Friend, Please Stay! Wooing Piccolo

Preparations in the backyard of Capsule Corp were in full swing, but Lin Fan knew clearly that their current combat strength was far from enough.

Son Goku was undergoing grueling training on King Kai's Planet, while back on Earth, there remained an incredibly powerful combatant drifting outside the team—a potential enemy, even: King Piccolo.

This guy was arrogant and aloof, treating others as if they were nothing, and he viewed Son Goku as his sworn rival.

Getting him to cooperate through conventional methods was certainly out of the question.

"I need to go talk to King Piccolo."

Lin Fan said to Bulma.

"What? Go find that green guy?"

Bulma was startled. "He's dangerous! And why on earth would he help us?"

"It's precisely because he's dangerous that we need to win him over. He isn't purely evil; he has his own pride and things he wants to protect—even if that might just be himself."

Lin Fan's gaze was sharp. "When dealing with Saiyans, every extra bit of strength is another shred of hope. I have something he might be interested in."

Without telling the others, Lin Fan relied on his ability to sense energy and flew off alone toward that cold, powerful aura in the distance.

The presence was entrenched within a desolate, uninhabited mountain range, radiating a pressure that warned all living things to stay away.

Soon, he spotted that green figure atop a barren peak.

King Piccolo was sitting cross-legged on a massive boulder, eyes closed in meditation. Waves of heart-stopping energy emanated from his body; he was clearly engaged in his own harsh training.

Sensing Lin Fan's approach, he snapped his eyes open, his cold gaze piercing through the air like an arrow.

"Hmph, it's you?"

King Piccolo's voice was low and filled with wariness. "That brat with the strange aura. What are you doing here? Looking to die ahead of schedule?"

He stood up slowly, his tall frame casting a long shadow as the tension of battle hung in the air.

Lin Fan landed about ten meters away, a distance that signaled a lack of hostility while maintaining enough room to react.

He remained calm and got straight to the point: "King Piccolo, I'm not here to fight. I've come to propose a deal regarding the Saiyans arriving in a year."

"Saiyans?"

King Piccolo let out a cold snort, his lips curling into a sneer. "So what? They're just stronger opponents. I, King Piccolo, will deal with them myself. I don't need to cooperate with anyone, especially not weaklings like you Earthlings."

"Deal with them yourself?"

Lin Fan shook his head, his tone firm and resolute. "You can't. Based on combat power projections, both of the incoming Saiyans possess strength far exceeding your current level. One of them even has the power to easily destroy a planet. If you fight alone, there is only one outcome—death."

"Insolent!"

King Piccolo roared, his powerful energy exploding outward and sending loose stones skittering across the ground. "You dare look down on me?!"

"It's not looking down; it's stating facts."

Lin Fan withstood the pressure, refusing to yield an inch. "Their target is Kakarot—Son Goku—but they will also eliminate every life form on Earth that poses a threat, and you are undoubtedly on that list. What does death mean to you? It means you will never be able to surpass Son Goku, and it means your pride as a Namekian will be wiped out entirely."

This statement struck precisely at King Piccolo's sore spot.

His expression grew even more ferocious, but he didn't attack immediately, choosing instead to stare daggers at Lin Fan.

Lin Fan knew his words had taken effect and upped the ante: "But I can give you a chance. I know of a special 'array' that can gather surrounding energy, significantly accelerating the recovery of one's energy and even purifying it to a certain extent, making training twice as effective. I can give this method to you."

King Piccolo's pupils contracted slightly, though his face remained etched with skepticism and arrogance. "A ridiculous trick! Energy cultivation relies on one's own will and talent! I've never heard of any 'array'! I don't care for your strange energy system at all!"

"Whether it works or not, you'll know once you try."

Lin Fan remained unruffled. "I can set up a small one for you first. The effects will be immediate. In exchange, I only ask that when the Saiyans arrive, you set aside your prejudices and cooperate with us to face the enemy. After that, whether we remain enemies or friends will be up to our own abilities."

King Piccolo fell silent.

He crossed his arms and looked down at Lin Fan, seemingly trying to sniff out a trace of a conspiracy.

He truly did scoff at Lin Fan's disparate energy system, but the words "accelerated recovery" and "purified energy" were far too tempting for a warrior who pursued the pinnacle of power.

Furthermore, Lin Fan's analysis of the Saiyans' strength, while unpleasant, was not without merit.

After a long while, he let out a heavy, cold snort through his nose. "Hmph! Cunning brat. If that ridiculous thing of yours actually works... it wouldn't be impossible for this King to cooperate with you ants for a time. But don't expect me to take orders from anyone! If I find out you're lying to me..."

A surge of killing intent locked onto Lin Fan instantly.

Lin Fan felt a sense of relief, knowing the matter was mostly settled.

"Rest assured, the results will definitely satisfy you. So, is the deal struck?"

King Piccolo didn't answer, which served as his tacit agreement.

He sat back down on the rock, closed his eyes, and returned to his unapproachable demeanor, merely tossing out a cold remark: "Do what you have to do and be quick about it. Don't disturb my training!"

Lin Fan didn't waste any more words. He took several pre-prepared jade stones infused with spiritual energy from the Hoi-Poi Capsule he carried.

He moved rapidly across the mountaintop, burying the jade stones in specific locations and occasionally channeling a strand of True Essence into the ground as a guide.

Though King Piccolo's eyes were closed, his powerful perception allowed him to "see" every one of Lin Fan's movements clearly. He felt that energy fluctuation—different from "ki," gentle yet exceptionally dense—and couldn't help but furrow his brows slightly.

Soon, a small Spirit Gathering Array was complete. Lin Fan stood at the center, formed a seal with his hands, and whispered, "Activate!"

Hum—!

A faint, almost imperceptible hum resonated. Centered on the array, the surrounding energy—a thin mixture of spiritual essence and natural aura—began to slowly draw inward, converging upon the spot.

Although it was far inferior to the one Lin Fan had set up at Capsule Corp, the effects were already manifesting.

Piccolo's eyes snapped open, his face revealing an undisguised shock for the very first time.

He could clearly feel the energy around him becoming significantly more active. The fatigue in his cells seemed to be fading away at an accelerated rate; even his breathing felt smoother, and the circulation of his ki within seemed to flow just a fraction more fluidly!

While this improvement was subtle, to a warrior of his caliber, the sensation was unmistakable!

Furthermore, this effect was continuous!

"...Interesting."

Piccolo suppressed the tremor in his heart, struggling to maintain a calm facade, but the disdain in his eyes had diminished significantly. Without another word, he sat cross-legged at the very center where the array's effect was strongest and immediately began to circulate his energy to experience it.

Watching Piccolo quickly enter a meditative state, Lin Fan knew this deal was officially sealed.

He did not disturb him further, turning and quietly taking his leave.

As he flew away from the mountain range, Lin Fan glanced back at the peak.

He could feel the energy there becoming increasingly concentrated.

"Step one, complete."

Lin Fan took a deep breath, his gaze shifting toward the distance. "Next, it's time to have a chat with Kami. Perhaps his 'Hyperbolic Time Chamber' will bring an even greater surprise..."