Dende

New Namek.

Jiang Ling brought Bulma here.

Looking at the surrounding scenery, Jiang Ling let out a sigh.

"This place really looks a lot like the old Namek."

"Yeah, it does. It brings back memories."

Bulma nodded.

Her cheeks were flushed, and her lips were slightly swollen and red, with a little milky white sheen on them. They looked lovely.

Jiang Ling gently wiped the white substance from the corner of her mouth and said, "You're getting overheated. You didn't even wipe your mouth after drinking milk before we left."

Bulma licked her lips, enjoying Jiang Ling's attentions, her heart full of sweetness.

Soon after,

they arrived at a Namekian village.

"Hello. I'd like to see your Great Elder."

Jiang Ling smiled and spoke in the Namekian Language, even using the local accent.

Unlike Piccolo, whose Namekian Language had a distinctly Earthly accent.

The young Namekian across from him froze.

He couldn't believe that an alien could speak the Namekian Language!

He was thoroughly impressed.

He also said he was very happy to see Bulma and Jiang Ling again.

The Namekians had once stayed at Bulma's home on Earth for some time. Bulma might not recognize every Namekian, but every Namekian knew her.

The young Namekian immediately contacted the Great Elder telepathically, then led Jiang Ling and Bulma to him.

When they reached the Great Elder's home, the Great Elder was already waiting outside.

This Great Elder was Moori, the Second Generation Great Elder of the Namekians.

The First Generation Great Elder—the father of all the Namekians now—had already passed away after coming to Earth following the Frieza incident.

Moori invited the two of them inside.

He brewed a pot of fine tea.

"I didn't know Namekians drank tea, too."

Jiang Ling found it rather novel.

Moori waved a hand and laughed. "We didn't. I learned about it on Earth, thought it was pretty good, and brought the habit back with me. Now everyone on Namek drinks tea."

"Wow, would you look at that."

Jiang Ling chuckled.

"Maybe you can teach them mahjong sometime."

"Haha."

After some pleasantries,

Bulma explained why they had come.

"Great Elder, we've come to ask you for a favor."

Moori grew serious. "Go ahead."

"Well..." Bulma gathered her thoughts. "You know Earth's Kami, right?"

Moori nodded. "I do. His father was of the same generation as the First Generation Great Elder, so Kami and I are of the same generation. We got along very well when I was on Earth."

"It's a shame that a Dragon Clan Genius ended up split into two people..."

Bulma continued, "He sensed that he didn't have much longer to live, so he fused with Piccolo..."

"I see. That's not so bad. He can keep contributing to the world. It's a fine way to go."

Moori sighed.

His expression grew distant.

For a moment, he could almost see Kami's aged face before him.

Bulma took a sip of tea, paused, and continued, "You know, Earth can't do without the Dragon Balls, just like the West can't do without..."

She suddenly forgot the rest and turned to Jiang Ling.

Jiang Ling placed his hand over hers to reassure her, then picked up where she left off. "Earth can't do without the Dragon Balls, just like the West can't do without Jerusalem."

"So that's how it is."

"So this time, we wanted to ask if there's a suitable candidate to become Kami."

Moori thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up. "There is. You know that child Dende, right?"

Bulma looked puzzled. "Can a child really do it?"

She knew Dende. Back on Namek, Krillin and Gohan had rescued him when he was just a Namekian child, and they'd gotten along well afterward.

Back on Earth, Dende had also become engrossed in cartoons...

Moori called Dende over telepathically.

Then he answered Bulma's question.

"Dende's grown a little now, and he's one of the very few Dragon Clan Geniuses on Namek who can create Dragon Balls! He's absolutely qualified to take on the role of Kami of Earth."

Bulma smiled. "If that's your recommendation, Great Elder, then I'm reassured."

Not long after,

a Namekian boy entered the room.

"Great Elder, did you need something?"

"Dende, look who's here."

Dende turned to look, his eyes lighting up!

"Aunt Bulma! You're here!"

The smile on Bulma's face vanished at once.

"How many times have I told you not to call me Aunt? Call me Big Sister!"

"Sure thing, Aunt Bulma. No problem, Aunt Bulma!"

Bulma glared at him, completely at a loss.

Jiang Ling burst out laughing beside them.

Dende added, "Aunt Bulma, even your dad is laughing at you."

"..."

Jiang Ling's smile instantly disappeared, and his face darkened.

This time, Bulma laughed.

Jiang Ling stroked his thick stubble, wondering if he ought to shave it off.

After they explained why they had come, Dende's eyes lit up, and he agreed without hesitation.

"Great! No problem! I'll go to Earth and become Kami."

"That couldn't be better."

Then Jiang Ling brought Bulma and Dende back to the Temple of the Gods after saying goodbye to the Great Elder.

There, he met someone he hadn't expected to see.

Piccolo.

He had some signs of battle on him.

It looked like he'd just been in a fight.

"Hey, Piccolo. Did you just fight someone?"

Jiang Ling greeted him.

Piccolo nodded. "Yeah. I just dealt with Vegeta. In the end, I let him live. Whether he survives now is up to fate."

Jiang Ling's brow furrowed slightly.

He still needed Vegeta to help carry out the important task of reproducing the Saiyan race...

"Where is he?"

Jiang Ling asked. He'd sensed the energy signatures just now, but Vegeta's was probably too weak for him to detect.

"Are you trying to save him?" Piccolo shook his head.

"I said whether he lives is up to fate. He has to pay for the lives he took, after all."

As he spoke, Piccolo looked over at Dende.

"Dende, what are you doing on Earth?"

"Piccolo, I'm here to become Kami!" Dende said with a smile.

"Become Kami?"

Piccolo frowned.

Looking at Dende's frail frame, he felt sorry for him.

He didn't doubt Dende's ability. He just couldn't bear the thought of Dende, still a boy, taking on the role of Kami...

Bulma explained, "Great Elder Moori recommended him, and Dende is very willing, too."

"Oh, then that's fine."

Piccolo nodded.

He trusted Moori.

If Moori had recommended him, Dende was certainly qualified.

And if Dende agreed, then there was no problem.

Piccolo asked Mr. Popo to look after Dende for a while, then left.

Jiang Ling also said, "We'll have Krillin and Gohan come up to keep you company sometime."

"Great! Remember to bring some snacks!"

"No problem."

Jiang Ling shook his head with a laugh.

Then he put an arm around Bulma's slender waist and left the Temple of the Gods.