An Unexpected Visitor, Hoi the Konatsian

Watching Son Goku speed off into the distance, Dende asked without turning around,

"Mr. Popo, did you notice?"

"Their energy—Mr. Tarble and the others'—is getting more and more terrifying."

Mr. Popo nodded in agreement. "Yes, Kami. Popo can no longer sense how strong they are."

"Luckily, they're not our enemies. Otherwise..."

Dende couldn't help but sigh.

At the same time Tarble and the others powered up and flew off, the other warriors on Earth also sensed their energy.

But they weren't particularly surprised and carried on with their usual activities.

Of course,

there was one exception: Son Gohan was with Trunks and Son Goten, the two little troublemakers.

The three of them were holding the Dragon Radar and searching everywhere for the Dragon Balls.

"That's Dad's energy!"

Son Goten, who had been flying through the air, abruptly stopped, his face lighting up with delight.

"Big Brother, Dad and the others came out of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber!"

Son Gohan stopped flying too and agreed, "Yeah, that's definitely Dad's and Uncle Vegeta's energy."

"Looks like they're done training."

"I wonder if Dad managed to become a Super Saiyan 4."

As soon as he finished speaking, Son Goten chimed in, "Dad's so strong! He can definitely become a Super Saiyan 4 now!"

Trunks wasn't about to be outdone and stood up for his own dad. "That's right, Goten."

"Your dad and my dad can definitely both become Super Saiyan 4s!"

"They absolutely can!"

"Yeah!" Son Goten nodded emphatically.

Seeing this, Son Gohan smiled. "I think Dad and Uncle Vegeta both did it, too!"

"Let's see... They've been training in there for about two years."

"With their talent, there's no doubt Dad and Uncle Vegeta could become Super Saiyan 4s after two years."

"Haha, you think so too, Big Brother Gohan?" Trunks was thrilled, but then he thought of Licks. "I wonder if Uncle Licks managed it..."

"Man, I wish my mom would let me grow my tail back."

"It's so annoying that I have to wait until I graduate from college before I can grow it back."

After hearing Trunks complain, Son Gohan reassured him. "Trunks, time flies."

"Graduating from college will come around before you know it."

"Look at me. I'm in the same boat, aren't I?"

Trunks's gloomy expression lifted a little. He asked curiously, "Hey, Big Brother Gohan, why don't you grow your tail back?"

"Becoming a Super Saiyan 4 is so cool."

"Haha, I have to deal with people all the time, so having a tail would be inconvenient," Son Gohan said with a chuckle. "But the Super Saiyan 4 form really is cool."

"If I get the chance someday, I'll consider growing my tail back."

"For now, we should hurry up and find the remaining Dragon Balls."

"Otherwise, that old man will be getting impatient."

Only then did Trunks suddenly remember. "Ah!"

"That's right!"

"We need to find the Dragon Balls first. Then we'll get to see what the hero the old man mentioned looks like!"

"Big Brother Gohan, Goten, let's go!"

"Mm!"

"Okay."

While Son Gohan and the others searched all over the world for Earth's seven Dragon Balls, Tarble and the other three returned to Bulma's Super Villa.

But they found Bulma entertaining an unfamiliar old man.

"Ah~ Vegeta, Tarble, you're back~"

The moment Bulma saw Vegeta and Tarble, she called out to them.

"Long time no see, Sis-in-law~" Tarble greeted her with a smile.

Vegeta frowned, his displeasure plain on his face. "Bulma, who is he?"

"I've never seen him before."

From the first moment he laid eyes on the old man, something about him had made Vegeta uncomfortable.

But he couldn't say whether it was hostility or bloodlust.

The feeling had vanished in an instant.

Although the old man's energy was weak, Vegeta was sure he was no good.

Vegeta wasn't the only one who had noticed him. Tarble and Licks had also seen the unfamiliar old man sitting on the sofa.

Licks couldn't make anything of him, but a strange glint flickered in Tarble's eyes.

Could this old man be that evil mage from the Hero Saga?

With that thought, he immediately activated the Insight Eye.

"Target: Hoi Race: Konatsian Battle Power: 38"

A Konatsian?

It had to be him... right?

Tsk, he'd forgotten what race that mage in the movie was.

Well... he'd see how things played out first...

Although he had his suspicions, Tarble kept his expression unchanged. After giving the old man a casual glance, he looked away.

Only after hearing Vegeta's question did Bulma remember they had a guest, and she promptly introduced him.

"Huh?"

"Vegeta, you mean old man Hoi?"

"Trunks and Goten brought him back. Listen, Vegeta, there might be a huge disaster coming to our universe!"

"Good thing you got back in time. Otherwise, I really wouldn't know what to do!"

"A huge disaster?" Vegeta furrowed his brows. "Hmph. Why would there suddenly be a huge disaster?"

"Bulma, with your brains, you shouldn't believe such an obvious lie, should you?"

"If you ask me, those two brats, Trunks and Goten, brought home an ordinary old man who's lost his mind and does nothing but babble nonsense."

"Hmph!"

"Those two little punks must have too much time on their hands if they're bringing just anyone home!"

"Looks like I need to find something for them to do, so they'll stop causing trouble everywhere!"

"Bulma, hurry up and send him away. And you believe him when he says 'the universe is going to suffer a huge disaster'?"

While everyone's attention was on Vegeta, a barely detectable trace of killing intent surfaced in Hoi's eyes.

But he soon returned to his harmless-looking self.

After working himself up, he sprang to his feet the next moment, his voice full of indignation. "Sir, I'm perfectly sane!"

"And everything I've said is true. If it isn't, you can kill me right now!"

"Anyway, if the hero isn't freed, no one in this world will be able to stop this disaster."

"I heard from Trunks that there was a way to free the hero Tapion from this box, so I came here with hope in my heart."

As he spoke, he took a small silver box from his clothes and held it out in his palm.

"If you don't believe me, try opening this box and freeing the hero Tapion trapped inside."

"Then it'll be clear whether this old man's words are true or not."