Hearing Trunks' words, Vegeta was in a bit of a bind.
Trunks was at the age when he needed to go to school.
If he grew a tail, it would definitely be inconvenient.
When Trunks was born, he'd had a tail too.
But Bulma had said that having a tail meant he couldn't look at the moon. If Vegeta happened not to be around and Trunks accidentally saw the moon and turned into a Great Ape, it would be far too dangerous.
In the end, Vegeta couldn't argue against her. He also felt that a tail was a nuisance, so he didn't oppose her.
But things were different now. Knowing that a tail was the key to transforming into Super Saiyan 3 and Super Saiyan 4, he wanted to support Trunks in growing his tail back.
The problem was, he was worried Bulma wouldn't agree.
If this had happened when Trunks was just born, he wouldn't have considered Bulma's opinion at all. He would've made the decision himself and agreed right away.
But times had changed. Though he didn't dare admit it, he loved Bulma to the depths of his soul, so of course he had to consider her opinion.
For a moment, he was caught between two choices.
In the end, he could only settle on a compromise.
He suddenly crossed his arms over his chest, knitted his brows slightly, and said:
"Don't ask me. If you want to grow your tail back, go ask your mother."
"I definitely want you to become stronger. I'm just worried your mother won't agree."
After saying this, he didn't even dare look at Son Goku, Tarble, and the others. He simply closed his eyes, looking as if to say, "Don't ask me again."
Seeing Vegeta agree, Trunks was overjoyed.
"Thanks, Dad!"
"I'll go ask Mom in a bit!"
After saying a couple of quick words, he was about to take Son Goku and Son Goten to get the Dragon Radar.
Just then, Tarble called out to them. "Wait!"
The three stopped and looked back at him in confusion.
"Could we hold off on looking for the Earth Dragon Balls for now?"
"I heard the Namekian Dragon Balls are more powerful. Could you take me there?"
"Son Goku and my big brother can each use one wish. Could you save the last one for me?"
"We don't need to use the Earth Dragon Balls yet. We can save them for an emergency."
"Sure. Gohan still hasn't decided what he wants," Son Goku readily agreed.
Vegeta, however, had a glint in his eyes.
"Tarble, what do you want to wish for?"
"Don't tell me you want eternal life?"
Back then, he'd wanted to make that very wish too.
But later on, he'd stopped thinking about it.
He couldn't think of any other wish worth asking Shenron for.
Suddenly,
a towering figure flashed through his mind.
His pupils shrank in an instant as he thought he'd figured out the truth.
Then he said, his expression complicated, "Tarble, give it up."
"Someone who's been dead for too long can't be revived by Shenron."
All these years, he hadn't been without thoughts of reviving his father, King Vegeta.
But Shenron could only revive the dead under certain conditions. It wasn't as simple as wishing anyone back to life.
Tarble felt a little baffled.
Revive?
Who was he supposed to revive?
Everyone I knew in this life is alive and well.
Wait!
Could he think I wanted to revive King Vegeta?
That was possible!
You foolish big brother, why would I want to bring that old geezer back?!
What a pointless thought!
The wish I want to make is something far more grand!
In just a moment, he'd thought of many things and convinced himself he'd guessed right.
Then, pretending to be taken aback, he murmured with a hint of disappointment, "Someone who's been dead for too long can't be revived?"
Seeing this, Vegeta nodded firmly, wearing an expression that said, "Just as I thought."
"That's right!"
"If they've been dead too long, Shenron can't grant the wish."
"Oh." Tarble deliberately lowered his eyelids, fell silent for two seconds, then said, "Then... I'll make a different wish."
Vegeta was a little surprised that Tarble had given up on his original plan so quickly. "Oh?"
"Then what do you want to wish for?"
Tarble raised a hand above his head and gestured at his height before stating his wish.
"I want to be a little taller. I'm too short right now."
Even if he didn't say it now, the others would find out later when he secretly made the wish.
He might as well tell everyone outright.
But as soon as he finished speaking, he noticed that everyone present had their eyes wide with surprise.
Aside from wishing to bring someone back to life, the first wish that came to mind... was to get taller?
Unexpected!
So unexpected!
"Your wish... is certainly surprising!" Vegeta said, the corner of his mouth twitching despite himself.
But looking at Tarble, who was half a head shorter than him, he realized that Tarble really was a bit short.
Tarble's face remained calm, but in his heart, he retorted:
Surprising?
What's so surprising about it?
Getting taller is a wish so many people dream of, yet can't fulfill!
Even Frieza, the big shot of the galactic real estate world, desperately wants to grow five centimeters.
What a down-to-earth wish. Stop making such a fuss!
Just as he thought this, Son Goku burst out laughing.
"Haha, Tarble, you actually want to make that kind of wish!"
"But you're about as tall as Krillin right now. You really are a little short, haha!"
Krillin, standing in the crowd, shot him a resentful look.
"Goku!!!"
"You could've said that without dragging me into it..."
But Son Goku laughed again. "Krillin, what's the big deal?"
"You and Tarble are both pretty short!"
He'd gone straight for the jugular!
And done it twice!
The two men in question were left with dark lines all over their faces.
The others all tried to hold back their laughter.
Still, they knew Son Goku wasn't trying to mock them. He was simply too blunt.
Just then, the filial son, Son Gohan, stepped in to defuse the situation. His face showed a hint of embarrassment, but he still said righteously to Son Goku, "Dad, making fun of someone's height is very rude."
"If you keep that up, Uncle Tarble might get mad and refuse to teach you how to become a Super Saiyan 4!"
Got him!
Right where it hurt!
At once, Son Goku panicked and apologized, sounding as sincere as could be.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Tarble. I really wasn't making fun of you, so don't take it to heart, okay?!"
"Your wish is great, really great!"
"You'll still teach me how to transform into Super Saiyan 4, right?"
Seeing how cautiously he spoke, Tarble felt both amused and annoyed.
"Don't worry. I believe you weren't making fun of me, and I'll tell you how to transform too. But you'll have to be ready. I can tell you once we enter the Hyperbolic Time Chamber."
Hearing this, Son Goku immediately raised his right fist in celebration.
"Great!"
"Tarble, you're much easier to talk to than Vegeta!"
He'd blurted that out without thinking again.
Vegeta's face darkened, and he gritted his back teeth.
He was just about to start cursing when Son Gohan beat him to it.
"Dad!!"
"Stop saying things without thinking!"
No wonder Uncle Vegeta gets angry when you're so tactless!
At that moment, Son Gohan felt a little exhausted.
He'd finally managed to calm one person down, and now his dad was about to make someone else angry.
Sigh!
He really did have his hands full.
Before you continue