The desolate mountain was covered in rubble, and every gust of wind kicked up a cloud of dust.
In this exceptionally barren place, Buu, who had just been unsealed by Whitley, was staring intently at the wobbly puddings in Whitley's hand, his round face full of curiosity.
"Pudding?"
Buu tilted his large head, indistinctly repeating the unfamiliar word, and pointed a chubby hand at the puddings.
"That's right, pudding. A very delicious food."
Whitley had what he thought was a kind, strange uncle's smile on his face as he handed one to Buu.
Buu reached out his small, fat hand and carefully took the pudding, which was wrapped in plastic. Then, without even looking, he stuffed the entire thing, wrapper and all, into his mouth.
"Crunch... gulp..."
The sound of the plastic wrapper being crushed was exceptionally clear.
Buu chewed a couple of times, and the expectant expression on his fat face instantly collapsed. His brow furrowed tightly, like a child who had been tricked by an adult.
"Ptooey—!"
He spat out everything in his mouth, his small face filled with disgust and disappointment, and he shouted angrily, "Pudding! Not yummy!"
Whitley slapped his forehead, finally realizing. "I forgot you just got out, you have no common sense at all! You can't eat the wrapper on the outside!"
He shook his head, picked up another pudding, skillfully tore off the seal on top, and then accurately tossed it into Buu's open mouth.
"Here, eat it like this! Remember, next time you eat this kind of thing, tear off the outer wrapper first!"
Whitley patiently taught Buu. After all, Buu was going to be his employee from now on.
This time, Buu didn't chew right away. Instead, he let the smooth, cool, and richly milky and sweet object slowly melt on his tongue.
It was a wonderful taste he had never experienced before. Sweet, silky, with a faint taste of milk.
This wonderful taste instantly conquered his simple taste buds!
His small eyes suddenly widened, then he happily narrowed them into a thin line. His fat body even swayed comfortably, completely immersed in the sweet aftertaste.
"Mmm..."
After a long while, Buu let out a satisfied sigh, licked his lips as if wanting more, and looked at Whitley with shining eyes. "Yummy! Pudding, yummy!"
But one pudding was clearly not enough to satisfy his craving for deliciousness.
His gaze immediately locked onto the remaining few puddings in Whitley's hand, his small eyes instantly bursting with a greedy light, as if he had discovered a treasure.
"Pudding! More!"
Buu pointed at Whitley and said in an unquestionable tone, "All Buu's!"
Whitley weighed the remaining puddings in his hand, a "just as planned" smile on his face.
He squatted down, looked into Buu's eager eyes, and said in a tempting tone, "Do you want to have pudding every day in the future? And many other, more delicious things?"
Buu sniffed, his attention firmly captured by Whitley's mention of more pudding and more delicious things.
Seeing that Buu was tempted, Whitley struck while the iron was hot. "It's actually very simple. In the future, you'll help me with some very simple little things. In Earth's terms, you'll work for me. As long as you're willing, these puddings," he shook the things in his hand, "will all be yours! And there will be more in the future!"
"Work?"
Buu wrinkled his fat face, trying hard to understand this unfamiliar word.
Although he didn't understand the specific meaning, the word "work" seemed to have touched some instinct in him, making him feel a strange aversion and dislike. (No living creature likes to work~)
He shook his head vigorously, waved his small, fat hand, and his tone became bossy. "Buu, no work!"
He stared at Whitley, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Kill you! Pudding, also Buu's!"
The moment his voice fell, Buu's pink body swelled slightly, and a powerful ki faintly locked onto Whitley!
He was clearly planning to just take it by force!
"Whitley-san! Watch out!"
The Supreme Kai, Shin, at the side, seeing Buu turn hostile so suddenly, was so scared his voice changed, and he couldn't help but shout a reminder to Whitley.
But faced with Buu's sudden threat, Whitley was as calm as ever. He didn't even change his stance.
He just looked at the preparing-to-strike Buu and calmly asked back, "And then?"
"Huh?"
Buu's power-gathering movement paused. He tilted his small head, baffled by Whitley's inexplicable question. "You, not afraid of Buu?"
Whitley didn't answer whether he was afraid or not, just continued along the line of his previous question. "You kill me, and then what? After you snatch these puddings, what are you going to do?"
Buu stood there, stunned, and pointed a small, fat finger at the puddings in Whitley's hand, saying matter-of-factly, "And then? Then Buu can eat pudding!"
His clever big head thought this question was just too simple!
"Just these few?"
Whitley sneered with disdain, shaking the few remaining puddings in his hand. "They'll be gone after you eat them. Are you really satisfied with just these few puddings? Don't you want to eat them every day, for every meal? Don't you want to taste food that's even more delicious and magical than pudding? For example... cake? Ice cream?"
With every food he mentioned, Buu's eyes would brighten a little, and he would unconsciously swallow. He was already imagining the taste of those foods.
Seeing this, Whitley knew the time was right. He decisively increased the temptation, his voice full of incitement. "But! As long as you follow me from now on, listen to me, and complete some small, insignificant jobs that are a piece of cake for you, I promise! you can eat pudding every day! And all those other delicious things I just told you about, things you can't even imagine, I can get them all for you!"
He opened his arms, painting a beautiful future.
Then his tone shifted, and he spread his hands as if to say, "kill me if you want."
"Now the choice is yours. Do you still want to kill me? If you really do, you can do it now. But think about it. If you kill me, you only get these few puddings. If you follow me, you'll have an endless supply of delicacies..."
Buu stood there, his fat face struggling with a rich variety of expressions.
On one hand was immediately killing this guy and snatching the limited pudding before him. On the other was following him and having an endless supply of all kinds of delicious food in the future...
His simple and direct thinking fell into an unprecedented state of chaos and conflict.
Seeing that Buu was actually hesitating because of Whitley's words, Shin, at the side, was dumbfounded and couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice, "As expected of you, Whitley-san! A being who could be granted a marriage by Lord Zeno! This... this skill with sweet talk is truly amazing!"
Whitley was concentrating on conning Buu. Hearing Shin's comment, he turned his head and shot him an annoyed glare. "Since when have you been studying Earth culture? Is that how you use the term 'sweet talk'? I'm stating facts and helping an employee fight for reasonable benefits!"
In the brief moment that Whitley turned to retort Shin, Buu's gaze followed the bag of puddings in his hand, his small eyes filled with longing and struggle.
When Whitley turned his gaze back to Buu, Buu seemed to have finally made up his mind.
He nodded his large head vigorously, tried to put on a serious expression to make himself look very solemn, as if he were conducting a grand negotiation!
Then he held up his chubby hand and began to awkwardly count on his fingers, as if calculating a very important number.
After counting for a long time, he finally looked up, held up a small palm, and said to Whitley very seriously and solemnly, "Buu, every time he wakes up..."
He paused, as if to emphasize the importance of this condition. "...gets to eat 5 puddings! And what you just said!"
The scene instantly fell silent.
Shin cleaned his ears, almost unable to believe what he had just heard.
He... Majin Buu! The being who had destroyed countless galaxies in ancient times! The monster that had terrified even him, a Supreme Kai! The condition he had just proposed was...
After waking up, he gets to eat... 5 puddings? Did he sleep many times a day?
But... 5 at a time, even if he slept ten or eight times a day, that would only be a few dozen!
Wasn't this price a little too... cheap?
The muscles on Whitley's face also twitched almost imperceptibly.
He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the absurd feeling of having tricked someone out of their family heirloom with a piece of candy, and... a tiny pang of conscience.
He looked at Buu's nervous and expectant little eyes, as if he were afraid he would go back on his word.
After a moment of silence, Whitley nodded vigorously and said decisively, "Deal!"
And so, a win-win (Whitley: I won twice!) trade was officially reached under Shin's incredulous gaze!
Whitley breathed a sigh of relief and handed the remaining puddings, along with the bag, to Buu. "Here, you can have these for now."
Unexpectedly, Buu only took four puddings from the bag and held them carefully, then pushed the bag back to Whitley and said seriously, "These, for when Buu wakes up tomorrow! You, keep for Buu!"
Whitley: "..."
He looked at Buu's "I'm very reasonable, I only eat what was agreed upon per day" expression and was at a loss for words for a moment.
So you're saying you only sleep once a day like a human!
This deal... made his conscience ache a little. He felt like he was bullying a child.
But no matter what, Majin Buu was finally dealt with in a way that was beyond anyone's expectations.
Whitley looked with a complicated mood at the rock beside him, at No. 21, who was still bound by divine power and could only drool at him.
His original plan was to wait for Buu's good and evil to separate, and when the evil Skinny Buu appeared, he would directly capture him and feed him to No. 21, to see if he could use this to complete the defect in her Majin cells and restore her to her rational form.
But looking at this Fat Buu, who was satisfied with just eating pudding, it would probably be a little difficult to get him to split into his evil side on his own in the short term.
Did he really have to go to the trouble of creating some dramatic accident to provoke him?
"Forget it, too much trouble!"
Whitley quickly dismissed this idea. "There's a ready-made shortcut, why not take it? That would be stupid."
He quickly thought of his all-powerful angel wife.
As one of the most magical and powerful races in the entire universe, Vados would definitely have a way to solve No. 21's problem!
Whitley instantly made his decision. "With my own wife here, who would go looking for that gluttonous and drama-loving teacher, Whis?"
He immediately put his plan into action! He commanded his newly recruited underling, "Buu, you carry her."
He pointed at No. 21.
Buu was happily licking one of his puddings. Hearing this, he very obediently picked up the restrained No. 21.
"Let's go, let's go home first," Whitley said to Buu, then turned to Shin. "Shin, I'm taking them back to the Briefs' estate in West City. You should come too, have some lunch?"
He had thought he would agree immediately.
But unexpectedly, Shin shook his head like a rattle-drum and waved his hands repeatedly. "No, no! Whitley-san! Really, no need!"
Shin's face even showed a hint of panic. "Since the matter of Buu has been perfectly resolved by you, I must also hurry back to the Sacred World of the Kais to report this good news to my ancestor! I won't disturb you and Mrs. Vados!"
His tone was as if Vados were some kind of great flood or fierce beast, as if he would be caught in the crossfire if he went.
Whitley was surprised and was about to try and persuade him again...
"KIBITO!!!"
But before Whitley could speak, Shin had already tilted his head back and shouted to the sky, his voice echoing in the barren mountains.
The scene fell silent again.
A gentle breeze blew by, rustling a few blades of grass. Kibito's figure did not appear as usual in response.
Shin maintained his head-tilted posture, feeling his neck get a little sore. Only then did he awkwardly and slowly lower his head, scratching the back of his head and letting out a dry laugh. "Ha... hahaha... it seems... Kibito is... busy with something..."
He looked at Whitley sheepishly, his face full of embarrassment. "That... Whitley-san, it seems... I'll still have to trouble you to take me back."
Whitley looked at this Supreme Kai, who always dropped the ball at critical moments, and shook his head helplessly.
The longer he knew Shin, the more he felt that this guy was... a bit unreliable.
"Sigh, alright."
Whitley reached out and placed his hand on Shin's shoulder, and the two of them vanished in a flash.
Less than a second later, Whitley's figure reappeared in the same spot, as if his disappearance was just an illusion.
"Alright, let's go too," he said to Buu.
Buu held his pudding and nodded vigorously, his small eyes full of anticipation for his new home and this "feeder," Whitley.
Whitley placed his hand on Buu's round shoulder, and Instant Transmission activated again.
Swoosh!
The three of them completely disappeared from this barren mountain that had witnessed the recruitment of Majin Buu.
On the other side, in the future timeline, in West City, at the Briefs' estate.
Trunks had already explained the situation he had investigated in detail to his mother, Bulma.
"...and that's what happened, Mom. The man named Dr. Hedo said that the time machine blueprints and energy were provided by a man named Magenta, and that man lied and said the blueprints were designed by his own scientists! They even worked together to build a time machine and sent a person named Android 21 back to the past, with the purpose of eliminating No. 17 and No. 18 at their source."
Bulma's brow furrowed tighter and tighter as she listened to her son's account.
When she heard that this Magenta had shamelessly taken credit for her design, she slammed her hand on the table in anger. "That guy named Magenta, how can he be so shameless?! He stole my blueprints and said they were designed by his own subordinates?!"
Trunks looked at his furious mother and continued with some hesitation, "That... Mom, what I'm most worried about now is Whitley-san and everyone... that Android 21 who was sent to the past, I don't know if she..."
Hearing this, Bulma's expression also gradually became grave.
"Android 21..."
She repeated the name in a low voice. "Just from the number, she's after No. 17 and No. 18. Who knows if she's even stronger? What if she has other purposes in going back to the past, or if she loses control, then..."
She forced herself to calm down, took a deep breath, and tried hard to remember. "Dr. Hedo... that name sounds a little familiar. I think I've seen it in some academic journals or at scientist conferences before."
She looked up at the worried and hesitant Trunks and immediately understood what was on her son's mind.
He wanted to go to the past timeline to help, but he was worried about leaving her alone in this future timeline, which now had a new crisis.
Bulma looked at her son's resolute yet youthful face, and thinking of all he had shouldered alone after Gohan's death, her heart softened.
She hesitated for a moment and finally sighed and made a decision. "Trunks, are you worried about leaving me here alone?"
Trunks nodded honestly.
Bulma stepped forward and stroked her son's hair, her tone gradually becoming firm. "How about this? This time, Mom will go with you."
"Really? That's great!"
Trunks's eyes instantly lit up, his face filled with pleasant surprise.
"Yes."
Bulma nodded. "It just so happens, I'll go and see if there's anything I can do to help. And..."
As she spoke, she took out her phone from her pocket and unlocked the screen. The background was still that brilliant photo of her other self and Whitley from the past that Trunks had brought back.
She looked at the younger version of herself on the screen, her eyes filled with a complex and indecipherable emotion.
There was envy, there was nostalgia, and there was a hint of imperceptible loneliness.
"I can also go and see everyone," she said, her voice softening a little. "Son-kun, Krillin, Master Roshi, and... by the way, I can also see... that person named Whitley."
Her tone paused slightly when she mentioned Whitley's name.
Trunks clenched his fists in excitement. "Mom, with us acting together this time, there will be no problem! We will definitely be able to help everyone in the past!"
Now that the decision was made, Bulma immediately showed her decisive side.
She began to pack neatly, putting some medical supplies, food, backup energy, and some technological products that she thought might be useful into different categories and into capsules.
After Bulma had packed, she and Trunks boarded the time machine together.
After taking one last look at the home that was now left with only herself and Trunks, she decisively pressed the start button of the time machine!
Of course, Whitley still had no idea that Trunks from the future timeline was about to arrive in his timeline with a Bulma who had been through many hardships and was much stronger in character.
At this moment, he was facing another "crisis."
The view shifts back to the main timeline, at the Briefs' estate.
Whitley appeared in the living room with the obedient, pudding-holding Fat Buu.
The elegantly tea-sipping Vados sensed their return.
She put down her teacup and came up to greet them with that flawless smile that made Whitley's heart beat a little faster. "Oh my~ welcome back, Lord Whitley."
Her gaze swept over Fat Buu, and her smile remained unchanged as she said, "It seems your trip this time was quite fruitful."
Whitley let out a dry laugh and quickly got to the point, briefly explaining his desire to help No. 21 regain her sanity and the idea he had about needing Buu's help. He finally said in a somewhat fawning tone, "So, Vados, you see... is there any way? I know this might be a little troublesome..."
Vados listened quietly, and the elegant smile on her face became even more brilliant and charming.
She took a few light steps forward, approached Whitley, stood on her tiptoes, and brought her red lips close to his ear, whispering in a voice that only the two of them could hear, a voice tinged with a lazy and bewitching quality, "Of course, there's no problem, Lord Whitley. After all, this is a rare request you've made of me~"
Whitley had just let out a sigh of relief when he heard Vados's tone shift. "It's just that..."
Whitley's heart instantly skipped a beat, and his scalp tingled.
He was all too familiar with Vados's expression and tone. This woman was definitely up to something again!
"Just what?"
Whitley braced himself and asked, "What strange idea do you have now?"
Vados covered her mouth and let out an ambiguous chuckle. Her beautiful light purple eyes sparkled as she looked at Whitley, and she slowly and clearly stated her condition. "I want you... when you are fighting with Bulma..."
Her tone was tinged with a hint of mockery. "To accidentally... call out my name, Vados."
Whitley's eyes instantly widened, his face filled with a mixture of "Are you kidding me" and "You're trying to get me killed."
"Vados!!!"
His voice was filled with disbelief. "You... are you a devil?! How could you even propose such a condition?!"
This was practically roasting him over the fire of Bulma's anger!
Unexpectedly, upon seeing Whitley's shocked expression, Vados, far from backing down, actually leaned a little closer with a smile.
Almost pressing against his ear, she said in an even lower, more seductive, demonic whisper, "If you... Lord Whitley... are willing to satisfy Vados's small, harmless request~"
She paused slightly, her seductive eyes sweeping over Whitley meaningfully. "Then~ after you agree, every night... when Vados is with you, you can... specify the address Vados uses for you~"
Her voice carried a fatal temptation. "Vados knows~ you seem to be... very fond of a certain special address~ Weren't you very tempted by Vados's proposal before? It can be realized right away~ for example... '"
Whitley: "..."
He felt that his sanity was being violently assaulted by the flood that was Vados, and his defenses were on the verge of collapse!
It was as if two little figures were fighting in his mind.
One little figure was screaming, "You can't agree! This is a betrayal of Bulma! It's suicide!"
The other little figure was coaxing, "Think about it... Vados calling you that in that tone... occasionally... just accidentally once... Bulma should... probably... maybe... not kill you, right? And your action is for saving someone! It's justifiable..."
The whisper of an angel and the temptation of a devil were now perfectly blended in Vados.
Whitley looked at Vados's triumphant and beautiful smile, and after a fierce internal battle!
In the end, he swallowed and said in a low, evasive voice, "Actually... in an intense battle... occasionally calling out the wrong name... is... justifiable..."
Whitley was silently crying in his heart. "I'm sorry, Bulma... it's not that I'm not firm... it's just that... this bad woman... she... is too good at this..."
...
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