Proud and Innocent

"Trade?"

Seeing the two children descend from the sky, surprise flashed through Dr. Brief's eyes. But hearing Rhode speak with the tone of an adult, he immediately let down his guard. Chuckling, he reached out and patted Rhode's head, saying gently:

"Whose children are you? If there really is a collaboration to discuss, you should bring your father and mother here!"

Damn it, Doctor, that was too much!

Having his head patted by Dr. Brief, Rhode's face instantly flushed red.

He might have had the body of a seven-year-old, but after awakening his memories, he had the mental age of someone in his thirties. Being treated like a child, he nearly blew up on the spot.

"Our father and mother are already dead."

As if possessed, Rhode subconsciously answered Dr. Brief's question.

Hearing that Rhode and Aila's parents were gone, Dr. Brief's smile faltered. An apologetic expression appeared on his face as he gently patted Rhode's head and looked at them softly. "I'm very sorry, children!"

"Rhode, what use is this Earthling? If he's useless, should I kill him?"

Watching the two of them chat idly, Aila could not stand it anymore. As she spoke, an Energy Blast began gathering in her hand. She wanted to kill this somewhat unreliable Earthling in front of her.

Seeing Aila about to cause trouble, Rhode quickly stopped her and dispersed the Energy Blast in her hand. He did not want things to develop in an even worse direction.

"This little girl has quite the temper. Girls should be a little more ladylike!"

Unaware that he had just hovered on the edge of death, Dr. Brief leisurely took a puff of his cigarette and commented on the displeased Aila. He had no idea she was not joking or being mischievous—she truly wanted to kill him.

Seeing how unfazed Dr. Brief was, Rhode felt a headache coming on. After thinking for a moment, he spoke with a serious expression. "Dr. Brief, it's like this. We come from space and aren't Earthlings. We came here to make a deal with you. We would like you to help us build a device that can freely adjust gravity multipliers."

"A Gravity Chamber? Really? I've never studied this area before. This is quite a challenge for an old man like me!"

As soon as Rhode finished speaking, Dr. Brief, being a scientist, paid no attention to their identities. Instead, he focused on the technology needed to build a Gravity Chamber. Clearly, he was more interested in the science than where they had come from.

"Sorry, children. I got a little too carried away by my interest in technology!"

The next moment, realizing that his focus had drifted, Dr. Brief turned his attention back to the two of them. He took two puffs of his cigarette, looked them over, and asked curiously, "By the way, are you really aliens who came specifically to have me build a Gravity Chamber?"

"That's right!"

Seeing that the conversation was back on track, Rhode smiled mildly and nodded seriously.

"Do people in space all stay this small?"

Looking at Rhode, who was mature, steady, and well-spoken, Dr. Brief was filled with curiosity about the unknown.

"Ahem, Doctor, it isn't that we don't grow up. We're simply young. But that doesn't affect our deal!"

Facing Dr. Brief's intense curiosity, Rhode patiently corrected his misunderstanding. Then he took a Power Level Scouter from his belongings and handed it to him. "This is a Power Level Scouter, a technological product used in space to measure the strength of life forms. Consider it a gift for our first meeting."

"A Power Level Scouter?"

Upon hearing that it was a technological product from space, a gleam flashed through Dr. Brief's eyes. He eagerly took it and began examining it.

"Beep, beep, beep."

After inspecting the Scouter, Dr. Brief aimed it at himself. A series of beeps sounded, and his Power Level appeared on the display. Looking at the data, he said excitedly, "My Power Level is only five?"

As he spoke, Dr. Brief aimed the Scouter at Rhode. "May I measure your life strength?"

"Go ahead."

Rhode had no reason to refuse such a small request. He waved his hand, completely unconcerned.

"Beep, beep, beep."

"Oh, you aliens are so strong. Even as a child, your Power Level is the same as mine!"

The Scouter beeped as it measured Rhode's Power Level. Dr. Brief's face filled with surprise, and he marveled repeatedly.

"Hmph! Who's the same as you? Listen carefully—we are Saiyans, the warrior race of the universe! We are born powerful, utterly different from weaklings like you Earthlings!"

Aila was furious when Dr. Brief lumped Rhode, a Saiyan, together with a weakling whose Power Level was only five.

As a proud Saiyan, Aila believed that Dr. Brief—no, Earthlings, these feeble life forms—were utterly unqualified to be mentioned in the same breath as her. To her, it was the greatest humiliation!

"Aila, I think you should stop talking."

As soon as Aila's insulting words fell, Rhode shot her a cold look, his eyes full of warning.

"Oh? Are Saiyans that powerful? Little girl, can you let me measure your Power Level?"

Dr. Brief did not mind Aila's somewhat insulting remarks. Instead, he looked at her eagerly, wanting to know just how powerful these so-called Saiyans were.

"Hmph! Watch closely, feeble Earthling!"

Aila chose to ignore Rhode's warning. She snorted, then let out a loud shout, clenched her Hands into fists, bent forward, and began a Ki Burst, releasing all of her Power Level.

As Aila's Aura erupted in full, everything around her was blown over. Even the air shook, generating violent winds that battered the surrounding buildings.

She had deliberately avoided Dr. Brief. Otherwise, as an ordinary person, he would have been sent flying who knew where by the impact of that violent Aura.

"S-So strong!"

Holding the Scouter, Dr. Brief stared at its display. Watching the rapidly rising Power Level break into four digits in the blink of an eye, his face filled with shock.

"It reached 2,648. As expected of the warrior race!"

Seeing the final number, Dr. Brief sincerely praised Aila.

"Of course!"

Faced with Dr. Brief's sincere praise, pride and satisfaction filled Aila's cool little face.

What a simple-minded girl!

Watching Aila expose all her strength so easily without realizing any problem, and even feel proud of it, Rhode was speechless for a moment.

Then he looked at Dr. Brief, who had smilingly coaxed this little tigress Aila into becoming docile, and could not help grumbling inwardly. A top scientist like this isn't just exceptionally intelligent—he's full of schemes from head to toe. Even his hairs are hollow.

Those people must have sensed it, right?

Aila had unleashed her Aura so recklessly. The Martial Artists on Earth, as well as the immortals atop Korin Tower and Kami, had surely noticed what was happening here.

Still, that was fine. Only a few people had known when their spacecraft entered Earth before. This could count as formally greeting Earth's strong fighters.

With the strength of the two of them, they could walk sideways across present-day Earth. There was absolutely no need to worry about safety.

"Dear, what happened? Are you all right?"

After Aila withdrew her Aura and everything returned to calm, a sweet-looking woman with short blonde hair came running over anxiously while holding a little girl. She looked at Dr. Brief with concern.