Chi-Chi and Ox-King rushed out, boarded their plane, and flew west in pursuit.
Once they were gone, the hotel people finally exhaled.
The head clerk wiped sweat off his forehead.
"That was a huge melon. Too bad we couldn't eat it in their faces…"
"Who'd have guessed that kid the rich lady was 'bullying'
is that adorable girl's fiancé?"
"And the worst part—
he's engaged, and he still went with a rich lady.
Shameless, right?"
"And that big guy wasn't her boyfriend—he was her dad.
I couldn't tell at all."
"The size gap's too crazy. I almost thought she wasn't his real kid."
"Ha, me too."
"But even though her dad looks scary, he dotes on her."
"Hey, hey, what do you think happens if they catch up to that blue-haired rich lady and the kid?"
Everyone sucked in cold air.
"Just thinking about it is terrifying."
"Caught cheating by father-in-law and fiancée… beaten to death?"
"Yikes…"
…
Pilaf's castle.
"You two useless idiots—if you don't get the Dragon Balls back tonight, I'll skin you!"
"Lord Pilaf, this time we'll definitely get them!"
Suddenly the radar started beeping.
"Wait!"
"The radar says that Dragon Ball is speeding straight toward us!"
"Oh wow, it is!"
"Haha! Looking everywhere and it comes to us!"
"If they want to die, we'll fight!"
"Mai! Shu!"
"Yes, Lord!" x2
They stood at attention.
"Teach them a lesson and take the Dragon Balls back. Confidence?"
"Yes!" x2
Outside Pilaf's castle.
Mai and Shu each piloted a steel behemoth of a robot, waiting to fight Goku and take the balls.
Moments later, Bulma and Goku arrived.
Mai laughed into a megaphone. "You dare step onto Lord Pilaf's turf? You've got a death wish!"
The two towering robots stomped forward, blocking their way.
Shu thundered from inside his cockpit, "Hey, you two! Hand over the Dragon Balls if you don't want to die!
Our lord might spare your lives!"
Bulma's mouth curled into a sharp grin.
She glanced at Goku.
"Goku, go easy. Don't kill them.
Just beat up those two and Pilaf, and get our balls back."
Goku nodded. "Don't worry. I know my limits."
He rolled his sleeves up and walked toward the robots.
Beating those three clowns was no difficulty for him.
Bulma stepped back with her hands in her pockets and watched calmly.
Seeing Goku charge in, Shu grit his teeth.
"Don't refuse a toast just to drink a forfeit! Take this!"
He swung the robot's massive fist down.
Goku hopped lightly and dodged.
The iron fist slammed into the earth like a hammer.
The ground shook violently.
Mai laughed. "Hahaha! See that?
Lord Pilaf's robots are amazing.
One punch carries several tons of force!
Lucky you dodged.
Otherwise you'd be paste!
I suggest you hand over the Dragon Balls!
Not worth dying for them!"
Shu roared along with her.
"Exactly! Submit to Lord Pilaf's power and hand them over!"
Goku grinned. "Power or not, I'll play with you guys!"
He drew the Power Pole and pointed it at Shu's robot.
Then he kicked off the ground and shot toward it.
Shu hadn't expected a kid to charge a giant robot bare-handed.
He scrambled to counter.
But in the next instant, the Power Pole extended.
Goku swung in a wide arc and swept it across the robot's midsection.
The Power Pole was a divine treasure—far tougher than steel.
A howl of wind followed the strike.
In the blink of an eye, Goku was back on the ground.
Shu blinked, confused.
"What just—?"
Suddenly the robot made an awful sound.
The controls went dead.
Shu's cockpit began tilting.
"What's happening?!"
Bzzzt… crack-crack-KRAK!
The robot split cleanly in two.
The upper half—still containing Shu's cockpit—fell.
Before Shu could even hit the ground, Goku lifted the Pole again and smashed the lower half.
WHAM!
The bottom section tore apart and detonated.
The upper half got swallowed in the explosion too.
When the smoke cleared, Shu sat on the ground, charred black and dazed.
Mai panicked, realizing even with robots they were no match.
She tried to flee.
But Goku's reaction was lightning fast.
The Pole extended and snapped her robot's leg.
Her robot exploded as well.
Mai crawled out of the wreckage in a sorry state.