037, In a Proper Dragon Ball World, an Improper Collection: Is One Wish Enough?

How could one possibly collect the Dragon Balls in the Dragon Ball World without doing it in an unconventional way?

The next morning, Son Wukong, having enjoyed a comfortable sleep, seemed to have completely forgotten what happened in the bathroom the previous day.

Zhang Wutian naturally treated such an awkward incident as a dark history to be buried; since Wukong had forgotten, he was more than happy not to bring it up.

After a breakfast that was perhaps a bit too lavish, Zhang Wutian finally began to attend to serious business.

Since he had promised to use the Dragon Balls to grant a wish, Zhang Wutian would not drag his feet; he decided to settle this quickly.

Through the Dragon Ball radar, he discovered that apart from the ones in his possession, the other three Dragon Balls were gathered together. Clearly, with Wukong not interfering in the plot, the Red Ribbon Army had successfully located three Dragon Balls over the past three months.

Thus, Zhang Wutian found a public phone booth and dialed the headquarters of the Red Ribbon Army.

As for how he obtained the phone number, it was simple: he had just asked the high-ranking officials of the Red Ribbon Army from another world.

Since he had decided to collect the Dragon Balls, Zhang Wutian had naturally taken precautions. He only hoped the phone numbers were the same in both worlds; it would be quite embarrassing if he dialed a disconnected line.

Fortunately, the phone only rang twice before it was answered.

"Who is this?" A strange man's voice sounded from the other end.

"Is this the headquarters of the Red Ribbon Army?"

"Who are you?" The same question, but unlike the casual tone from before, the voice now carried a cold, sharp edge, like a blade.

"I am a mysterious martial artist. I have something I wish to convey to the leader of the Red Ribbon Army."

"A mysterious martial artist? To have the ability to obtain this phone number, it seems you are no ordinary coward hiding in the shadows. Speak, I am listening."

Having reached the man in charge with a single call, Zhang Wutian smiled slightly and said, "I'll get straight to the point. I know you are collecting the Dragon Balls, and as it happens, I am collecting them as well."

"And then?" The man's voice on the other end grew grave.

"I currently have three Dragon Balls in my possession—you can verify this with your radar—and you have three as well. Since the conditions are equal, let's make a wager."

"You certainly know a lot. You want to make a wager with me? A wager with the Commander of the world's greatest Red Ribbon Army? Who do you think you are? Do you think you are qualified to stand on equal footing with me?"

"I am, because I am very strong," Zhang Wutian said lightly.

"Hahahaha!! Arrogant brat. Very well, I'll humor your joke for a moment."

"Next Monday, I will personally visit your headquarters. Let us have a fair and square battle then. You can arrange your personnel during this time—planes, tanks, missiles, whatever you like. If I can break through your defenses and reach you, or force you to surrender, I win. If I fail, I lose. The winner takes the loser's Dragon Balls, and the loser shall have no complaints..."

"Enough!!" On the other end of the line, Commander Red, who possessed a stern villainous face despite his diminutive stature, roared in fury: "Do you intend to toy with me, the supreme commander of the Red Ribbon Army? Don't think that just because you obtained this number from somewhere, you can act so presumptuously. I will make sure you die without a burial place!!"

"I am neither toying with you nor telling a joke. I am speaking to you in all seriousness," Zhang Wutian said.

"Then you are insane!" Commander Red said coldly. "Fighting my Red Ribbon Army? Do you intend to bring an entire army?"

"No, there are only two of us."

"Heh... I understand. It seems the Red Ribbon Army hasn't done enough to make the world realize how terrifying we truly are. Young man, you have brought great trouble upon yourself. To die so young—even if you apologize now, I will not forgive you."

"You still don't seem to understand. As a martial artist, I am truly strong. I might not be able to destroy a city with one punch, but smashing your base to pieces is more than enough for me right now," Zhang Wutian tried to explain.

"Enough! I don't want to talk to you anymore. Await the retaliation of the Red Ribbon Army!"

The line went dead, but Zhang Wutian immediately dialed again.

"Who is this?" The same voice, and Commander Red sounded furious.

"It's me again, the mysterious martial artist."

"You really seem to want to die."

"How could that be? I study martial arts to become stronger and to deal with all kinds of dangers," Zhang Wutian said.

"Your martial arts won't save you!" Commander Red said coldly. "I will find you and kill you!"

"Whatever you say. But don't forget next Monday; I will definitely visit your headquarters. Please arrange your defenses by then. Don't make excuses if you lose because you didn't take it seriously. I will bring the three Dragon Balls as the wager. See you there."

"Very well, I will remember your words. I truly hope you can remain as composed as you are now when we finally meet."

On the other end of the line, Commander Red gritted his teeth.

Slamming the receiver onto the base, Commander Red immediately summoned his subordinate.

"Find out where that call just came from, now!!"

The subordinate left without daring to breathe a word, returning a moment later to report: "Reporting to the Commander, the call originated from a public phone booth in West City."

"West City?" Commander Red said viciously. "The children in the city these days don't know the terror of the Red Ribbon Army. To dare spout such nonsense to me, Commander Red—is the fear we sow not enough?"

Officer Black, who had been standing by the Commander's side, spoke up: "However, according to the radar, the three Dragon Balls are indeed gathered together. If what he says is true, we can easily obtain his Dragon Balls."

"I don't need you to remind me! You fool! How could the opponent simply deliver them to our doorstep? This must be a conspiracy!!"

"Even if it is a conspiracy, it will force him to show his hand. As long as he appears, there is no problem that the power of the Red Ribbon Army cannot solve!" Officer Black said with full confidence.

"Hmph, you have a point there. No one can be a match for our Red Ribbon Army!" Commander Red was equally confident. "Notify all officers to return to headquarters immediately for a briefing. Next Monday, is it? No matter who comes, I will make sure he experiences a grand welcoming ceremony from the Red Ribbon Army!"

"As you command, Commander!" Officer Black left to make the arrangements.

Alone in his room, Commander Red looked greedily at the three Dragon Balls on the table. He said fanatically, "Just a little more. Soon, I will have all seven. Brat, no matter who you are, I will find you soon. The Dragon Balls belong to me! My wish, my ambition—it will all be realized soon!"

"Hahahahaha!!" A series of laughs echoed through the room.

On the other side, Zhang Wutian left the public phone booth after the call was hung up once again.

"Next Monday, I'll head to the Red Ribbon Army headquarters with Wukong."

After wiping out the Red Ribbon Army, how should I find the last Dragon Ball? Let me think. It seems I need to find Master Roshi's sister, Fortuneteller Baba, and have her divine the location of the Dragon Ball. Where is Fortuneteller Baba? Do I have to go ask Master Roshi again? How annoying, it's just like an old-school RPG.

Without giving the Red Ribbon Army a second thought, Zhang Wutian had already begun considering matters further down the line...