Chapter 20: The World's Closed Loop
"Old man, don't be so ungrateful. I'm saving him. If you don't believe me, see for yourself."
As Gohan carefully examined Goku's condition after catching him, his face full of worry, Franklin seized the moment to explain, "Look at that rock. If I hadn't acted in time, this little guy would've been dead."
Following the direction Franklin pointed, Gohan's battle-hardened eyes immediately recognized the white and red sticky substance — and what it meant. His expression turned alarmed as he once again carefully sensed Goku's condition.
After confirming that Goku's injuries had indeed fully healed, he looked back at Franklin warily.
"Who are you? And why are you here?"
Seeing Gohan's guarded stance, Franklin frowned deeply.
"Old man, you really don't know what's good for you. To save your grandson — he is your grandson, right? — I paid a heavy price. And this is how you treat me?"
Gohan's expression shifted slightly, but his wary gaze remained locked on Franklin.
"Although you saved Goku and are therefore his savior — something I, as his grandfather, should thank you for — your aura is identical to that of the stranger who vanished into the white light. In fact, it's not just similar — it's exactly the same.
The only difference between you and that person is that your aura is countless times stronger. Now, tell me — facing someone like you, whose motives are unclear, shouldn't I be cautious?"
Franklin hadn't expected Gohan to still be so sharp despite his age. Even from such a distance, the old man could sense things so clearly. Narrowing his eyes, Franklin channeled spiritual energy into them — activating the Eye of True Sight once again.
Feeling his spiritual energy rapidly draining, he quickly pulled out a supreme-grade spirit stone to replenish himself while examining Gohan's basic information in detail:
Name: Son Gohan
Age: 78 / 110
Race: Human
Bloodline: Human
Body Cultivation: Body Tempering, Level 10
Spiritual Qi Cultivation: Qi Refining, Level 35
Mind Cultivation: Realm of Will (With enough conviction, anything is possible. Power can exceed normal limits by 50%–200%, depending on the strength of belief.)
Cultivation Technique: Turtle School Style
Skills: Kamehameha, Rock-Paper-Scissors, Drunken Fist, Afterimage Fist
Talent: None
Overall Combat Strength: 160–230
Perhaps sensing something, Gohan's gaze grew not only more guarded but also carried traces of anger and resolve. It was clear that if Franklin didn't give him a satisfactory explanation, the old man would fight to the death.
Realizing Gohan's combat power was only 160 — 230 at most — Franklin relaxed slightly. There was no longer any need to hide the truth.
"Your grandson is an alien. You know that better than anyone. But do you know why he came to Blue Star?"
The sudden revelation shocked Gohan beyond words.
"How… how do you know that?"
Seeing his reaction, Franklin continued with a half-truthful story. "That's something I won't tell you. But I can tell you this: if he's allowed to keep growing unchecked, he'll eventually become a being like King Piccolo.
I think you, of all people, understand what that means. If he continues to grow at his current abnormal pace, with that kind of temperament, he will inevitably become another great calamity for Blue Star."
Franklin's words made Gohan tremble uncontrollably. He knew King Piccolo's existence all too well. And the thought that Goku could become a similar threat left him silent.
As he recalled the past — from the day he picked Goku up to now — his violent tendencies and rapid growth… everything pointed to that possibility. He had no words to refute it.
In that moment, he seemed to age decades in an instant. Already old and frail, he now looked like a flickering candle in the wind. Raising his hand high, it was clear he had made a certain decision.
"Young man, I don't know why you're here or what your goal is, but you're right — the future may unfold that way. I cannot let my personal attachment endanger others. I'm nearing the end of my life. To die and leave behind a threat to Blue Star… that's something I cannot allow."
Sensing Gohan's grim resolve, Franklin hurried to reassure him. "That might've been the case before you met me. But now things are different. He suffered a severe head injury when he fell off the cliff. After my treatment, I believe his personality will change drastically."
But Franklin's comforting words had no effect. Spiritual energy began gathering in Gohan's palm, and his expression grew even more resolute.
"He was never a Blue Star native. Taking him in was selfish of me to begin with. Now that he might pose a danger to this world… death is his rightful fate."
Seeing the spiritual energy swirling in Gohan's palm, Franklin's heart raced with panic. "Wait, old man! I'm telling the truth — Goku's personality has changed. He's a good kid now!"
But Gohan was unmoved. His decision was final.
"Young man, there's no need to comfort me. You say he fell off a cliff, suffered a head injury, and you healed him completely — but what inevitable link is there between any of that and a change in his personality?"
Franklin was sweating profusely, trying to think of an explanation, when young Goku suddenly woke up.
"Mm? Grandpa? Where is this… ah—!"
Before he could finish speaking, Goku jumped down from Gohan's arms, clutching his head in pain. It was a simple, ordinary action — but the sight brought tears to Gohan's eyes.
"It's true… it's really true. He's really changed."
Overcome with emotion, his words tumbled out incoherently as he pulled Goku into his arms, comforting him like a doting grandfather. "Hush now, hush. A little puff of air and it won't hurt. A little puff and the pain will go away."
As he spoke, he blew gently a few times — and unbelievably, Goku stopped struggling, as if those few breaths had truly dispelled the pain.
Watching the warm scene between grandfather and grandson, Franklin felt his legs go weak. That was close — everything had nearly gone wrong. At least now, he didn't have to worry about Gohan killing Goku for the sake of the greater good. But could a few breaths really be that miraculous?
Sensing more carefully, Franklin quickly realized that Gohan was channeling his own essence spiritual energy into Goku, helping ease his headache. After thinking it through, Franklin stepped in to stop him.
"Don't waste your essence like that. Your state of mind is unstable — if you keep this up, you might die. This is a healing serum. It should completely cure Goku's head injury."
He tossed over a vial.
Seeing the pale green liquid in the test tube, Gohan hesitated briefly before catching it. After sensing it for a moment, he administered it to Goku. As the serum went down, Goku's pained groans gradually subsided.
Touching his head again in disbelief, he confirmed that the pain was truly gone. Then he looked curiously at Franklin.
Meeting Goku's innocent, sincere eyes, Franklin felt the same feeling he'd had when locking eyes with Lala — that untainted, naïve charm of someone who'd never been beaten down by the world.
With Goku healed and his personality drastically changed, Gohan grew even more wary. The young man before him was simply too mysterious — so much so that he had no choice but to remain on guard.
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