"Nothing special, really. I've just heard of you before… Bardock." Taro looked at the father of Kakarot, studying the face that was identical to the Son Goku he remembered, and spoke calmly.
Bardock was a traditional, iron-blooded warrior, so he showed no reaction to Taro's words. Coldly, he replied, "I'm honored that the famous Burely would remember my name."
Taro smiled faintly. He seemed to recall that in some Dragon Ball side story, Bardock had been sent back in time during the explosion of Planet Vegeta and even became a Super Saiyan? But now that he was in this real Dragon Ball world, he couldn't blindly trust those scattered bits of lore—nor could he dismiss them entirely.
Just like the concept of the Evil Dragons. Though he had always scoffed at the fan-made GT anime, now that he was here, could he really ignore this "setting" just because he didn't like it? Even the Grand Kai couldn't fully explain what the Namekian-made Dragon Balls truly were… Yet, in the original Dragon Ball manga, the Elder Kaioshin had repeatedly warned of the Dragon Balls' ominous nature.
As Taro pondered how to ask Bardock about his youngest son, a spiky-haired little boy approached from a distance. He wore a Saiyan battle suit imitation and, like Bardock, had his tail wrapped around his waist like a belt.
Raditz tugged at his father's scouter and said, "Dad, you're back…" Then, noticing Taro standing beside Bardock, he blinked in confusion. "Lord Burely?"
Clearly, this "Burely" identity Taro had assumed was quite famous among the Saiyans.
After all, Burely's parents had both been low-class warriors, yet he had been born with the talent and potential of an elite. His story was one that countless young Saiyans from low-class backgrounds idolized.
Raditz was no exception. Unfortunately, he himself was just a low-class warrior.
Just like his father.
I wonder what my unborn brother Kakarot will be like? Will he be a low-class warrior like me? Raditz sometimes wondered. The thought was depressing, but remembering his father—Bardock, who was stronger than many mid-class and even elite warriors—gave him some comfort.
At least even a low-class warrior can become strong…
Well, being an elite would be better. More impressive.
"Is this your child?" Taro deliberately steered the conversation toward children. Bardock only gave a curt nod and said, "He idolizes elite warriors—especially you, Burely." After a pause, Bardock added something uncharacteristic: "I heard from your squadmates… that you weren't supposed to escape the planet's explosion during your last mission. Yet somehow, you survived?"
The hardened low-class warrior's eyes held suspicion. Bardock knew all too well how terrifying a planetary explosion was. Even now, as he stood just below King Vegeta himself—effectively the second strongest in their race—he couldn't imagine anyone surviving such a cataclysm.
Saiyans weren't built to survive in the vacuum of space.
"Heh, my pod malfunctioned, and I was injured. But at the last second, I mashed the controls and barely escaped the blast…" Taro brushed it off casually. "Guess I got lucky. My power took a hit, but at least I'm alive."
Bardock nodded. That explanation was plausible enough.
What he didn't know was that Taro had simply borrowed an experience from his youngest son's original life and spun it into a lie.
The real Burely had indeed died in that mission's explosion. Taro had initially planned to use invisibility magic to sneak onto the planet, but while orbiting, he encountered a Saiyan squad returning to Planet Vegeta. After skimming their memories, he decided to take on the form of Burely—a warrior supposedly killed in the blast.
Then, he pulled out the spherical pod from his time on Mutaito's island—repaired and maintained over the years by Hathaway and Fibrizi—and faked a near-death escape, landing on Planet Vegeta.
Taking Burely's form made it easier to find Bardock and gather intel on Kakarot. Plus, having a Saiyan identity would help ensure Kakarot ended up on Earth.
As for nerfing his power level? That was just to avoid being assigned Saiyan combat missions.
Whether this'll work out remains to be seen. If the Saiyans are ruthless enough to send even a half-crippled warrior into battle, I'll just ditch this identity. No big loss—just means more hassle later.
The moment he landed, Taro destroyed the pod. After all, his ship was an outdated model, drastically different from the standard Saiyan pods. To avoid early exposure, he blew it up.
The "greeting crew" naturally assumed it was due to mechanical failure and even congratulated "Lord Burely" for making it back before the pod gave out completely.
"Power level took a hit…" Raditz, however, was fixated on that. He put on his father's scouter, aimed it at Taro, and pressed a few buttons. His jaw dropped. "O-One… hundred?!"
"Power level isn't everything for a warrior, kid," Taro said, looking at the disappointed young Raditz. He felt no particular fondness for the character—same as Nappa—but he didn't despise him either.
Raditz, however, wasn't impressed. "Are you joking, Lord Burely?"
Bardock's expression darkened. His sharp gaze bore into Taro. "A warrior's everything is power. Burely… have you lost your pride as a warrior?"
Taro neither confirmed nor denied it. Instead, he asked, "So this is how you raise your son? Will your second child be trained into the same kind of warrior?"
Raditz piped up, "My brother Kakarot isn't even born yet."
Taro's expression didn't change, but inwardly, everything clicked. So, Son Goku is already in Bardock's wife's womb. That means he'll be born in a few months.
Bardock's voice was ice. "Training? That's only if he's worth it."