"Jokes?... We don't know how to tell jokes," the group lying on the ground said in complete confusion, still struggling to understand what was happening.
Karnel's smile turned mischievous. "Oh, but you must tell jokes. Otherwise, you'll be sent straight back to Earth."
Krillin and the others exchanged bewildered glances. Why did they have to tell jokes? What did comedy have to do with martial arts training?
"Is this the guy who's supposed to teach us?" Yamcha whispered, eyeing the calm and composed King Kai. "He looks so... weird."
"Tch~ What could this fatty possibly teach us?" Piccolo muttered with disdain, glaring at the North Kai.
"Tch~! I don't want to teach you either, you rude guy," King Kai coughed and replied with obvious irritation.
Pfft~!
Before Piccolo could respond, King Kai covered his mouth, trying to contain himself. But it was no use? he burst into uncontrollable laughter, rolling on the ground. "Okay, okay! Your joke is hilarious! I'll teach you! Pfft! Hahaha~~"
"See? Even a cold-hearted guy like Piccolo can tell jokes," Karnel said, shaking his head as he lounged beside the small round house. "Can't you guys manage something that simple?"
"What's wrong? Isn't this joke funny? Why aren't you laughing?" King Kai looked around awkwardly, realizing he was the only one in hysterics. "Come on, laugh with me!"
Tien, Krillin, and the others had no idea what was happening. Piccolo had just said something completely normal, yet this strange old man found it hilarious. There was definitely something wrong with his brain.
"Ahahahaha!"
Realizing from Karnel's expression that this King Kai was indeed their instructor, they forced themselves to laugh along awkwardly.
"Right, it's funny, isn't it?" King Kai finally composed himself. "You, Namekian, have passed my test. Step aside. Next!"
"Tch!" Piccolo walked away, seriously beginning to doubt whether this so-called King Kai could actually teach him anything worthwhile.
"It's our turn?" Krillin whispered to the others. "He's not asking us to tell jokes like Piccolo did, is he?"
Tien and the others nodded, wiping cold sweat from their heads.
"Then I'll go first," Krillin announced loudly.
"How boring," Karnel muttered, wandering over to poke at Gregory the cricket with a stick.
Gregory looked like he was about to cry. This Saiyan was terrifying! Every time he tried to escape, he was caught and pressed to the ground, forced to crawl into tiny holes while being poked with the stick.
"Your name is Gregory, right?" Karnel asked casually, having nothing better to do.
Bubbles the gorilla cowered behind a tree, poking just half his head out to watch Gregory's inhumane torture, making pitiful whining sounds.
After what felt like hours...
"You all told jokes that made me laugh, excellent!" King Kai declared. Though he enjoyed comedy, he was serious about teaching disciples. "From now on, I will guide your training."
Hearing this, Krillin and the others jumped up in excitement, only to rise barely ten centimeters before gravity slammed them back down.
"Bubbles, Bubbles~! What are you doing hiding there? Come here! Someone wants to play a game with you."
King Kai searched for his pet gorilla and soon spotted Bubbles's head sticking out from under a tree. He waved and called out cheerfully.
But Bubbles refused to come out, whining and pointing frantically behind King Kai.
"What's wrong, Bubbles?... Oh no~~~~" King Kai looked back in the direction Bubbles was pointing and was immediately horrified. "What are you doing, Saiyan? My Gregory!" He quickly trotted over, shouting in alarm.
"Lord Kai~!" Gregory's eyes were filled with tears. He was finally saved! His wings flapped desperately, fearing he'd be caught by the devil Saiyan again if he was even a second slower.
Karnel looked slightly embarrassed. He quietly threw the small wooden stick behind him and used his foot to smooth over the holes he'd dug.
"Gregory and I were just... playing around. Haha~! Don't mind it!" With the evidence destroyed, Karnel smiled awkwardly.
"You barbaric Saiyan! You almost killed my Gregory!" King Kai carefully examined the little cricket to make sure it wasn't injured, then breathed a sigh of relief, wiping cold sweat from his head while complaining.
King Kai turned around and addressed both Bubbles and Krillin's group.
Bubbles hid timidly in front of King Kai, not daring to look at Karnel.
"Now the first step of training begins," King Kai announced, pulling out a pair of glasses and putting them on with a semicircular grin. "You just need to catch Bubbles on this planet."
Piccolo, Krillin, and the others were completely stunned. Catching a gorilla was considered training?
"Bubbles, run! What's wrong? Why are you just standing there?" King Kai looked at his pet gorilla in confusion.
But Bubbles wasn't listening at all. He glanced at Karnel, who was walking in his direction, and the gorilla's entire face went pale with terror. He bolted away at full speed.
Seeing that King Kai had given the order, Krillin and the others had no choice but to chase after Bubbles, but the speed difference was ridiculous...
"The gorilla seemed afraid of me..." Karnel mused, genuinely confused. He didn't think he'd done anything to the gorilla.
"King Kai, I'll leave them in your capable hands," Karnel said comfortably. "I won't stick around any longer."
With that, he teleported back to Earth.
King Kai stared at the spot where the Saiyan had vanished, that familiar feeling nagging at him even more strongly. The more he thought about it, the more familiar that face seemed, but he couldn't quite place it.
Saiyan... familiar face... those earrings...
"Could it be...?"