When Goku saw the system's reward, he couldn't help blinking in surprise.
"Flight?"
If he could fly on his own, then the Flying Nimbus really wasn't that important anymore…
Besides, with a heart that definitely wasn't "pure" enough, there was a good chance he wouldn't even be able to ride the Nimbus anyway.
He glanced back at the capsule house. The lights were on, and he could faintly hear Bulma washing up inside.
After thinking it over, he figured Bulma probably couldn't ride the Nimbus either.
And as for returning the sea turtle—he could just take the Dragon Ball as thanks. Two birds with one stone.
Decision made, Goku said to the turtle, "Wait here. I'll get you some water."
"Thank you! Thank you!"
A short while later, Goku brought back a bucket of water and told Bulma about sending the turtle home.
Bulma immediately shook her head. "No, no!
My summer break is only one month. I can't waste time escorting it home."
But Goku knew he had to go. Not just for the mission—Master Roshi had a Dragon Ball too. Kame House was unavoidable.
So he said, "Bulma, why don't you check the Dragon Radar?
Maybe there's a Dragon Ball near the coast in that direction."
Bulma frowned skeptically. "What are you talking about? How could it be that convenient?"
Even so, she picked up the Dragon Radar and pressed a few buttons.
Her expression brightened instantly.
"Wow—there really is!
There's a Dragon Ball 120 kilometers south… and that's the ocean!"
Goku smiled. "See?
Now doing a good deed doesn't clash with finding Dragon Balls. Let's go.
You ride the bike, and I'll carry the sea turtle and run."
Bulma blinked.
"What?
You're going to carry it… and run?"
"Even if you're fast, the coast is 120 kilometers away!
With this kind of terrain, even a motorcycle takes two hours!
And you're going to do it while carrying a turtle that heavy?"
Goku grinned. "Don't worry. I'm not slower than your motorcycle."
Bulma packed up the capsule house.
Then the two of them—plus one very large turtle—raced toward the sea.
Watching her speedometer climb past seventy, then glancing at Goku sprinting ahead with the turtle on his back, Bulma was completely stunned.
"Carrying a four-hundred-pound tiger up the mountain was already insane…
Now he's hauling a sea turtle that weighs several times more than him and running like a motorcycle.
What is this kid… a monster?"
She got distracted for only a moment, and the distance between them widened.
Bulma hurriedly refocused and twisted the throttle hard to catch up.
Two hours later, the three of them finally reached the shoreline.
The sea turtle trembled with excitement at the sight of the vast ocean.
"This is great… I'm finally back at the sea… boohoo…"
It rushed forward and plunged into the water.
"Hey! Wait here for a bit!
You saved me, so I'm going to tell Master Roshi. He'll reward you!"
Bulma put her hands on her hips, curious. "Master Roshi? Is he some kind of immortal who's going to give us a treasure chest?"
The turtle didn't answer. It dove straight under with a splash.
Bulma wasn't all that interested in money—her family had plenty.
But she was here for Dragon Balls, so she immediately pulled out the radar.
The moment she saw the coordinates, she froze.
She whipped her head toward Goku, panic flashing across her face.
"Oh no! Goku, look—this Dragon Ball is… in the sea. It's underwater!
I didn't bring a submarine! What do we do?!"
Goku waved a hand calmly. "Don't worry, Bulma.
Even if it's really on the seabed, I can get it for you."
Bulma stared at him, blinking hard, then burst out earnestly:
"Goku, meeting you on the road really was pure luck.
If not for you, I would've been eaten by monsters already!"
Goku smiled faintly. "You're just lucky.
But listen—when Master Roshi gets here, don't say anything stupid. I'll make sure you get that Dragon Ball."
Bulma nodded with complete trust.
"Okay. I won't say a word!"
Since they didn't live near the sea, it wasn't often they got to see the ocean.
They had time to wait, so Goku took off his shoes, rolled up his pants, and started playing by the shore.
Seeing him having fun, Bulma got interested too.
"Goku, keep an eye out for me. I'll put on my swimsuit and play a bit too…"
Goku immediately stopped her. "No—don't change. If Master Roshi shows up and sees you…"
Bulma blinked curiously. "You know Master Roshi?"
Goku thought for a moment. "I've never met him, but I know of him.
He was Grandpa's martial arts master. He's a good person… but he's also a super perverted old man.
Don't let him take advantage of you."
"Wait… even immortals are perverts?" Bulma said, stunned.
Then she looked at Goku, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. Covering her reddening cheeks, she teased,
"Goku, are you stopping me because you're jealous of Master Roshi seeing me in a swimsuit?"
Before Goku could answer, Bulma hugged her own face, utterly delighted.
"What can I do? I'm a smart, beautiful girl—my charm is just too overwhelming.
It's honestly a burden!
If only you were older… then I could make you my boyfriend."
Whatever she imagined next made her cheeks turn even redder.
Goku stared at her flushed face, baffled.
"What is she getting carried away about now?
If I remember right, no boys at her school chased her, so she wanted to collect the Dragon Balls and wish for a boyfriend.
Still… it's weird. Bulma's gorgeous—she's basically the face of Dragon Ball. How could nobody pursue her?"
A moment later, both Goku and Bulma heard a call from afar.
They turned toward the ocean.
An old man in a floral shirt was approaching slowly—riding on the sea turtle's back.
Bulma couldn't help gasping.
"So that's Master Roshi? He's… a trendy old man!"
"Don't talk," Goku warned.
"Oh!" Bulma clapped a hand over her mouth.
Soon, Master Roshi and the turtle reached shore.
"Hi! Sorry to keep you waiting!"
Master Roshi hopped down and looked at Bulma and Goku, then let his gaze settle on Goku.
"I heard you saved my sea turtle.
In that case, I'll give you a treasure as thanks!"
He pointed dramatically at the sky and shouted, "Come forth—Immortal Phoenix!"
Nothing happened.
A crow flew overhead.
Master Roshi scratched his butt and froze on the spot.
The sea turtle quickly reminded him, "Um… didn't the Immortal Phoenix die of food poisoning?"
Bulma blinked. "Even an immortal phoenix can die?"
Master Roshi scratched his head. "Ah… I forgot.
I named it 'Immortal' because I wanted it not to die."
Only then did Bulma look like she understood.
"So what should I give you… Let me think…"
Goku quickly cut him off.
"Grandpa, can you give us the bead hanging on your chest?"
"What?" Master Roshi said, startled.
The moment Goku mentioned a bead, Bulma reflexively looked over too.
Sure enough—there was a Dragon Ball hanging from Master Roshi's neck.
Bulma's eyes instantly brightened, but she remembered Goku's warning and forced herself to stay silent.