"Sir, thank you for saving me… I'm Dr. Briefs. Would you mind coming to my house? I'd like to properly express my gratitude," said the middle-aged man in a white lab coat, still pale from the ordeal.
After wiping out the robbers, Karnel hadn't paid much attention to the people he'd rescued. It hadn't taken much effort, and honestly, if something like this happened out of his sight, he wouldn't go out of his way to intervene. He wasn't here to play the hero. If he spent all his time saving people like some caped crusader, he'd never get anything done.
But just as he was about to take off, the man's name caught his attention. Recognition flickered across his face.
"Briefs? Wait... isn't that Bulma's father? The genius who invented capsule technology? I was planning to track him down anyway, get him to build me a gravity chamber... maybe even a Dragon Radar. What luck."
"Did you say your name is Dr. Briefs? Do you have a daughter named Bulma?" Karnel asked, turning back.
"Yes... yes, sir. You're quite remarkable to even know my daughter's name," Dr. Briefs replied, visibly impressed.
"That's not important right now. Dr. Briefs, the truth is, I came to West City looking for you. I need your help with something,My name is Karnel." Karnel said, offering a small smile.
"Of course, Mr.Karnel I'd be happy to help. Let's talk more at my home."
When they arrived at the Briefs' luxurious villa in West City, Karnel let out a low whistle, impressed by the sheer size and design.
"Dr. Briefs, your place is seriously amazing."
Before the scientist could reply, a blonde woman with sparkling eyes burst out the front door.
"Honey, I'm back! Oh? And who's this handsome young man?"
Karnel blinked as Mrs. Briefs ran up to them, eyeing him with open interest.
So this is where Bulma gets her boldness, Karnel thought, slightly amused.
He gave her a polite smile. "Hello, Mrs. Briefs. You look so young and beautiful."
"Ohoho! Such a sweet talker. You're a little young for me... but maybe once you grow up, you can date me or my sister," she teased, winking shamelessly.
"Dear, why don't you go pick up little Bulma? I need to speak with Mr. Karnel privately," Dr. Briefs said with a smile, trying to shift the conversation.
"Alright, alright. I'll go get our little girl," Mrs. Briefs said as she walked off.
Once she was gone, Karnel wasted no time.
"Dr. Briefs, I assume you've noticed that I'm not exactly from around here." He let his tail unwind from his waist, letting it flick freely behind him. "I need a favor."
"I'd like you to build me a gravity chamber. One that can freely adjust the gravitational setting. Ideally, up to 1,000 times Earth's gravity. Ten thousand, if you can manage it."
Dr. Briefs' eyebrows lifted slightly at the audacity of the request. "A gravity chamber, hmm… Well, 1,000 times Earth's gravity is quite extreme. I won't say it's impossible, but it'll be a serious undertaking. I'll give it my best shot, but it might take anywhere from six months to a year."
He tactfully ignored the 10,000-times part altogether.
"That's fine. Even if it's not perfect, as long as it works for training, I'll be satisfied. I'll come back in six months to check on the progress."
With that settled, Karnel took off, launching into the air and soaring across the ocean, his body wrapped in a shimmering blue aura.
After about an hour of flight, a tiny island came into view. Atop it sat a small pink house with the words "Kame House" painted above the door.
On the beach outside, an old man with a turtle shell on his back lounged in a beach chair, absorbed in an adult magazine. Every now and then, he chuckled and let out a pervy giggle.
"Old man, you've got quite the... exotic taste. Even these muscular ladies seem to excite you," Karnel remarked, smirking as he peeked over Master Roshi's shoulder.
"Wha—who's there?" The old man jumped, hastily stuffing the magazine away. "Just a kid! Listen, boy, you're too young to appreciate the finer pleasures in life."
"I understand perfectly. It's just an adult magazine, right? No need to be so dramatic. I imagine it gets lonely living out here all alone…" Karnel rolled his eyes.
Master Roshi studied him, his tone shifting. "Hmm… I thought I sensed something powerful from space. So it was you. It's not every day a kid with such strong Ki drops in. So what brings you to my island?"
Instead of answering, Karnel reached into his bag and pulled out a thick stack of magazines he'd bought in West City. He casually tossed them into Roshi's lap.
The old man's nose exploded with a fountain of blood. His eyes glazed over in awe as he stared at the glossy covers.
After a moment, he regained enough composure to speak. "You, my boy, are a true gentleman. Thank you."
Karnel pointed to the bead necklace around Master Roshi's neck. "Old man, that trinket of yours is pretty nice. I like it. Think I could have it?"
"This?" Roshi looked down. "Found it on the beach years ago. It glows a bit at night, nothing too special. But since you brought me these beauties… sure, take it."
He unclasped the necklace and handed it to Karnel.
The young Saiyan accepted the Three-Star Dragon Ball with a wide grin.
"Alright, kid, off you go. Don't interrupt an old man when he's… um… training," Roshi muttered, already flipping through the magazines with shaking hands.
"Actually, there's one more thing. Mind showing me your Kamehameha technique?"
Karnel hadn't forgotten his second objective. The Kamehameha was one of the most iconic and powerful Ki attacks in Dragon Ball . It could be charged, scaled, and looked amazing in battle. He had to learn it.