Chapter 65 – A Soft "Goodbye, Father"
"Dad! I finally mastered Observation Haki!"
He pushed open the grand doors of Ross Castle. The first thing he saw was his father sitting on the living room sofa, smiling gently at him.
Here on Cloud Island, Ross's "Vision Cloud" never strayed far from his children, so he had been waiting in advance for his second son, who came running in.
On the coffee table in front of him were a few small items—gifts he had prepared long ago for this very day.
Chicks always leave the nest eventually. With both the dream and the strength to pursue it, Alisan's wings had grown strong. It was time to let him fulfill his childhood promise—to embark on his own adventure.
"Heh… I knew there was no hiding anything from you," Alisan scratched his cheek sheepishly. "I thought I'd surprise you all… By the way, where's Mom?"
"She's upstairs with your little brother." Ross sighed. "I just hope they won't all end up like you lot. You weren't even of age before you each started dreaming of running off—leaving your old man here to sigh in his empty house."
He shook his head, and the smile on his face looked just a little forced.
Alisan lowered his head, feeling a pang of guilt for his father and mother. But he didn't want to give up his dream, either—and he couldn't leave Jinbei waiting much longer.
"Ah—enough of that," Ross said at last. "These are for you. A permanent Log Pose, a map of all four seas, a treasure map I designed myself… and an empty adventure journal."
Ross somehow appeared at his side, draping an arm around his shoulders and guiding him to the coffee table.
"Take a look—these are your gifts."
"This… This…"
"Thank you, Dad!"
Alisan only needed to lift his gaze a little to see those items he had dreamed of for so long. Apart from the adventure storybooks of his childhood, nothing could have been a greater treasure.
Holding that blank journal—waiting to be filled, page by page, with his own adventures—he had no idea how to express the storm of emotions in his heart. He could only throw himself into his father's arms, one hand clutching Ross's waist tightly, his face buried deep against him.
Soft sobs rose from him, conveying all that words could not.
At that moment, Alisan felt guilty. But also happy. Saddened. But thrilled, too.
And so, in his father's embrace, crying quietly was the only way he could say it all.
Ross patted his back lightly. For a long while, he didn't speak either.
How ironic, he thought—he, who had always been so cautious, had raised children who each, in their own way, longed to wander the seas.
Recently, even Mona had begun to say that life on Cloud Island was too dull. She wanted to take Bullet and explore other islands, not sparing a word for her dear old father.
Ator was like this. Alisan, too. And now Mona.
Perhaps it was the stories and dreams of their childhood that had sown this yearning in their hearts. The vast, unpredictable sea was so beautiful and mysterious, always calling out to be explored, discovered, and experienced.
Ross didn't know whether, years or decades from now, the next group of his children would feel the same pull to leave.
But he did know that he would respect every one of their choices—and, as long as he was able, he would support them fully. Only if it was truly impossible would he ever try to hold them back.
A father's love asks nothing in return. A mother's love is gentle and embracing.
"All right, that's enough," Ross said at last, his voice steady. "You're nearly fifteen—you're practically a grown man. Out there on the sea, you'll be expected to stand on your own two feet."
"I'm not!"
Alisan pulled back from his father's arms, his eyes rimmed red, clutching the adventure journal so tightly his shoulders shook.
Tears streamed down his stubborn face. He hadn't gone so far as to let his nose run, but he was close.
At the top of the stairs, his mother stood, cradling a sleeping little boy, silently watching everything.
"Oh—one more thing." Ross reached beside the sofa. "This Devil Fruit here—it's the Zoan-type Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Ancient Model: Pteranodon. You don't have to eat it, but think it over. The seas are peaceful enough right now, but the more ways you have to protect yourself, the better."
Ross picked up a black box from the coffee table.
Opening it, he took out a Devil Fruit he had long prepared.
It was the last Ancient Zoan-type fruit he had. The rest were all more ordinary Zoan fruits.
"Thanks, Dad," Alisan said, "but I'll pass."
"I've already awakened Observation Haki. Even bullets can't hit me now. And I'm not planning to head into the New World or anything. It'd be a waste to use such a powerful fruit on me."
He politely declined.
He knew very well what an Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit represented—near-invincibility in the first half of the Grand Line. Strength, stamina, power… unmatched by most.
But still, he didn't want it.
Partly because he hoped it could go to one of his younger siblings who might need it more in the future—and partly because he already felt like he owed his parents too much. Even if they never said so, he couldn't bear to take more.
His older brother, at least, brought in huge profits for the family. Every time he came home, it was with billions of Berries, dumped onto Ross's table in exchange for a simple word of praise.
And him? He was just a kid chasing dreams with his friends.
Seeing how firm his son's decision was, Ross simply nodded and returned the fruit to its box.
"…All right. Your father respects your choice."
Then, Ross took out a slip of paper.
On it was a Den Den Mushi contact number.
"I trust you have your own plans. This is the number for the family line. Memorize it. If anything happens—anything at all—call home. Your father will always have your back."
Alisan silently nodded, his throat tight.
Carefully, he began packing everything from the table.
He rolled up the world map and treasure map and tucked them into the inside pocket of his shirt. The Log Pose was hung around his neck. Holding the map close, he walked slowly toward the door.
Every few steps, he turned around to glance back—again and again.
And just before he reached the threshold—he stopped.
He turned sharply.
At the top of the stairs, his mother was standing quietly, still cradling his sleeping younger brother, watching him with tender eyes. His father, for once, was showing rare, undisguised sadness.
Clenching his fists, Alisan suddenly shouted—voice trembling:
"Dad! Mom! I promise—you'll see my name in the papers one day!"
"You'll watch me chase my dreams… watch me grow… and wait for me to come home with pride—under the name of a great adventurer!"
"Goodbye, Dad!!"
And with that final cry, the tears he had held back could no longer be contained.
Alisan turned and ran, flinging open the door, clutching his empty adventure journal, sprinting toward the edge of Cloud Island with Observation Haki guiding his every step forward.
At the harbor, a small sailboat awaited him. It had been prepared by his older brother Ator—a New Year's gift, precious beyond measure.
"Huff… Huff…"
Boarding the boat, Alisan gasped for breath. That farewell had drained every ounce of his strength—and every drop of his courage.
He was, without a doubt, an unfilial son.
For the sake of his dream—and for his friends—he was willing to leave his parents behind, ignoring how they might feel. Even if they never complained.
It took him a long time to shake off that heavy guilt.
At last, he stepped into the cabin and unrolled the map.
There, marked in red, was the destination pointed to by his permanent Log Pose:
Sabaody Archipelago – the midpoint of the Grand Line.
It was a shortcut that would get him there within two months. From there, his real adventure would begin—his own journey, carved by his own hands.
"Wait for me, Jinbei."