The noise outside his room woke Ethel, who had been sleeping soundly. After a night of rest, he felt rejuvenated and full of energy. He stretched and, before leaving his small room, decided to open the interface shop he had acquired during his first encounter on the mysterious island. The digital shop projected an endless list of items, tools, and resources that he could purchase with the two million berries he had just earned.
"Now I've got two million to spend. With this, I could at least buy a small ship to start my journey," he thought excitedly as he browsed through the options.
Ethel spent quite a while exploring the entire list, surprised by the variety of items available. Some particularly caught his eye.
"I can't believe I could buy an Eternal Pose to Laugh Tale, though the price is outrageous. I couldn't save up that much money in a lifetime. Four times Kaido's bounty, and I'd still be short," he mused, looking at the price in disbelief.
He laughed at the irony of trying to save up so much money just to reach the last island. "I'd get to Laugh Tale faster by following the Straw Hats than by saving up all that money."
As he continued to browse the shop, he found something that made him pause: Devil Fruits. The prices were exorbitant, starting at a hundred million berries, an amount that would take him a long time to accumulate. However, it was another item on the list that truly captured his attention.
"'Devil Radar: A device that scans the environment within a one-kilometer radius to locate Devil Fruits,'" he read aloud, intrigued.
The price of the radar wasn't as high as the fruits themselves, but it was still beyond his current reach. Even so, the idea of having a tool that could help him locate Devil Fruits nearby was tempting. It could be an incredible advantage on his journey, especially if he managed to find a Devil Fruit on his own to either sell or use.
"This could change everything," he thought, his mind racing with possibilities.
The temptation to buy the radar was strong, but he also knew he needed a ship to continue his journey. Besides, without a guarantee of finding a Devil Fruit with the radar, spending all his money on that tool would be a huge risk.
"Maybe it's better to save up a bit more and consider my options carefully. The journey is long, and who knows what opportunities I'll find on the islands we visit," he decided, closing the shop for now.
As he left his room, he bumped into one of the brothers he had met at the start of the journey.
"Good morning, sleepyhead! We've arrived at Gecko Islands. Hurry up, we're about to start unloading the cargo," the man said as he walked quickly, not stopping to chat.
Ethel nodded and followed him, though at a more leisurely pace. As he stepped onto the deck, the sunlight made him shield his eyes for a moment. He had spent too much time in the dark, and the brightness dazzled him. After adjusting to the light, his eyes took in the breathtaking landscape before him.
"I'll never get tired of these views," he murmured to himself, admiring the vast ocean and the island that stood majestically before him.
Lauro, who was on deck with the ship's owner and Carmen, greeted the young man with a smile.
"Hey, kid! Don't just stand there, come here," he said in a friendly tone, his smile never fading.
Ethel walked over to them. Carmen greeted him with an amused expression.
"Here comes our hero. And to think I wanted to take you on as an apprentice. I never imagined you were so strong."
Ethel laughed modestly.
"It was nothing. The pirate was already weakened from fighting Lauro. I just took the opportunity to finish him off," he replied humbly.
"Don't be so modest, kid. At your age, you should have more confidence in yourself," the ship's owner interjected.
"I'll keep that in mind, sir," Ethel responded respectfully.
Carmen burst out laughing at the formality in Ethel's tone.
"Old man, look at the respect he has for you. Little does he know the shark standing before him," she teased.
"Shark? I'm just a small fish now. Age doesn't forgive, and I'm having to delegate more and more of my projects. The day when I'm stuck on an island is approaching," the old man said with a mix of resignation and serenity.
"You may no longer be a shark, but I'd still consider you a great swordfish. You still have the means to be one," Carmen remarked with a sly smile.
Lauro, who had remained silent, chimed in.
"Well, changing the subject. Mr. Miyako, we're ready to start unloading," he announced as he prepared for the task.
Before Lauro could walk away, Mr. Miyako took Ethel by the arm, signaling that he wanted to speak privately.
"Young man, I've heard you're getting off here. Before we go our separate ways, I'd like to give you this as a thank you for everything you did. Consider it your pay for these intense days of work," the old man said, handing him an envelope stuffed with money.
"Thank you very much, sir. I accept your payment with gratitude," Ethel replied, bowing his head respectfully.
"Good, that's how hardworking people should be. It's been a pleasure meeting you. I'm sure we'll meet again," Miyako said with a smile before walking away across the deck.
Ethel glanced at the contents of the envelope and quickly counted five million berries. A considerable sum, which, combined with the reward for the criminal's head, gave him more than enough to buy a decent ship.
Before disembarking, he slung his backpack of supplies over his shoulder. Several crew members approached to thank him for his help during the incident, which Ethel acknowledged with a slight nod and a smile.
"Carmen, it's been a pleasure working with you. I'm getting off here," he said, raising his hand in farewell.
"The pleasure was mine, young man. Take care. We might meet again," the chef replied with a smile.
"I have a feeling we will," Ethel added before jumping into a small boat that would take him to the shore.
As he set foot on land, he paused to admire the landscape. The island was just as he remembered from the series—the very one where Usopp had grown up. It wouldn't be surprising if he encountered him along with the local villagers who had likely come to collect goods from the ship.
"Some of this cargo is probably for Kaya. With her family's money, she must have bought plenty of supplies. I might meet her, but I'd rather not get too involved in the canon events, at least not yet. I'm also not interested in trying to recruit the Straw Hat crew members. I'd feel bad interfering with their destiny," Ethel thought as he walked inland, away from the beach.
Upon reaching the village, his eyes landed on the grand mansion on the hill, but he knew that wasn't his destination, at least not for now. He decided to enter the tavern for something to eat. He ordered a variety of dishes, and since it was uncommon for an outsider to arrive in the village, his presence attracted the attention of the locals.
While he ate, shouts from outside triggered chaos inside the tavern.
"Pirates are coming! Look out, pirates are coming, and they're armed!" Usopp yelled repeatedly.
People rushed out of the tavern in search of the troublemaker to give him what he deserved.
"Phew. He's not my favorite character, but I have to admit, he's a genius at stirring up trouble," Ethel thought as he took a sip of his drink.
After about ten minutes of chase, Ethel saw Usopp slip into the tavern to hide.
"Hey, kid, it seems the whole town is after you. You must be quite the celebrity," Ethel said, gesturing for him to come over to his table.
Usopp, startled by the voice, exclaimed, "You scared me! I thought no one was here. You must be the stranger who arrived with the cargo ship."
"That's right, it's me. I'll be around for a few days; I need a ship," Ethel replied calmly.
Upon hearing that, Usopp became defensive.
"You're not a pirate, are you?" he asked, his voice trembling.
Ethel looked at him for a moment and then burst into laughter.
"A pirate? No, I'm not. Are you afraid of pirates, kid?" he asked teasingly.
Usopp, trying to hide his nervousness, straightened up, attempting to appear braver.
"I am the great Captain Usopp! I fear nothing. I am a brave warrior of the sea!" he declared proudly.
Ethel laughed heartily before replying.
"Well, I wouldn't expect anything less from the son of the great marksman of the Red-Haired Pirates."
Usopp was stunned to hear his father mentioned. He quickly approached the table again.
"You know my father?"
"How could I not? Your father is famous worldwide. He's reputed to be the best marksman."
"That's right, my father is incredible! I'll surpass him!" Usopp said enthusiastically.
"You're quite confident. Go ahead, pursue your dreams; at least that's in your blood," Ethel said, motioning for Usopp to sit at the table and share the meal with him.