One Piece: Adopting Sakazuki and Taking Douglas Bullet as My Godson

Chapter 29: Jinbe, the Man Who Will Become the Sea Knight!

A Letter to Master Ross

Dear Master Ross,

The brothers from the Nasdaq family have been assigned under various officers, and thanks to your support, our food and equipment are so good that even the captains are jealous.

As for me, I've become the adjutant to a Vice Admiral named Zephyr, learning directly under him.

These past two months in the Navy have been incredibly fulfilling. The training over the past three years has truly paid off—thanks to Mr. Garp's guidance, I've even awakened Armament Haki, just as you once mentioned. I haven't neglected Observation Haki either; I believe in another two years, I'll be able to return home on leave and continue learning more advanced techniques from you.

If Brother Moxxi is around, please let him know that Navy life has left me little time for sword training. I regret that—I know how much he has selflessly taught me.

Oh, and I've made a great new friend! When I get leave, I plan to bring him to Cloud Island for a proper visit. I'm sure by then, the island will be even more prosperous under your guidance.

His name is Dragon—you probably know him. He's Mr. Garp's son, my age. Though his personality is only slightly less intense than his father's, we get along quite well, especially when it comes to our shared ideals.

That's about all for now. I know this letter's a bit short, but I couldn't think of much more to say.

Next month, I'll be heading out on my first mission with Vice Admiral Zephyr. Some of the other brothers will deploy even earlier. I sincerely hope they all survive, and that one day they too will be able to send you a letter of peace and gratitude.

—Your student, Sakazuki

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Two months later, Ross sat in his study, slowly folding Sakazuki's letter before placing it in a small box. He then tucked it into a drawer beneath his desk.

Thanks to support from his two father-in-laws, the development of Cloud Island had accelerated rapidly over those months. His office building was finally completed—though at the cost of running a budget deficit, forcing him to personally cover expenses.

Not for wages—those were manageable—but mostly for food. As for housing, well, people could simply live inside the clouds: soft and cozy… or firm, depending on how he shaped them.

Out here on the Grand Line, there was no such thing as "free citizens" for non-World Government member nations. For most ordinary folks, simply getting two meals a day was a blessing. Some islands were still home to primitive tribes.

Those who were relocated here were mostly the lowest of the low—people who, in their former homes, considered two meals a day a luxury.

Arable land was scarce at sea, and even fish were not unlimited.

Ross provided them with food and shelter, and only asked them to work twelve hours a day—mainly just helping with material transport. And yet, some had already taken to calling him "Heavenly Lord Ross." That alone was a testament to how harsh this world could be.

In nearly every kingdom, there were beggars and orphans. Even within World Government nations, the disparity was staggering—commoners were treated as barely human.

Ross had seen far too much of this during his voyages. It was why he'd only ever taken three wives. Their homelands, while not World Government affiliates, were ruled by relatively kind leaders. It was the reason he'd accepted their confessions back then.

Given his power, he could easily have had women lining up to marry him—even now, various noble families and kings were trying to arrange matches with him.

Rubbing his temples, Ross felt the weight of exhaustion.

These past two months had been anything but easy. The population surge brought new risks. To avoid being overwhelmed by food shortages, he'd taken up the role of laborer himself.

He found a nearby island, then used processed clouds as shovels to transport arable soil back to Cloud Island bit by bit. He even created a secondary cloud island nearby, purely for farming.

Knock, knock.

A gentle knock on the door.

Creak—

The door opened slowly, revealing Alisan's small figure. It was obvious he had been crying.

Earlier that morning, Fisher Tiger had come in person—after receiving Ross's letter—to take Jinbe back with him.

Ross didn't know how to contact Tiger directly, but he knew how to pull strings. Just sending that letter had cost him 200,000 Berries. The underground world never did anything for free.

But it had been worth it.

In just two months, Alisan and Jinbe had forged a deep bond—a friendship that couldn't be measured in Berries.

Ross knew his son's talent wasn't exceptional, merely that of an average prodigy. But if he could build strong friendships with powerful people, then as a father, Ross was proud.

Even if… deep down, he felt guilty. He couldn't give Alisan a perfect life.

"Father… how can I get to Fish-Man Island?"

Alisan's voice cracked slightly from tears, but his tone carried resolve. Jinbe's departure had stirred something within him.

Ross didn't answer immediately. Instead, he gently picked Alisan up and sat him on his lap, softly wiping away the tears.

Children don't gain self-awareness on their own—you have to guide them there. And one of the gentlest ways is through their longing to walk alongside a friend.

There are other ways, sure. But in the end, it's about giving them a goal—a vision that speaks to what they want most. For Alisan, that goal was clear.

He was asking his father to give him a path—to earn the right to stand beside his friend once more.

Once Alisan had calmed down a bit, Ross finally spoke.

"If you want to go to Fish-Man Island, first you must prove yourself in the four seas. Otherwise, I won't let you throw your life away."

"If you truly want to see the world… then starting tomorrow, follow this schedule. When you meet my expectations, I'll train you myself. I promise: by the time you're of age, you will be ready to sail the seas. How about it?"

Ross pulled out a small box with Alisan's name engraved on it. He opened it and took out a folded sheet of paper. Its faded creases showed it had been written years ago.

He handed the paper to Alisan, letting him decide.

"I want to set sail!"

Alisan didn't hesitate. After just one glance, he clutched the paper tightly in his hand.

Ross smiled.

"Don't worry—goodbyes are just the start of a better reunion. If you're willing to work this hard for a friend, I'm sure he won't let you down."

Ross spoke gently, careful not to weigh Alisan down too much. Carrying too heavy a burden—especially at his age—could do more harm than good.

Children crave what they lack. And once grown, they'll chase after it harder than anything.

Their hearts are fragile. A single misplaced word from a parent can throw everything off.

Ross didn't want Alisan growing up twisted—even if it was twisted in a "good" direction.

"Mhm! Jinbe's amazing. I know he'll get even stronger. He's my future partner—a man who's going to become a Sea Knight!"