"K… Kakarot?"
Son Goku pointed at his own nose, completely confused.
"Are you talking to me? My name is Son Goku!"
Raditz let out a cold laugh. The sound carried clear impatience, as if he had heard this kind of "amnesia act" far too many times.
He stepped forward. Each step carried a pressure that made the air feel heavier.
"Stop pretending. You may have grown up, but I recognized you the moment I saw your face. You look exactly like our father."
Krillin's hand paused slightly while holding his teacup.
Father.
Bardock.
The legendary Saiyan warrior.
Deep within Krillin's mind, enhanced by the Genius Mind ability, fragments of memory about that man briefly surfaced.
A warrior with a blood-stained red bandanna tied around his head.
A lone fighter who once faced Frieza's overwhelming forces, trying to change the doomed fate of the Saiyan race.
He had only been a low-class warrior, yet the courage he displayed was rare among Saiyans.
Unfortunately, he never had the chance to grow stronger. His fate vanished along with the destruction of Planet Vegeta.
"I don't know you! Who are you supposed to be?"
Goku frowned and instinctively stepped in front of Gohan, shielding his son.
"I am your older brother, Raditz!"
Raditz spread his arms as if announcing an undeniable truth.
"And you are one of the Saiyans, the strongest warrior race in the universe. Your true name is Kakarot!"
"Saiyan? Brother?"
Goku scratched his head and turned toward Master Roshi.
"Grandpa Roshi, do I really have a brother?"
Master Roshi had already dropped his usual carefree expression. Behind his sunglasses, his eyes were unusually serious.
He sighed and slowly stepped forward with his cane.
"Goku… I had planned to tell you this when you were a little older."
He began explaining the story of how Grandpa Gohan had found Goku years ago.
A mysterious spherical spaceship falling from the sky.
A wild and violent baby who behaved like a little beast.
And the accident when the child fell down a cliff, after which his personality completely changed.
"So he lost his memory because of brain damage?"
Raditz nodded as if everything now made sense.
"No wonder you forgot your mission."
"Saiyans are conquerors of the universe. We wipe out the native populations of valuable planets and then sell those worlds to other civilizations."
"That is our job. And you, Kakarot, were sent here to eliminate the inhabitants of this planet."
"Wipe them out?"
Goku's eyes widened in shock.
"Are you crazy? I'd never do something like that! I'm an Earthling!"
"How stubborn."
Raditz shook his head. His expression grew colder.
"Look at the situation now. Planet Vegeta was destroyed by a massive catastrophe. Only a few Saiyans survived. Me, you, and two others."
"Kakarot, join us. We need more warriors to conquer a high-value planet."
"So what?"
"Even if you really are my brother, I would never join someone like you!"
Goku refused without hesitation.
"Someone like me?"
Raditz laughed as if he had just heard a joke.
"Power decides everything. The weak simply have no say."
"If you refuse to cooperate, then don't blame me for what happens next."
His gaze moved past Goku and landed on the trembling child hiding behind him.
"Oh? That kid… he has a tail."
Raditz's eyes lit up.
"So the Saiyan bloodline still survives. Since you refuse to join us, the boy will take your place."
His body moved in a blur, as fast as lightning, as he reached toward Gohan.
"Don't touch Gohan!"
Goku reacted instantly and tried to intercept him.
But compared to Raditz, his movements looked painfully slow.
Bang.
Raditz drove his knee forward.
Goku collapsed to the ground, clutching his stomach, unable to even cry out in pain.
The difference in strength was absolute.
"Too weak, Kakarot."
Raditz grabbed Gohan by the collar and lifted him like a helpless chick.
"I'm taking this kid. If you want him back, bring me two hundred human bodies from this area by this time tomorrow."
"Otherwise…"
Gohan burst into tears, struggling desperately, but Raditz's grip was like iron.
At that moment, a childish but extremely arrogant voice suddenly broke the silence.
"Hey, long-hair. Put the crybaby down."
Raditz paused and turned.
Standing in his path was the black-haired boy, Trillin, with his hands on his hips.
The small boy tilted his head up, glaring at him with clear irritation.
"Oh? Another one who wants to die?"
Raditz tapped his scouter with interest.
Beep. Beep.
The numbers flickered rapidly before stabilizing.
Battle Power: 350
Raditz froze for a moment.
"Three hundred and fifty? That's impossible! How could a child from this planet have that kind of power? Even Kakarot only has 334!"
Still, he quickly regained his composure.
Three hundred and fifty meant nothing.
Compared to his 1500 battle power, it was insignificant.
"Move aside, kid."
Raditz casually kicked forward.
He did not use his full strength, but the kick could easily snap a steel bar.
Thud.
Trillin's small body shot through the air like a cannonball.
He smashed straight through the wall of Kame House and disappeared into the rubble.
"Trillin!"
Goku and Master Roshi shouted at the same time.
"Hmph. Foolish."
Raditz snorted and prepared to leave with Gohan.
Then came the sound of bricks sliding.
Clatter.
"Ouch…"
Trillin pushed a broken wooden beam off his body and slowly climbed out of the rubble, covered in dust.
He brushed himself off and looked down at his BADMAN jacket.
The sleeve had a large tear.
His face instantly fell.
"Oh no… Mom just bought this! She's going to scold me if she sees it!"
Trillin looked up angrily and pointed at Raditz.
"Long-hair! You owe me a new jacket! I'm telling my dad!"
Silence.
Total silence.
Raditz's jaw nearly dropped.
The kid had taken a direct kick from him and was completely fine?
No broken bones.
Not even real pain.
He was more worried about his clothes.
"How… how is that possible?!"
Raditz glanced at his scouter again to confirm it was working.
"What is this kid made of?!"
"His dad made him."
A calm voice suddenly answered.
Krillin, who had been sitting quietly nearby drinking tea the entire time, finally set his cup down.
He slowly stood up and casually brushed the wrinkles from his jeans, moving as if he were strolling through a peaceful garden.
Raditz turned sharply. The scouter immediately locked onto Krillin.
Beep.
Battle Power: 0
"Huh?"
Raditz stared for a second before bursting into loud laughter.
"Hahaha! You scared me for a moment. Turns out you're just trash with a battle power of zero!"
"What? Do you want to play hero?"
Krillin ignored the mocking laughter.
Instead, he walked over and gently rubbed Trillin's head, brushing the dust out of his son's hair.
"So, how did that kick feel?"
"Kind of like a mosquito bite. But the impact was strong."
Trillin answered honestly.
"Dad, can I hit him?"
"No. You're not strong enough yet."
Krillin smiled warmly and patted his son's head.
"Stand aside and watch. I'll teach you something new."
Then Krillin turned around and faced Raditz.
A faint, playful glint appeared in his previously calm eyes.
"Hey, you with the long hair."
Krillin raised one finger and beckoned.
"You said someone here was trash. Who were you talking about?"