Cute Transformation

Faced with Pilaf's almost perfunctory praise, Xiao Wu, who had already awakened, furrowed her brow slightly. No matter how she looked at it, his words grated on her.

What kind of spell had I been under before? Why did I have to swallow this awful, empty flattery?!

"King Pilaf, how secure is the place where the One-Star Dragon Ball is stored?"

"According to the information my subordinates have gathered, someone in their group has also made a Dragon Radar, and its accuracy is quite high. It'll be easy for them to locate the Dragon Ball!"

"On top of that, they're incredibly powerful. If we leave it somewhere carelessly... I'm afraid we'll end up losing the One-Star Dragon Ball we have!"

Xiao Wu lowered her head slightly, as if worried for Pilaf, while bringing up what she had learned about the Dragon Ball.

"That's a good point, Xiao Wu!"

Pilaf pondered for a long while, then continued.

"To be safe, I'll put the Dragon Ball in the secret chamber at the very bottom of our castle. I personally set up a series of traps there. It'll be perfectly safe even after multiple rounds of shelling!"

"Your Majesty is truly wise and mighty! We would gladly serve you with all our strength!"

Xiao Wu hurriedly dropped to one knee, showing her respect.

"Mm, excellent! You two, come with me. To be safe, it's time to update the castle's traps again!"

He turned and called to them, then led the way back to the great castle.

"Hey, Xiao Wu... Are we really going to do this?"

Ashu, who had been silent and gloomy, raised his head, his face full of conflict.

"Ashu, I've come too far to turn back now. I need you to help me!"

Xiao Wu fixed her gaze on Ashu, her eyes dark and unreadable.

"But what about King Pilaf? He's always treated us pretty well!"

"Enough! You've disappointed me, Ashu!"

Hearing how conflicted he sounded, Xiao Wu cut him off at once.

"Then I'll just have to suffer the consequences! The worst that can happen is I die!"

She replied coolly and stopped waiting for Ashu's answer, walking into the castle on her own.

Ashu stood there, stunned for a moment, muttering "King Pilaf" and "Xiao Wu" over and over.

He seemed utterly torn, with no idea what to do.

Inside the lavish palace, Pilaf admired the One-Star Dragon Ball he had carefully stored in a crystal case.

Whenever a flash of light glimmered across it, his eyes filled with fascination. Just looking at it made him feel wonderful.

He only came back to himself when he heard someone approaching behind him.

"Oh, Xiao Wu. Just in time. Let's go hide it now!"

"Yes, King Pilaf!"

After sneaking a glance at the Dragon Ball, Xiao Wu respectfully stepped forward, ready to take it from his hands.

Pilaf seemed not to notice anything amiss and handed it over casually. As Xiao Wu carefully cradled it, a flicker of delight crossed her eyes.

It worked!

With his hands behind his back, Pilaf walked ahead. He seemed not to have noticed a thing, which put Xiao Wu at ease.

The two walked in silence to the elevator and stepped inside, heading underground.

Nothing happened even as they neared the bottom. Xiao Wu was already thinking about how to ditch Pilaf and sneak the Dragon Ball out.

Pilaf, however, casually asked, "Xiao Wu, did you and Ashu have a falling-out? He doesn't seem to be in a very good mood."

"Ashu is always scatterbrained. I really couldn't say, Your Majesty."

"Oh? Is that so?"

Pilaf lowered his eyelids.

"Xiao Wu, how have I treated you all these years?"

"I'm frightened to even hear the question. You've treated us like your own family!"

A wave of panic rose in Xiao Wu, but she forced herself to answer.

Whoosh!

Pilaf leaped out of the elevator and pressed a button!

"You little traitor, Xiao Wu! Why have you betrayed me?!"

"Your Majesty!"

Seeing the elevator sealed off, Xiao Wu jolted in alarm.

Since when had the elevator been turned into a cage?

"I knew something was off as soon as you two came back!"

"You've both been with me for years. Whenever you're around, has Ashu ever been this quiet?"

"The way he kept stammering and hemming and hawing was enough to tell me something was wrong!"

"And besides, when have you ever volunteered an opinion unless it was about a task I gave you?"

"Tell me! What are you really after?!"

Pilaf roared, trying to frighten her with the authority he had built up over all these years!

"..."

Xiao Wu pressed her lips together. Though panic churned inside her, she forced herself to deny it.

"King Pilaf, I'm frightened. I have no idea what you're talking about!"

Pilaf didn't bother arguing with the stubborn Xiao Wu.

"Stay here and think carefully about what you've done!"

"Whatever you're planning, you won't succeed!"

A wicked smile spread across his face. With his hands behind his back, he boarded the elevator opposite hers.

"If you really think the Dragon Ball you're holding is real, that's just too funny!"

Where Xiao Wu couldn't see him, the corner of Pilaf's mouth curled upward.

"Damn it! I was so close!"

Xiao Wu pounded on the iron bars, her face twisted with frustration.

While Xiao Wu was sinking into self-reproach, Son Gohan and the others were drawing closer to the castle.

"Given how long it's been, something must have happened to the two of them. Let's just break in!"

Son Gohan had been waiting for several hours. Their agreed-upon time had long passed, but there was still no sign of them.

He had hoped to save himself some effort, but it looked like he'd have to get moving after all.

"Hey, Ribut, Goku, keep Bulma safe. I'll be right back!"

After giving them his instructions, he leaped down from Ribut's back.

Looking at the huge castle crouched in the darkness before him, Son Gohan tilted his head.

"The Dragon's Lair?"

"What a joke!"

He calmly looked up at the full moon that still hung in the sky. A faint red glow appeared in his eyes!

Thump!

Thump, thump!

His heart pounded with a violent hum, like a powerful engine roaring to life!

Almost the instant his eyes turned red, a roar burst from his mouth, and his clothes exploded off his body!

"Goku, is this the transformation Wuneng mentioned?!"

"He looks kind of cute!"

Bulma sat securely on Ribut's back, circling high above.

As she watched the enormous, ferocious beast radiating a terrifying aura in the distance, little stars appeared in her eyes.

"..."

Ribut stared blankly at his boss below, who had grown even bigger than him, and was speechless for a long time.

When he heard the woman on his back murmuring, a cold sweat broke out on him!

"I feel like he could tear me apart without even trying! What's cute about that?!"