The area that had just experienced an ultimate battle finally welcomed a moment of peace.
However, the lingering smell of burnt energy in the air, and the tragic, devastated landscape, made one subconsciously wonder: was this not a wasteland after the apocalypse?
"Marcarita,"
Whitley turned to look at the Angel, who stood nearby with her arms crossed and an expression that clearly said, "Get lost."
"Confirm it one more time. That guy... is he really gone, not even a scrap left? I don't want some kind of 'amalgamation of resentment' popping up in a few years."
Marcarita rolled her eyes in annoyance, but still elegantly. Her pink eyes were filled with an expression that screamed "you are so much trouble."
She snorted, but still reluctantly raised the staff in her hand.
"Hmph! You paranoid idiot! Since you're so worried, this Angel will put your mind at ease!"
As she spoke, the orb of her staff bloomed with a soft, yet incredibly far-reaching, divine light, which instantly swept across the entire solar system like a radar wave.
All the stars, planets, and asteroid belts in the solar system... all matter and energy were exposed under her perception.
This process lasted for nearly ten minutes. Marcarita's expression remained cold until, finally, she lowered her staff and spoke to Whitley in a definitive tone:
"Confirmation complete. The individual named Zamasu—his body, soul, and all lingering will—has been completely destroyed within this timeline's solar system. No residue of any kind exists. Are you satisfied now, 'Coward' Whitley-san?"
She deliberately emphasized the word "Coward," her tone dripping with mockery.
"Phew... That's good."
Only then did Whitley let out a true sigh of relief, a smile of unburdening on his face.
He turned his gentle smile toward Trunks, Dr. Hedo, and the others, who had been waiting for him.
Seeing Whitley's expression, Dr. Hedo immediately understood.
His round, fat face was filled with reluctance. He rubbed his hands and stepped forward, his voice sincere:
"Whitley-san, you're... you're leaving already? Look, the battle just ended, you must be tired. Why not... why not stay for a meal before you go? I'll have 1 and 2 prepare it. It's not as good as the food from your time, but we still have some supplies in the base..."
He was truly terrified.
It had been less than a month since Whitley and the others had defeated Cell MAX!
But now, an enemy countless times more terrifying had appeared out of nowhere and nearly wiped them all out.
If Whitley hadn't arrived in time with Broly and this Angel, they would be less than dust.
This feeling of surviving an apocalypse made him especially cherish this powerful protector.
Trunks stood behind Dr. Hedo, his blue eyes secretly watching Whitley.
In his heart, Whitley wasn't just a savior; he was a combination of a strict father and a reliable older brother, another pillar of support in his life.
He didn't want to show his weak reliance on Whitley. He wanted to prove that he was now a warrior who could stand on his own.
He sniffled hard, forcing an exaggeratedly bright smile. Meeting Whitley's gaze, he said in a loud voice:
"Whitley-san! Don't worry! We... We'll take care of ourselves!"
Whitley looked at Trunks's seemingly strong facade, and his heart softened.
He didn't say much. He just walked up and clapped him heavily on the shoulder.
This pat contained silent encouragement, trust, and... farewell.
Then, he nodded to Dr. Hedo, Gamma 1, and Gamma 2, and turned to walk toward the Time Machine parked nearby.
Broly followed silently. Marcarita glanced at the group, then also turned elegantly and boarded the machine.
Just as the Time Machine's hatch was about to close and the engine began its warm-up hum, Marcarita looked through the viewport at Trunks and the others, who were still standing there, their eyes following the machine.
She couldn't help but turn her head slightly, whispering to Whitley, who was setting the coordinates on the control panel:
"Hey, are you sure you're not staying a few more days? They seem... very reluctant to see you go."
Her tone, while still not exactly nice, had lost some of its previous sharpness.
Whitley's finger paused on the button. He didn't look up, just shook his head, his voice quiet but exceptionally firm.
"No. I... I trust them."
He trusted that Trunks had grown. He trusted that Dr. Hedo and the Gammas could support him. He trusted that this world, which had endured so much, would find new life under their efforts.
He no longer hesitated and decisively pressed the ignition button.
"VMMMMMM————"
The low hum suddenly intensified as the Time Machine slowly lifted off the ground.
Whitley took one last look through the cockpit glass. Below, Dr. Hedo was waving his chubby arms, Gamma 1 was bowing deeply, Gamma 2 was jumping up and down yelling something, and Trunks stood tall, that bright smile still on his face, waving hard.
Whitley gave them a small nod.
The next moment, a blinding white light enveloped the Time Machine.
The light flashed and was gone. The three of them had vanished from this future timeline.
...
Below, staring at the empty sky, Dr. Hedo lowered his arm and sighed.
He patted the shoulder of the somewhat dazed Trunks and said in a deliberately cheerful tone:
"Alright, Trunks-kun, let's go back. Life has to go on! I remember we still have some canned meat in the base, right, 1?"
The ever-calm Gamma 1 immediately stepped forward and reported with his flat, precise voice:
"Yes, Doctor. According to database records, we have one hundred forty-three canned food items. Fifty-two are meat. Thirteen are mutton, and the remaining thirty-nine are beef."
"Hmm, not bad, not bad."
Dr. Hedo nodded and shot a look at Gamma 2.
2 instantly understood. He grinned, walked over to Trunks, and slung an arm around his shoulders, trying to break his friend's melancholy with jokes:
"Haha, Trunks-kun, snap out of it! Let's go! I'll have 1 make us Sukiyaki! It's the Doctor's secret recipe, it's the best! I bet you can't find better sukiyaki in the whole world!"
Jostled by 2, Trunks's wistful mood cleared slightly.
He shook his head, pushing the sorrow of parting to the back of his mind. He gave 2, who was obviously trying to cheer him up, a resigned but much more genuine smile:
"2, I thought... you and 1 don't need to eat, right? How would you know if it tastes good?"
2 choked, then rubbed the back of his head and laughed sheepishly.
"Hey, well! We Gammas are the androids closest to humans! Our taste and smell sensors are top-of-the-line! We may not need to eat to recharge, but we can still enjoy the pleasure of good food, okay!"
It was true. Aside from their core power source and construction, their sensory and emotional simulations were over 90% identical to humans.
Watching Trunks's mood gradually lift under 2's antics, Dr. Hedo inwardly sighed in relief.
He looked at 2 and Trunks roughhousing in the sunset, and at the silent, reliable 1 standing nearby. A fond, complex smile appeared on his chubby face.
Yes, this world is full of disasters, and the enemies just get more and more insane. But no matter what, life has to go on. The future... is a long road.
And they... were not alone.
...
Meanwhile, in the past timeline. West City, Briefs' Estate.
A private flyer was slowly landing on the backyard landing pad. The hatch hissed open, and an ecstatic Bulma jumped out first.
She was carrying, and had hanging from her arms, no fewer than seven or eight shopping bags of various kinds, her face beaming with satisfaction.
Following behind her was 18. The cool, blonde beauty's hands were equally full, carrying several high-end shopping bags. Her expression was calm, but her eyes held a relaxed, lazy look from the day of shopping.
"Phew! Home at last! Today was... exhausting!"
Bulma let out a long breath, then immediately started to complain:
"Thanks, 18, you were a big help! That Launch! I told her so many times not to buy so much! But no! She sees something, she wants it. She goes on a shopping high, and in the end, she can't even carry it all and just... ditches us! Leaving all this junk for us to haul! I'm so mad!"
18 just smiled slightly, not responding.
She was used to Bulma's friendly complaints.
This afternoon was "Sisters' Shopping Day," excitedly organized by Bulma. She had invited Launch, Chi-Chi, and 18, planning a huge spree to relax.
When Launch (in her blonde form) heard that the wealthy Bulma was paying for everything, she didn't hesitate for a second. Her eyes lit up, and she pounded her chest, guaranteeing she'd be there.
As for Chi-Chi...
On the phone, Chi-Chi's voice was torn with conflict:
"Oh, Bulma-san! Why didn't you say so sooner! I... I want to go so badly! But Gohan has homework, and I have to make sure that good-for-nothing Goku is actually farming, otherwise we'll be broke next month... I really can't go this time!"
But then she quickly added:
"But Bulma-san! Next time! You have to tell me in advance! A free shopping spree is a golden opportunity, I absolutely cannot miss it twice!"
When 18 got the invitation, she figured it was her day off, and she was free, so she agreed to go, just to get out of the house.
But she never expected that the moment Launch stepped into the mall, she was like a wild horse that had broken its reins!
She put on a true "I want it all!" shopping performance for Bulma and 18.
It was like she was trying to empty the entire mall!
The result was that at the end of the day, Launch stared, dumbfounded, at the mountain of loot in front of her.
She had left in a hurry and hadn't brought enough empty Dyno-Caps!
Helpless, she could only clasp her hands, bat her eyelashes, and pitifully beg Bulma to take the stuff home for her, promising she'd send Vegeta over to pick it up immediately.
This made Bulma furious! Why do I have to be your delivery girl and storage unit after I paid for everything?!
But... what could she do? Gritting her teeth and muttering about her poor choice of friends, Bulma resignedly became a temporary mover with 18.
The two were just about to start sorting Launch's mountain of trophies when, suddenly, a familiar and unique humming sound came from the front yard.
"Hm?"
Bulma's ears perked up. She looked toward the front yard, and the last trace of annoyance on her face vanished, replaced by a radiant, delighted smile.
She knew that sound all too well!
It was the signature sound of her dearest husband returning in the Time Machine!
"Whitley's back!"
Bulma dropped the bag she was holding and quickly exchanged a look with 18.
It was a look of mutual understanding and a hint of anticipation that only they shared.
"Quick! 18, let's go take a shower!"
Bulma was already walking briskly toward the bathroom, her voice filled with irrepressible excitement.
"After we're clean, tonight, the two of us will... give that guy Whitley a proper 'welcome home'!"
18 smiled knowingly, put down her bags, and followed lightly.
...
In the front yard, Whitley parked the Time Machine, shut it down completely, and then led Broly and Marcarita down the ramp.
"Phew! Finally back."
Whitley stretched, his bones popping lightly.
His face was tired, but also held the contentment of finally being able to relax.
"I feel like ever since the Tournament of Power ended, I haven't had a moment's rest. I'm either fighting, on my way to a fight, or cleaning up the mess from a fight... Now that this Zamasu business is finally over, I can rest for a while, right?"
Broly, beside him, didn't answer immediately. He was frowning, looking up toward Korin Tower and, higher still, The Lookout.
With the extraordinary senses of a Legendary Super Saiyan, he could clearly feel his father Paragus's ki still there, but...
Kami's peaceful ki was gone! In its place was an unfamiliar, yet faintly familiar, and sharper ki!
This discovery made Broly inexplicably uneasy. He hesitated, then decided he had to go back to The Lookout first to understand what had happened.
"Whitley-san,"
Broly turned his head, his voice low.
"I... I'm going to head back to The Lookout first."
"Hm?"
Whitley was surprised. He had planned to have the kitchen prepare a huge feast to reward Broly for all his hard work in this battle.
"So soon? You're not staying for dinner?"
Seeing Broly's determined expression, Whitley swallowed his words of persuasion and nodded.
"Alright. Since you've decided... Okay. Wait here a second."
Whitley turned and walked quickly to his room.
A few minutes later, he returned with two Dyno-Caps.
"Here, for you."
Whitley tossed the capsules to Broly.
"These are full of food. Enough for you and your father for over a month. Just a little something from me. You worked hard this time."
Broly caught the capsules and nodded, saying nothing more.
After saying goodbye to Whitley and the quietly standing Marcarita, his body crouched slightly. The next moment, with a boom, his green-aura-wreathed figure shot into the sky like an arrow, speeding toward Korin Tower, becoming a tiny black dot in an instant.
"Alright, Ms. Marcarita,"
Whitley watched Broly leave, then turned to Marcarita and said lightly:
"It's been a long trip. How about we rest for a day? I'm planning to go to Lord Zeno's Palace tomorrow to report to the Grand Priest on our progress."
Marcarita gave a noncommittal nod, preparing to follow Whitley to rest.
But her gaze inadvertently swept over Whitley's profile, and then she quickly glanced around. It seemed... they were the only two left in the front yard!
A subtle atmosphere of being alone quietly spread.
Marcarita involuntarily remembered her bold actions during the time-stop in the future, and how that guy Whitley had been faking...
Her cheeks instantly began to heat up again. She instinctively crossed her arms and shuffled two steps to the side, trying to create a safe distance between herself and Whitley.
Whitley was just about to ask if she wanted to eat first or rest in her room.
He turned his head and saw Marcarita's "startled kitten" pose, warily watching him. He froze.
Then, his eyes darted, and he immediately understood what this tsundere Angel was thinking.
A teasing smile crept onto his face.
He deliberately slowed his steps, moving a little closer to Marcarita. He fixed his gaze on her darting pink eyes and said slowly, his tone full of amusement:
"Oh? Ms. Marcarita... What's wrong? Why are you suddenly moving away from me? And that pose... could you be... on... guard... against... me?"
Hearing Whitley's almost-direct words, Marcarita's eyes flashed in panic.
She bit her lip, suddenly angry and flustered.
Angry that this bastard was bringing up the one thing he shouldn't, and flustered that her current posture just proved him right!
This... This was a huge embarrassment for her, Marcarita!
"Hmph! Wh-What nonsense are you talking?!"
Marcarita forced herself to calm down, trying to make her voice sound as haughty as usual.
"Wh-What is there about you to be on guard against? I... I, Marcarita, would never make such a fuss... over someone like you..."
However, as Whitley, still smiling that teasing smile, took another half-step closer, Marcarita felt her traitorous heart begin to race, her breathing becoming slightly erratic.
The rebuttal she had prepared died on her lips, her voice getting smaller and smaller, losing all its confidence.
Her flawless, exquisite face turned a visible, alluring shade of red, even her earlobes blushing pink.
Looking at Marcarita's current state—her flushed cheeks, her pink eyes shimmering with a watery mist from her embarrassment, making them look even more translucent—Whitley's teasing unconsciously stopped, and his advancing footsteps paused.
He had to admit, in this moment, stripped of her usual haughty shell, the girlish shyness and helplessness Marcarita revealed had a breathtaking beauty.
All the sights in the world seemed to pale in comparison to this fleeting moment of her blushing face and flustered eyes.
As if possessed, Whitley reached out and gently took Marcarita's small, trembling, white hand.
His touch was soft, as if afraid of startling her.
His voice, without him even realizing it, became gentle:
"Marcarita..."
"Hm? You..."
Marcarita was instantly stunned. She first looked down at her hand, now enveloped by Whitley's, feeling the startling warmth and touch, before slowly lifting her gaze.
Her shimmering, watery eyes, filled with confusion and shyness, just stared at the man who was so close.
She herself was confused.
Ever since that "accident" during the time-stop, every time she looked at Whitley, her heart felt like a stone had been tossed into it, sending out ripples of indescribable emotion.
This strange, uncontrolled fluttering made her panic, but also... faintly expectant?
Being stared at by those eyes, Whitley jolted, as if waking from a dream.
What am I doing?!
He quickly dropped her hand and took a clumsy step back, giving a tactical cough to cover his embarrassment.
"Ahem! Th-That... it's getting late. We should go to the living room first! See if Bulma and the others are back!"
Whitley spoke rapidly, barely daring to look at Marcarita's reaction. He turned and strode quickly toward the living room.
His retreating back had all the signs of a full-blown escape.
Marcarita, however, remained frozen in place, not following immediately.
The moment Whitley had taken her hand, a strong electric current had seemed to shoot from the point of contact through her entire body!
Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst from her chest, and her face was burning hot.
She slowly lifted the hand he had held, unconsciously pressing it to her still-hot cheek. Her fingertips could almost still feel his residual warmth.
But soon, she seemed to sense something. She lowered her hand, her sharp gaze sweeping over a seemingly empty corner of the yard, a flash of annoyance in her pink eyes.
She didn't call it out, however. She just let out a soft "Hmph!", straightened her appearance slightly, and then, with elegant steps, unhurriedly followed in the direction Whitley had fled.
And just as Marcarita's figure vanished around the corner to the living room, in that very spot her gaze had swept, two slender figures silently materialized.
One of them was patting her ample chest, her face full of lingering fear as she whispered:
"V-Vados-san! Just now... Ms. Marcarita... did she spot us?"
The two were, of course, Android 21, dressed in a sexy yet demure maid outfit, and Vados, in her elegant and mysterious Angel attire.
Vados did not answer 21's question directly.
Her pale violet eyes were still looking in the direction Marcarita had disappeared, her beautiful face holding an inscrutable expression. She tapped her chin, pondering something.
After a long moment, she slowly retracted her gaze and turned to the nervous and expectant 21, announcing with a smile:
"21-san, the plan has changed. Tonight's 'special maid service' operation is temporarily canceled."
"Eh?!"
21 was dumbfounded, her face a picture of disappointment and confusion.
"Wh-Why, Vados-san?"
She had been waiting for so long! The few days Whitley was gone, she had felt like a fish out of water, desperately needing to recharge her "Whitley energy"!
She had finally worked up the courage to approach the resourceful Vados, and they had planned for the two of them to wear maid outfits on Whitley's first night back, to give the returning, dust-covered "Master Whitley" a big surprise.
They were just about to put the plan into action, so why was it suddenly canceled?
Vados gently shook her head. Seeing 21's "about to cry" expression, the curve of her smile only grew more mysterious.
"Don't be hasty, 21-san."
She turned gracefully and began to walk toward her own room.
"My little sister, Marcarita... she is not the patient or subtle type. If I am not mistaken, tonight... she will be making her move."
She paused, glancing back toward the main house's bathroom, adding meaningfully:
"Besides, when we arrived just now, didn't we see Bulma-san and 18-san... heading into the shower?"
21 blinked her innocent, (and slightly thirsty), large eyes, still not quite grasping the connection:
"Ms. Bulma and Ms. 18 taking a shower... what does that have to do with Ms. Marcarita's plan for tonight?"
Vados didn't explain further this time. She just left 21 with a meaningful back and a light, floating sentence:
"Be patient, 21-san. Sometimes, watching the show... is far more entertaining than being in it."
Vados had decided to stay her hand for now and be a casual observer.
After all, tonight, the Briefs' estate was guaranteed to be anything but calm.
...
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