After all, not long ago, they had still been enemies.
Now that they knew why Vegeta had grown so powerful, they found it hard to accept. Some of them even felt the heavens were unfair.
Son Gohan approached and said to the Grand Elder, "Grand Elder, you shouldn't have believed him. He's a terrible person. He didn't just invade Earth; he also killed many people, including our companions."
"Gohan's right. Back then, he even cruelly killed his own companion. There's no way we can trust anything he says. If I had to guess, he must have an even bigger motive," Krillin said, searching for a reason.
The Grand Elder said nothing, simply listening quietly.
In truth, when they said Vegeta had a bigger motive, the only thing on Planet Namek worth coveting was the Dragon Balls, which could grant wishes.
If Vegeta really helped the Namekians avert their extinction, the Grand Elder would be willing to let him use the Dragon Balls to make a wish.
Besides, summoning Shenron and making a wish required the Namekians' special language.
So the Namekians had control over what kinds of wishes could be granted. There was no need to worry that Vegeta might make some outrageous wish or one that would endanger the world.
The Grand Elder had lived for a very long time. His way of looking at people and events was different from Krillin's and Son Gohan's.
So far, Vegeta hadn't damaged Planet Namek or harmed its people. On the contrary, he had defeated the invaders and saved the Namekians. In a sense, that meant Vegeta wasn't their enemy.
If the Grand Elder wanted to be blunt, he could point out that Vegeta might be an enemy of the Earthlings—even if he hadn't killed a single one of them, many had died because of him—but he could also be a friend to the Namekians.
People naturally saw things differently depending on where they stood.
Of course, he wouldn't actually say that. It would only deepen the rift.
For now, he was willing to help the Earthlings as well. That would also give them a better chance of surviving this calamity.
"Actually, I think Vegeta may look vicious and have invaded Earth, but he doesn't seem to hold much of a grudge against us. Otherwise, we'd probably already be dead...
"Maybe there's more to the story. Perhaps he was acting on Frieza's orders. He's defected now, hasn't he? If he's willing to help us, then we really can end this crisis...
"And didn't he say he'd give us two wishes? He only wants one..."
Bulma suddenly spoke up, sharing her thoughts.
When they'd met before, Vegeta hadn't done anything to them. She'd felt he had improper intentions toward her, but in the end, all he'd done was take the Dragon Radar.
Thinking back on it, she regretted that she'd gambled on getting away with it and given him a fake Dragon Radar.
Vegeta must know by now that the Dragon Radar she'd given him was fake. Otherwise, how could he have failed to detect the Dragon Balls here at the Grand Elder's home?
She had no idea whether he'd get angry because she'd tricked him.
"You're being too naive, Bulma! A scoundrel like him will kill us after he's done using us," Krillin said sternly.
"That's right, Aunt Bulma. Don't be fooled by how he acted before. Once he gets the Dragon Balls, he probably won't even give us a chance to make a wish." Son Gohan had always stood firmly with Krillin.
After enduring such brutal battles, a single mistake along the way would have cost them their lives. Earth might already have been destroyed, too.
"Okay, okay. You two decide, then. I don't know..." Bulma shrank back at the sight of Krillin and Son Gohan's stern expressions.
It wasn't impossible that they were right to worry.
"Regardless, let me unlock your potential as well," the Grand Elder said, shifting the conversation.
His words eased the tension a little.
"Sorry for the trouble, Grand Elder." Son Gohan stepped up to him and underwent the potential unlock.
The process was the same as it had been for Krillin, though it took a little longer.
After unlocking Son Gohan's potential, the Grand Elder looked noticeably more drained.
Using this ability took an enormous amount of mental energy. When Vegeta had earlier asked whether it shortened the user's life, that had actually been related to the energy it consumed.
Seeing how frail the Grand Elder looked, Krillin and Son Gohan were filled with gratitude and worry.
Nail stood nearby, wanting to stop him, but knowing it would be useless. He could only clench his fists, powerless to help.
"Don't worry. Even if I hadn't done these things, my life would soon be over. Being able to do something for you before I die will help keep my people safe. I hope you can protect them..." the Grand Elder said.
It sounded almost as though he were giving his final instructions. Dende couldn't hold back any longer. He rushed forward and clung to the Grand Elder's leg, tears streaming down his face.
A long while later, to let the Grand Elder rest, everyone left the inner room.
As soon as they stepped outside, Nail stopped Krillin and Son Gohan.
"I hope you won't betray the Grand Elder's trust or let the sacrifices he made for you go to waste."
His words were stern. It was clear that after what had happened with Vegeta, Nail had become even more wary of outsiders.
In the original story, he had been much friendlier toward Krillin and Son Gohan. He hadn't been this cold.
If Krillin and the others hadn't saved Dende, he wouldn't have shown them even the slightest warmth.
"We won't betray the Grand Elder's trust. But even though Gohan and I have become much stronger, there's no telling whether we could even defeat you. We're certainly no match for Vegeta and Frieza's group. All we can do is make sure everyone stays safe here," Krillin said.
"Maybe we should take everyone off Planet Namek first," Son Gohan suggested.
"Leave? ...Maybe, when it comes down to it, we'll have no other choice." Nail sighed. He had considered that possibility, too.
But there were no spaceships on Namek right now. The ship the Earthlings had arrived in might be their only hope of leaving.
Bulma suddenly realized it, too. "Now that you mention it, I'd completely overlooked that. I need to inspect the whole ship. Gohan, come help me. If we're going to leave Planet Namek, there can't be a single problem with it."
"Okay, Aunt Bulma." Son Gohan nodded seriously.
Meanwhile, on an island a hundred kilometers away.
Vegeta had no idea what was happening there. He remained in his Super Saiyan state.
With his eyes closed, he focused on the Saiyan energy, feeling the immense transformation it had brought him.