Master Roshi said, “Who else could it be? It must be Piccolo!”
“Oh, him. So that’s where he’s been training — better not go east from now on…” Bulma said.
Master Roshi asked, somewhat curious, “Can’t you find where Oryon is?”
Bulma blinked, then immediately looked north.
The Scouter showed no unusual energy readings — probably just a bunch of nobodies with a Power Level under 5, nothing worth noting.
“Weird. I remember Oryon took Lunch to an island a bit further north. Why isn’t there any reading at all?”
Krillin had a faint suspicion.
“Could it be he’s hiding his ki, so it can’t be detected?”
“Hiding his ki? What does that mean?” Bulma had no idea what he meant.
“Like this!” Krillin said, suppressing his own ki as low as it would go.
“Bulma, check what my Power Level is right now!”
Bulma looked at Krillin again.
This time the Scouter barely twitched — it popped up a “1” for him.
“What? Krillin, why is your Power Level only one point right now? If you weren’t standing right in front of me, I wouldn’t even be able to detect you at all. That’s the same reading as the old tortoise in the yard.”
Krillin gave a lopsided grin.
“Just as I thought — this thing judges strength based on a person’s ki.”
Master Roshi caught on the instant he heard it.
“So that’s how it works. Turns out this machine has its flaws after all!”
Bulma put her hands on her hips and looked toward the north.
“That bastard Oryon — why’s he hiding his ki? Doesn’t want to be found?”
“And another thing — that Capsule House of his is actually mine. I need to get it back from him…”
Just then, someone knocked on the front door.
“Who is it?”
Krillin walked to the door and opened it.
A lazy-looking fat man came into view.
“You’re… Yajirobe?”
Yajirobe nodded.
“That’s right. Korin sent me to bring you all up to Korin’s Tower to gather first.”
Krillin cried out, “Oh no, we’re heading up there already? This soon? I haven’t even gathered everyone yet!”
He turned to Bulma.
“Bulma, lend me that Scouter for a bit. I’m going to go find Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu, and Yamcha.”
Bulma handed him the Scouter, warning him, “Don’t you dare break it!”
“Yeah, yeah, I know!”
That same day, Krillin gathered Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu, and Yamcha, and together they headed to Korin’s Tower.
Even Yajirobe was brought along up to the Lookout, to receive training from Mr. Popo.
With Krillin already gone from Kame House, Bulma left right on his heels.
But she didn’t head back to West City — instead, she flew straight for Oryon and Lunch’s place.
*
Inside the Capsule House, warm yellow light spilled across the wooden tabletop.
Lunch had changed into a pale blue slip dress, her long hair loose over her shoulders, carrying two glasses of red wine as she walked over, her cheeks tinged a tipsy pink.
“Oryon, have a drink with me.”
Oryon took the glass and lightly clinked it against hers.
“Drinking this early in the day? Seems like you’re in a good mood today.”
“Mm-hm!”
Lunch leaned into his chest and tilted her face up to look at him, her eyes shimmering like pools of water.
“Every day I’m with you, I’m in a good mood.”
Oryon looked down at her; Lunch had already closed her eyes, her lips curved slightly upward.
He smiled, then leaned down and kissed her.
The scent of wine spread between their lips as Lunch’s arms slowly wound around his neck, her whole body going soft against him.
After the long kiss, Lunch buried her face in his chest and murmured, “Oryon, I changed into several different outfits today. Didn’t you notice at all?”
“I noticed.”
“Which one looked best?”
Oryon’s fingers slid across her bare shoulder as he complimented her.
“This one looks best.”
“Really?”
Lunch’s eyes lit up.
She pulled back out of his arms and spun in place.
The hem of her dress lifted lightly, like a blooming flower.
Oryon pulled her right back, wrapping her in his arms again, his chin resting atop her head.
“Really.”
Lunch giggled, tracing circles on his chest with her finger.
“Aren’t you always the one who loves seeing me in black stockings?”
Oryon tilted her chin up and said with a smile, “What I actually love is you yourself. The clothes just bring out how beautiful you already are…”
Lunch smiled sweetly and pouted at him.
“You really know how to talk. I’ve never heard so many sweet words in my whole life…”
Oryon scooped her straight up into his arms, one large hand sliding down along the soft curve of her waist to her full hips.
“Then I suppose I’ll just have to keep saying them for the rest of your life…”
Lunch’s face flushed bright red instantly, and she gave his hand a light smack.
Oryon planted a light kiss on the side of Lunch’s face.
“So you actually mind me treating you like this? Here I was planning to take a bath together with you. Since that’s how it is, I guess I’ll just go bathe by myself…”
Lunch instantly wrapped herself around Oryon’s neck, hanging off him.
“No! I’ve latched onto you now — wherever you go, I go!”
With that, Oryon carried her and jumped straight into the bathtub.
Lunch curled up in Oryon’s arms as the hot water washed over both their bodies.
She kept her eyes closed, leaning into his chest, her fingers idly playing with his tail.
“Oryon, do you think we’re being too lovey-dovey like this?”
Oryon said, “Squeeze harder. The tail is a Saiyan’s weak point — grip it with even a little force, and we lose all our strength. Just think of it as helping me train…”
The moment Lunch heard that, she squeezed hard right away.
Oryon instantly felt the strength drain from his entire body, and he went limp, sprawled in the tub.
“Ah, easy… I don’t have any strength left at all…”
A mischievous grin crossed Lunch’s face.
“Does it really work that well?”
Oryon nodded.
“Really. If it’s not trained, the tail is a Saiyan’s weakness.”
The smile on Lunch’s face turned even more devilish.
A shiver ran through Oryon’s whole body.
“Lunch, what are you planning to do?”
Lunch pressed the index finger of her other hand against her lips.
“I’m about to do something bold. Don’t move, okay…”
With that, Lunch slowly bent down, her little tongue peeking out.
“Mm…”
Oryon felt the world spin, no longer sure where he even was.
Moments later, Oryon was completely spent.
Just as Lunch was about to let go of his tail, she accidentally sneezed.
“Achoo!”
In that instant, blue-haired Lunch transformed into a blonde, the shy blush on her face instantly replaced by a wild fierceness.
The moment Oryon saw that sultry look on her face, his backside clenched in sheer terror.
Luckily, Lunch had let go of Oryon’s tail right after the sneeze, and he instantly felt his strength come rushing back.
This weakness was truly fatal for a Saiyan.
Before he could master the Super Saiyan form, he’d have to overcome the tail’s weakness first.
Oryon made up his mind — he’d just keep letting Lunch help him train.