Recruiting Piccolo: "Wait, Friend!"

Preparations in Capsule Corp's backyard were in full swing, but Lin Fan knew that their current fighting strength was nowhere near enough.

Son Goku was training hard on King Kai's Planet. Meanwhile, on Earth, there was another immensely powerful fighter outside their group—one who could even be considered a potential enemy: Piccolo.

He was arrogant and aloof, treating everyone else as beneath him. He also considered Son Goku and himself mortal enemies.

The usual methods definitely wouldn't work if Lin Fan wanted him to cooperate.

"I need to go talk to Piccolo."

Lin Fan spoke to Bulma.

"Seriously? You're going to find that green guy?"

Bulma jumped in alarm. "He's dangerous! And why would he help us?"

"Because he's dangerous, we need to win him over all the more. He isn't pure evil. He has his pride and things he wants to protect, too—even if those things might just be himself."

Lin Fan's gaze sharpened. "Against the Saiyans, every extra bit of strength gives us more hope. I have something he might be interested in."

Without telling anyone else, Lin Fan relied on his sense of ki and flew toward the distant, chillingly powerful energy.

The presence was entrenched in a desolate mountain range, radiating an oppressive aura that warned all living things to stay away.

Soon, he spotted a green figure atop a bare, rocky peak.

Piccolo sat cross-legged on a massive boulder, eyes closed as he rested. A frightening energy fluctuation radiated from him; he was clearly undergoing harsh training as well.

Feeling Lin Fan approach, he abruptly opened his eyes, his icy gaze shooting toward him like an arrow.

"Hmph. You?"

Piccolo's voice was low and wary. "The kid with the strange energy. What are you doing here? Come to die early?"

He slowly rose to his feet, his towering figure casting a vast shadow. A fight seemed ready to break out at any moment.

Lin Fan landed about ten meters away. The distance showed he meant no harm while leaving him enough room to react.

His expression calm, he got straight to the point. "Piccolo, I'm not here to fight. I've come to make a deal with you—about the Saiyans who'll arrive in a year."

"The Saiyans?"

Piccolo gave a cold snort, the corner of his mouth curling in contempt. "So what? They're just stronger opponents. I, King Piccolo, will deal with them myself. I don't need to work with anyone, especially weak Earthlings like you."

"Deal with them alone?"

Lin Fan shook his head, his tone firm. "You can't. Based on their estimated power levels, each of the two Saiyans who are coming is far stronger than you are now. One of them can even destroy a planet with ease. If you fight alone, there's only one outcome—you die."

"Fool!"

Piccolo roared. His powerful ki burst forth, sending gravel tumbling across the ground. "You dare look down on me?!"

"I'm not looking down on you. I'm stating a fact."

Lin Fan stood his ground against the pressure. "Their target is Kakarot—that is, Son Goku—but they'll also wipe out every life-form on Earth that poses a threat. You're undoubtedly one of their targets. What would death mean to you? It would mean you'd never surpass Son Goku. It would mean your Namekian pride would be utterly destroyed."

His words struck Piccolo exactly where it hurt.

Piccolo's expression grew even more savage, but he didn't attack right away. He simply stared at Lin Fan.

Knowing his words had hit home, Lin Fan pressed on. "But I can give you a chance. I know a special 'array' that gathers energy from the surrounding area, greatly speeding up ki recovery. It can even purify energy to a certain degree, making training twice as effective. I can teach you how to use it."

Piccolo's pupils contracted slightly, but his face remained full of suspicion and arrogance. "Ridiculous trick! Training your energy depends on your own will and talent! An array? Never heard of one! I couldn't care less about your strange energy system!"

"Only one way to find out if it works."

Lin Fan remained composed. "I can set up a small one for you first. You'll see the results right away. In exchange, when the Saiyans arrive, I only need you to set aside your grudges for a while and work with us against them. Afterward, whether we're enemies or allies will be up to our own abilities."

Piccolo fell silent.

He crossed his arms and looked down at Lin Fan, seeming to search his face for signs of a plot.

He truly sneered at Lin Fan's completely different energy system, but the words "faster recovery" and "purify energy" held too much appeal for a warrior who pursued ultimate strength.

Besides, Lin Fan's analysis of the Saiyans' strength, though unpleasant to hear, wasn't unreasonable.

After a long while, Piccolo let out a heavy snort. "Hmph! You're a sly one. If that ridiculous thing of yours really works... I suppose I can cooperate with you ants this once. But don't expect me to follow anyone's orders! If I find out you're deceiving me..."

A killing intent instantly locked onto Lin Fan.

Lin Fan felt relieved. He knew the deal was mostly settled.

"Don't worry. You'll be satisfied with the results. So, do we have a deal?"

Piccolo didn't answer, which was as good as agreement.

He sat back down on the rock and closed his eyes, resuming his don't-come-near-me demeanor. He only tossed out a cold remark: "Get on with it, then. Don't disturb my training!"

Lin Fan didn't waste words. He took several pieces of jade, prepared in advance and infused with spiritual energy, from a Hoi-Poi Capsule he carried with him.

He moved quickly across the mountaintop, burying the jade pieces at specific points and occasionally directing a strand of True Essence into them.

Piccolo kept his eyes closed, but his keen senses let him clearly "see" Lin Fan's every move. He could feel the energy fluctuation—different from ki, gentle yet extraordinarily concentrated—and couldn't help furrowing his brow slightly.

Soon, a small Spirit Gathering Array was complete. Lin Fan stood at its center, formed a hand seal, and shouted, "Activate!"

Hummm—!

A barely audible hum rang out. Centered on the array, the energy in the surrounding space—thin traces of spiritual energy and natural energy—began to gather slowly.

It was nowhere near as effective as the one Lin Fan had set up at Capsule Corp, but its effects were already apparent.

Piccolo abruptly opened his eyes, shock unmistakable on his face for the first time.

He could clearly feel the energy around him becoming much more active. The fatigue in his cells seemed to be fading faster, and even his breathing felt smoother. The ki circulating through his body seemed a little more fluid, too!

The improvement was subtle, but for a warrior at his level, it was impossible to miss!

And the effect was continuous!

"...Interesting."

Piccolo suppressed his shock and struggled to maintain his composure, but there was far less contempt in his eyes now. He said nothing more, simply sitting cross-legged at the center of the array, where its effects were strongest, and immediately began to meditate and experience the results.

Watching Piccolo quickly settle into his training, Lin Fan knew their deal was now fully sealed.

He didn't disturb him further and quietly turned to leave.

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

He could feel the energy there growing more concentrated.

"The first step is done."

Lin Fan took a deep breath and gazed into the distance. "Next, I should go talk to Kami. Maybe his 'Hyperbolic Time Chamber' will bring even bigger surprises..."