Android 17 and Android 18 stared fixedly at the remote in Wang Shen's hand.
If that thing was in the Saiyan's hands, it would be difficult to take it back.
Noticing their heated gazes, Wang Shen looked back at the conflicted Android 18 and smiled.
"You want it?"
Android 18 was silent for a moment, then slowly asked:
"Would you give it to me?"
"Of course. It's no use to me. I'm not a bad guy like this old geezer."
Wang Shen immediately denied it, conveniently adding a label of kindness to himself.
Android 18 continued:
"Don't you want to use it to control us?"
She didn't believe the other party was really so kindhearted.
"Why would I want to control you?"
Wang Shen replied with heartfelt sincerity:
"In my eyes, you're people too. You're free and have minds of your own, not just tools. You were only victimized by Dr. Gero."
As a graduate of an outstanding university on Blue Star, Wang Shen's values and beliefs were unquestionably upright.
He wasn't saying this to move Android 18. He genuinely believed it.
Even if Lazuli ultimately chose not to be with him, he wouldn't hold a grudge.
He certainly wouldn't lock her away in some secret chamber.
But then Wang Shen changed tack, the corner of his mouth curling into a wicked grin.
"Besides, with my strength, would I need this thing to control you?"
Pfft!
A muffled explosion rang out.
Wang Shen had crushed the remote himself!
Wang Shen smiled at Android 18, his expression seeming to say:
See? I didn't lie to you.
Android 18 and Android 17 both stared at Wang Shen in disbelief and astonishment.
You've got to be kidding.
Some were delighted, while others were devastated.
Dr. Gero looked utterly despairing, as if his factory had gone bankrupt and his pension had vanished.
He was finished!
"Bastard! I'll never share a world with Saiyans!"
Dr. Gero's face twisted with rage as he charged at Wang Shen like a madman.
Cracks appeared all over his body, and white light shone through them.
He had a powerful bomb inside him, too.
Wang Shen remained calm and sneered:
"You want to blow yourself up and take me with you? You're not worthy."
By then, Dr. Gero had reached Wang Shen.
Without changing expression, Wang Shen thrust out his palm with blinding speed, piercing Dr. Gero's chest.
Before Dr. Gero could self-destruct, Wang Shen crushed his energy core and the bomb together.
Boom!
A massive burst of energy exploded in Wang Shen's palm, only to be suppressed at once.
Wang Shen closed his hand, and the explosive energy vanished without a trace.
Forget Dr. Gero—even the bomb inside Android 16 couldn't pose the slightest threat to Wang Shen in Super Saiyan Full Power!
"How... could this be!?"
Dr. Gero, barely clinging to life, saw this final sight and collapsed in utter unwillingness.
Wang Shen raised his hand and released an energy ball.
It turned Dr. Gero's corpse to ash.
Wang Shen's signature smile returned. He turned to Android 18 and Android 17 and apologized:
"Sorry, I've already sent Dr. Gero on his way. You don't mind, do you?"
"...No, we don't."
Android 17, still staring in shock, loosened the scarf around his neck and explained seriously:
"He conducted inhuman experiments on Android 18 and me. Even if you hadn't done it, we would've killed him ourselves."
"Actually, we should be thanking you for helping us escape Dr. Gero's control."
Android 18 tucked a stray strand of golden hair behind her ear and spoke softly:
"I can tell you mean us no harm, but... why did you help us?"
"Dr. Gero programmed us to kill Son Goku and eliminate the Saiyans. From that perspective, you and I are enemies."
"And then what?"
Wang Shen asked in return:
"Are you going to fight me again?"
Android 18 and Android 17 hurriedly shook their heads.
From the energy he had just released, they had already realized that the other party's fighting power far surpassed theirs.
Even if the two of them fought together, they wouldn't be a match for him.
Though the two of them had just been awakened and believed themselves invincible, the calm, natural aura Wang Shen gave off had kept them from wanting to attack him.
Wang Shen smiled with satisfaction.
He had deliberately released that energy to make sure they understood the gap between them.
There was no need for pointless fighting.
Android 17 didn't matter.
He was just his brother-in-law. A beating was a beating.
More importantly, Wang Shen didn't want to fight Android 18 again.
"Don't worry. I won't attack you."
"Like I said, you're victims too. I'm only here to deal with Dr. Gero, the real culprit."
Wang Shen met Android 18's gaze. His clear, bright eyes held nothing but kindness.
Under the gaze of that gentle look, Android 18's heart stirred, and her eyes trembled.
It was a warmth she hadn't felt in a very, very long time.
Just then.
The blunt Android 17 suddenly spoke, startling them both.
"Look, it seems there's another android in here."
Unlike the upright pods Android 17 and Android 18 had been kept in, this one lay flat on the ground.
Android 18 quickly looked away and raised a hand to brush back her golden hair, hiding her inner turmoil.
She read the number on the pod.
"Number 16."
"He actually kept Android 16 in storage."
Wang Shen watched Android 18's graceful back, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
It was fine. There was no need to rush.
"Let him out, too," Wang Shen said.
Android 16 was also a very kindhearted robot who loved nature.
He could be sent to Whis's place to take over the estate work for him.
That would work out well for everyone...
Android 17 nodded and was about to act.
Suddenly, an explosion interrupted him, followed by a tremor that shook the research lab.
Then—
A blast of energy blew open the research lab's entrance.
Billowing smoke and dust swept inside.
Just as they were about to be engulfed, Android 17 and Android 18 hurriedly covered their mouths and noses with their scarves or hands.
Only Wang Shen remained standing where he was, completely unmoved.
Pfft!
An invisible gust burst from around Wang Shen and roared outward, scattering all the smoke and dust.
In an instant, the entire area came into view, laid bare before everyone.
The people outside were Vegeta, Trunks, Piccolo, Tien Shinhan, and Krillin.
Vegeta still had one hand raised, frozen in the act of firing an energy wave.
Vegeta stared straight at Wang Shen's face. His pupils contracted, and shock appeared on his face.
"You're... Karotis!? You're still alive!"
Ever since Karotis had mysteriously disappeared that morning, Vegeta had never seen him again.
Karotis was nowhere to be seen on that cliff anymore, either.
After all these years, he had assumed Karotis had perished along with Planet Vegeta.
Far from home, they had finally met a fellow countryman.
Their eyes immediately welled up with tears!
"Long time no see, Vegeta."
Wang Shen greeted Vegeta warmly, feeling deeply moved inside.
It seemed like only yesterday that they'd last met.
Vegeta's feelings were complicated. He stared at Wang Shen's brilliant golden hair, puzzled.
"Why are you here? How did you suddenly disappear all those years ago?"
"You even became a Super Saiyan."
Wang Shen's pupils were golden, like amber. There was no trace of violence, bloodlust, or arrogance about him.
Instead, his aura was calm and unfathomable, as though he had returned to a state of utter simplicity.
His form was worlds apart from Vegeta's Super Saiyan form.
His childhood friend, who had mysteriously vanished, had suddenly appeared here out of nowhere.
One question after another battered Vegeta's mind.
"Haha, that's a bit of a long story," Wang Shen said, scratching the back of his head.
"Hmph. Whatever!"
If Karotis didn't want to say, Vegeta wasn't going to press him.
Vegeta stepped forward, keeping his eyes fixed on Android 17 and Android 18, his gaze brimming with fighting spirit and murderous intent.
"Now, Karotis, move aside. I'm here to destroy the androids."
"Whatever your reason for being here, they're my opponents!"
At his words, Android 18 and Android 17's eyes sharpened. They glared coldly at Vegeta.
Vegeta sneered, utterly arrogant.
He'd thought Karotis would obediently move aside.
But—
Wang Shen shifted his feet just enough to stand between Android 18 and Vegeta.
He shook his head and said:
"Sorry, Vegeta. You're going to leave disappointed."
"They're with me now!"
"What did you say!?"
Vegeta raised his voice, his anger surging.
At the same time—
Android 17 stared in astonishment.
Android 18 looked at Wang Shen with an even stranger expression.
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