Rayleigh's words were like a stone thrown into still water, creating ripples that spread far and wide.
Almost instantly, everyone in the room stood up.
Their gazes turned toward Jake and Monet, filled with fear and apprehension.
Seeing those looks, Jake momentarily questioned whether he was a Marine or a pirate himself.
This was the first time so many people had looked at him with such expressions.
Jake found it strangely unsettling.
But upon reflection, only those with guilty consciences would regard him this way.
If they were genuine bounty hunters, they wouldn't appear so tense and restrained upon seeing him.
At this thought, Jake suddenly found these guys before him turning from utterly detestable to somewhat endearing in an instant.
Living, breathing people had turned into cold, hard military achievements.
Every time he thought of this, Jake felt his heart brimming with fighting spirit.
He finished the last sip of milk in his hand, then stood up and looked at the group of Pirate hunters beside him, smiling as he said.
"Now, all of you are to go to the Marine base in Grove 1 and turn yourselves in. Confess all the bad things you've done honestly, and don't even think about trying to escape along the way. Every move you make is within my perception range.
Also, especially you, you, and you—the three of you don't need to turn yourselves in. I'll just kill you right here. The sins on your backs are enough to warrant your deaths ten thousand times over. Don't worry, my hand won't be too heavy—it'll be over in an instant."
Before Jake could even finish speaking, those few guys were already so terrified they couldn't even stand up.
Their pants began to dampen as they scrambled and crawled desperately toward the tavern door.
But before they could crawl even a few meters away, a faint golden lightning flickered at Jake's fingertips.
With a sizzling sound, the man's body, which had been wriggling and crawling on the ground, instantly stiffened.
Seeing this, the other two Pirate hunters exchanged a glance before simultaneously swinging their blades toward Jake's direction.
If they couldn't escape, then they might as well kill this young Marine in front of them.
As long as he died, Rayleigh probably wouldn't bother with them afterward.
After all, they hadn't caused any trouble in Rayleigh's tavern.
The ones who needed to be dealt with weren't them, but those damned bastards!
But the moment they raised their longswords, an icy aura froze their entire bodies.
Before they could even react, they were encased in a thick layer of ice.
The bone-chilling cold nearly suffocated them.
Jake now stood before them, his voice cold and indifferent.
"You seem to have misunderstood something. After committing crimes, whether it's in this tavern or not, you can never escape the Marines' judgment. Now, it's time for you to rest in peace."
With two blinding flashes of lightning, two vibrant lives withered away in an instant.
As for the others, under Jake's pressure, they all obediently headed toward the Marine base.
But there were still some who, after putting some distance between themselves and the tavern, chose to bolt straight for the harbor.
They weren't so obedient.
They knew exactly how severe their punishments would be if they faced the Marines for their crimes.
Even if they weren't executed on the spot, they'd probably spend the rest of their lives in prison!
But just as they had run less than twenty meters, an incredibly brilliant golden lightning bolt surged down from the sky, illuminating all the darkness before them.
All colors faded in that instant, leaving only that dazzling gold.
The other Pirate hunters who had been about to make a run for it now turned ashen-faced, frozen in place, trembling uncontrollably.
Rayleigh watched this scene and smiled slightly, saying to Jake.
"What a terrifying junior indeed. Even Roger at your age didn't possess Observation Haki of this range and caliber."
Hearing this, Jake simply smiled and explained to Rayleigh.
"It's just an amplification from my Devil Fruit ability. Under normal circumstances, my Observation Haki isn't particularly outstanding."
"Being able to apply your Devil Fruit powers to Observation Haki is still your own capability, not mere luck," Rayleigh said with a smile, once again affirming Jake's strength.
Then he unhooked the flask from his waist, took a big swig, and grinned at Jake.
"So, the Marines' super rookie, what brings you to an old relic like me? Are you here to claim my head as a merit for your promotion to Admiral?"
Listening to Rayleigh's words, Jake shook his head with a chuckle and replied.
"First, I couldn't take your head even if I tried.
Second, I don't want to take your head. I'm not like my teacher Sakazuki, who pursues justice to the extreme.
Third, you're a decent person. At least according to the records, most of your actions have benefited civilians. People like you command my respect, whether you're a Pirate or a Marine.
Fourth, I'm mainly here to ask for your help. My ship is too big, and the coating costs are too high, so I'd like to rent a boat from you. And while we're at it, I'd appreciate it if you could serve as our Marine tour guide."
Rayleigh was utterly dumbfounded by Jake's words.
He smacked his lips a couple of times before turning to Shakky, who looked equally stunned behind him.
"I'm not drunk, am I? Do you believe what that young Marine just said?"
"While your alcohol tolerance isn't great, it's not so bad that you'd get drunk from one sip. What that young Marine said was true—I heard it too," Shakky replied, taking a deep drag from her cigarette.
Rayleigh now looked at Jake with some resignation.
"Sometimes when I read the news, I wonder if the world is changing too fast for me to keep up.
But seeing you in person, I realize the pace of change has indeed exceeded my imagination. A future Marine Fleet Admiral drinking and chatting privately with a notorious Pirate like me—you really don't care about appearances, do you?
And asking the Pirate King's right-hand man to be your tour guide? Hahaha, you've got some nerve, kid. Give me one good reason. If it convinces me, I'll agree to your request."
Rayleigh's tone was light, his mood clearly good.
Jake, naturally picking up on his mood, smiled and said.
"Whitebeard is helping me save money, and Red Hair owes me a debt. Is that reason enough?"