"Who are you calling a bastard? That's my line!" The newly arrived fat man looked displeased, his voice laced with obvious anger. "You stole my fish! That's despicable!"
"Your fish? That fish was already there." Son Goku raised an eyebrow.
"Idiot! Would a fish come over and roast itself over a fire? You bad guy!" Furious, the fat man clenched both fists, looking ready to fight Son Goku at any moment.
Son Goku hopped lightly off the little rocky hill and landed steadily in front of the fat man.
"That was my breakfast. It was almost cooked, and I was just about to eat it when you stole it," the fat man said.
"You've got some nerve!" Son Goku retorted. "You threw a rock at me the moment you showed up." His gaze suddenly froze as he noticed a shining Dragon Ball hanging around the fat man's neck. "Is that my Dragon Ball?"
"I get it. You're with those monsters, aren't you?" Son Goku said.
"Monsters? Shut up! Don't spout nonsense to weasel your way out of this. You're a fish thief, plain and simple!" the fat man shot back angrily, then took a fighting stance.
"I'm going to teach you a lesson, you little brat. Don't go crying afterward."
"What? You fatty." Son Goku refused to back down, his tone provocative.
"Fatty?" The word instantly struck a nerve. The fat man's cheeks flushed red, and he charged furiously at Son Goku.
Their brief clash flew with sparks, every contact seeming to set off flashes of electricity in the air.
Son Goku nimbly dodged the fat man's attacks without forgetting to strike back, each blow incredibly precise.
Though the fat man was bulky, he wasn't slow either, answering Son Goku's challenge with all his strength.
After several exchanges, both stepped back a few paces and faced each other.
This kid looks unremarkable, but he's not to be underestimated.
Then they clashed again, their figures tightly intertwined as the mingled scent of dust and sweat filled the air.
The battle between Son Goku and the fat man grew fiercer, every exchange seeming to test the other's limits.
Before long, the fat man suddenly drove his head toward Son Goku's.
Pong!
It sounded like stones colliding.
"Ow! It's as hard as a rock! That hurts so much!" Son Goku clutched his head and crouched on the ground in pain.
"Now you know how tough I am, huh?" the fat man said with a smug laugh.
However, Son Goku wasn't the sort to admit defeat easily.
He endured the pain in his head, a stubborn gleam flashing in his eyes.
"Watch me hit back."
The words had barely left his mouth before he slammed his own head into the fat man.
Pong! This time, the fat man staggered backward, clutching his forehead.
"Your head's the rock!" the fat man complained painfully, his eyes full of disbelief.
The two stood facing each other, and the atmosphere suddenly grew tense.
The fat man studied Son Goku, his gaze turning somewhat serious.
"Who exactly are you? You can't be an ordinary thief."
"I'm not a thief! My name's Son Goku!" Son Goku said earnestly.
"Tch! What a weird name." The fat man curled his lip disdainfully.
"Then what's your name?" Son Goku asked.
"I'm not telling you," the fat man said.
"That's so underhanded! Damn it!" Unable to swallow his anger, Son Goku rushed forward and grappled with the fat man again.
Just then, he suddenly noticed the Dragon Ball on the fat man's chest and immediately stopped moving.
"Ah! Yours has one star. It's not the one that was stolen from me. Where did you get it? Tell me!"
"I picked it up three years ago. Got a problem with that?" the fat man replied coldly.
"Oh, I see!" Son Goku scratched his head and gave an embarrassed smile.
"I'm really sorry. Looks like I misunderstood you."
"I don't know what you're talking about. Don't think you can just smile and call it even. Give me back my fish," the fat man said discontentedly.
"Huh?!"
"What do you mean, huh? Spit out that fish!" the fat man's voice grew louder and louder.
Just then, Son Goku pointed into the distance.
"No, that is..."
"What's that?" The fat man turned to look and saw a strangely shaped flying object approaching rapidly in the distance.
It was Cymbal, searching for the Dragon Balls. Like a green bolt of lightning, he swiftly landed before them.
Cymbal swept a cold glance over them.
"Brats, answer me."
"You look like that person, but you're not that guy." Looking at Cymbal's green flying-dragon appearance, Son Goku thought of the green humanoid who had knocked him down.
"What are you supposed to be? Why are you so full of yourself?" the fat man said irritably upon hearing Cymbal's words.
Cymbal's voice carried a threat.
"Listen carefully. If you don't tell me the truth, I'll kill you. Have you seen any glass balls with stars in them around here?"
Hearing this, the fat man's face flushed even redder with anger.
"Is that any way to ask someone a question?"
"That's it." Cymbal's gaze locked onto the Dragon Ball around the fat man's neck, a flicker of greed passing through his eyes.
Son Goku noticed Cymbal's unusual reaction. Something stirred in his mind, and he immediately connected it to the possibility that Cymbal was an accomplice of that mysterious person.
"Do you have a companion who looks like this...?" Son Goku tugged at his mouth, deliberately drawing out his voice as he imitated a strange pose and spoke to Cymbal.
"With big wings and a really bad temper. Tell me!"
Hmm... Cymbal paused, thinking.
"Could you mean Tambourine?"
"So you really are with him."
"So what? Enough chatter, fatty! Hand over the ball!" Cymbal waved impatiently and spoke coldly.
"Fatty? Damn you! Why should I listen to a nasty guy like you?" The fat man's face turned livid with rage, and he tightly gripped the weapon in his hand.
"Wait! Leave him to me." Just as the tension was about to erupt, Son Goku suddenly stepped forward, blocking the fat man's path, and spoke with a resolute expression.
"Don't stick your nose into this." The fat man glanced at Son Goku and muttered discontentedly.
"Do you know his companion killed my friend?" Son Goku remained unmoved, determination to take revenge flashing in his eyes.
"That's none of my business. He's my prey. I'll have him for breakfast instead of the grilled fish." The fat man snorted coldly, clearly dismissing Son Goku's words.
"No! I'll fight him!"
"You're really annoying. In that case, let's play rock-paper-scissors!"
"Okay!"
"Scissors, rock, paper!"
Cymbal stood to one side, watching the two ignore him and play rock-paper-scissors, his mouth hanging open in fury.
He yelled angrily.
"How dare you look down on me! I'm one of King Piccolo's subordinates!"
"We don't care who you are!" The fat man remained dismissive and continued playing rock-paper-scissors with Son Goku.
In the end, the fat man won and jumped up excitedly.
"Great, I won! Leave him to me!" the fat man said.
He walked toward Cymbal and said disdainfully, "Come on! Let's fight! Though you don't look very appetizing."
Cymbal sneered, the corners of his mouth curling into a sinister arc.
"Hmph! You'll regret not handing over the ball."
"I think you'll be the one regretting it!" the fat man roared, charging at Cymbal.
The battle that followed was exceptionally fierce. The fat man kicked at Cymbal's jaw, aiming to kill him with one blow.
However, Cymbal alertly dodged aside and lashed his tail hard at the fat man, sending him flying.
"How's that, you fatty..."
The fat man rolled and got back up, brushed the dust off himself, then glanced at Son Goku and couldn't help remarking.
"Today's really strange. I keep running into strong guys."
Then he turned toward Cymbal, a resolute light flashing in his eyes.
"My name isn't fatty. I'm... Yajirobe!" As he spoke, he drew his sword and swiftly slashed at Cymbal.
Before Cymbal could react, a single slash cut his throat.
Watching this, Son Goku couldn't help exclaiming.
"He's really strong!"