"That's strange. By my calculations, Bardock should have arrived by now. Why is there no movement from the prison?" King Vegeta II said after finishing instructing his son, his tone puzzled.
"That shouldn't be possible," Wright replied coldly. "King Vegeta, is your intelligence wrong? Could it be that Bardock doesn't actually care about the lives of those Saiyans?"
Before King Vegeta II could answer, Prince Vegeta spoke sharply, "Impossible. Even if Bardock didn't care about the others, he would definitely care about Gine."
Wright merely smiled faintly. "Yet the facts are right in front of us. Perhaps something unexpected happened."
King Vegeta II stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Vegeta, go and check the trap."
Prince Vegeta nodded and quickly walked toward the main gate.
Hidden in a dark corner, Bardock suppressed his ki completely, watching Prince Vegeta leave. For a moment, he considered following him and killing him outright.
Forget it. I'll spare your life—for now. But you are absolutely unfit to be king.
In the end, Bardock chose restraint. He still wasn't completely sure which timeline this world belonged to.
If this was GT, then losing King Vegeta II, a genius born with a combat power of fifty thousand, and Prince Vegeta, who also possessed terrifying potential, would be an enormous loss for the already talent-starved Saiyan race.
Bardock had already decided—kill the father, spare the son.
The sins of the previous generation should be repaid by expanding Saiyan territory with their own hands.
As for the two inside the villa, however, there was no need for mercy.
One was trash with a combat power of barely four thousand.
The other was a scumbag with only seventy.
Keeping them alive would just be a waste of food.
Bardock's figure flickered.
In the next instant, he appeared directly in front of King Vegeta II and Wright.
King Vegeta II was horrified. "Bardock?! How are you here?!"
Bardock snorted coldly. "I already know all of your schemes. Today is your doomsday."
Wright screamed in panic, "Guards! Someone—help!"
Bardock mocked him. "Don't waste your breath. No one can save you today."
Thanks to their own plotting, the entire villa was completely deserted.
King Vegeta II forced himself to stay calm. "Bardock, do you dare kill me? I am the King of the Saiyans! Are you trying to betray your own race?"
"You scum are not worthy of being Saiyan kings," Bardock roared. "Die!"
His power erupted violently as he charged forward.
King Vegeta II struggled to resist, but under Bardock's overwhelming strength, he was quickly crushed.
Seeing an opening, Wright tried to flee.
Bardock casually waved his hand.
An energy blast shot out, striking Wright squarely and killing him instantly.
After disposing of Wright, Bardock focused all his power and delivered the final blow to King Vegeta II, who collapsed in despair.
Looking at the two corpses, Bardock said coldly, "Trash belongs in the trash heap."
With the culprits dealt with, it was time to rescue his people.
The city's prison was built deep underground.
At this moment, the usually spacious prison was packed full.
Once-arrogant Saiyan warriors now sat wounded and silent inside their cells, exhaustion and despair written all over their faces.
Outside one of the cells, a Saiyan man in his thirties was tied to a cross while a Planet Tuffle guard whipped him with a thorn-covered lash.
Inside another cell stood a young woman wearing animal skins. She was about 165 centimeters tall, with fair skin, a petite build, and shoulder-length black hair.
Gine looked at her imprisoned people, her eyes filled with determination.
She stood up and shouted loudly, "Everyone, don't give up! We still have Bardock! He will definitely come to save us!"
The eyes of the surrounding Saiyans slowly regained their light.
"That's right! We still have Bardock!"
"He's incredibly strong—he'll definitely save us!"
Voices echoed one after another.
The noise angered the Tuffle guard. He turned around, pulled out a laser pistol, and fired.
A scorching hole burned straight through Gine's shoulder.
She cried out and collapsed, caught by a bearded Saiyan beside her.
"Gine! Are you alright?" he asked anxiously.
"I'm fine," Gine said through clenched teeth, covering her wound. "Paragus, tell everyone not to lose hope. Bardock will come."
Before Paragus could respond, the guard laughed mockingly.
"Unless that Bardock is some kind of Saiyan god, there's no way he can save you."
"Your King Vegeta has already been executed by our general. You Saiyans are destined to be slaves of Planet Tuffle for generations! Hahaha!"
Gine puffed out her cheeks in anger. "You're talking nonsense! Bardock will definitely come!"
"Hmph. Just him?" the guard sneered.
At that moment, a calm male voice echoed from the prison entrance.
"I'm not a Saiyan god yet—but I'll definitely become one in the future."
Gine froze.
Then her eyes widened in disbelief.
"Bardock!"
"Lord Bardock!"
"Lord Bardock!"
Cheers erupted throughout the prison.
The guard turned in horror, only to see his colleague already lying dead on the ground, his neck twisted at an unnatural angle.
Before he could scream, Bardock appeared before him and snapped his neck with one hand.
He opened the cell door and walked straight to Gine, glancing at her wound.
"You're hurt."
Gine shook her head. "Just a minor injury."
Bardock frowned. "You call that minor? Hold on—we'll find you a healing tank after we get out."
"Okay," Gine nodded softly.
Paragus stepped forward. "Bardock, if it weren't for Gine encouraging everyone nonstop, we would've lost hope long ago."
Paragus was Broly's father. Due to Bardock's deliberate efforts to befriend him, their relationship was close, and he didn't use honorifics.
Bardock turned to the crowd. "Don't worry. I will take everyone out of here."
"We believe in you, Lord Bardock," the Saiyans replied in unison.
At that moment, one Saiyan hesitated before asking, "Lord Bardock… did you see the King when you came? The King and the Prince were taken away shortly after we were captured."
All eyes turned toward Bardock.
Bardock nodded solemnly. "I saw them. They are traitors to our race."
He then took out a device about the size of a phone and activated it.
The video clearly displayed the conspiracy between King Vegeta II and Wright—their cold calculations and utter contempt for the Saiyan people.
Silence fell over the prison.
After a long moment, a tall Saiyan covered his face and sobbed.
"So our King… was the greatest traitor of all…"
"How could they do this to their own people?!"
"Our loyalty and sacrifices meant nothing to them!"
Gine clenched her fists, tears welling in her eyes. "Bardock, we can't let this tragedy happen again."
Bardock nodded firmly. "It won't. I won't allow their schemes to succeed."
Paragus suddenly stepped forward and shouted, "Bardock has always fought for our people! He is strong, brave, and wise!"
"Now that King Vegeta II's betrayal has been exposed, I propose—Bardock should become our new King!"
"Agreed!"
"King Bardock!"
Cheers thundered through the prison.
Bardock took a deep breath and spoke loudly, "Since everyone trusts me, I, Bardock, swear that I will never let the Saiyan fall again!"
"King Bardock! King Bardock!"
Just as the cheers reached their peak, a sharp voice cut through the noise.
"I disagree!"