A Kidnapping Crisis

Beneath West City's azure skies, skyscrapers rose in rows and traffic streamed along the streets, painting a picture of prosperity. Yet, in a corner of the city unknown to most, a dark undercurrent was quietly gathering strength.

"Lord Kasang, just as the intelligence reported, West City is densely populated and full of life. We should be able to recruit quite a few people here!" one of his subordinates reported respectfully, dressed in black battle armor.

Kasang's eyes were cold, and a sneer curled his lips. "Exactly. A dense population means more sources of feed!"

He spoke slowly, his gaze seeming to pierce the clouds, as though he could already see every corner of West City. "Focus on ordinary families, of course. But if necessary, there's no harm in kidnapping a few promising individuals!"

"Yes, understood!" several underlings answered in unison. Their eyes gleamed with a desire for power and absolute loyalty to Kasang.

Zhou Zilong hadn't noticed any of this. He was wondering what his custom Battle Suit should look like. After all, he lived in the Dragon Ball World now, and it would be nice to have a Battle Suit of his own.

"Since I'm in the world of Dragon Ball, how could I not have a battle suit of my own?" Zhou Zilong muttered to himself, a confident smile curling his lips.

He looked around at the pictures of various martial arts uniforms covering the walls, but none of them quite satisfied him. So he decided to break with tradition and create a Battle Suit that was uniquely his.

Ideas poured into his mind. Zhou Zilong first thought of Goku's iconic orange outfit as an adult. He made two versions in different colors, one gray and one dark red, but those were only a starting point, not the final design.

What he wanted was something truly unique—a design that reflected his own style while still fitting into this world.

As his thoughts raced, he seemed to see the figures of countless anime heroes intersecting in his mind, until they finally converged into a clear image.

"Xiao Ling, help me redeem these materials!" Zhou Zilong instructed Xiao Ling, anticipation shining in his eyes. Xiao Ling responded at once, and a series of rare, unusual materials appeared out of thin air in the room, giving off a faint glow.

For the rest of the time, Zhou Zilong devoted himself entirely to designing and making his Battle Suit.

Zhou Zilong knew that choosing the right colors and patterns was crucial to the design. Black symbolized depth and mystery, reflecting the calm and reserved side of his personality. Red represented passion and intensity, the spirit that kept him from ever giving up when facing a challenge. He chose black as the main color, accented with red—a look that was understated yet bold.

He cleverly combined traditional and modern elements. The fitted short sleeves perfectly outlined his muscular physique, while the red, vest-style martial arts top added layers to the design. Gold cone-shaped patterns decorated the chest and hips, expressing his pursuit of strength while adding a touch of nobility and splendor. Black leather gloves extended to his forearms, protecting his hands while giving him a more battle-ready look.

A black belt with spaced gold square ornaments wrapped around his waist. At its center was an embroidered "Dragon" in flowing script. It was not only a character from his name, but also a source of pride in being part of the Dragon Ball World.

Black Turtle Hermit School martial arts pants showed beneath the red top, preserving the essence of traditional martial arts while incorporating the practicality of modern battle gear.

Zhou Zilong had put just as much thought into the boots. They combined elements of Goku's shoes and Vegeta's combat boots. Red and black were artfully paired: the front half was mostly black, while the back half was vivid red. The gold design at the toe resembled a sharp blade, proclaiming the wearer's extraordinary nature. A golden-yellow band around the top of each boot was the finishing touch, making the whole outfit seem flawless.

Paired with his current hairstyle, similar to Gogeta's—the same style he'd gotten when his Saiyan bloodline had been cleansed earlier—he looked mysterious and extraordinary.

Standing before the mirror, Zhou Zilong examined his new look and nodded with satisfaction. "Xiao Ling, what do you think?"

"Hehe, it's great! You look good!" Xiao Ling replied playfully, her voice full of praise.

Hearing that, Zhou Zilong felt even more confident and excited. He knew this was more than just a Battle Suit. It was the beginning of his own legend in this world, written in his own way.

Just then, Bulma came in. Seeing Zhou Zilong dressed like that, she asked curiously, "Zilong, what are you doing?"

Zhou Zilong answered, "Bulma, I'm planning to wear this when I fight enemies in the future. What do you think?"

Bulma threw herself into Zhou Zilong's arms. "It looks great, but we'll have to design something that lets you change into it!"

Zhou Zilong replied, "Then let's work on it together after I come out of seclusion!"

Bulma nodded. "Sure!"

Night soon fell. The sky was ink-black, and the moonlight was faint—perfect conditions for action. Kasang led his subordinates through the streets and alleys of West City, recruiting members on a large scale. The generous pay they promised drew the attention of people eager to get rich quickly.

As the applicants' enthusiasm grew, a barely perceptible sneer curled Kasang's lips. He raised a hand and signaled to two of his trusted aides. A darker plan quietly began to unfold. Under the moonless sky, several innocent women became victims of the scheme without a sound. They were spirited away from the seemingly peaceful city, leaving behind the desperate cries of their families and a trail of clues that baffled the police.

At that time, Zhou Zilong was at the Capsule Corporation residence and hadn't noticed anything. After discussing some research with Bulma, he began his training routine.

At first light, Zhou Zilong said goodbye to Bulma and headed to a skyscraper in the heart of West City: the "Ace Guards" headquarters, one of the important businesses under his command.

He opened the door marked "Ace Guards" and found four loyal protectors waiting inside: Ali, Xiujie, Ling, and Yuena. They were among the most trusted partners Zhou Zilong had cultivated.

"I'll be going into seclusion to train for three days. Ali, Xiujie, Ling, Yuena, I'm entrusting Bulma's safety to you. Remember, whatever happens, make sure she stays safe," Zhou Zilong instructed them.

"Yes, boss!" the four replied in unison, their voices filled with respect for Zhou Zilong and a deep sense of responsibility.

Before entering the room where he would train in seclusion, Zhou Zilong stopped once more and said earnestly, "If there's any emergency, come to my training room and notify me immediately!"