In the nightti forest, almost nothing was visible.
Even moonlight couldn't penetrate the thick forest.
Had Jake not awakened Observation Haki, not only would reaching their destination be difficult, but simply traversing this forest would likely prove challenging.
Observation Haki differed from Jake's initial expectations.
When he'd only seen the ani, he thought it was an ability similar to observing an opponent's muscles to dodge attacks in advance.
But after truly learning it, he discovered Observation Haki was more like forming a 3D map in his mind.
While it couldn't discern specific appearances, everything within its perception was covered by a layer of aura.
The fluctuations and reactions of this aura were how Observation could predict attacks.
The more advanced version—the kind that could see the future—probably involved observing the future flow of this aura as well.
A faint flicker of Holy Light shimred across Jake's body as he cast Healing Prayer on himself.
Maintaining Observation Haki for extended periods was quite taxing on both stamina and ntal energy.
Fortunately, he could now use Healing Prayer over ten tis a day, with each restoring about 15% of his energy, so these losses were negligible.
After all, the subordinates Doflamingo sent would likely be those Devil Fruit users who appeared in the original story.
Given this matter involved an Emperor Crew, soone of Doflamingo's temperant wouldn't dispatch small fries—lest he end up provoking the Emperors instead, which was the last outco he wanted.
The forest wasn't particularly deep.
Just as Jake and Monet were about to exit, Jake suddenly detected an extrely peculiar aura lingering on a rock not far away.
That aura definitely didn't belong to an ordinary stone—it carried a presence similar to Monet's.
A Devil Fruit user!
Realizing this, Jake didn't hesitate.
He imdiately pulled Monet into the nearby bushes, using seawater-soaked clothing to wrap around both their bodies, minimizing any scent or other factors that might reveal their position.
Just as the two of them had hidden themselves, a slightly shrill voice ca through.
"Wait, Sothing seed to be heading this way just now!"
The mont Jake heard that high-pitched voice, he confird the speaker's identity—the stone man, Pica!
Although that guy had been sliced in half by Zoro in the original story, his strength was definitely not sothing Jake could contend with right now.
The mont he heard the other's words, Jake couldn't help but clench his fists.
If Pica discovered them, he would imdiately have Monet leave, then have her start a fire while calling for the Marines.
If Pica and the others still wanted to complete their mission, they were unlikely to waste ti dealing with him here.
But Jake himself was worried—whether he could actually hold out until then.
After all, Pica alone was already more than he could handle, let alone Machvise, who now slowly appeared beside Pica.
A user of the Ton-Ton Fruit, a Paracia-type Devil Fruit.
That guy's attacks started at 10,000 kilograms—ten tons minimum.
Jake currently had no confidence in withstanding attacks of that level.
Even a slight hit would probably turn him into paste.
But the situation was already like this.
He had no other choice but to hope those two hadn't noticed him.
Observation Haki—those who had mastered it deeply could keep it passively active at all tis, like a reflex.
But if not actively engaged, its range was sowhat limited.
The difference in range between passive and active use was nearly threefold.
At the sa ti, Observation Haki could also counteract others' detection abilities, which was why Jake had been keeping his Observation Haki maximized all this ti.
"People? Pica, are you sure you're not mistaken? Could it just be so wild animal in the woods?"
At Machvise's question, Pica also seed uncertain.
After a mont of thought, he said, "Not sure. But I definitely sensed a living presence just now."
"A living presence? Then it must be an animal. If it were a human, without Observation Haki, it'd be nearly impossible to move through such a dark forest. We've been keeping an eye on the lights behind us the whole way. Probably just so animal."
Seeing Pica still hesitating, Machvise continued, "Young Master also said that guy didn't use any Haki when fighting him. In a life-or-death situation, if he didn't use Haki, it's highly likely he doesn't know it at all.
It's been less than a month since then—there's no way he could've mastered Observation Haki. Even if it's not him, the chances of finding soone who knows Observation Haki in a remote place like this are slim to none. Don't spook yourself. Let's just finish the mission and get back."
"You know who's leading the Big Mom Pirates' crew this ti. I don't want to get caught by that kind of monster. Don't be too paranoid. Besides, even if there really is soone back there, there's nothing they can do to stop us."
Machvise's tone carried a hint of reproach.
After all, this mission involved an Emperor Crew.
The longer they lingered here, the higher the chance those monsters would discover their trail.
Before coming, they had seen the one leading the team.
Charlotte Katakuri—a monster stronger than their own Young Master.
They definitely didn't want to be captured and interrogated by soone like that.
Hearing Machvise's slightly accusatory tone, Pica nodded and said.
"I might have been overly suspicious. Let's finish the task early and head back. Leave that monstrous Yonko commander to the damned Marines."
After speaking, the two headed towards the high ground.
anwhile, Jake remained motionless, still curled up in his hiding spot, silently holding up the surveillance Den Den Mushi to capture everything that had just transpired.
He still didn't move, instead using his Observation Haki to scan the area repeatedly.
Only when a fiery glow began to spread across the distant sky did he finally set off with Monet.
But they didn't rush toward the flas.
Instead, they blended in with the panicked residents hurrying to extinguish the fire, making their way towards the high ground.
Before leaving, Jake had even taken care to erase so of the traces they'd left in the dense forest.
The thin ice they'd stepped on had long since lted, leaving no possible clues behind.
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