After a simple packing of their luggage, the temporary team of young people set off.
They encountered danger before they even left the mountain range.
Just as Ethan had judged earlier, if they had not befriended Goku and relied on this currently strongest support, they would have been eaten by wild beasts before they could even leave the mountains.
Not long after they set off, this small adventure group was attacked by a pterodactyl. Was it really a pterodactyl? Although this one could talk.
If Goku had not been in the team, they would have been wiped out instantly.
After defeating the dinosaur, the group continued on their way. At night, they rested in the house that Bulma took out from a Capsule Corp capsule.
"What an interesting thing."
Capsule Corp capsules were extremely powerful tools. They could store anything from large spaceships to small furniture and appliances, then be easily carried around.
Prepare a box of Capsule Corp capsules and you would not have to worry about food, clothing, or lodging wherever you go. Things that could fill several warehouses could be compressed into the size of a cigarette box. Considering that he currently had no abilities and could not store items in personal space at will, perhaps he should get a box of Capsule Corp capsules.
But there was still that problem. Where would he get the money?
"I remember there were quite a few messy villains in this world."
Whether it was the Pilaf Gang who initially competed with Goku for the Dragon Balls, or the Red Ribbon Army that appeared later, these villainous forces were not short on money.
Ethan rubbed his chin. Little Goku was a bit too naive and simple. If he had known how to clean up the battlefield a little, he would not have lived such a poor life.
Even after he grew up, he had no concept of managing money. It seemed that Chi-Chi handled the living expenses of Goku's family. It was fortunate that the Ox-King had a solid family fortune. Raising so many Saiyans did not drive him into bankruptcy.
His mind was filled with random thoughts. Ethan did not bother with the plot progression. He currently had no combat power and did not want to cause any impact on the plot.
After resting for a night, Goku encountered an old sea turtle while training in the morning.
The sea turtle was lost on land and could not find the ocean. Goku promised to take the sea turtle to the ocean. Bulma initially did not want to waste time, but Ethan reminded her.
"In this environment, is it not dangerous to leave Goku alone?"
Bulma glanced at the Tyrannosaurus Rex leisurely walking in the distance. She realized that Ethan was right. She suddenly understood why he wanted to stay with the team. Having a strong support like Goku was the only way to guarantee safety. This world was simply too dangerous.
"Goku, let's go together."
Goku, who had not gone far yet, turned back to look at Bulma. He wondered why she had suddenly changed her mind. However, he did not think too much. Since Bulma was willing to go together, they would go together.
"Wait a moment. Let us pack up before leaving. What if the house gets stepped on?"
Ethan would not affect major plot points, but he could still interfere with small details.
For example, Bulma would normally chase after them while still wearing her pajamas, leaving all her belongings in the house transformed from the Capsule Corp capsule.
Later, she would lose all her Capsule Corp capsules due to her own carelessness, making the journey to find the Dragon Balls full of various bizarre and humorous incidents. It was interesting when reading the manga, but it was not very comfortable when experiencing it personally. Since a small reminder could make things easier, Ethan had no reason to make things difficult for himself.
"You're right."
Bulma ran back, quickly changed her clothes, then organized her belongings. She turned the house back into a Capsule Corp capsule and took out a car large enough for everyone to get in.
Even the sea turtle no longer needed to be carried by Goku toward the ocean.
Because they were traveling by car, the journey was very easy. The group sat in the car, eating, drinking, chatting, laughing, and joking as they headed toward the seaside.
When they finally arrived at the seaside, the happy old sea turtle said he wanted to repay them. He asked them to wait for a moment, then swam away into the distance.
Ethan and the others stood by the sea, staring blankly at the vast ocean. Goku tasted the seawater and stuck out his tongue because it was too salty.
"Are we going to wait here?"
"Anyway, there is nothing else to do. Let us wait for a while."
Bulma felt that Ethan's words made sense. Then she suddenly realized that she was supposed to be the leader, so why was she unconsciously always acting according to Ethan's suggestions?
"Could it be because he is my destined one, so I unconsciously want to listen to him?"
"..."
Ethan did not have mind reading abilities, but he could tell what Bulma was thinking. Her thoughts were almost written across her face.
Yoruichi also noticed it and gently nudged Ethan with her elbow.
"This little girl is quite cute. Aren't you planning to make a move?"
Ethan looked at Yoruichi speechlessly.
"I do not have that idea. If you have any ideas, do not worry about me."
At this time, Bulma was simply a girl fascinated with boys. Although she was a technological genius, her thoughts were similar to most sixteen year old girls. She longed for handsome men and romantic love. Her purpose for searching for the Dragon Balls was also to wish for a Prince Charming.
To ease the awkwardness, or simply to find a topic to pass the time, Ethan casually asked a question.
"Bulma, you have gone to such lengths to find the Dragon Balls. What kind of wish do you want the Eternal Dragon to grant?"
"Ah, I hope to find my ideal Prince Charming."
Bulma cupped her cheeks and began fantasizing about the moment when her dream Prince Charming would appear beside her.
Ethan inwardly scoffed. You did indeed find a prince in the future.
"What about you? Do you have any wishes?"
"Me?"
Ethan looked at the distant sea. Vaguely, a figure seemed to appear.
"There is no wish I need the Dragon Balls to grant me. Right now, I just want to find a suitable place to settle down."
The moment he saw the Turtle Hermit appear, Ethan considered whether he should suggest staying at the Turtle Hermit's place and training with him.
Although the Turtle Hermit's residence was not very large, adding two more people would not make much difference. There were also large islands nearby with villages and towns.
More importantly, he could undergo basic training by following the Turtle Hermit.
However, after thinking about it, it would probably be difficult to persuade him to teach immediately. At this time on Earth, the Turtle Hermit was a highly respected martial arts master and did not easily accept disciples.
The Turtle Hermit, who had lived for many years, had only taken two disciples so far. He was willing to take Goku because he was Grandpa Gohan's grandson.
As for Krillin, the timing of his apprenticeship was coincidental, and he benefited somewhat because of Goku.
Later, the Turtle Hermit was willing to teach Yamcha because they had known each other for a long time and he had come to approve of the character of these young people.
Now he was only meeting the Turtle Hermit for the first time. Without understanding his personality and character, he would definitely not agree to such a request.
Ethan did not give up completely. What if the Turtle Hermit found Yoruichi pleasing to the eye and, after hearing that she wanted to learn martial arts, got overly excited and agreed?
The facts proved that the Turtle Hermit did get overly excited, but his judgment did not decline. He did not agree to Ethan and Yoruichi's request. After giving Goku the Flying Nimbus and giving Bulma a Dragon Ball as a reward, he left on the back of the old sea turtle.
He gave Goku the Flying Nimbus because Goku had actively helped the sea turtle. As for Bulma, the Dragon Ball was exchanged through a reward.
So Ethan and Yoruichi received nothing, although Yoruichi was very curious about the Flying Nimbus.
"Such a strange thing."
Yoruichi, who had lived for many years, could not maintain the innocence required to ride the Flying Nimbus.
As for Ethan, he had enough self awareness and did not even try.
After seeing off the Turtle Hermit and the old sea turtle, Bulma was delighted to unexpectedly obtain another Dragon Ball. She happily headed toward the location of the next Dragon Ball.
What happened afterward was similar to the original plot. Goku taught Oolong a lesson, the pig man who frightened ordinary people with his transformation ability and kidnapped many girls.
After Oolong's lack of real strength was exposed, he could only choose to leave. Being controlled by Bulma with strange candy beans, he could only obediently follow everyone to search for the Dragon Balls.
Because of Ethan's reminder, Bulma did not lose her Capsule Corp capsules this time. Afterwards they encountered the bandit Yamcha and Puar. Since Goku still had their supplies and was not hungry, he directly defeated Yamcha.
"Poor Yamcha. What should have been the peak moment of his life is now gone."
In the original plot, because all their supplies were lost, when Yamcha first met Goku and the others, Goku was so hungry that he had no strength at all. As a result, Goku was severely beaten by Yamcha during their first meeting.
Considering Yamcha's later combat record, this could be considered the most glorious moment of his life. It was ruined by Ethan's casual reminder.
After defeating Yamcha, the small team continued forward. What happened next was similar to the original plot. They met the Ox-King at Fire Mountain.
Goku invited the Turtle Hermit to extinguish the fire on Fire Mountain. The first appearance of the Kamehameha, Goku learning the move just by watching it, and other events all remained unchanged.
The only difference was that Goku did not rely on touching to determine Chi-Chi's gender this time. Who knows whether those two will still end up together in the future.
"That move just now feels so familiar."
Yoruichi watched the Turtle Hermit's performance the entire time and immediately remembered why it felt familiar. Was it not the same move Ethan used before? At that time he had used spiritual power.
"This Turtle Hermit is using the authentic original version."
(To be continued.)