Finally, after Bulma's long-winded explanation, the temptation of delicious food, and Vitelli's occasional calm glances that made Goku instinctively feel it was best not to provoke him, Goku finally agreed, still half-skeptical, to join their group—on the condition that he could bring his "grandpa" along.
With Vitelli, a human cheat code, on their side, the Dragon Ball hunt abruptly changed from a journey full of mishaps and absurdity into an appallingly efficient and uneventful trip. Even Bulma felt a little disappointed. Wasn't this supposed to be an exciting adventure?
Not long after they left the mountains, a battered, modified car blocked their way on a desolate stretch of rocky wasteland.
A young man in a ragged leather jacket jumped out to rob them, striking what he thought was a cool pose. Beside him floated a little blue cat named Puar.
"Stop! This road is—uh?!" Yamcha had barely gotten halfway through his signature opening line.
Vitelli didn't even get out of the car. He simply rolled down the window and casually flicked a finger in Yamcha's direction.
Bang!
An invisible but irresistible blast of force struck Yamcha square in the chest like a battering ram!
The arrogance on his face instantly froze. His eyes bulged, and before he could even scream, he was flung away like a stone launched from a catapult. He vanished into the distance in a blur, his scream trailing after him in a long-drawn-out "Aaaah—!"
"Master Yamcha—!!!"
Puar was scared out of his wits. With a piercing catlike cry, he transformed into a bat and chased after the vanishing "shooting star" at the fastest speed of his life.
Inside the car, Bulma's mouth hung open, and the potato chips in her hand spilled all over the floor.
Goku leaned out the window and shouted excitedly, "Wow! He flew so high and so far! That was amazing!"
In a village shrouded in dense fog and an eerie atmosphere, a pig demon named Oolong was rumored to have abducted the village's young women.
Overflowing with a sense of justice, Goku charged in and fought the shapeshifting Oolong.
But when they "rescued" the young women from the splendid mansion where they were being held, they found them dressed in fine clothes, rosy-cheeked, and leisurely enjoying afternoon tea. Far from thanking their "saviors," they complained that they'd interrupted their carefree life of having everything done for them!
Bruised and battered, Oolong clutched his head and wailed, "I just wanted to find true love! They chose to stay! I'm innocent!"
Vitelli, Bulma, and Goku stood in the hall, staring at the absurd scene in bewilderment. In the end, Oolong paid his way out of trouble and readily handed over the Three-Star Dragon Ball he'd been keeping.
While they were camping one day, Goku rescued a giant Sea Turtle that had lost its way. That brought over Master Roshi, who wore a flowery shirt and sunglasses, carried a cane, and exuded the air of a shameless old lecher.
Master Roshi was amazed that Goku could ride the Flying Nimbus, and in gratitude for rescuing the Sea Turtle, generously gave the cloud to him.
However, Master Roshi's eyes, hidden behind his sunglasses, kept stealing occasional glances at Vitelli, who was leaning against the car, looking lazy and "perfectly ordinary."
His martial artist's instincts, honed over hundreds of years, were sounding a full-blown alarm!
This seemingly harmless young man appeared to have an ancient beast asleep within him! Even the faintest trace of his aura made Master Roshi's skin prickle, as if he were being jabbed with invisible needles!
When Master Roshi habitually eyed Bulma lecherously and even tried to make the sleazy request to see her panties...
Vitelli merely turned his head slightly and glanced at him coolly.
Buzz!
An invisible pressure, as heavy as the depths of the ocean and utterly suffocating, instantly engulfed Master Roshi!
The lecherous smile froze on his face. His pupils shrank to pinpricks behind his sunglasses, and cold sweat instantly soaked through his flowery shirt!
He jolted and stood ramrod straight, then coughed twice and thumped his chest with utmost seriousness. "Ahem! I just remembered that the people of Mount Frypan are still suffering in the midst of hardship! Saving people is urgent! Leave this to me! Farewell!"
With that, he scrambled onto the slow-moving Sea Turtle and sped off in a flash, vanishing in a hurry that belied his age.
As they continued searching for the Dragon Balls, they stumbled into the comical, amusement-park-like castle of Emperor Pilaf, who dreamed of conquering the world.
"Wahahaha! You foolish humans! You've finally fallen into my trap, Emperor Pilaf's! Hand over the Dragon Balls, or I'll show you the power of my latest invention, the Super Invincible Destruction Robot No. 3!"
Pilaf's shrill laughter blared through a loudspeaker from the cockpit of the giant robot.
With a loud creaking of metal, the huge machine lumbered forward and swung a massive mechanical arm at the car!
Vitelli sighed and casually raised his right index finger, lightly pointing it at the most prominent energy core in the robot's chest.
Hiss—!
A dazzling golden beam instantly pierced the thick alloy armor and burrowed straight into the core!
Rumble—!!!
A world-shaking explosion rang out! Blinding flames burst from inside the giant robot, like a barrel of gunpowder set alight, and it instantly broke apart!
Burning metal fragments scattered in every direction like fireworks!
Mai and Shu dragged Pilaf, who had been knocked out by the blast and was now covered in soot, out of the wreckage. Wailing in panic, they fled without looking back.
Vitelli got out of the car at an unhurried pace and easily found the remaining Dragon Balls among the smoking robot wreckage.
When the seven Dragon Balls, glowing with a soft orange light, were neatly laid out in an open clearing, Bulma felt an overwhelming sense of unreality.
"Th-this is... we've collected them all?" She looked down at the One-Star Ball in her hand, then at the six Dragon Balls lying on the ground. It all felt like a dream.
The legendary Dragon Balls, objects that could grant any wish... Hadn't the whole process been a little too easy?
Apart from the minor hiccups with Goku and Master Roshi, it had been little more than a day trip!
Seeing Bulma's dazed expression, as if she were thinking, "I haven't even started adventuring, so how can it be over already?" Vitelli chuckled and reached out to tousle her blue hair.
"What? Think it was too easy? With me around, did you expect to be chased by dinosaurs, kidnapped by bandits, and nearly cooked and eaten, like in all the classic adventures?"
Bulma swatted his hand away and glared at him, but it did ease the strange disappointment she'd been feeling.
She took a deep breath, pushed her jumbled thoughts aside, and nodded solemnly. "All right! The most important thing now is to make a wish!"
She arranged the seven Dragon Balls as she'd seen in the book.
"Come forth, Eternal Dragon! And grant my wish!" Bulma spread her arms, her voice tinged with excitement and anticipation.
In an instant, the cloudless sky was swallowed by churning black clouds! Day turned to night, and fierce winds rose from nowhere!
Golden pillars of light erupted from the seven Dragon Balls and shot into the heavens! A dragon's roar, seemingly from ancient times and powerful enough to shake the soul, rang across the land!
A massive dragon, covered in green scales and radiating a sacred aura, appeared amid the swirling clouds!
Its enormous head slowly lowered, gazing down at the three tiny figures on the ground like a god. Their reflections appeared in its red eyes.
"Now, speak your wish! Whatever it may be, I will grant it!"
The Eternal Dragon's deep, resonant voice boomed in everyone's ears like thunder, carrying an unquestionable authority.
Vitelli gazed up at the legendary dragon with keen interest, a playful smile curling his lips.
But he couldn't help thinking to himself, I wonder if Bulma's going to wish for something like "a handsome prince." For some reason, he felt a little nervous.
Bulma, however, gazed up at the dragon's huge head, then glanced at Vitelli beside her, smiling. A look of utter confusion and indecision appeared on her little face.
She bit her lower lip, her fingers twisting together unconsciously.
Money? Her family had plenty.
Beauty? She was confident in her looks.
The perfect lover? It seemed... she'd already found one...
So what should she wish for? Her mind was completely blank.
After a long while, under the Eternal Dragon's imposing gaze and the curious stares of Vitelli and Goku, Bulma finally gave up. She turned to Vitelli with a pitiful look. "Vitelli... I... I don't know what to wish for anymore..."
Vitelli: "..."
Eternal Dragon: "..." On its enormous face, an invisible bead of cold sweat seemed to trickle down one of its scales...
At Kami's Lookout, Kami had been tensely watching Vitelli. He "thumped!" and staggered, dropping onto his rear. He nearly lost his staff, too.
The air seemed to freeze, leaving only the endless wind sweeping over the wasteland.
"You..." Vitelli was at a loss for words, looking at Bulma in amused disbelief.
The Eternal Dragon seemed to be growing impatient, too. Its enormous head swayed slightly as it spoke again in a voice like thunder, though this time there seemed to be a hint of barely concealed... impatience and helplessness.
"Quickly, state your wish! I will grant any wish!"
"Oh~~"
Seeing the Eternal Dragon's expression, as if it were begging her to hurry up and finish, Vitelli was seized by a mischievous impulse. A wicked smile crossed his face as he called out, "Really? Any wish? All right! Listen carefully, Eternal Dragon! My wish is—to master Ultra Instinct Technique completely and immediately!"
Bulma blinked her big eyes curiously and tugged at Vitelli's sleeve. "Ultra Instinct Technique? Is that some amazing martial art?"
Vitelli smiled and patted her hair without explaining. He simply looked up at the Eternal Dragon.
The Eternal Dragon fell silent.
Its enormous red pupils seemed to widen, and even its whiskers trembled involuntarily.
Its immense body shifted uneasily in the clouds, as if trying to process this outrageous request.
After a long pause, a voice tinged with obvious awkwardness, even a little stammering, rang out. All traces of authority had vanished.
"...That... is beyond my power... Please... please choose another wish... I beg you..."
Vitelli seemed to have expected that. He chuckled and readily changed his request. "All right, then I'll settle for the next best thing. I want to learn the Instant Transmission that Supreme Kai Shin has mastered!"
The Eternal Dragon's huge head seemed to droop. Its voice grew even lower and took on a hint of grievance.
"...Lord Supreme Kai's secret technique... contains divine laws... I... I can't reach it... Please... choose another wish..."
Seeing the Eternal Dragon looking so utterly humiliated and awkward that it seemed ready to cry, Vitelli finally stopped teasing it.
He let his playful expression fade, turned to Bulma, and asked seriously, "Bulma, are you sure you want to give up this chance? This is the Eternal Dragon, who can grant any wish."
Bulma looked into Vitelli's eyes, then at the Eternal Dragon, which seemed a little pitiful in the sky. Suddenly, she set her jaw, put her hands on her hips, and glared at Vitelli with a fierce expression, though her voice carried a faint hint of unease.
"I... I'm giving up my wish for your sake, Vitelli! From now on... you absolutely, absolutely can't break up with me! Do you hear me? Otherwise... otherwise, I'll use the Dragon Balls to curse you!"
The sudden, girlish "threat" left Vitelli slightly stunned, then sent a warm feeling flooding through him.
He looked at the blue-haired girl in front of him, clearly mortified but pretending to be fierce, and nodded solemnly, his eyes full of warmth and sincerity. "Don't worry, Bulma. A girl as clever, beautiful, and wealthy as you—especially wealthy—could only be left by someone out of their mind."
He looked back up at the Eternal Dragon, which seemed relieved, and said solemnly, "Then, Eternal Dragon, listen carefully to my true wish—I want to master Planet Yardrat's 'Instant Transmission'!"
The Eternal Dragon seemed to have finally heard the signal of its release. It immediately announced, in the loudest and fastest voice it could manage, as if afraid Vitelli might change his mind, "That's easy! Your wish has been granted! Goodbye!"
Before the words had even faded, the darkness covering the world receded like a tide! Sunlight poured over the land once more! The seven glowing Dragon Balls turned into seven brilliant orange shooting stars, streaking toward every corner of the world!
A flash of light shone in Vitelli's eyes. His body vanished from where he stood as if by teleportation, and the next moment he appeared dozens of meters in the air, catching the Four-Star Ball just as it turned to stone and was about to fly away.
He landed lightly and tossed the stone back to Goku, who was still gazing up at the "shooting stars."
"Here, Goku. Take good care of it. It'll turn back into the Four-Star Ball in a year," Vitelli said with a smile.
Kid Goku caught the Four-Star Ball, grinned, and hung it back around his neck. Then he gave it an affectionate pat.
"Goku, do you have anything important to do next? If not, why don't you and Vitelli come visit my house?"
Bulma invited them both, quietly watching Vitelli's reaction as she spoke.
Goku shook his head and declined Bulma's invitation. He'd already promised Master Roshi that once they finished gathering the Dragon Balls, he'd go train with him.
He waved vigorously at Vitelli and Bulma and shouted, "Flying Nimbus!" A golden cloud instantly appeared in response.
Leaping onto the Flying Nimbus, Goku flashed them both a big smile. "See you next time, Bulma, Vitelli! Next time we meet, I'll definitely beat you!" It seemed Goku had taken quite a beating from Vitelli over the past few days.
After saying goodbye, the Flying Nimbus carried him away like a golden streak, quickly disappearing over the horizon.
Only Vitelli and Bulma were left in the wasteland.
Bulma looked at Vitelli, her jewel-like eyes seeming to hold a thousand things she wanted to say, yet she didn't know how to begin. A faint blush gradually spread across her fair cheeks.
Seeing her hesitate, wanting to speak but too shy, Vitelli took the initiative and extended his broad hand. He smiled warmly, and in the sunlight his smile seemed especially dazzling.
"Then, Miss Bulma, I look forward to your company in the days ahead~"
Bulma looked at the hand he held out to her, then at the sincere smile in his eyes. The last of her unease instantly melted into sweetness.
She smiled brightly, like the most brilliant sunshine of spring, and reached out without hesitation to clasp Vitelli's hand firmly.
"Mm! Vitelli, I look forward to it!"
Chapter 9: The Brief Family
In West City, the Capsule Corp estate basked in the warm afternoon sunlight.
The neatly trimmed lawn, meticulously tended flower beds, and enormous futuristic mansion all spoke to the Brief family's wealth and strength in the world of technology.
"Dad, Mom, I'm home!"
Bulma's clear voice broke the quiet of the garden. She stepped inside excitedly, her face alight with the double joy of being in love and being home.
Following behind her was Vitelli, tall and handsome.
Mrs. Brief had been leisurely pruning an ornamental plant in the garden. At the sound of Bulma's voice, she looked toward the entrance. The moment she saw the unfamiliar young man with his distinguished bearing behind her daughter, her eyes lit up.