Chapter 157: Raditz and Son Goku
"Kakarot? Who's that? My name is Son Goku. And yes, everyone with me is a friend.
You're the Saiyan brother Franklin mentioned, right?
Why did you come to Earth? Don't tell me you're really here for something bad, like Franklin said."
The women were all wearing devices blocking power detection, so in Raditz's eyes they were just ordinary—albeit attractive—girls. He paid them no mind.
As for Lala and her sisters, a lower-class warrior like Raditz, who spent most of his time wandering the underworld, had no way of recognizing them.
The only familiar face might have been Franklin, who had a bounty on his head—but at the moment, Franklin and Ikaros were suppressing their energy completely, so Raditz's quick scan ignored them.
Seeing Goku's wary expression, Raditz slowly exhaled and spoke.
"The Franklin you mentioned… that the same one with a bounty?
If so, he won't live long. With only a few hundred in battle power, how could someone like that hold such a position?
As for why I'm here—I came to take you away.
When you were born, your battle power was a measly two. But now it's over five thousand—unprecedented.
If you tell me how you got this strong, then we brothers can grow stronger together.
Once that happens, even Vegeta will fall before us.
And when we're strong enough, we'll destroy habitable planets and sell them to powerful races. Maybe then we can restore Saiyan glory."
Seeing the fanatic light in Raditz's eyes, Goku frowned.
"I'm not going anywhere with you. I won't destroy other races, and restoring Saiyan glory has nothing to do with me. And the only reason I grew stronger is because Franklin pushed me—and because I worked hard myself. That's it."
Knowing he couldn't beat Goku, Raditz narrowed his eyes. He couldn't afford to act tough.
He paused, then continued persuading.
"Why not? Do you really want to stay stuck on this tiny Earth?
In a little while, Vegeta will come. His battle power is twenty-five thousand—five times yours.
Once he beats that clueless Earthling and becomes Deviluke's son-in-law, he'll destroy Earth completely.
If you stay here, you'll die."
The moment Raditz finished speaking, everyone's eyes drifted to Franklin, who was sitting cross-legged nearby, watching the show.
"Don't look at me. Keep going."
Only now did Raditz finally notice the unremarkable man sitting off to the side.
"You're Franklin! How is your power level only five!?"
As he said that, Raditz's gaze moved to Lala and the others—and finally, he noticed the black tails behind the three sisters.
"Deviluke… the princesses… three of them…"
Raditz felt nothing but disbelief.
Seeing his stunned expression, Franklin dismissed the energy concealment around himself and Ikaros.
Their true power levels instantly appeared on Raditz's scouter.
In that moment, Raditz wanted nothing more than to flee—but one look at Franklin's warning gaze froze him in place.
"Well, you did try to talk me to death just now—what bad luck.
You came with bad intentions, and you've slaughtered who knows how many races in your life. Normally, I'd kill you on the spot.
But since you're Goku's brother, fight Krillin.
Win, and I spare you. Lose… well, too bad."
Raditz followed Franklin's gesture toward Krillin.
His scouter read 1,800. Higher than his own, but still manageable.
"Franklin, when you said I should 'perform well,' you meant this fight?"
Franklin nodded sharply.
"Do well. That guy is the same warrior race as Goku. Beat him, and I'll put in a word with Father-in-law for you."
In an instant, Krillin gathered his energy—his aura bursting outward like a shockwave.
Raditz powered up as well. The two shot into the air and sped toward the distant mountains.
Franklin stood up, dusting off his clothes, then turned to Hiratsuka Shizuka.
"Still think it's fake?"
She remained silent.
Franklin flicked his wrist. Spiritual energy spread outward.
Mikan, Kotegawa Yui, Hiratsuka, and Momo suddenly floated into the air.
A second later, Ikaros and the three princesses spread their wings and lifted off as well, following Franklin upward.
Below them, Krillin and Raditz were locked in a desperate, life-and-death struggle.
"Goku," Franklin said quietly, "you won't blame me for this choice, right?"
Goku shook his head firmly.
"If he's done all the terrible things you said, then you're right.
Even if you weren't here—if I knew he'd hurt so many people—I wouldn't let him go. Sparing him would just hurt more innocent people."
"Good. Then tell me—how far have you gotten?"
Goku immediately understood what he meant.
"I just feel like something's missing. I'm not sure what."
Franklin hesitated.
Normally… what he was missing was Krillin dying. The classic trigger.
He pushed the thought aside and used his spiritual sense to carefully examine Goku's body.
After a moment, everything became clear.
Seeing Goku's questioning look, Franklin told him directly:
"You've got 3% S-cells. What you're lacking is emotional stimulus."
"S-cells? Emotional stimulus?"
"Right. You need a trigger—anger, for example.
Look at Krillin right now.
Raditz's suicidal fighting has put him at a disadvantage. His arm is already injured.
If this keeps up, Krillin has a seventy percent chance of losing.
If Raditz kills him and wins, I won't kill Raditz—and I'll let him go.
Even if you want to stop him, I'll block you. With your five-thousand battle power, you won't stand a chance."
Under Franklin's powerful spiritual influence and guiding pressure, Goku could practically see it:
Krillin lying dead on the ground, blood at his lips…
Raditz taunting Franklin…
Franklin stepping between them…
Goku powerless to break through.
In that instant—Goku roared.
A massive wave of energy exploded from him, the shock shattering Franklin's spiritual influence.
All the girls floating in the air suddenly lost support and began plummeting straight toward the ground.