Future Considerations

The result was exactly as the Scouter displayed.

Raditz had defeated King Piccolo with overwhelming force.

However, Raditz appearing near him so suddenly was somewhat unexpected; fortunately, his Scouter monitored power level fluctuations and provided an early warning.

"Number Zero, you are indeed very strong. Even Sun Wukong would be no match for you."

He had previously regarded Sun Wukong as his primary target, never expecting that the android he had intentionally let go would become a much greater menace.

Raditz glanced at the countdown still ticking away; four minutes remained.

He was in no rush, pacing the room casually and picking up some cluttered items as he spoke, "Do you know about the Scouter?"

Aside from the Scouter, Raditz could think of nothing else that would allow Dr. Gero to know his true strength.

Once this piece of the puzzle clicked, it also explained how he had managed to send the recording to King Piccolo.

"Since you already know, I won't hide it from you," Dr. Gero's voice rang out with a hint of a smile. "I began observing you as early as when you went to Briefs' place."

"I am well aware of those things of yours that defy imagination."

"However, there is still one thing I don't understand..."

"Can you tell me how you became so strong?" Dr. Gero's tone carried a trace of astonishment.

"Haven't you already seen it? That Gravity Chamber," Raditz said.

"Heh, if the Gravity Chamber truly had such an effect, then Piccolo Jr. would not have been so easily defeated by you again."

The mocking laughter made the veins on Piccolo's forehead bulge, his expression sullen.

Unfortunately, even with all the rage in his heart, he knew that the guy hiding behind the screen was speaking the truth.

He even felt that the gap between himself and Raditz was greater than the gap between his father and Raditz.

There must be something else he didn't know that was widening this disparity.

"It's that thing called a Senzu Bean, isn't it?" Dr. Gero continued, his tone full of playfulness. "It's not just for recovering stamina; perhaps it possesses some magical ability to increase power levels?"

His Micro-Robots had recorded instances where Raditz collapsed from overtraining in the Gravity Chamber, only to regain his vitality thanks to a single bean. Dr. Gero had long coveted such a miraculous bean, but he had no way to get his hands on one.

Now that he thought about it, that bean might be the key to Number Zero's strength.

Raditz: "..." He even knows about the Senzu Beans? Did he install surveillance at Bulma's house?

However, Dr. Gero had basically guessed the general idea; the Gravity Chamber and the Senzu Beans were indeed important factors in Raditz's growth.

As for the most crucial ability gained through the system, no matter how much he pondered, he would never understand it.

"Dr. Gero, we actually have no enmity between us. You have absolutely no need to target me."

Raditz did not respond to Dr. Gero's speculation about the Senzu Beans, staring instead at the monitor.

"You can settle your personal grudge with Wukong yourself, but if you dare to lay a finger on anyone else..."

With that, Raditz gathered his energy.

"5,000..."

"6,000..."

Bang!

The Scouter Dr. Gero was wearing on his face suddenly exploded!

Dr. Gero: "..."

"Although you escaped this time, I have plenty of ways to find you, just like I did today."

"Also, regarding what you are doing..."

"How is your infinite energy project coming along?"

"Which generation of androids are you researching now? 17? 18?"

Surveillance, is it? I am monitoring your present, and even more so, your future.

Ignoring the silent Dr. Gero behind the monitor and the trembling Piccolo to the side, Raditz turned and walked toward the exit.

It was a pity that he hadn't managed to capture Dr. Gero despite using the Dragon Ball teleportation, but as long as he knew who this person hiding in the shadows was, his goal had been achieved.

Since it wasn't a sudden, unknown enemy, the situation hadn't exceeded his expectations.

Raditz thought again of that pair of siblings.

They should be undergoing modifications under Dr. Gero right now, shouldn't they?

Android 17 and Android 18, Dr. Gero's ultimate weapons—according to the current timeline, they should still be in the early stages of modification.

He wondered which universe he was in; was it the Future Trunks timeline or the dead timeline?

Or...

The universe that was destroyed by Zeno?

Raditz looked somewhat solemn.

This was also the reason he intended to let Dr. Gero off for the time being.

Everything would be reconsidered only after Android 17 and Android 18 emerged; for now, he could only threaten him not to lay a hand on those around him who lacked combat power.

As for exposing his own strength and his knowledge of what Dr. Gero was doing.

Raditz actually hoped that he would truly be intimidated and remain dormant for a few years, just like in the original story.

Piccolo also walked out of the cave, watching Raditz in silence.

The brief burst of aura just now had made him recognize the gap between them.

"The arrogant King Piccolo is actually cooperating with someone else; it seems I've put quite a bit of pressure on you," Raditz teased, looking at Piccolo a few meters away.

"Hmph, if you don't kill me, just wait and regret it. Sooner or later, I will defeat you and conquer the world," Piccolo said.

"Conquer the world?"

"Suit yourself. What I said to Dr. Gero applies to you as well; you are free to target only me."

Having said that, Raditz did not linger any longer. He floated into the air, shot off into the distance, and vanished among the rocky mountains.

On the other side, Dr. Gero had been so shocked by Raditz's words that he had stopped moving for quite a while.

Is he monitoring me too? Otherwise, how would he know so much about my research?

And...

17 and 18, the specific numbers he mentioned, were the codenames of the pair of siblings he had just received and was currently beginning to modify.

It couldn't be such a coincidence, could it?

It must be that guy Briefs playing tricks behind my back; I underestimated him.

Dr. Gero felt somewhat annoyed; all of his underground laboratories would have to be relocated.

"Unfortunately, the Android Controller really didn't work."

Earlier, when Raditz walked into the laboratory, Dr. Gero had remotely activated the Android Controller he had specifically placed there.

It had absolutely no effect.

Now, Dr. Gero truly had no way to deal with Raditz.

The combat power that had just blown up his scouter was already beyond his reach, and the current surveillance was a potential danger as well.

It seemed that until there was a breakthrough in the Android Project, it was better not to provoke him.

In West City, as soon as he landed, Raditz found Bulma and explained the situation.

"You're saying that Dr. Gero has been monitoring this place the whole time?!" Bulma said, shocked.

"Yes. I could have captured him this time, but unfortunately, I was a bit negligent and let him get away," Raditz said.

"No way, I have to make an Interferer right away. Just thinking about him staring at us right now gives me the creeps."

Bulma imagined the scene—a pair of dark eyes watching them at all times—and immediately felt uneasy. She switched into research mode, rapidly assembling mechanical parts.

"Remember to make a big one, preferably one that can cover your entire house," Raditz reminded her.

Watching Bulma start to busy herself, Raditz, feeling bored, walked into the Gravity Chamber.