"So, your wish has been granted. Until we meet again."
With those words, Shenron dissolved into a streak of golden light and vanished into the sky.
Below, the sea churned.
A moment later, Mr. Satan burst through the surface, inhaling sharply as exhilaration flooded his senses.
Power.
It coursed through his body like a living current.
His short hair stood slightly on end, and every muscle felt tighter, sharper, more alive than ever before.
This was not just the Bull Coin Shop.
Shenron's energy had directly enhanced him.
He could feel it clearly.
His battle power had doubled.
At the very least, it had reached 400.
"Ha… so this is what it feels like to actually have strength?"
He clenched his fists. Energy flowed effortlessly through his limbs, smooth and responsive. Years of hidden strain and accumulated injuries had vanished, leaving behind a body in perfect condition.
If 400 already felt like this…
Then what kind of monster was Goku?
The thought flashed through his mind, but it didn't shake him.
Not anymore.
Now, he had a path.
A slow grin spread across his face.
First goal.
Spend a billion Zeni. Reach Goku's baseline strength. Beat him once.
Just once.
…
Thunder cracked across the sky.
The sudden darkness made Videl turn sharply from where she stood on the beach, arms folded in frustration.
Her eyes widened the moment she saw the massive dragon coiling through the heavens.
"My God… what is that?!"
Even in a world accustomed to miracles, something like that defied common sense.
"It's… on the ship. Dad…!"
Her expression tightened, and without hesitation, she ran.
Fear pressed against her chest, but she pushed through it.
If anything had happened to him…
"Where is my father?!"
She rushed aboard the cruise liner and grabbed one of the bodyguards.
"M-Miss Videl…"
The bald man's voice trembled.
"After that giant dragon appeared, Mr. Satan started laughing and jumped into the sea. We… we don't know where he went…"
"What are you people even here for?!"
She shoved him aside and ran to the railing, gripping it tightly as she scanned the waves below.
"Dad! Where are you?!"
At that moment, more than anything, she wished she could fly.
Ding!
High-value target detected.
Videl: Score 95. Eligible for gift return.
Splash.
Mr. Satan surfaced beneath the ship, water cascading off his shoulders as he looked up.
He caught the panic in her expression.
And something in him shifted.
So soon… a target above 90.
He almost laughed.
But the system's evaluation made sense.
Videl was exceptional. Strong, disciplined, and far beyond ordinary humans. Even among fighters, she had potential.
"Don't worry!" he called out. "I'm fine!"
Relief broke across her face almost instantly.
She pressed a hand to her chest, exhaling, then quickly shouted for the crew.
"Lower a rope ladder! Hurry!"
"No need."
Before anyone could react, Mr. Satan bent his legs and launched upward.
His body surged along the side of the ship, cutting through the air in a clean arc before landing firmly on deck.
Silence fell.
Videl stared at him, eyes wide.
That jump… wasn't human.
"Dad…?"
There was disbelief in her voice.
And something else.
Mr. Satan stepped closer, the confidence in his movements unmistakable now. Without hesitation, he reached out and pulled her into a brief, steady embrace.
"I said I'm fine."
For a heartbeat, she froze.
The contact was sudden. Unfamiliar.
Her body tensed before slowly relaxing.
"Y-You're soaking wet…"
Her voice softened, lacking its usual edge.
The heat of his body, the faint scent of the ocean, the strength in his arms… everything felt different.
Not wrong.
Just… unfamiliar.
Her fingers curled slightly, as if unsure whether to push him away or hold on.
Then—
He released her.
The moment lingered for a fraction longer before fading into the sea breeze.
Mr. Satan let out a low chuckle, his mood visibly lifted.
"Videl."
He looked at her, eyes bright with something new.
"I'm in a great mood today."
She blinked, still trying to process what she had just seen.
"What do you mean…?"
"How about ten million Zeni for your allowance?"
"…Ten million?!"
Her shock snapped her fully back to reality.
"You're joking, right?!"
"For once," he said, smiling faintly, "I'm completely serious."
Beneath the calm surface of his words…
Something had already begun to change.