"This is a 'transparent trap'... Sigh."
Master Roshi couldn't help but let out a sigh.
Although he had a bit of a lecherous streak, when it came to matters of major moral consequence—right versus wrong—he had always maintained a clear distinction, adhering to his own principles and bottom lines.
When facing bloodthirsty demons, he would never hesitate or show mercy; if someone deserved to die, he would kill them without fail.
Just as he had done earlier when he launched a sneak attack to kill Tambourine.
However, when facing the infant currently sitting inside that eggshell before him, he simply could not bring himself to strike a ruthless blow.
Even though he knew that this infant—left behind by King Piccolo—might very well grow up to become a second King Piccolo in the future.
Yet, for the moment, he was still just a harmless, innocent child.
Master Roshi knew that King Piccolo had anticipated precisely this—that they wouldn't have the heart to strike down an infant—which was exactly why he had chosen this course of action. It was, in every sense of the word, a "transparent trap."
But so what?
Even knowing that this was King Piccolo's calculated gambit, they were still compelled to play along.
That was why he sighed.
"So, what do we do now?"
Krillin asked, scratching his head.
Yamcha, Tien Shinhan, and Chiaotzu—the other three present—looked equally bewildered.
If even Master Roshi—the man who had suffered the most at King Piccolo's hands and harbored the deepest hatred for the demon race—couldn't bring himself to deliver the killing blow, then it was certainly impossible for the rest of them to do so.
But neither could they simply leave the child to fend for himself.
If they were to let this offspring of King Piccolo run wild and grow up without guidance, he would undoubtedly become another cancerous blight upon the world in the future.
As for Goku, he didn't seem particularly concerned about the infant Piccolo inside the egg.
In his view, King Piccolo's power—even at its absolute peak—had been laughably weak; so, even if King Piccolo's child turned out to be strong, just how strong could he possibly be?
In fact, if the child did manage to grow stronger, Goku would actually be rather pleased.
That would simply mean one more opponent with whom he could spar.
"I propose that we entrust him to the finest teacher in the world—the righteous, kind-hearted, and infinitely loving Master Roshi."
"If Master Roshi were to take this child under his wing and raise him, perhaps he could help him grow into someone who is, at least in some small way, a useful member of society."
Finally, Jackie Chun—Master Roshi's alter ego—clasped his hands behind his back and offered everyone a suggestion.
That's right; after mulling it over, he concluded that the only way to thwart King Piccolo's open stratagem was to attempt to adopt and mentor the young Piccolo himself.
Even if someone is born with an inherently evil nature, growing up in a wholesome environment might still bring about a change in them.
He didn't expect the young Piccolo to turn out exactly like Krillin or Goku; as long as he didn't grow up to be a scoundrel like the elder Piccolo, the effort would be well worth it.
If, in the end, his efforts proved futile, he could personally step in to resolve this potential threat when the time came.
And just in case he found himself unable to defeat the young Piccolo later on, he still had the Mafuba—the Evil Containment Wave—as a final failsafe.
"That's right! We could entrust him to Master Roshi—but where is Master Roshi?"
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately agreed that Jackie Chun's suggestion was truly excellent.
If there was anyone in this world capable of guiding the young Piccolo onto the right path, it could be none other than Master Roshi.
"He said he went to take a dump, and he still hasn't come back yet."
Bulma and the others, having realized that the battle had concluded, had just returned to the ringside area.
Seeing that the group was looking for Master Roshi, they immediately offered this explanation.
In truth, Master Roshi had vanished even before the tournament began; they had searched for him for quite some time but couldn't find him anywhere.
Master Shen had even broadcast a public announcement—deliberately intended to gross them out—calling for the search of a "senile old lecher."
"Ahem... well then. It's clear that the tournament can't possibly continue at this point, and I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be taking my leave now.
I'll see you all again at the next World Martial Arts Tournament in three years!"
Master Roshi—in his Jackie Chun guise—immediately waved to everyone, then strode off, vanishing from their sight as swiftly as the wind.
Everyone was left staring in stunned bewilderment.
"Why do I get the feeling he's in a huge rush?"
Krillin asked, looking utterly perplexed.
Meanwhile, Tien Shinhan gazed at Master Roshi's retreating figure, wearing a pensive expression.
In truth, he had already largely guessed the true identity of this "Jackie Chun."
For one thing, he had overheard snippets of the telepathic conversation that had just taken place between his own master—the Crane Hermit—and Jackie Chun.
For another, Jackie Chun had let slip far too many tells; anyone with even a modicum of common sense could have sensed that something was amiss.
"See you in three years, Grandpa!"
Goku waved enthusiastically at Jackie Chun's receding back.
By this point in the tournament, he had realized that Jackie Chun, Krillin, and the others weren't holding anything back; there was already a significant gap between their power levels and his own.
Yet, that didn't mean they wouldn't improve. Just as he himself was constantly growing stronger, they, too, were diligently training.
If he didn't work hard enough, he couldn't be certain that he would be the one to emerge victorious at the next World Martial Arts Tournament three years from now.
Crucially, this particular tournament had ended in a washout, meaning he hadn't managed to claim the championship title this time around.
Therefore, if he wanted to finally win the World Martial Arts Tournament championship he had been dreaming of, he would simply have to wait another three years.
"Hey, what's all the commotion about?"
Not long after, Master Roshi—having changed back into his usual attire and now leaning on his walking stick—walked in through a different entrance.
His face wore a look of utter bewilderment—feigning total ignorance of everything that had transpired—causing the corner of Tien Shinhan's mouth to twitch involuntarily.
"So that's what happened! To think that while I was just off taking a dump, all of this went down."
After listening to everyone excitedly recount the events in a chaotic chorus of voices, Master Roshi shook his head with a look of profound—albeit feigned.
"In that case, leave it to me. I'll make sure to give him some proper guidance."
And so, everyone boarded the aircraft that Bulma had deployed using a Hoi-Poi Capsule, left the now-deserted tournament arena, and flew toward Kame House.
"Master Roshi... you are Mr. Jackie Chun, aren't you?"
While seated inside the aircraft, Tien Shinhan secretly transmitted a telepathic message to Master Roshi to confirm his suspicions.
Master Roshi showed no surprise at having his identity discovered; instead, he simply smiled and nodded.
"Why did you choose to disguise yourself as Jackie Chun to enter the tournament?"
Tien Shinhan voiced the question that had been weighing on his mind.
Master Roshi was hailed as the "God of Martial Arts" and held the highest honors within the martial arts world; he had absolutely no need—unlike the others—to prove himself by competing in the World Martial Arts Tournament.
Much like his own master, the Crane Hermit, Master Roshi had no need to participate in the World Martial Arts Tournament.
If he won, it would be taken for granted; but if he lost, it would be a humiliating disgrace—a fall from his divine pedestal.
"I thought to myself: if my disciples were to win the championship, they would surely become complacent and arrogant, looking down on everyone else.
Such a mindset would trap them in a pit of hubris, stifling their drive for progress and causing them to grow lax in their training.
That is why I chose to disguise myself as Jackie Chun—to show them that there is always someone stronger out there, and to encourage them to continue striving to improve themselves.
I just never expected... that they would have already surpassed their master."
Master Roshi replied with a touch of wistfulness.
Upon hearing this, Tien Shinhan fell silent for a long moment.
"Master Roshi, may Chiaotzu and I train under your guidance?"
Never before had he felt so acutely the vast disparity between one master and another.
Look at his master... and then look at my master.
"Of course, that's no problem at all—though, truth be told, your own strength has already surpassed mine."
Master Roshi accepted his request without a moment's hesitation.
Tien Shinhan and Chiaotzu were not bad people at heart; with proper guidance, they would undoubtedly find their way back to the righteous path in the future.
"I feel that Chiaotzu and I still have a great deal to learn from you."
In any case, he and Chiaotzu had already been expelled from their sect by Master Shen, and they had nowhere else to go.
They might as well follow Master Roshi to train diligently; then, three years later, he could have a proper showdown with Son Goku.