Sanji's culinary skills were truly top-notch, and his first attempt at preparing Sky Fish was a resounding success.
Carl's interest in the unique resources of Sky Island grew considerably.
Reflecting on the events that would unfold after the Straw Hats landed, Carl decided it would be more efficient to operate independently. After all, their entry was illegal, and the crew would then proceed to participate in the tedious trials before their eventual confrontation with Enel.
None of that held any appeal for Carl.
Despite the potency and development of Enel's Devil Fruit, his actual combat prowess was, in Carl's estimation, rather limited.
By now, many individuals in this world were familiar with Armament Haki. Defeating Enel shouldn't pose a significant challenge. Carl reasoned that his absence might even allow everyone else to shine more.
With that in mind, Carl stepped onto his flying sword and soared into the sky.
"Carl? Where are you going?" Robin asked, a hint of suspicion in her voice.
The others also turned their gazes towards him.
Carl grinned and replied, "Just going on a solo shopping trip. You all handle things here."
As he spoke, he maneuvered the massive sword he had been carrying and flew off into the distance. His speed was such that no one could react in time.
Once he was away from the group, Carl found his actions much less constrained. His primary objective, of course, was to visit Angel Island. He was particularly interested in the various Shells unique to Sky Island and the diverse supplies crafted from them.
Not long after, around 9 PM, Carl landed on Angel Island.
His lack of wings immediately drew the attention of the islanders, but fortunately, no one approached to bother him.
Carl simply entered a restaurant, ordered every dish on the menu, and savored his meal. While the cooking wasn't quite on par with Sanji's, it possessed a certain refreshing quality.
When it was time to pay, he casually produced a wad of Beli notes wrapped in cloth.
The shopkeeper was overjoyed and saw Carl out of the restaurant with profuse gratitude.
Afterward, his focus shifted to acquiring various types of Shells.
The Shells of Sky Island were truly remarkable.
There were Sound Shells that could store audio, Water Shells for storing water, and Flavor Shells that retained tastes. Then there were Impact Dials, Axe Dials, and many other varieties, each with its own unique and often significant application.
The Water Shell, for instance, was incredibly useful.
Freshwater was crucial during sea voyages, but ships often couldn't carry sufficient quantities. Water Shells solved this problem; though not large, they could store a substantial amount of freshwater, eliminating concerns about running out.
As for the other Shells, Carl envisioned them as aids for everyone's training and potential tools in combat.
He imagined Zoro could store some of his powerful slashes in Axe Dials to be later used by the weaker Chopper and Mari, offering them a degree of protection.
In essence, Carl intended to acquire every type of Shell available, making a substantial purchase.
His method of payment? The sack of soil he had secretly brought along. It was more than enough to trade for a vast quantity of goods.
To the residents of Angel Island, however, Carl was simply a wealthy fool, and many of the local beauties cast flirtatious glances his way. Carl couldn't help but think that this kind of soil was abundant in the Blue Sea and utterly worthless there.
"Oh, right, let's see if there are any Devil Fruits around."
Carl used the large sword as a platform to carry his purchases, freeing his hands to operate his Devil Fruit radar.
To his surprise, a blip appeared on the radar screen, indicating the presence of another Devil Fruit!
"This luck is insane!"
Carl scratched his head in disbelief, realizing this would be the eighth Devil Fruit he had encountered since leaving Windmill Village in the East Blue. His luck was truly extraordinary.
Furthermore, the previous encounter rate with Mythical Zoan fruits had been three out of seven, but with this new find, it shifted to an even one out of two.
The thought alone was exhilarating!
Without hesitation, Carl propelled himself towards the direction indicated by the radar.
It wasn't long before he reached a secluded beach, and the radar signal still pointed onward, leaving him in a slight quandary.
He was currently carrying a considerable amount of goods, making movement rather cumbersome. However, returning to the ship first, after deliberately separating from everyone, seemed counterproductive. One person could accomplish many things efficiently.
Having others accompany him would be inconvenient, requiring at least some attention to their well-being.
"Forget it, a little extra effort won't hurt. I'll head straight there!"
Carl willed the giant sword to split into a smaller black sword, and he continued his flight, carrying the massive bundle of goods.
Soon, Carl spotted an island ahead.
"An island? Or perhaps just land! In other words, this should be a fragment of Jaya that was lifted into the sky by the Knock Up Stream, and it seems to be called Apayado now."
"I didn't expect a Devil Fruit to grow here, but it's not entirely surprising. After all, Angel Island lacks proper land and fruit trees, making fruits very expensive and uncommon in ordinary households."
Carl mused to himself before landing on the island.
For some reason, Carl sensed that someone was observing him. He frowned and glanced upwards.
It had to be Enel. With his Devil Fruit ability, his sensory range was vast, encompassing the entirety of Sky Island. However, Carl's Kenbunshoku Haki was not weak either, and he had already locked onto Enel's position in return.
If he wasn't intentionally leaving this minor antagonist for the others to gain experience from, Carl would have eliminated him right then and there.
Daring to spy on him was a death wish!
Unbeknownst to Carl, when he looked towards the sky, Enel, who was in his temple, broke out in a cold sweat.
"Who is that person? Why has such a powerful individual appeared?"
Enel's perception was incredibly sharp, and he instinctively felt that this man wielding two swords was dangerous.
P.S.: Indeed, writing without strictly adhering to the plot does allow for more freedom.
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