Chapter 100: Tournament Begins
This day, Red Stone rarely bustled with activity. All Saiyans gathered together, surrounding a massive open-air arena, chatting in small groups.
Because today was Red Stone's first-ever martial arts tournament.
The arena was Turles's rush order to Karl—built within the past month. Considering participating Saiyans' high battle power, plus most battles would occur airborne, the platform's range was large but materials were ordinary—just standard bluestone paving. However, around the arena's perimeter stood four massive metal pillars.
These were energy barrier controllers Turles commissioned from Bels—the mercenary arena manager. They could envelop the entire arena, preventing scattered energy blasts from striking the audience during combat.
So the entire tournament venue appeared quite crude and simple.
Fortunately, Saiyans weren't a race overly concerned with appearances. They only cared about upcoming battles.
Everyone wondered which three people would win their respective bracket championships, thereby obtaining the Spirit Tree fruit Turles mentioned—and whether Spirit Tree fruit was truly as miraculous as Turles claimed.
All Saiyans had gathered at the tournament venue, awaiting the competition's start. But Turles hadn't appeared yet. He remained in the reception room, entertaining two special guests.
Precisely the arrived Whis and Merus.
"Teacher Merus, I thought you wouldn't come!" Turles looked at the somewhat awkward Merus with surprise.
Not that Turles didn't welcome Merus—he'd previously invited him. But at the time, Merus refused citing mission obligations.
Unexpectedly, he still came today—moreover, arriving together with Whis.
Regarding Merus, Turles felt very grateful. Though Merus hadn't actually taught him as a teacher, whether the training manuscripts left behind or introducing him to Whis—all had tremendously helped Turles.
Hearing Turles call him "teacher," Merus's face immediately reddened. His expression grew more awkward. Glancing at the snickering Whis beside him, Merus felt uncomfortable. "Turles, just call me Merus. 'Teacher' isn't necessary."
Merus knew he hadn't fulfilled a teacher's responsibilities toward Turles. Originally accepting Turles as a student was only because he noticed Turles's uniqueness—wanting to quickly complete his angel apprentice trial through Turles.
So aside from initially requesting a not-very-serious God of Destruction training manual for Turles, he'd never sought Turles out again. If not for Whis this time, he actually didn't want to come.
That's why Merus wanted Turles calling him by name directly!
Hearing Merus's words and seeing his expression, Turles's mind turned. He immediately understood. Glancing at Whis—who smiled and nodded—Turles had his answer. After thinking, he showed Merus a smile. "Then I'll follow Whis-san's example and call you Merus-san!"
Hearing this, Merus felt much more comfortable. He nodded, tacitly accepting.
"Good. Since both of you have arrived, we can begin the feast. Come—serve the dishes!"
Sensing the atmosphere growing subtle, Turles immediately changed topics, ordering the meal served.
Hearing Turles's command, attendants waiting nearby immediately entered carrying various delicacies. Whis's nostrils flared. His eyes immediately lit up.
Turles's goal was conquering this Seventh Universe's strongest existence through cuisine. Seeing the effect achieved, he immediately guided both toward the dining table.
"This dish is Cabbage in Supreme Broth. Don't let its ordinary appearance fool you—the essence lies in the soup base. What seems clear as water is actually meticulously prepared over long hours using numerous ingredients. The flavor is extremely rich. The broth is clear as tea, fragrance assaulting the nostrils. Within lies tender yellow cabbage heart—vegetables fresh and flavorful, clarity reaching the bottom. The taste is profound and lingering. Tasting it leaves endless aftertaste!"
Approaching a seemingly ordinary dish, Turles immediately began introducing it. After hearing Turles's description, Whis's eyes brightened. He eagerly grabbed a spoon, scooped up some, and—watching the crystal-clear broth—gently blew on it before placing it in his mouth.
The instant soup entered his mouth, Whis's expression grew somewhat peculiar. Covering his face, he became intoxicated by the deliciousness.
"Hehe!" Seeing Whis's performance, Turles's face showed an "as expected" smile.
"Truly delicious!"
After a long moment, Whis recovered from this delicacy, releasing a heartfelt exclamation.
Just then, Turles immediately handed Whis a glass of clear water. Seeing his confusion, he explained. "Many more delicacies follow. So we need to wash away each dish's flavor—only then can we taste the wonder within!"
Hearing this, Whis's interest grew even greater. He grabbed the water glass, took a large gulp, and eagerly moved toward the next dish.
This dish was also a soup. Approaching it, Whis didn't smell much fragrance. He looked at Turles somewhat puzzled.
Turles smiled slightly, lifting the lid before them. Immediately, rich aromas of wine, meat, and seafood mixed and dispersed—nose-assaulting fragrance making mouths water.
Under this aroma, even Turles couldn't help swallowing. Forcefully restraining his devouring desire, Turles grabbed a small bowl, ladling a full serving from the pot.
After handing the bowl to Whis, while swallowing saliva, Turles explained. "This dish is called Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. After long simmering, dozens of precious ingredients' flavors and gelatin completely merge into the broth. Various ingredients' tastes mutually permeate, making the soup rich and mellow. The texture is soft and tender yet savory without greasiness. Someone once praised: 'When the pot opens, savory fragrance drifts to all neighbors—Buddha smells it, abandons meditation, and jumps the wall!'"
After speaking, Turles could no longer restrain himself. Grabbing another bowl, after ladling a full serving from the pot, he first placed it beneath his nose—deeply inhaling the aroma—then began gulping it down.
As for Whis and Merus, their performances weren't much better than Turles's. Just holding bowls, they ravenously enjoyed this unprecedented cuisine.
After beautifully savoring Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, the three continued forward. Turles continuously introduced each delicacy's name.
"This is Lion's Head Meatballs with Crab Roe..."
"This is Longjing Shrimp..."
"This is Mapo Tofu..."
"This is..."
After the three had thoroughly tasted all delicacies, Whis and Merus's stomachs had swelled. Even so, Whis still held a dessert, continuously savoring it.
As for Turles—could only say that regarding eating, even angels couldn't match Saiyan stomach capacity.
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After eating and drinking their fill, Turles finally brought both to the tournament venue.
Turles's arrival didn't attract anyone's attention. Because currently, the arena's atmosphere was simply too fervent. Everyone loudly cheered the platform battle.
The competition had already reached the under-10,000 battle power bracket finals. On the platform battling were two rather young Saiyans.
Seeing these two, Turles froze. Because in his memory, Red Stone's Saiyans didn't include anyone this young. He immediately gestured to Nappa.
No wonder Turles felt so surprised—these two kids appeared underage. But the tails at their waists unmistakably revealed their Saiyan identity. Yet Turles clearly remembered—Red Stone's Saiyans included no minors.
Seeing Nappa jog over, Turles immediately pointed at the two kids on the platform. "Nappa, who are they? I don't recall Red Stone having underage Saiyans."
Reaching Turles, Nappa first curiously glanced at the blue-skinned Whis and Merus, nodding at them. After hearing Turles's question, he immediately looked at Turles strangely before saying:
"That's Cappuccino and Mocha. They're offspring some Saiyans had with natives on their respective planets before coming to Red Stone. They were only recently brought to Red Stone."
"Uh!" Turles hadn't expected this. He quickly examined them carefully. Indeed, he discovered differing characteristics—one had small scales on his head, the other possessed especially pale skin—so white you could see blood vessels beneath.
"But how were they brought to Red Stone? I don't remember going to get them."
Turles immediately realized a problem—aside from him, no one on Red Stone had learned Instant Transmission yet. Besides the technique being somewhat complex, many people weren't particularly interested. They currently cared most about improving battle power—gravity rooms and ki control provided such methods.
Hearing this question, Nappa's expression grew even stranger. He took a deep breath, seemingly calming his emotions. After a long moment, he said expressionlessly, "This is Lady Bulma's new invention. Her Instant Transmission spaceship has been successfully developed. It can locate any position in the universe. These people were brought here using that ship."
After speaking, without acknowledging Turles's embarrassed expression, Nappa directly turned and walked toward the host platform, continuing to emcee the competition.
Turles hadn't expected that in just half a year without paying attention, Red Stone had changed so dramatically. Most importantly—Bulma had actually invented the Instant Transmission spaceship.
"A ship that can locate any position in the universe and instant-transport?"
At this moment, Whis also grew interested. He looked at Turles curiously, asking.
Seeing Whis's curiosity, Turles also relieved his embarrassment. He briefly explained obtaining comprehensive spatial movement knowledge from Earth's Shenron, also introducing Bulma's genius to Whis.
He remembered that in the original story, Whis and Bulma got along extremely well.
Previously, when Bulma had planned inventing a time machine, Turles had to preemptively speak well of her before Whis.
"I see. The Namekian Shenron—I recall that's a race Lord Salama particularly favors. The Namekian Dragon Clan created Dragon Balls as Salama's special consideration for Universe 6 and Universe 7. Unless absolutely necessary, it's better not to use Dragon Balls excessively."
After hearing Turles's description, Whis didn't say much else. Just gave Turles this reminder.
Hearing Whis's words, Turles nodded thoughtfully.
He remembered that at the Tournament of Power's conclusion, the champion universe's prize seemed to be seven Super Dragon Balls. When Android 17 made his wish, he restored all universes the Omni-Kings had erased. So it seemed Super Dragon Balls were insurance the Dragon God Salama provided for the Omni-King's universe.
Seeing Turles absorb his words, Whis smiled with satisfaction. Then he looked at the two kids on the platform, swept his gaze over Saiyans whose auras had somewhat changed from before, and asked Turles meaningfully, "Turles-san, you're transforming your race—is it for managing the galaxy? Are you preparing to become a Supreme Kai candidate?"
"What?"
Hearing Whis's words, Turles snapped from contemplation, looking at Whis with shock.
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