With the arrangements at Capsule Corp settled, Goku took Gohan and Warren Fox to find Krillin.
"Goku, has Uncle Krillin been training lately?" Gohan asked, torn.
It was not that he suddenly doubted Krillin. Truth was, he had never really expected Krillin to keep up. Even if Krillin had been practicing, at best he could mix it up with Tien Shinhan or Master Roshi. Fine for a World Martial Arts Tournament, but the Tournament of Power?
Goku scratched his cheek. He was wavering too. Krillin's married life looked pretty happy. Beautiful wife, new baby girl, a steady job where people actually liked him. The man was textbook life winner.
Warren cut in. "Krillin's role is bigger than you think."
"Uncle Krillin's role is big?" Gohan blinked, not following. Warren left it there. He could hardly say out loud that if Krillin died, Goku's power would spike through the roof.
Confidence restored by Warren's tone, Goku brightened. "See? I told you."
"Alright," Gohan sighed. It was the fate of an entire universe at stake. He just did not want avoidable accidents.
They soon reached a modest home by the sea.
"Goku?" A blonde woman was already waiting in the yard, hands on hips as if she had sensed them coming.
"Android 18." Goku waved, and Gohan nodded politely.
"Auntie Eighteen," he said.
"Call me big sister." She shook a fist at him. Did she look that old to these kids? Her daughter and Pan were practically the same age.
"What are you doing here?" she asked flatly.
"We're here for Krillin," Goku said, straight to the point.
"Krillin is inside. What do you want with him?" Her skeptical look said she doubted anything good ever came out of Goku's mouth.
"It is a guy thing." Goku put on a mysterious air, parroting a line he had probably picked up from Mr. Satan.
Android 18 rolled her eyes, then stepped aside. Her gaze lingered on Warren, cool and assessing.
"Thanks." Goku bounded in with Gohan.
Warren met Android 18's stare, curious. "Something wrong?"
She shook her head and stepped back. "After you."
"Appreciate it." Warren followed them in.
Inside, Krillin was cradling his infant daughter for Goku and Gohan to admire.
"She is adorable," Goku cooed.
"Give me the baby. Say what you came to say. It is late and she needs to sleep." Android 18 swooped in, plucked her daughter from Krillin's arms, and headed upstairs.
"Uh." Krillin looked a touch embarrassed, then recovered. "So what brings you here?"
"There is going to be a battle between universes," Goku said. "We want you to represent Universe 7 with us."
"A tournament? No." Krillin refused on instinct.
"Why?" Goku asked.
Krillin grew solemn. "Our traffic division is choosing a new captain this week. People like me, but if I disappear at a time like this, the promotion will go to someone else."
Goku rubbed the back of his head. As excuses went, that was airtight.
"If we win, each fighter gets ten million zeni," Warren said, playing his card.
"T… ten million?" Krillin's eyes bulged. He double checked he had heard right.
Ten million. How many years of salary was that.
"That is right," Warren said. "Each. Not a split pot."
Gohan finally understood. It was not that Krillin would not go. Someone just needed to make it worth his while. With a family now, priorities shift.
"I will talk to Eighteen," Krillin said, face lighting up as he hurried upstairs.
Moments later Android 18 came down with Krillin behind her.
"You can take Krillin," she said. "On one condition. I heard it is ten million per person."
"That is right," Goku said.
"I was not asking you." She jerked her chin at Warren. "Well?"
"Ten million each," Warren confirmed.
"In that case, I want in."
"What?" Gohan sputtered tea across the table. He looked helplessly at Goku.
"That is great," Goku cheered. Two roster slots settled in one go. And it was Android 18. Infinite energy, no attrition, power that did not rust even if she skipped training. Total bug.
"Hold on," Gohan said, standing. He faced Krillin, serious. "Uncle Krillin, I want to spar with you."
"Me? Now?" Krillin blinked.
"Right now," Gohan said, tone leaving no room for argument.
"Looks like you do not quite trust me," Krillin chuckled. "Let us go then."
He changed into a gi he had not worn in a long time, and the group relocated to a stretch of beach. Their power could slag a city block by accident. If they wrecked the house, Krillin and Android 18 would be sleeping under the stars.
On the sand, Krillin loosened up with a few warm up drills, then settled into stance. "Come on, Gohan. Let me see how much you have grown."
He was perfectly serious. So was Gohan. He flared, calling up his peak state. He no longer needed Super Saiyan. The calm, fathomless aura of his mystic power rolled off him, and it was even more daunting.
----------------------------------------------------
The deeper he goes, the more the truth unravels. Don't wait read ahead and witness Vincent's rise before the world catches up!
[email protected]/_theon
Change @ to "a"