Chapter 44: Awesome, I'll Make You Fly
Mikan had already been born, and at this point, the young Franklin was five years old. By this time, Bulma was sixteen, and Goku was twelve. A few days earlier, Phantom had already set out for West City.
After saying goodbye to his parents and Ryōko Mikado, Franklin switched places with Phantom outside Capsule Corporation's gates. Feeling the depletion of spiritual energy inside him, he took out a spirit stone and slowly began to replenish it.
It had been five years, and Capsule Corporation's technology had begun to spread on a small scale. Various kinds of "black tech" born from it were gradually being applied to daily life — even hovercars had already begun to take shape.
West City, home to Capsule Corporation's headquarters, had undergone a revolutionary transformation. All kinds of advanced technology had entered everyday life. At the same time, Franklin opened the Dimensional Heavenly Tome to check the changes in his own strength.
Name: Franklin
Age: 29/436
Race: Human (Saiyan)
Bloodline: Saiyan Bloodline
Body Cultivation: First Origin Realm, peak (average cell diameter: 1 nanometer)
Spiritual Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Stage, peak (spirit sea liquid fill level: 99.999%)
Mental Cultivation: Mortal Heart Realm
Swordsmanship: Human Realm, Sword Qi Stage
Life-Bound Artifact (Pseudo): Guardian Sword
Cultivation Method: Space Overlord Art (fragment)
Techniques: [Eye of True Sight: Beginner][Beginner Five Element Techniques][Close Combat D-][Immortal Ninjutsu (fragment) (forbidden)][Flying Thunder God]
Innate Ability: [Dimensional Heavenly Tome]
Dimensional Heavenly Tome: [Dimensional Summon][Dimensional Space][Dimensional Travel][Mission Tab][Phantom]
Overall Combat Power: 999–1150
Taking in the familiar buildings, Franklin let out a deep breath and walked toward the company.
"Beep beep. Hello, may I ask who you're here to see?"
A mechanical female voice spoke as a cylindrical robotic maid blocked his way. Facing its inquiry, Franklin gave a kind smile.
"I'm here to see Dr. Brief. Is he available right now?"
"Beep beep. Apologies, I have no record of you in my database. Do you have an appointment?"
"An appointment? I'm an old acquaintance of Dr. Brief. If possible, could you show him my photo? He'll want to see me."
"Beep beep. Request acknowledged. Please wait…"
——
"Kolin! Kolin!"
Franklin hadn't waited long before Dr. Brief's voice echoed toward him. Moments later, the doctor came running from deep inside the building.
"Kolin, it's really you! You've been gone for six years — I've been waiting so long."
Dr. Brief's enthusiasm left Franklin momentarily overwhelmed. After some warm greetings, Franklin learned that after finishing her nine years of compulsory education, Bulma had waited a long time for him to return.
A few days ago, she had secretly set out with the Two-Star Ball and the Dragon Radar. After saying a brief goodbye to Dr. Brief, Franklin calculated the time and immediately headed toward Mount Paozu, hoping he could meet Bulma there.
Traveling nonstop, Franklin finally arrived near Mount Paozu early the next morning. At the mountain's entrance, his spiritual sense swept the area — clear tire tracks on the dirt path told him that Bulma had already entered the mountain ahead of him.
At full speed, Franklin darted through the mountains, his spiritual sense searching for Bulma's location.
"Ah! Help!"
Hearing a familiar cry echo through the forest, Franklin looked up and saw a car flying through the air, now plummeting toward the ground.
No longer holding back, Franklin unleashed his full strength. The ground beneath him cracked and caved as he shot into the sky toward the falling car.
With one hand, he tore off the car door. The piercing screams grated on his nerves.
"Shut up."
"Huh? Franklin? Am I already dead? I'm hallucinating… wuuu…"
Seeing Bulma reaching out to him with a tearful face, Franklin ignored her, ripped the seatbelt apart, and pulled her out of the car. Spiritual water surged from his palm, forming a massive water sphere that wrapped around her.
As they fell rapidly, the combined weight of Bulma and the water sphere sent Franklin crashing into the ground. The earth split open beneath him, leaving two deep footprints where he landed.
Before the car hit the ground, Franklin kicked it away, preventing debris from flying out and injuring Bulma. Thanks to his protection and the water sphere, her lightweight body remained safe throughout the fall.
Once they were safely on the ground, the water sphere burst, splashing around them. Bulma coughed violently, spitting out several mouthfuls of water before finally fixing her bright eyes on Franklin.
"Franklin! It's really you! I'm not seeing things, right? Where have you been for the past six years? You promised to take me to find the Dragon Balls after I graduated!"
Looking at Bulma's pouty expression, Franklin helplessly spread his hands. "I got busy and forgot. But as soon as I remembered, I came straight here. Are you hurt anywhere?"
Bulma pouted even more at that excuse, but his reminder made her check herself over. She was unharmed — but her soaked clothes clung tightly to her body, revealing every curve.
A girl's sharp instincts immediately told her that Franklin's gaze was lingering. Bulma's face flushed bright red as she glared at him.
"Pervert! Don't look!"
Seeing her flushed cheeks, Franklin coughed and turned his head away. "That little body of yours — no figure to speak of, though your looks are decent. What's there to see?"
Bulma puffed up angrily. "Hmph! You looked for so long and still admit it — are you even a man?"
Franklin was exasperated. He'd only meant well, but now he was being treated like some creep.
"You're right. I looked — very carefully. That strawberry-print underwear is pretty cute."
"Franklin! You pervert!"
Bulma's face turned scarlet as she angrily pounded her fists against him. Feeling the harmless blows, Franklin paid them no mind. Forming a hand seal, he instantly dried her clothes, gathering the moisture from her body into a floating water sphere.
"Franklin, you pervert! That's basically my bathwater — why are you collecting it?"
"How is that perverted? I was just drying your clothes." As he spoke, Franklin tossed the water sphere away. It splashed onto the burning wreck of the car in the distance, extinguishing the flames.
"Such a dirty mind at your age. You really need to cleanse that brain of yours."
After his string of teasing remarks, Bulma's face was so red it looked like it might start bleeding.
"There it is — the big monster! It's even on fire… huh? That smell's so familiar."
Franklin's sharp ears caught a familiar voice from afar. Looking in the direction it came from, he saw the figure of a boy he had known since childhood — Son Goku.
Glancing at Bulma's flushed cheeks, Franklin couldn't help but tease her again. "By the way, Bulma, how did you end up flying through the air? Did you crash into a little kid, and he just threw you?"
"How did you know? Were you secretly watching me make a fool of myself?"
Bulma's attention shifted, and Franklin chuckled, shaking his head.
"I'm not that bored. I just heard it happen. Look — isn't it that little kid's doing?"
Following Franklin's finger, Bulma's eyes landed on a small figure in blue. At once, she forgot all about her strawberry-print underwear and shrank behind Franklin.
"Franklin, that's the monster! The car hit him and he was fine — then he threw me and the car together!"
Seeing her terrified expression, Franklin couldn't help but laugh and shake his head. As Goku looked their way, Franklin smiled and waved at him.
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