Senzu Beans

Senzu Beans!

They really were Senzu Beans.

When the legendary Senzu Beans from the Dragon Ball world appeared before him, Roland's breathing quickened. He shoved Korin aside and hugged the jar of beans to his chest. In that moment, he was like a stranded traveler who had trekked through the desert for days without water and suddenly stumbled upon an oasis. His eyes were full of the will to survive.

There must have been at least ten thousand beans in that full jar.

These were lifesaving treasures!

"There are so many!"

Korin had all these in storage, yet decades later they would be incredibly scarce. When supplies ran low, Korin would even have to harvest immature beans for Goku and the others to share. Just how many treasures had that deadbeat Yajirobe wasted?!

Whenever Roland thought of all those precious beans going to waste, his heart ached.

He had to pack them all up and take them away before they gathered dust.

They were all mine.

Korin staggered a few steps from Roland's shove before regaining his balance. Seeing Roland clutch the jar like a miser, he was at a loss for words.

"That's all I have. Senzu Beans are difficult to grow, and I can only harvest a few dozen a year. These are what I've saved up over several hundred years. I haven't planted this year's crop yet, so at least leave me some seeds."

Roland clung to the jar, unable to bear letting go. Realizing he couldn't cut off the supply entirely, he took a handful of beans from the jar and set them on the ground—about fifty, by the look of it.

"No problem. You can keep these to plant."

Korin stared at the tiny pile of beans—only about fifty—and then at the jar in Roland's arms. He suddenly felt as if he'd been thrown back to the days before liberation. But what could he do when the other man was so powerful? He could only be grateful if this ended without trouble.

With a sigh, he bent down to collect the pitifully few beans.

"Wait!" Roland called.

"Hm?" Korin looked up, puzzled.

Roland's expression twisted as if his heart were breaking. He actually took some of the beans from the pile on the ground and put them back in the jar. "Fifty is still a bit much for planting. Here, just these."

He took a handful back out of the fifty, leaving only thirty.

How could that possibly be enough?! Watching the pile of Senzu Beans shrink, Korin was furious, but he had no choice but to obediently gather them up.

This was so frustrating!

"I heard you've got another treasure here called the 'Ultra Divine Water'?"

The casual question made Korin shudder. He opened his mouth. "You want the Ultra Divine Water too?!"

Senzu Beans were just food, so Korin could accept losing a few. But the Ultra Divine Water was different. It was an extremely precious treasure that could draw out a person's potential. At the mention of it, Korin's fur stood on end.

Roland shook his head. "No, I was just asking."

The stuff could indeed unlock one's potential, but it was basically poison. The process of drawing out that potential was far too brutal, and there was a good chance of dying from the poison after drinking it. In the original story, Goku barely survived, enduring it only because of his Saiyan constitution. Roland even suspected that drinking it could cause lasting damage to the body.

Goku, a Saiyan, had died of Viral Heart Disease in the original story. Perhaps drinking the Ultra Divine Water, combined with repeatedly using Kaioken at high intensity later on, had caused his heart to wear out prematurely.

Roland wanted nothing to do with something so dangerous.

It wouldn't do to seek a quick advantage and leave himself with hidden problems down the road. If he wanted to draw out his potential, the Grand Elder on Planet Namek or the Old Supreme Kai in the Supreme Kai World would be much more reliable.

They were safe and had no harmful side effects.

"Hahaha, Korin, I'm very satisfied with what I got this time. Make sure you plant plenty of Senzu Beans. I'll be back again!"

Roland laughed at Korin, then leaped off the edge of Korin Tower and quickly disappeared from view.

Hopefully, he never comes back... Watching Roland vanish into the clouds, Korin prayed that he'd never return.

Roland's raid had cost him dearly. Looking at the pathetic handful of Senzu Beans, Korin shook his head helplessly.

At Kami's Lookout.

Kami and Mr. Popo watched Roland leave Korin Tower and breathed a sigh of relief. They'd been afraid that he'd be dissatisfied and cause trouble. If he barged into the Lookout, that would be bad.

Fortunately, he'd only taken some Senzu Beans from Korin, and they weren't worth much.

At least, that was what Kami and Mr. Popo thought of their value.

"Hahaha, I got all these Senzu Beans so easily!" On his way back, Roland hugged the jar, happier than words could say.

He opened the lid, took out a bean, and popped it into his mouth. It crunched as he bit down. The bean had little taste, but soon a dense energy spread through his mouth, and a wave of warmth flowed through his body.

His stomach felt full, and his mental fatigue vanished. He felt invigorated, as if he were brimming with strength.

Roland's eyes lit up. He laughed with satisfaction. "Hahaha, what a treasure!"

There were about ten thousand Senzu Beans in the jar. They could save his life in a pinch. He put them away carefully, but holding the jar in his arms still felt unsafe. It was made of pottery—what if it broke? Then he'd lose all the beans. Thinking it over, Roland decided he needed to find a better way to store them.

Hoi-Poi Capsules?

The name suddenly came to mind. Earth's Hoi-Poi Capsule technology was practically science fiction. All sorts of items could be stored inside a tiny capsule, making them a must-have for travel and everyday life.

Roland decided he should get some empty Hoi-Poi Capsules. In an instant, he set off toward a city with a large population.

Technology on Earth was developing unevenly. Different regions could be centuries apart.

Some villages seemed cut off from the world and still used oil lamps, while others were somewhat more developed and had basic machinery. But once you entered a city, you'd find all kinds of flying, jet-powered vehicles and suspended traffic lanes everywhere, as if you'd suddenly stepped into the future.

After flying for a short while, Roland landed in a relatively developed city where all kinds of technology were widely available.

Hoi-Poi Capsule technology was no exception.

There was a shop selling all kinds of capsule devices and empty Hoi-Poi Capsules in a prominent spot on the street.

Roland checked his pockets. He didn't have a single coin. Was he supposed to rob the shop? He shook his head. Saiyans understood the concept of money too, and Roland was a respectable man. How could he do something like that...? Suddenly, his eyes shifted to a narrow alley in the corner of the street, where a few punks were smoking.

Let's have you make a little contribution.

Roland gave a cold smile and headed toward the punks with his short legs.

Seven punks stood by the wall, blowing smoke rings. Their hair was dyed different colors, and they laughed as they swapped stories about their recent exploits—mostly about whom they'd bullied that day, how much money they'd extorted, and how they planned to enjoy it.

"Hey, big brothers. Do you have a lot of money on you?"

A childish voice spoke up. A little kid who looked only four or five years old had appeared in front of the punks.