Launch sneezed.
In an instant, she changed from a gentle, refined woman into a fierce, wild blonde. Just as the two were about to ask what was going on, Launch somehow pulled out a machine gun and opened fire at the three of them.
"Ratatatat—ratatatatat—!"
Chi-Chi and Krillin were startled and immediately moved to dodge.
Seeing Vegeta standing there in a daze, Krillin worried that if Vegeta counterattacked, he might hurt Launch. Without hesitation, he grabbed Vegeta and dragged him away.
In no time, Chi-Chi and Krillin were hiding behind a rock, and Vegeta was shoved down beside them.
Krillin shouted at the top of his lungs,
"Launch, don't get worked up!"
"It's been so many years since we last met—opening fire the moment we see each other is a bit much, don't you think?"
Chi-Chi called out as well, "We're friends, remember?"
Both of them tried to calm her down.
Unfortunately, it had no effect.
Launch kept her machine gun trained on the rock they were hiding behind. She swapped magazines and prepared to keep firing.
Just then, Son Xiaokong grabbed onto Launch.
"Mom, stop!
Didn't you say they were uncles and aunties?"
A savage grin spread across Launch's face. She let out a cold laugh and said, "Don't be scared, my son!
They're trying to chase us away. Your mother is protecting you!"
"Ratatatat!"
The machine gun in Launch's hands once again spat out blue flames…
Krillin and Chi-Chi were already used to Launch pulling out a gun at the slightest provocation. And since it had been so many years since they last saw her, there was even a strange sense of nostalgia.
It seemed that getting her to explain what had happened with Goku was completely hopeless.
But Vegeta was utterly shaken.
He was pressed behind the rock, his face pale with disbelief.
"What is going on…?
She… she turned into a Super Saiyan?!"
"Hey, Vegeta, have you gone stupid?"
Krillin and Chi-Chi froze for a moment, then both looked at him with amusement.
"Launch just transforms—she's not turning into a Super Saiyan."
"Yeah. She's an Earthling. She just changes from gentle and kind into rough and wild.
It's just a quirk—every time she sneezes, she transforms. It has nothing to do with Super Saiyans at all."
A bead of cold sweat slid down Vegeta's forehead.
"Is that so…?
But I felt her Ki.
Even if getting stronger after transforming isn't strange, the difference between before and after… it's completely on another level…"
Krillin and Chi-Chi were both taken aback again.
Krillin scratched his head. "Huh… when you put it that way, you might actually be right."
Chi-Chi stroked her chin thoughtfully. "Now that you mention it… if Launch had trained with us back then, she might've reached Super Saiyan levels by now. Her transformation is ridiculously easy."
At that moment, a dense hail of bullets shattered the rock in front of them into powder.
They had lost their cover.
Vegeta snorted coldly. "If she's not a Super Saiyan, then I'll subdue her myself!"
"Don't!"
Krillin quickly stopped him.
Then he turned to Chi-Chi. "Chi-Chi, go disarm her!"
Chi-Chi immediately understood. She stood up, waving both hands, catching the bullets and tossing them aside. The instant the machine gun fell silent, she flashed in front of Launch, snatched the weapon from her hands, and with a light twist—
Crack.
The gun snapped in half.
With a casual squeeze, the entire machine gun was crushed into a lump of scrap metal.
Chi-Chi looked at Launch and said calmly, "Launch, stop fighting. Let's talk this out.
We've been friends for so many years. There's no need to pull weapons on each other.
I won't hold what happened with you and Goku against you anymore. Just tell me what happened, okay?"
A glint of triumph flashed through blonde Launch's eyes.
At that moment, Son Xiaokong's eyes lit up.
"Wow, Auntie, you're amazing!"
"You can catch bullets with your bare hands and even snap a gun in half! Are you a Taoist master?"
Being praised so suddenly by a child, Chi-Chi blinked in surprise.
"You… can't do that?"
"Didn't Launch teach you martial arts?"
Son Xiaokong shook his head.
"Mom doesn't know martial arts…"
Chi-Chi: "..."
After a moment, Launch sent the child away.
She asked Krillin to take him outside to teach him some basic martial arts.
Then, Launch finally told Chi-Chi what had happened with Son Goku all those years ago.
After hearing Launch's story about that year, Chi-Chi finally understood everything.
Judging by the boy's age, the timeline matched perfectly.
Everything fell into place.
Chi-Chi said, "So that's what happened…
That year when we went to King Kai's planet, we really didn't bring any food…
I thought Goku went to find Bulma for something to eat. I never imagined Bulma wasn't there…"
She looked at Launch seriously.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know…
You've been on your own all these years. You must have suffered so much…"
Launch shook her head.
"No. I didn't suffer. Not even a little.
Goku gave me all his treasure. I still haven't spent it all. I've been living comfortably."
Chi-Chi let out a small, helpless smile.
She studied Launch's face and figure again.
She remembered that even when she was young, Launch had already been a mature woman.
Now, years later—married, with a child—yet her looks were just as beautiful, her figure just as striking.
Even after becoming a mother, she still looked young and radiant.
Time had left not a single mark on her.
Before long, Chi-Chi came to terms with everything.
Even after learning what had happened between Goku and Launch back then, she felt no resentment toward Goku.
She had grown up with him. She knew him better than anyone.
Goku was absolutely not the kind of man who chased women.
Though he had spent that one night with Launch, Launch herself had said she was the one who made the first move.
So it must have been something he couldn't help.
Even though he was strong enough to subdue Launch if she had tried anything inappropriate, he had always been kind-hearted.
He would never want to hurt her. He also didn't know how to refuse.
If it were someone else, things might have gone differently—but with Goku, everything made sense.
After all, back then, both she and Bulma—two great beauties—were always by his side. He was never lonely.
And yet, for so many years, he had never once returned to Mount Paozu.
Chi-Chi didn't even need to think to know why.
Goku wanted to forget that night. He wanted to be responsible to her… and to Bulma.
He chose to let Launch go as a one-night encounter, never to cross paths again.
Chi-Chi took a deep breath.
He was still the same Goku. He had never changed.
She said, "Launch… the fact that you managed to escape and make it to Mount Paozu means we were meant to meet again.
If you didn't have Goku's child, that would be one thing.
But you're a woman, raising a child alone.
I can't let you keep living here by yourself.
If Goku knew, he would make sure you were taken care of.
Since I found out first, there's no way I can pretend not to see it.
Your child is old enough for school. You can't keep living in the mountains forever.
Come with me. Let's go to West City."
Launch was stunned.
"What…?"
"You're going to take me to West City?"
Chi-Chi nodded.
"What's wrong?
From now on, you'll live with us. Goku too. Don't you want that?"
Launch immediately nodded. "I do… I really do… but…"
Her fingers twisted together nervously.
"But what?"
Chi-Chi gripped Launch's hand firmly.
"Don't worry. I'll talk to Bulma.
She's a reasonable woman…"
"Chi-Chi…"
Tears shimmered in Launch's eyes.
The next moment, she threw herself into Chi-Chi's arms, sobbing with happiness.