Tao Pai Pai, the world's number one assassin, charged 100 million to kill one person.
Since it happened to be his twentieth anniversary in the business, he offered a discount and only charged 50 million per person.
The discount was very generous, but he could never have imagined that this job would be his last.
Surrounded by Ethan, Yoruichi, Yamcha, and Goku, who had just come down from Korin Tower, Tao had no chance of winning. He did not even get the chance to escape and died on the spot.
In that case, he would not have to suffer for several more years and turn himself into a cyborg.
"Upa, I will gather the Dragon Balls and bring your father back to life."
"Don't worry, we will help too."
Bora had hosted Ethan and the others before. There was no way to warn him in advance to avoid this disaster, so Ethan would not stand by this time when it came to gathering the Dragon Balls to revive him.
After a simple cleanup, Puar, who had no combat ability, stayed at Korin Sanctuary to keep Upa company. The rest headed toward the Red Ribbon Army headquarters.
Because the Red Ribbon Army had obtained Goku's Dragon Ball Radar, their efficiency in collecting Dragon Balls greatly increased.
This also revealed their base location to Goku and the others, so there was no need to search. They simply followed the Dragon Ball Radar and arrived.
"Should we make a battle plan?"
Yamcha was very cautious about facing the Red Ribbon Army.
Although he was not afraid to fight, he believed that such a well-known organization must be powerful. Their headquarters would surely have many defensive measures, so charging in directly would be reckless.
Ethan could only pat Yamcha on the shoulder and remind him, "We are not really ordinary people anymore."
After intense training, no one present could be considered ordinary. Even if the Red Ribbon Army soldiers all carried submachine guns with unlimited ammunition, they could not do anything to them. At this level, ordinary firearms could no longer harm them.
Back at Master Roshi's place, the biggest use of a submachine gun was to wake people up. Emptying a full magazine would only cause minor scratches and some pain.
Yamcha had not truly fought enemies using firearms in recent years, so his old impressions had not changed.
"Even if you say that, I still find it hard to believe."
Ethan did not need to explain further. Goku quickly demonstrated what their current strength looked like against a force made up of ordinary people like the Red Ribbon Army.
After seeing Goku's performance, Yamcha gained confidence and began attacking freely. While the others charged openly, Yoruichi moved through hidden paths, striking from blind spots and taking down snipers hiding in the shadows.
In the original story, it took Goku less than forty minutes to destroy the Red Ribbon Army. This was clearly described. After Bulma discovered Goku heading toward the base with a reconnaissance plane, she contacted Master Roshi, Yamcha, Launch, and others to provide support. It was stated that it would take forty minutes to arrive.
When they arrived, Goku had already finished the battle and was preparing to leave on the Flying Nimbus. He met them halfway.
In other words, the Red Ribbon Army did not even last forty minutes, and that was with only Goku.
Now, with several people whose strength was comparable to his, the Red Ribbon Army collapsed even faster. In less than twenty minutes, no enemies remained standing in the entire base.
As for the commander who dreamed of becoming taller, he still died at the hands of his deputy, who killed him in anger after learning that his wish was so trivial.
The deputy, who had just taken power, was then killed by Goku before he could even settle into his position.
"That was easy."
Ethan was not surprised. After defeating the Red Ribbon Army, he did not just leave like Goku. Before the battle, he had already sent Yoruichi to locate the supply warehouse. Once the fight ended, he went to collect the spoils.
"Spoils of war?"
Goku had no concept of this. Ethan explained that taking the enemy's resources after defeating them was also part of the battle.
"If we do not take them, whatever remains will be seized by scattered survivors. No one knows what they might do with those supplies. They might rebuild the Red Ribbon Army, or create something new like a Black Ribbon Army or Purple Ribbon Army."
"So we should not give them that chance, right?"
"Also, Goku, you will need to live in the future. Have you ever thought about earning money?"
"Earning money? What is that?"
Having grown up in the mountains, Goku had no concept of working for money.
As for what he did at Master Roshi's place, he saw it as training.
He was used to hunting and making what he needed himself. Ethan knew he could not make Goku understand everything in a short time.
They soon found the Red Ribbon Army warehouse. Yoruichi had already packed the valuable items and stood at the entrance, waiting for Ethan.
At her feet lay a purple-haired woman. From her clothes, it was clear she was a member of the Red Ribbon Army.
Ethan glanced at her and recognized her as Colonel Violet. In the story, she used Goku's Dragon Ball Radar to help retrieve a Dragon Ball. That was her only appearance, and she was a good-looking minor character.
However, something General Blue once said made things interesting. The Red Ribbon Army does not accept women.
So what was the true gender of this good-looking character?
"Are you interested in her?"
"No, just curious." Ethan looked away. He was curious, but not enough to investigate further. "Is everything packed?"
"It's all here." Yoruichi lightly tossed the box in her hand. "These Capsule Corp capsules are very convenient."
So many items could be stored, turned into capsules, and carried away easily. Yoruichi was growing fond of them.
Ethan nodded. With the Red Ribbon Army defeated and everything taken, it was time to leave.
It was a pity he could not find Dr. Gero's lab. If he had eliminated him now, there might be fewer problems in the future.
As for whether Krillin would find a wife, Ethan did not care to think about it.
Leaving the ruined base, they prepared to continue searching for the Dragon Balls. However, Goku discovered that the Dragon Ball Radar could not locate the last one.
"Is it broken?"
"Even if it is, it would not completely fail, right?"
Yamcha and Yoruichi checked their radars as well. None of them could detect the final Dragon Ball.
"What should we do?"
Without the last Dragon Ball, they could not summon Shenron, nor revive Bora.
They looked at each other, unsure of what to do. Ethan recalled that at this point, Master Roshi had suggested visiting Fortuneteller Baba.
He considered reminding Goku, but Goku had already thought of asking Master Roshi.
So they headed to Fortuneteller Baba. This time, Master Roshi, Launch, and Krillin came along. They also picked up Puar and Upa on the way. Compared to before, only Bulma was missing, as she remained in West City.
At Baba's place, she had only two interests, money and fighting.
To receive a fortune, one either had to pay or defeat the five fighters she sent out.
In her eyes, the group did not look like they had money. Yet Ethan immediately agreed to pay.
"… "
This was not what she expected. She had promised someone that when a child with a tail came, she would make him fight.
"You are willing to pay ten million?"
"Yes."
"You can really pay ten million?"
"Of course."
In this world, with Capsule Corp technology, carrying large sums of money was not unusual. Ethan himself did not carry cash often, but they had just taken the Red Ribbon Army's funds.
Baba stared as Ethan took out the money.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
Since he was willing to pay, she had no reason to refuse. As for that promise, she would handle it later.
Although her fee was high, her ability was unquestionable. She immediately revealed the location of the last Dragon Ball.
After confirming the location, Goku called the Flying Nimbus and set off to retrieve it himself.
"Will Goku be alright alone?"
"He might run into some trouble, but nothing serious."
Although his tail was still a weakness, it could break off in danger. Without that weakness, the Pilaf Gang could do nothing but act foolish.
It only caused a slight delay, and in the end, he successfully retrieved the Dragon Ball. When he returned, he was surprised to see his grandfather standing there with a halo above his head.
(To be continued.)