A month was neither long nor short. For Raditz, it was just enough time to enjoy life on Earth.
Over these days, he had grown accustomed to Earth's way of life.
Looking up, the perfectly warm sunlight painted the land with a radiant glow. Beneath the clear blue sky, people met by chance while white clouds drifted leisurely overhead. Towering buildings stood in neat rows, and grand aerial tunnels cut through the city, lending it an air of style.
The broad roads were packed with vehicles. One hand braced against the car door and the other on the wheel, Raditz slowly drove through the bustling streets.
"Why isn't the car ahead moving yet?" Goku curled his fingers and impatiently tapped his upper arm.
"Haha, big cities have something called rush hour. Whether it's the latest flying car or an ordinary sedan like the one ahead, they all have to sit obediently in traffic." Raditz answered from the driver's seat. He had barely moved forward before braking again.
Krillin and Yamcha, seated in the back, laughed as well. "Haha, Goku doesn't even have a driver's license. It's probably been ages since he was out on the streets."
"Huh? Krillin, you can drive too?"
Goku knew Yamcha was an experienced driver, but he had not expected Krillin to be laughing too.
"Hehe, I learned after the World Martial Arts Tournament ended!" Krillin laughed proudly and pulled out his license. "Look, Goku. Didn't expect that, did you?"
"Why not just fly wherever you want to go?"
Raditz shot Goku a disdainful glance. "Driving is fun! Besides, it doesn't look good to fly around all the time."
Goku scratched his head, looking half convinced and half confused.
"By the way, can't Gohan really come out and play?"
"Sigh, Chi-Chi won't allow it. There's nothing I can do."
"Gohan probably hasn't had any chance to go out and get some exercise lately, right?" Krillin could imagine the scene and chuckled.
Raditz could not help laughing too. Ever since returning, he had been staying at Goku's house. The first time Chi-Chi met Goku's older brother, she had been utterly astonished. That very day, she specially prepared a feast to welcome him. He and Goku trained for eight hours every day, then did some farm work and odd jobs. Goku, who usually devoted himself solely to training, had actually begun working diligently, all thanks to Raditz. Chi-Chi praised Raditz endlessly, constantly saying that Goku had such a good older brother.
But Gohan had it rough. Since he had fallen behind by a year's worth of lessons, Chi-Chi had forced him to complete a stack of exercises taller than the table. Even Raditz's heart skipped a beat at the sight of that workload. And whenever Chi-Chi showed her imposing side, no one in the household dared argue with her.
"Looks like something happened up ahead. How about we just fly?" Yamcha leaned listlessly against the door and yawned.
At seven in the morning, after breakfast, Raditz had driven Bulma's newly bought flying sports car into West City's busiest commercial district, and then... they had not been able to get out of the car since.
Raditz shrugged. "No choice, then."
They all got out and, under countless watchful eyes, stored the car in a capsule. The bored onlookers had been glancing around everywhere, and they were utterly bewildered by what Raditz and the others had done.
The next second, everyone's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as they froze in shock. The four of them flew straight into the sky!
"I'm not dreaming, am I?"
"I don't know either..."
"Hey, did you see that? They can fly!"
"Damn it, why didn't I record it?!"
After a brief silence, the crowd erupted into heated discussion. Many people still looked completely stunned, rubbing their eyes and pinching their thighs, thinking they were having a daytime dream...
Once the four took to the air, their way was completely clear, and they flew onward with carefree ease.
Traffic below remained jammed. At the intersection, many vehicles lay scattered haphazardly to one side. Police officers were shouting, and gunfire rang out without pause. Nearby was a bank, where several people behind a modified armored vehicle were firing machine guns at the police.
So it was a bank robbery. No wonder traffic had been blocked.
By tradition, this was the moment for the Son family to show off their strength, Raditz thought. Sure enough, Goku leaped down, with Krillin and Yamcha immediately following him.
Raditz shook his head and dropped straight down as well.
The four landed, and Goku shouted, "Stop!" as he walked into the hail of bullets.
"What are these idiots trying to do? Are they looking to die? Hahahaha!" the criminals laughed wildly.
The police immediately stopped firing, afraid of hurting innocent people. But the criminals, as if they had spotted prey, laughed even more viciously and kept firing nonstop.
"Hmph." Raditz smiled contemptuously and casually held out a hand.
More than a dozen bullets were instantly caught in his palm, their smoke vanishing without a trace. Goku and the others were not to be outdone, catching the criminals' bullets one after another. When they opened their hands, the bullets fell to the ground with a series of clatters.
What seemed perfectly ordinary to them left everyone else dumbfounded. What ordinary person could catch bullets? Even the criminals were stunned.
"Keep firing!" the leader roared furiously.
The criminals resumed their wild barrage, firing as though they intended to empty every last bullet. The four casually caught the bullets while slowly approaching as if taking a stroll.
Yamcha and Krillin were both dressed casually, with one hand tucked into a pocket, looking even more relaxed. Their clothes fluttered lightly in the wind, exuding outrageous swagger and drawing cries of admiration from the girls watching nearby.
The police were so shocked that they nearly dropped their guns, staring at the four in disbelief. The other civilians gasped continuously, their expressions growing more exaggerated by the second.
At that moment, the criminals' leader ducked into the vehicle, hoisted a rocket launcher, and aimed it at Raditz. "Haha, I've still got this weapon! Die!"
Seeing their leader bring out a rocket launcher, the criminals all became smug again. They felt they had regained the upper hand. If it could punch through an armored vehicle, there was no way it could not punch through him.
Raditz crooked a finger at them and sneered disdainfully.
"You!" The leader was furious. He was the boss of a criminal gang, after all. How could he tolerate such provocation? Roaring in rage with a savage expression, he fired a rocket.
In an instant, Raditz's eyes flashed. An astonishing aura erupted from him as white Ki flames enveloped his body. Ripples spread in every direction, and energy surged like a raging tide.
Before the rocket could even reach Raditz, it was completely disintegrated and exploded within the churning energy!
Seeing this, Goku immediately sprinted forward and knocked the criminals down with a few punches and kicks. Reaching the vehicle, he sent its door flying with one punch. The leader looked left and right, snot streaming from his nose. His Adam's apple bobbed as he tremblingly raised his hands.
These guys weren't human!
The leader hurriedly crawled out of the vehicle and shouted, "Police! I surrender! Don't let them hit me! I surrender!"
The police: "..."
"Let's go!"
Ignoring the shouts from the police and civilians behind them, the four swiftly flew away. From that day onward, West City had a legend of four unnamed heroes...
Raditz went to the mall and picked out several sets of Earth clothes, so he would not feel unbearably awkward going out in a Battle Suit. He also chose formal wear for Goku and bought a gift for Chi-Chi, while Krillin and Yamcha each bought some things as well. Everyone chatted and joked happily. Raditz, in particular, kept tossing out one funny story after another, making them laugh loudly, almost as if they had forgotten about the formidable enemy soon to arrive.
Meanwhile, Bulma was sound asleep on the workbench in her home laboratory. A month ago, Raditz had asked her to raise the Scouter's detection limit and improve its accuracy. It was now nearly complete.
Raditz's Scouter lay on its side nearby, its screen flashing a number—20000.
The author's first note: Thank you all for your favorites and votes.
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