The next day, near the ruins of Papaya Island.
Though the tournament arena was gone, the organizers had set up a temporary farewell point on the nearby open ground.
Most of the crowd had dispersed, leaving only the main participants of yesterday's world-shaking battle.
Goku squatted on a large rock, holding a roasted whole lamb he somehow got his hands on, grease smearing the corners of his mouth.
Chi-Chi stood beside him, carrying a small bundle. She watched her "bottomless pit" husband with a mix of happiness and worry.
"Goku, slow down, don't choke," she said, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe his face. Her movements were practiced, as if she'd been taking care of this monkey for years.
"When we go back to Mount Paozu, we can't eat like this every day. Your father gave a decent dowry, but it won't survive your appetite."
Chi-Chi sighed, brow furrowing slightly. Though she was the daughter of the Ox-King, she knew the cost of food and living.
Goku's appetite was endless, a true bottomless pit.
She was already calculating how many acres she would need to cultivate, how many radishes to grow, just to feed this family.
"Hmm? It's fine, Chi-Chi!"
Goku swallowed a large chunk of meat and laughed carefree.
"I can go hunting! There are plenty of big fish and even dinosaurs in the mountains!"
"No!"
Chi-Chi immediately hardened her expression.
"Once we're married, we need a stable life. Running around hunting and fighting all the time isn't acceptable."
"You need to learn to farm, to be a responsible husband!"
Goku scratched his head, confused.
"Farming? Is that a type of training?"
At that moment, the air rippled.
Whoosh!
Krillin and Bulma appeared in front of them out of nowhere.
After last night, Bulma looked radiant, her skin almost glowing.
She wore a fresh outfit of denim shorts and a cropped T-shirt, her arm linked with Krillin's, the very picture of newlywed bliss.
Krillin, in casual clothes, shone in the sunlight with his bald head.
"Hey! Goku, Chi-Chi! Ready to leave?"
Krillin greeted them with a smile.
"Ah! Krillin!"
Goku jumped down from the rock, spinning excitedly around Krillin.
"Your Instant Transmission is amazing! Can you teach me? Then I could instantly go to the forest to catch tigers for dinner!"
"Well, that's for another time," Krillin said, patting Goku on the shoulder.
Then he looked at Chi-Chi, whose face showed concern.
He knew exactly what she was worried about.
In the original timeline, Goku's family lived quite poorly. The universe's strongest warrior had to rely on Chi-Chi's radish farming, even forced to work or get a driver's license to make ends meet.
This distracted Gohan's training, and without proper supplements, his physical development suffered.
In this new timeline, as the son-in-law of the wealthiest family, there was no way such struggles would occur.
"Chi-Chi, I heard you're moving back to Mount Paozu?" Krillin asked, feigning ignorance.
"Yes, Krillin."
Chi-Chi nodded politely. Though Krillin had taken the tournament victory, she still admired this powerful bald man who had 'saved' Goku.
"It's quiet there, perfect for a settled life."
"Settled life is good, but you need money to do that," Krillin said.
With a flick of his wrist, a golden Capsule appeared in his palm.
"Here."
He tossed it to Chi-Chi.
She instinctively caught it, curious. "What is this?"
"A wedding gift," Krillin said casually.
"There's nothing too fancy inside, just fifty thousand kilograms of gold, some of West City's latest appliances and furniture, and a black credit card from Capsule Corporation that automatically deposits a hundred million zeni per month."
Clang!
Chi-Chi's bundle fell to the ground, her jaw almost hitting her foot.
"Fifty… fifty thousand kilograms of gold?!"
Her voice trembled.
"And a hundred million every month?!"
Even Yamcha and Tien, picking at their teeth nearby, were stunned.
Fifty thousand kilograms of gold? That had to be… how much money?
Had this bald guy robbed the treasury?
"Krillin… this is far too much! We can't accept it!"
Chi-Chi, practical even in love, tried to return the Capsule.
"Keep it," Krillin said firmly, taking her hand and looking serious.
"This isn't charity. There's a mission."
"A… mission?" Chi-Chi froze. Did this mean Goku would have to become a killer?
Krillin leaned toward Goku and Chi-Chi, lowering his voice mysteriously.
"Goku is obsessed with training. Making him work for money is a waste of talent. This money ensures he doesn't have to worry about living expenses, so he can focus entirely on training."
He glanced at Goku, then at Chi-Chi's stomach, a knowing sparkle in his eyes only someone who had crossed timelines could understand.
"And I have a very important task for you two."
"What task? Fighting bad guys?"
Goku perked up immediately.
"Even more important than fighting bad guys," Krillin said, tapping Goku's chest.
"Once you go back, you need to… make a child."
"Make a child?" Goku tilted his head.
"With mud?"
"Ah, you fool!"
Chi-Chi blushed bright red, stomping Goku's foot.
Krillin suppressed a laugh and continued teasing.
"Listen, Goku. Your bloodline is special. You and Chi-Chi's child will have even greater potential than you."
"The future peace of Earth might depend on that child. So…"
Krillin raised a finger. "Don't just eat all the time. Train in the ways of married life with Chi-Chi."
"By this time next year, I want to be holding a big nephew. This is a Turtle School top-secret mission, understood?"
Goku didn't fully understand, but hearing "stronger than me" and "train" made him nod seriously.
"Even if I don't understand completely, if it makes me stronger, I'll do it!"
"That's the spirit!" Krillin nodded.
If Gohan could be born sooner, maybe even several Saiyan hybrids, then fighting Saiyans or Frieza in the future wouldn't require this bald guy to exhaust himself.
Just let Gohan handle it!
"Krillin…" Chi-Chi's eyes teared up.
He gave them money and encouraged Goku to embrace family life. In this world, he was Goku's best brother.
"Next time you come to Mount Paozu, I'll make you the richest, most sumptuous feast!" Chi-Chi promised.
"Ha! I'll be waiting," Krillin said.
After seeing off the joyous Goku couple, he said goodbye to Tien, Chiaotzu, and the others.
Tien's gaze lingered on Krillin, complicated, before he simply said, "I'll catch up to you," and flew off with Chiaotzu.
Yamcha, a little lonely, mentioned he wanted to pursue a new martial path really, to mend a broken heart.
Finally, only Krillin, Bulma, and the elderly figure hunched under the turtle shell remained near the empty ruins.