Tarble's Advice

Just as Son Goku finished speaking, Tarble walked in through the door.

After hearing Vegeta's words and remembering how Tarble had suddenly asked him to hand over the box earlier, Son Goku finally realized that something must be wrong.

Otherwise, Tarble wouldn't have called them all here for no reason.

"Tarble, did you discover something? Is that why you called us here?"

After sensing that the Mage Hoi's presence hadn't moved, Tarble nodded. "There's something going on."

"That old guy didn't feel like a good person to me. I can't shake the feeling that he's hiding something."

"But I don't know if my instincts are right."

"When you try to force the box open later, don't use your full strength. Just pretend."

"If I'm right, Gohan already tried and couldn't open it, even with his strength. That means brute force won't work."

"If we want to know what that old guy is really up to, everything will become clear after Shenron helps open the box."

As soon as he finished speaking,

Son Goku looked doubtful. "Really?"

"That old grandpa seemed perfectly normal to me!"

The moment he finished, Vegeta shot him a contemptuous look and seized the chance to insult him. "Do you think everyone's as stupid as you?"

Son Goku ignored the insult, tilted his head, and thought it over carefully. He still couldn't see anything strange.

"But I didn't notice anything wrong?"

Vegeta couldn't be bothered to insult him again. He shared his own impression instead. "That old guy made me feel uncomfortable for a moment."

"I thought it was just my imagination. I didn't realize you couldn't stand him either, Tarble!"

"Hmph!"

"Looks like that old guy really is up to something!"

"He dares come into my house and pull that creepy act? He's asking to die!"

"Couldn't stand him," huh?

You sure know how to put it, Vegeta.

Tarble regarded him with an inscrutable look.

Then Vegeta asked, "Tarble, how much of what the old guy said do you believe?"

"That whole thing about a great disaster in the universe—do you believe it?"

"And is that so-called hero really sealed inside the box?"

At that, Tarble shook his head without giving a definite answer. "Who knows?"

"But I'd guess that the hero named Tapion really is sealed inside the box."

"As for the great disaster in the universe, maybe it's something that old guy is plotting. Could be."

"Your Highness, should I go kill that old man right now?" Licks suggested.

A great disaster in the universe sounded like a catastrophe that could cause immense harm.

It looked like they might be caught up in it, too.

If so, it would be better to strike first.

That was his thinking.

Before Tarble or Vegeta could reject the suggestion, Son Goku hurriedly waved his hands to stop him. "No, no!"

"I think we should see what's going on first. We can decide after that, right?"

"What do you think, Vegeta? Tarble?"

To Son Goku, that was a living being.

Killing him without knowing for sure that he was an enemy would be far too cruel.

With his kind and simple heart, Son Goku couldn't accept that.

"Hmph!"

Seeing Son Goku act like that made Vegeta sick.

Seeing this, Tarble realized Vegeta might not cooperate, so he made his own position clear in advance.

"It's fine. We've just finished training, so we might as well have some fun while we're bored!"

"Let's see what that old guy is really up to."

"Hopefully, things get a little interesting."

"Everyone should only use part of their normal strength when testing whether they can open the box. If we scare the old guy off, we'll miss all the fun."

"Come on. Let's go shower first."

"I'm drenched in sweat. It feels awful."

Without waiting to see how Vegeta or Son Goku would react, he finished speaking, opened the door, and walked out.

He'd made his position clear. If Vegeta still refused to cooperate, there was nothing he could do.

Still, he was somewhat confident Vegeta would go along with it.

After all, inside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, Vegeta had mocked Son Goku by comparing him to Tarble more than once.

He often told Son Goku things like, "Tarble is the strongest Saiyan," looking so proud—as if he were happy and proud that Tarble had surpassed Son Goku.

If that was the case, Vegeta would probably play along at least a little.

Tarble had no idea how far he'd take the act, though.

As he walked down the hallway, he could still hear Licks speaking to Son Goku.

"Son Goku, go to my room and take a quick shower."

"Oh, okay. Thanks, Licks."

Fifteen minutes later.

After washing up, Tarble and the others had all changed into the Battle Suits Bulma had made.

When they reached the living room, Bulma had just come to call them to dinner. The meal was ready.

The four of them were already starving. They rushed toward the dining room.

They didn't say a word or wait for Bulma to bring the Mage Hoi to the table. They simply started wolfing down the food.

When Bulma arrived with Hoi, she saw the scene.

Good grief!

They were all shoveling down food, barely chewing, and showing no table manners at all.

She couldn't help complaining. "Honestly!"

"Couldn't you at least wait for our guest?"

But,

the four Saiyans were too busy eating to pay her any attention.

She was already used to it.

With a helpless look, she invited Hoi to take a seat, apologetically.

"Please, have a seat, Grandpa. Don't mind them."

Seeing people eat so much for the first time, the Mage Hoi's eyes widened. He chuckled and said, "Ms. Bulma, your husband and the other three gentlemen certainly have healthy appetites!"

He wasn't exaggerating in the slightest.

In all his long life, he'd never seen humans eat so much.

Bulma gave an awkward smile. "They're Saiyans. They just eat that much."

"Go ahead and eat, Grandpa."

"Otherwise, I'm afraid they'll finish all the food before long. Oh-ho-ho!"

"Very well. Thank you for the meal. Watching them enjoy their food has whetted my appetite, too. Well then, I'll dig in!"

Hoi replied with a cheerful laugh, then picked up his utensils with slow, gentle movements.

As he reached for the food, his right hand precisely selected a choice morsel while his left held his rice bowl in place to catch it, careful not to let a single drop of grease fall on the table.

He then brought the bowl close, placed the food in his mouth, and chewed slowly, savoring every bite. His manners were remarkably elegant.

Watching him eat, Bulma felt that seeing the old man enjoy his meal was a pleasure in itself.

Then she looked at Vegeta and the other three, eating like savages, and could hardly bear to watch.

What was more, every time Hoi finished tasting a dish, he gave it a fair appraisal and took the opportunity to compliment Bulma.

As a result, the smile on Bulma's face hardly faded at all.