressive.
Yet, Jake's power granted these aging warriors a brief return to their peak strength and recovery!
In other words, with Jake present, the Marines could temporarily field five or more Admirals at their absolute prime!
With such a lineup besieging them, forget an hour—they could capture Kaido alive in less than thirty minutes!
Having said that, Sengoku turned his gaze to Jake, his eyes burning with excitement.
"Jake, your power is extraordinary. To the Marines, your importance may even rival that of an Admiral. Remember, you must conceal these abilities as much as possible outside. If you're forced to reveal them, report to me immediately. I'll assess the situation and... clean up some enemies for you."
Hearing Sengoku's words, Jake finally relaxed completely, though his heart still pounded slightly.
If just Guardian's Blessing had excited Sengoku this much, what would happen when he learned Valor Blessing later? Wouldn't he pass out from sheer excitement?
After all, in DNF, the soul of a support class lay in the level 25 Valor Blessing!
Still, Jake couldn't help but wonder—if the entire Marine Headquarters received the full buff of a Laus di Angelus, could they annihilate an entire Emperor Crew within its duration?
But even if they could, Sengoku would probably have to consider far more implications.
"Then... should I demonstrate my Conqueror's Haki?"
Sengoku twitched at Jake's hesitant tone before replying, "Show us. I want to see how far yours has developed."
Without hesitation, Jake unleashed his Conqueror's Haki.
A terrifying pressure flooded the office, but by now, Sengoku was numb to surprises.
He gazed at Jake with sheer delight—as long as Jake didn't fall prematurely or defect, the future Marine Fleet Admiral was practically guaranteed to be him!
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