"Does he have anything else to report?" Frieza asked without even turning his head.
"He said his brother Zadoria has gone missing, and they've completely lost contact with Vegeta's ship as well," Berryblue replied. "Our technicians just confirmed that Vegeta's spaceship has indeed vanished from all tracking systems."
"Oh? So they've already destroyed the locator system?" Frieza didn't seem surprised.
"Most likely," Berryblue nodded.
"Pass down the order—if anyone discovers their whereabouts, report it immediately," Frieza commanded.
"Yes, Lord Frieza," Berryblue bowed respectfully.
"So… Zadoria was likely killed by Vegeta and Ken, wasn't he?" Frieza's expression darkened, his narrowed eyes radiating a murderous aura.
He wasn't angry over the death of a mere subordinate.
What irritated him was that he had underestimated those two young Saiyans—Vegeta and Ken.
"Dodoria has requested to investigate the site of Zadoria's last known location," Berryblue continued.
"Let him go," Frieza nodded, raising no objection.
…
An hour later, a round saucer-shaped spaceship descended onto the planet where Ken and Vegeta had previously landed.
Dodoria quickly located his brother's ship.
Then, scanning the area, he found traces of the battle between Vegeta and Zadoria.
Among those battle marks, Dodoria keenly spotted some remains—his brother's.
He walked forward, picked up a shard of Zadoria's skull, and his face turned grim.
"Zadoria! You idiot! I told you to be careful, but you wouldn't listen! And now you've been killed by that bastard Vegeta, haven't you?!" Dodoria clenched his fists, trembling with rage.
Without lingering, he immediately boarded his ship and left the planet.
"Vegeta! Ken! Just you wait—I'll make sure both of you are wiped from existence! I'll avenge my brother!" Dodoria roared inside the ship, venting his fury.
…
Ken and Vegeta's ship continued to speed through the starry void.
Ken casually disabled the listening device embedded in Vegeta's scouter.
This Divine ki was proving more and more handy.
As expected of divine energy!
"So you're saying that on Namek, any wish can be granted?" Vegeta's face lit up with excitement.
"That's right. The things are called Dragon Balls," Ken smiled, not hiding anything. "They can grant three wishes. We'll each take one. Have you already decided what you'll wish for?"
"Of course! I want to become a Super Saiyan. Isn't it obvious?" Vegeta answered without hesitation. Then he couldn't help but ask, "What about you? You're going to wish to become a Super Saiyan God?"
"No, I just want the ability to survive in outer space. That's it," Ken replied.
"The ability to survive in space? That's an easy wish… but kind of useless," Vegeta looked at him oddly.
"I just don't want to die one day because I couldn't breathe," Ken smiled.
"Whatever," Vegeta shook his head, thinking Ken was a bit of a fool. He muttered, "I've heard before that Namekians have all sorts of mystical abilities. But I never imagined they could make Dragon Balls to grant three wishes…"
"That's why, when we get to Namek, be respectful to the locals," Ken advised. "If you go in guns blazing, you won't get any wishes."
"Hmph, I don't need you to teach me how to handle things. I know what I'm doing!" Vegeta stood by the window, gazing out at the vastness of space and grunting in annoyance.
Just then, he noticed a spherical spaceship streak across the stars, heading in a different direction.
From a distance, as the ship turned, Vegeta spotted a child inside.
"A Saiyan…?" Vegeta blinked, picked up his scouter, and pressed a button.
Beep… Power Level: 2!
Vegeta stared at the number on the display.
"…I remember now. That little guy is Bardock's son. What was his name again?" Vegeta muttered.
"Kakarot," Ken said calmly.
"Right, Kakarot. A low-class warrior… pathetic. Only a power level of 2," Vegeta shook his head. "A disgrace to us Saiyans."
"Sometimes, low-class warriors can surpass elites through sheer effort," Ken replied.
"Stop spouting nonsense. That's impossible," Vegeta snorted, clearly unconvinced.
"Vegeta," Ken said thoughtfully, "I've done the math. That Kakarot might become your lifelong rival—the one you love and hate."
Vegeta: "…"
Love and hate?
"Kakarot's a girl?" he asked, confused. "Wait, no… I saw clearly—it's a boy."
Ken wiped sweat from his brow.
"What, you think that guy will become my rival?" Vegeta scoffed.
"He will," Ken nodded.
"Pfft, baseless nonsense," Vegeta sneered. "Which planet is he headed to anyway? Did my father exile him from Planet Vegeta? Or did Bardock sneak him out?"
"Judging from the ship's trajectory, it's likely Earth," Ken replied.
Vegeta pulled up data on Earth and looked disappointed. "That planet's worthless. But I guess it has plenty of food."
He paused.
"Ah, I get it. Bardock must've been ashamed of his son's weakness and couldn't bear the idea of him failing in our competitive society. So he dumped him on that planet… It's just like my brother Tarble. My father thought he was useless too and exiled him to some resource-starved rock."
Ken said no more and continued meditating, refining his Divine ki.
"Hmph, I'm going to get some sleep," Vegeta grumbled, heading to the sleeping pod.
…
Time passed day by day.
Ten days later—
Ken stood by the spaceship's window and saw a large green planet looming in the distance.
It was Namek.
(End of Chapter)