"Yay! We get to eat big fish today~!"
Little Gohan showed no fear at all. He wriggled free from Piccolo's grip and ran straight toward Gran.
"This brat is really going to be the death of me…!"
Piccolo clenched his molars tightly, genuinely worried the kid might offend someone he absolutely shouldn't.
Gran put away his fishing rod and began preparing grilled fish. In no time at all, five large fish were skewered on forked branches and set over the fire.
He sat on the grass, casually turning the fish now and then.
Little Gohan squatted beside him, breathing in the rich aroma of roasting fish, wiping drool from the corner of his mouth every so often.
Piccolo, meanwhile, sat cross-legged across from Gran, his eyes fixed on him the entire time.
Who… exactly is this person?
It was midday. Tall trees lined the riverbank, their thick leaves blocking out the harsh sunlight, leaving the three of them in a cool, shaded pocket of calm.
As time passed, the scent of the grilled fish grew richer and more irresistible.
Little Gohan looked up at Gran. "Big brother, can we eat now? I'm really hungry."
"Big brother?"
Gran's lips twitched slightly, but he didn't correct him. He picked up one of the fish and handed it over.
"Here, this one's yours."
"Thank you, big brother!"
Gohan's eyes lit up as he eagerly took the fish and began devouring it with pure delight.
Gran grabbed another fish, then shifted his gaze toward Piccolo.
Piccolo immediately understood the intention and shook his head. "No need. I don't eat this kind of food."
After saying that, he subtly relaxed. From this gesture alone, it seemed the man bore no hostility.
"I know your kind doesn't need to eat," Gran said calmly as he took a bite of his fish. "I was just being polite."
"My kind…?"
Piccolo frowned deeply. He glanced at his own hands, then at Little Gohan beside Gran. There was no denying it—he looked nothing like these Earthlings.
"You know where I come from?"
"Of course."
Gran set down the fish and smiled faintly. "You're not from Earth. Your race lives on a distant planet called Namek. Your people are known as the Namekians."
Piccolo's breathing tightened instantly.
Suppressing the tremor in his voice, he asked in a low, guarded tone, "How do you know all that…? Who exactly are you?"
Little Gohan suddenly set his fish aside and looked up at Gran curiously.
"Yeah, big brother, what's your name? I feel like… I've seen you somewhere before."
Hearing this, Piccolo's vigilance deepened. If this kid recognized him… could he be connected to Son Goku?
"Gohan… have you already forgotten me?" Gran reached out and gently ruffled the boy's hair.
"Huh?"
Gohan furrowed his little brows, his round eyes darting as he thought hard. After a moment, he shook his head.
"Big brother, can you give me a hint? I really can't remember…"
"Alright," Gran said with a soft chuckle. "A year ago, I visited your home. Back then, you were crying, calling for your mother."
A year ago…?
Gohan fell silent.
Piccolo also sank into thought—and the more he recalled, the worse his expression became.
A year ago, he had secretly eavesdropped on a conversation between Son Goku, his wife, and a mysterious figure. He learned that Goku would be heading to the Heavenly Realm… and that a crisis would soon befall Earth.
And that mysterious voice…
…was exactly the same as the man before him.
Piccolo's pupils shrank violently. He shot to his feet in shock.
"Uncle Piccolo, what's wrong?" Gohan quickly ran over, leaving his half-eaten fish behind.
Ignoring him, Piccolo stared at Gran, his voice trembling.
"You… no—You're that divine being!!"
Back then, from what he overheard, he knew that mysterious man was a god-like existence.
"Oh? So you remember now." Gran chuckled.
"Greetings, Lord Gran!"
Piccolo clearly remembered the name. Before such a being, any ill intent would be suicidal. He immediately stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"I remember too!"
Gohan suddenly shouted, his eyes shining.
"You're Uncle Gran, right?!"
Though he had only been a little over two years old at the time, the memory remained vivid.
That day, a thunderous sound shook the heavens. When he ran outside looking for his mother, he saw the sky itself shattered.
And this man—this Uncle Gran—had said he was the one who broke it, just to call his father back.
"Good boy. You still remember." Gran's smile softened even further.
"Uncle Gran!"
Overjoyed, Gohan rushed forward and threw himself into Gran's arms.
Piccolo, still half-bent from his bow, was now drenched in cold sweat.
He had abducted Gohan in secret… and now the boy's "family" had come knocking.
He was finished.
"Sit down."
Gran gently patted Gohan's head, then gave Piccolo a slight nod.
"Sit… down?"
Piccolo froze, then quickly said, "Lord Gran, I'm sorry. I'll return Son Gohan immediately."
The boy had just called this godlike figure "uncle"—with that kind of relationship, it was only natural he had come to take him back.
And yet, as Piccolo looked at Gohan, a faint trace of reluctance flickered in his eyes—so subtle that even he didn't notice it himself.
"No need to be nervous. I'm not here for that," Gran said calmly.
He lifted the boy from his arms, handed him the unfinished grilled fish, and Gohan happily resumed eating, mumbling a cheerful "Thank you, Uncle!"
"Huh?"
Piccolo blinked again, confused. If not for that… then why was he here?
"Sit first."
"…Yes."
Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, Piccolo obediently returned to his spot.
Gran didn't look at him again. He gave another fish to Gohan and kept the rest for himself.
The two Saiyans sat by the river, happily eating grilled fish.
Piccolo, though full of questions, didn't dare speak.
Silence settled over the forest.
After a while—
"Uncle Gran, your fish is really delicious… but it's not enough. I'm still not full."
Gohan tossed the fish bones into the river and patted his little belly.
"Can't be helped. I only caught five today," Gran said, ruffling his hair. "Tomorrow, I'll catch more for you."
Tomorrow?
Piccolo frowned slightly.
Was this god… planning to stay?
"Piccolo."
Gran suddenly called out.
"Yes!"
Piccolo shot to his feet instantly, bowing again.
"Relax."
Gran gestured for him to sit, then said meaningfully:
"You can keep taking care of Gohan. As for me… I'll be fishing here for a while."
END OF CHAPTER
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