He simply picked up a plate and, like a true four-year-old—if you ignored his physique—focused intently on devouring food in the corner.
Although the stuff the palace chefs had carefully prepared still tasted absolutely awful, the energy it contained was the real deal.
He was at a crucial stage of development, so he needed to take this opportunity to nourish himself properly.
"Hmph!"
Watching Vitelli act as if none of this concerned him—and especially seeing him merely nod before wandering off to eat—made Vegeta feel as though he'd suffered a tremendous insult.
After all, he was the genius Prince Vegeta, born with a battle power of over 1,000!
And this odious fellow named Vitelli was nothing but a bodyguard. How dare he treat me so dismissively?
Feeling insulted, Vegeta was just about to go pick a fight with Vitelli.
But at that moment, King Vegeta announced in a loud voice that the banquet had officially begun, and the atmosphere immediately grew even livelier.
Nappa and Raditz hurried over to Vegeta, showering the young Saiyan prince with compliments in an attempt to win his favor.
With the tiny amount of brainpower they had between them, they thought that as long as they earned the prince's trust, their chance to rise to the top would be right within reach.
But Vegeta merely listened coldly, his gaze fixed on the figure in the corner, stuffing himself.
"Hey, Raditz!" Vegeta suddenly interrupted Raditz's endless stream of flattery. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable air of command. The icy tone quieted the noisy banquet hall somewhat.
Pointing toward Vitelli, he asked, "What's that guy's name?"
Raditz jolted and hurriedly bowed as he answered. "Your Highness! That man's name is Vitelli! I've heard... both his parents were Elite Warriors, and they died on a mission. They say he had a battle power of 500 at birth, making him a bona fide high-class warrior! But..."
Raditz paused, a trace of barely concealed contempt in his voice. "He doesn't seem to have any ambition. He spends all day cooped up at home training his body and almost never goes out to challenge other warriors."
"Huh? Training his body?"
Vegeta looked as if he'd just heard the biggest joke in the world. His childish face twisted into a cold sneer utterly at odds with his age. "A battle power of only 500 at birth? A high-class warrior?"
He scoffed. "He dares act so arrogantly with strength as puny as an insect's? He's an Elite Warrior, yet he still has to train like a low-class warrior? With trash like that, he dares look down on Lord Vegeta!"
He sprang to his feet. His small body radiated an astonishing sense of oppression as his sharp gaze pierced toward Vitelli.
"Raditz! Go tell him to come to the palace training grounds as soon as the banquet ends! I'll show him what true power is!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Raditz's heart tightened. He promptly accepted the order and strode toward Vitelli, who was squatting in the corner.
Nappa, standing nearby, cut in with a puzzled, rumbling voice.
"Your Highness Vegeta, why make it so complicated? If you don't like him, why not let me go crush him right now?"
He cracked his knuckles, looking eager to get started.
"Idiot!!!"
Vegeta spun around and roared at Nappa. His voice was so loud that the entire banquet hall fell silent again, and everyone who'd been chatting turned to look.
Vegeta's little face flushed red with anger as he pointed at Nappa.
"Use your brain! Look at his battle power with that Scouter you wear like a decoration on your face!!"
Stunned by the shouting, Nappa instinctively adjusted the Scouter by his ear and aimed its lens at Vitelli in the corner.
"Beep... beep... beep..." The Scouter's reading jumped wildly before finally settling on a number that made Nappa's pupils contract.
2,800!
"Two... 2,800 battle power?!"
Nappa cried out, cold sweat instantly covering his enormous forehead.
He stared in disbelief at the figure, who didn't look particularly muscular.
"I'm already over twenty, and my battle power is only 3,000! He's only four... and he already has nearly 3,000 battle power?!"
A wave of fear washed over him. If he'd really charged in just now... it was obvious who would have died.
He looked at his prince with gratitude and awe. Thank goodness His Highness was wise enough to stop him!
Vegeta snorted, paying no attention to Nappa's shock and lingering fear.
He sat back down, his little face once again cold and composed, though a fierce fighting spirit kindled deep in his eyes.
"Hmph! Go tell him I'll be waiting at the training grounds. Tell him not to think he can run away."
With that, he ignored the ongoing banquet, got up, and strode out of the noisy hall.
Nappa and Raditz exchanged bewildered looks, as did the Saiyan guests, who whispered among themselves, unsure what was going on.
Nappa and Raditz hurried after him, wary of the quiet "monster" Vitelli.
At the same time, they looked forward to seeing the power their prince was about to display!
So what if Vitelli had 3,000 battle power and never fought? In front of their prince, who'd been challenging others ever since he was born, he'd be no more than an ant to crush with a flick of the wrist.
By the time Vitelli had eaten his fill and leisurely walked into the spacious training grounds reserved for the palace, Vegeta had already been waiting there for a while.
The little figure stood with his back to the entrance, arms crossed, looking down on the world.
Nappa and Raditz stood respectfully in the corner, not daring to make a sound.
"You're here, Vitelli." Vegeta turned around, his cold eyes fixed on Vitelli as he scrutinized him from on high.
"I hear you had a battle power of 500 at birth. And now... 3,000? Not bad."
His scorn was unmistakable. He threw back his head and laughed.
"Hahahaha!!! But you've never fought anyone. How much of that power can you even use?! Before me, your strength isn't even enough to let me warm up!!!"
Vitelli regarded him calmly, his face almost expressionless. He simply gave a slight nod.
"Your Highness is too kind. May I ask why you specifically summoned me here?"
"Heh!"
A dangerous curve lifted the corner of Vegeta's mouth.
"It's simple. I want to see just how capable this so-called genius Elite Warrior really is! Attack me with all your strength! Let's see what all that ridiculous training of yours has accomplished!"
The instant the words left his mouth, Vegeta's small figure vanished from where he stood! He moved so fast that only a sharp sonic boom remained in the air!
He'd chosen to attack first, intending to utterly crush the bodyguard's pathetic pride with a thunderous assault for daring to look down on him!
His fist, carrying tremendous force, tore through the air with a terrifying whistle and shot straight for Vitelli's face!
Cruel delight glimmered in Vegeta's eyes. He could already picture the other man's nose collapsing and blood spraying everywhere.
Still laughing wildly, he kept his eyes fixed on Vitelli, eager to see him drop to his knees and beg for mercy.
But in the next instant, the smile froze on his face.
Vitelli's figure shifted with unbelievable agility, leaning slightly aside just as the fist was about to hit him!
The punch's wind brushed past his hair, stirring a few wisps of black hair.
"What?!"
Vegeta was startled, but he didn't pause. His other fist swept out with an even fiercer rush of wind!
Vitelli shifted his feet and dodged again, like a ghost. His movements were smooth and natural, as if he were taking a leisurely stroll.
"Is dodging all you can do, you bastard?!"
Vegeta was thoroughly enraged. His small body erupted with even greater speed!
His fists and feet blurred into a storm of afterimages, pouring down on Vitelli! Every strike held enough terrifying power to shatter the earth!
But Vitelli was like a leaf tossing in a raging storm. It looked perilous, yet at the very last moment he always slipped clear by the narrowest margin!
He controlled his movements, making sure not to waste the slightest motion.
With precision and efficiency, he kept evading the attacks in an almost indescribable rhythm.
"H-how is this possible?!"
Nappa and Raditz stood dumbfounded in the corner, their jaws nearly hitting the floor.
Where was the one-sided crush they'd expected from their prince?
Why was the prince attacking like mad while Vitelli looked more like he was toying with him?
Wasn't he supposed to have never fought before? How could he be this strong?
The instant Vegeta's breathing grew uneven from his prolonged assault and his movements showed an opening, Vitelli moved!
For the first time, he lunged forward, so fast that Vegeta's eyes caught only a blur!
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
A series of dull, impossibly rapid impacts rang out like popping beans!
Vegeta's vision blurred.
A flurry of sharp blows struck his body, face, and head, bringing with them intense pain all over!
To his horror, Vitelli's fists were moving faster than he could react!
Each blow landed precisely where his defense was weakest. They weren't especially powerful, but they were incredibly penetrating.
The rain of attacks left him dizzy, seeing stars. He couldn't fight back at all!
"Ugh!"
Vegeta cried out in pain, his body stumbling backward against his will.
By the time he managed to steady himself, his head was buzzing and his face burned with pain.
He instinctively raised a hand to touch his forehead—and found several clearly visible lumps swelling rapidly beneath his fingers!
Imitating the way Vegeta had grinned at the start, Vitelli smiled as he looked at his disheveled opponent and teased, "Huh? Why's your head so pointy?"
"Damn it!!!"
Vegeta completely lost it. His childish voice twisted with rage and humiliation!
His eyes bloodshot, he glared at Vitelli, who wore a mocking expression and barely seemed to be breathing harder.
"You! Why?! Why are you so strong?!"
He couldn't understand!
He was a once-in-a-generation genius among the Saiyans!
The other man had never even fought before!
Why? Why couldn't he hit him? Why could Vitelli hit him so easily?
Those ghostly movements... those terrifyingly precise strikes... There was no way to explain them with a battle power of just over 3,000!
"Heh!"
Vitelli casually shook out his wrist as if he'd just finished a warm-up. A faint smile still lingered on his face.
"How powerful, my esteemed Prince Vegeta. That last round of attacks nearly hurt me."
His calm words stung Vegeta more than the cruelest insult!
"Vitelli!!"
Only then did Raditz react. He hurried forward, nervously supporting the unsteady Vegeta, and shouted at Vitelli with more bluster than courage.
"Y-you dare show disrespect to His Highness! Do you know what you're doing?!"
Vitelli's smile remained, but his eyes turned cold. He looked at Raditz. "Disrespect? Raditz, don't you dare frame me."
His gaze shifted to Vegeta, whose head was covered in lumps and whose face was twisted with humiliation. His tone held a hint of amusement.
"I was simply following Prince Vegeta's command and fighting with all my strength.
"After all, His Highness is a legendary genius. How could I dare hold back with my meager strength?"
Vegeta shoved Raditz away and forced himself to stand steady, fighting through the dizziness and humiliation.
He glared at Vitelli as though he wanted to devour him alive. "Powerful? You call that powerful?!"
Pointing at the lumps on his head, he trembled with fury. "Tell me! What are you?! Your battle power is clearly only 3,000! You've clearly never fought anyone! How did you do that?!"
Vitelli looked at the Saiyan prince whose pride he had crushed, feeling nothing at all.