"Huh? Satan City?" Son Gohan cried out, his face full of surprise.
"Gohan, don't you go to school in Satan City?" Piccolo turned to ask Son Gohan.
"Ye... Yes." Son Gohan nodded, then hurriedly asked, "Lord King Yemma, do you know my grandmother's name after her reincarnation?"
"The name hasn't changed; it's still Gine," King Yemma replied, closing the Ledger of the Dead and putting it back.
"I'll go back and ask Videl to help find her," Son Gohan mused in a low voice.
"Gohan." Bardock suddenly turned to look at Son Gohan, his eyes bright and his expression filled with an uncontrollable heat and anticipation.
"Don't worry, Grandpa, it shouldn't be a problem," Son Gohan said with a smile and a certain tone. "Perhaps we'll find the reincarnated Grandma very soon."
Bardock nodded gently, his fingertips trembling slightly.
Although Bardock knew that after reincarnation, Gine couldn't possibly retain the memories of her past life.
But in this life, Bardock would never let her be lonely again; he would definitely stay by her side.
"Thank you, Lord King Yemma," Piccolo stepped forward and cupped his hands in thanks to King Yemma.
"You're welcome." King Yemma waved his hand and returned the Ledger of the Dead to its place.
"Let's go back." Bardock also looked at Piccolo, a hint of gratitude in his eyes.
If it hadn't been for Piccolo's help, Bardock probably wouldn't even have known Raditz's whereabouts.
Piccolo nodded gently and gave another bow to King Yemma as a farewell.
Shua!
With a flash of light, Piccolo had already returned Son Gohan and Bardock to the Lookout on Earth.
"So, are you going to look for the Dragon Balls, Grandpa?" Son Gohan turned to ask Bardock, his gaze falling on the distant horizon.
If they were going to search for the Dragon Balls, they would need to contact Bulma as soon as possible.
"There's no rush to find the Dragon Balls," Bardock mused, his brow furrowed. "Let's ask Videl about your grandmother first."
As long as he knew Raditz's soul was still in Hell, Bardock could set his mind at ease for the time being.
The most urgent matter now was to quickly find the reincarnated Gine.
Now that they knew her name and the city she was in, he believed it shouldn't be difficult to find her.
"Let's go home first," Son Gohan suggested.
Bardock didn't object and took to the sky.
"Uncle Piccolo, meet at my house in five days!" Son Gohan shouted back to Piccolo as he left, fearing he might forget the match against Universe 6.
Piccolo nodded gently, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
Piccolo also really wanted to see just how strong the fellows from Universe 6 were.
Afterward, Bardock followed Son Gohan back to their home on Mount Paozu.
As soon as they entered, Bardock's gaze instinctively drifted outside.
Son Goku was still sitting cross-legged there, his eyes tightly shut and a faint aura lingering around him, as if he had merged with heaven and earth.
Bardock clenched his fists but ultimately didn't step forward to disturb him.
Son Gohan immediately found Videl, gave her the name "Gine," and asked her urgently, "Is there anyone in Satan City with this name?"
"Gine?" Videl was slightly taken aback, a hint of a small surprise flashing in her eyes. "Why are you suddenly asking about her?"
"Do you know her?" Son Gohan's eyes lit up, his tone becoming excited as he leaned forward.
Bardock also held his breath, staring intently at Videl, his palms sweating slightly.
"She's my best friend, my closest friend," Videl replied honestly, a hint of confusion on her face. "Is there something you need from her?"
"Where is she now?" Bardock hurriedly followed up, his voice trembling slightly and his expression becoming more excited.
Could it really be this easy to find Gine?
Could it be the guidance of fate?
"She's also a classmate in our class," Videl explained to Son Gohan.
"Eh? A classmate in our class?" Son Gohan was completely stunned. He couldn't help but scratch his head, looking bewildered. "How come I didn't know we had a classmate named Gine?"
"You've only attended class for a total of three days..." Videl glanced at Son Gohan, her mouth twitching and her tone carrying a hint of helplessness. "It's only normal that you wouldn't know."
"That's true." Son Gohan rubbed the back of his head and gave an embarrassed smile.
"The seat you were sitting in before was actually Gine's," Videl added.
"Huh? The seat I was sitting in?" Son Gohan was even more confused, his brow furrowed. "Wasn't that an empty seat? I never saw anyone sitting there."
"A few days after Gine started high school, she suddenly fell very ill," Videl's tone lowered, carrying a hint of worry. "It was just a few days before you came to report to school... so she hasn't been coming to class, and that seat became empty."
"So that's how it is." Son Gohan realized, but his heart felt an inexplicable tightness.
"Is there something you need from her?" Videl became even more curious, her gaze moving back and forth between Bardock and Son Gohan. "By the way, Gohan, I wonder if that Guardian friend of yours can cure Gine's illness? I told you about this a few days ago; did you forget again?"
"Eh?" Son Gohan scratched his head and cheeks, a look of guilt appearing on his face as he nodded gently. "You did tell me that a very good friend of yours was sick and wanted to see if there was a way to treat her... but I forgot. I'm really sorry."
Bardock: "..."
Bardock looked at Son Gohan, and the corner of his mouth couldn't help but twitch.
This grandson's memory is a bit too poor, isn't it?
"Take me to see her immediately!" Bardock could no longer contain himself. He spoke with an excited expression, already stepping toward the door.
Son Gohan also nodded heavily to Videl, his eyes full of urgency.
"Okay." Although Videl was full of confusion, she still nodded.
Videl could feel that Grandpa Bardock's reaction seemed a bit too excited.
Afterward, Son Gohan and Videl said goodbye to Chi-Chi, who was clearing the table, and took to the sky with Bardock.
Son Gohan held Videl, with Bardock following closely behind. The three figures turned into streaks of light, flying toward Satan City.
On the way, Videl really couldn't help herself. She leaned into Son Gohan's ear and whispered, "Gohan, why exactly are you looking for Gine? Why does Grandpa look so nervous?"
"She's my grandmother," Son Gohan lowered his voice and replied honestly.
Videl: "????"
Videl was instantly stunned, her eyes wide and round. For a long time, she couldn't snap out of it, as if she had heard a tall tale.
Pfft...
A few seconds later, Videl couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing, her shoulders shaking.
"Gohan, that joke isn't funny at all." Videl giggled, her tone teasing. "I can say for sure that Gine is the same age as me, and she's a pure-blooded human. She's not a Saiyan like you guys."
"Ye... Yes." Son Gohan nodded, but his expression was very serious.
"So, how could she possibly be your grandmother?" Videl asked with a smile, thinking Son Gohan must be joking with her.
"Ah... Videl, have you ever heard of reincarnation?" Son Gohan asked in return, his tone serious.
"Reincarnation?" Videl was taken aback, her smile gradually fading.
"It's when after a person dies, their soul enters the Other World," Son Gohan explained patiently. "If they did many good deeds during their life, they go to Heaven; if they did many bad deeds, they go to Hell. Many others enter a soul-cleansing machine to wash away all their memories, then they are reincarnated to start a new life."
Pausing for a moment, Son Gohan's gaze drifted toward the distant clouds, and his voice lowered. "Gine's past life... was my real grandmother. She perished along with Planet Vegeta back then... now she's in her reincarnated form."
"Huh?" The smile on Videl's face completely froze. Her mouth opened slightly, and she couldn't speak for a long time.
My best friend is actually my boyfriend's grandmother?
This... is too outrageous!
"I specifically asked Lord King Yemma about this," Son Gohan scratched his head, his mouth twitching slightly. "He said Grandma Gine was reincarnated as the current Gine, so it shouldn't be wrong."
Videl: "..."
Videl was completely speechless, her mind a mess.
I treated you as my best friend, but you turned out to be my grandmother?
How was she supposed to face Gine in the future?
"By the way, what illness does Grandma Gine have?" Son Gohan asked, seeing that Videl hadn't reacted for a long time, his tone carrying a hint of worry.
Hearing this, Bardock also immediately pricked up his ears, his heart in his throat.
"They say it's a viral heart disease," Videl gave a helpless sigh, her brow furrowed. "It's very hard to cure... the Gine family she belongs to is an ancient family in Satan City and is quite wealthy, but they've sought out many famous doctors and are all at their wits' end."
"Huh? Viral heart disease!" Son Gohan's eyes widened in shock, and his expression instantly became grave.
Bardock's brow also furrowed sharply, his knuckles turning white.
"What's wrong? Is there a problem?" Videl saw their intense reaction and couldn't help but become nervous, her voice trembling slightly.
"My father had viral heart disease," Son Gohan shook his head with a sigh, his tone heavy. "He almost died back then..."
Son Gohan wanted to say that his father had actually died once and was resurrected by the Dragon Balls.
But on second thought, it was too troublesome to explain, so he simply didn't say it.
"How was he cured later?" Videl's eyes lit up, and she excitedly grabbed Son Gohan's arm. "Tell me quickly! Maybe it can save Gine!"
"It was Trunks," Son Gohan scratched his head and explained. "He brought a special medicine for viral heart disease from the future. Dad was cured after taking it."
At this point, Son Gohan's eyes suddenly lit up, and he clapped his hands.
I remember in this life, Dad didn't take that bottle of special medicine.
It seems the Lord Supreme Kai found a new medicine from another planet.
That bottle of medicine Trunks brought should still be at home!
"Did Kakarot also have viral heart disease?" Bardock was slightly taken aback and turned to look at Son Gohan, his expression becoming even heavier. "When was this?"
"Several years ago," Son Gohan nodded.
"It seems it's hereditary," Bardock said in a low voice, a flash of pain in his eyes. "Gine had this disease before, but at that time, the medical level on Planet Vegeta was quite high, and it was easily cured."
Son Gohan: "..."
Son Gohan opened his mouth but couldn't speak for a long time.
This disease is actually hereditary?
"Damn it!" Bardock clenched his fists tight, his knuckles turning white, his voice carrying a hint of anger. "Even after reincarnation, this disease was inherited as well?"
"Grandpa, it's okay," Son Gohan hurriedly urged, fearing he might be too excited. "Dad's special medicine should still be there. As long as Grandma Gine takes it, it shouldn't be a big problem. And even if that doesn't work, isn't there still the Lord Supreme Kai? He can definitely find a treatment from another planet."
Bardock took a deep breath, trying to calm his surging emotions. He nodded gently, and the heart that had been hanging in his throat finally settled down slightly.
As long as he could cure Gine, he was willing to pay any price.
Satan City, the Gine Residence.
As Videl had said, the Gine family was an ancient and prominent clan. Their magnificent European-style villa was situated in a quiet part of the city center, with two stone lions standing at the entrance, exuding an air of authority refined by time.
However, beneath this facade of authority, the family was actually in decline—the younger generation lacked talent, leaving only an elderly patriarch to maintain the family's prestige.
Goku's biological mother had been reincarnated into this family as the eldest daughter of the main branch, Gine.
Originally, Gine's life in the family had been carefree. The old patriarch doted on her immensely, treating her as the apple of his eye.
However, fate had been exceptionally cruel to her.
When she was nine years old, her parents had the misfortune of encountering Cell while they were out. They were absorbed on the spot, leaving them forever parted by death.
Only her elderly grandfather and her aunt's family remained in the household.
Her aunt's family had long coveted the family estate, never missing a moment to try and pull her down from her position as the eldest daughter.
And in this, her sixteenth year, she was diagnosed with viral heart disease.
With Earth's current medical level, this disease was simply incurable.
Because the virus had already invaded her bloodstream, even a heart transplant would result in the new heart being immediately infected.
Unless one had the special medicine that Trunks brought from the future.
However, in this era, that medicine had not yet been developed.
Gine's body grew weaker by the day. At this moment, she sat in a wheelchair with her back to the door, gazing up at the setting sun outside the window.
Her face was as pale as a sheet of paper, her lips completely devoid of color. Her thin shoulders trembled slightly, looking as though a single gust of wind could knock her over.
"Sister, is the sunset beautiful?" A dainty voice came from behind, carrying a hint of ill intent that was hard to miss.
Ji Huahua carried a glass of water, swaying her hips as she walked up behind Gine, a sugary-sweet smile plastered on her face.
Gine didn't speak; she only coughed twice, her gaze remaining fixed on the evening clouds at the edge of the sky.
"If it's beautiful, then look at it a bit longer," Ji Huahua giggled, her voice like a poison-tipped needle. "After you're dead, sister, you won't have the chance to see the sunset ever again."
There were no male heirs in this generation of the Gine family, only the two sisters, Gine and Ji Huahua.
Ji Huahua was Gine's cousin and had lived in Gine's shadow since childhood.
Whether it was their grandfather's affection or the praise of outsiders, everything seemed to belong only to Gine.
She had originally thought she would spend her entire life as a mere foil to Gine.
However, Gine's sudden viral heart disease had completely changed their fates.
Ji Huahua felt that happiness had come far too suddenly.
As long as Gine died, the entire Gine family estate would be hers!
"Sister, so what if you're the eldest daughter?" Ji Huahua smiled like a poisonous flower in full bloom, her tone brimming with triumph. "In the end, won't I be the one to inherit the family fortune?"
"Huahua, I've never had much interest in the inheritance..." Gine finally spoke, her voice as weak as a wisp of smoke, carrying a soft sigh.
"You have no interest in the inheritance?" Ji Huahua instantly flew into a rage, the smile vanishing from her face. "You say you're not interested, so that's that? Doesn't Grandpa still want to give everything to you? Has he ever left even a little bit for me?"
Before her voice had even faded, Ji Huahua suddenly stepped forward and grabbed a handful of Gine's hair, giving it a sharp tug.
Hiss—
Gine gasped in pain, her body involuntarily leaning back. She bit her lip hard, refusing to cry out, though her face grew even paler.
"Sister, why don't you scream?" Ji Huahua's eyes were full of spite, a cruel smile curling her lips. "If you don't scream, how can I feel any sense of accomplishment? Doesn't it hurt at all?"
As she spoke, Ji Huahua increased the strength in her hand, nearly pulling Gine's hair out by the roots.
"Stop! What are you doing?"
Just then, a deep, elderly voice suddenly rang out from the doorway, carrying a thunderous fury.
In the next moment, an old man leaning on a carved cane appeared at the door. His white eyebrows were knitted together as he glared at Ji Huahua, his voice raspy with anger.
"Grandpa..." Ji Huahua trembled all over, her triumphant expression freezing instantly before turning into panic. Her eyes darted around, not daring to look the old man in the face.
Why did this old geezer have to show up right now?
"She is your own sister!" The elder Ji was shaking with rage, his cane thumping heavily against the floor. "You ungrateful girl! How can your heart be so cruel!"
After speaking, the old man began to cough violently, as if he were going to cough up his lungs, his shoulders heaving.
"Grandpa... I was just joking with sister, don't take it seriously." Ji Huahua quickly put on a pitiful expression, her voice soft and pleading.
"Is that how you joke?" The elder Ji didn't believe her for a second. His clouded eyes were full of disappointment as he said in a low voice, "Your sister is already this ill; why must you torment her? Everything in the Gine family... after she... won't it all be yours anyway?"
"Grandpa, I really was just joking with sister, please don't be angry." Ji Huahua stepped forward and pulled on the elder Ji's sleeve, acting spoiled.
How could the elder Ji possibly believe this was a joke?
A brief silence followed.
"You... you... I would rather donate all this money to Mr. Satan than leave a single cent to you!" The elder Ji was truly incensed, feeling that Ji Huahua was simply too malicious.
Even if you did nothing and just waited quietly for Gine to pass away from her illness, wouldn't everything be yours?
Why must you torment your sister?
The elder Ji was so angry that he coughed up blood on the spot, truly intending to donate his entire estate.
Wouldn't it be better to give it all to Mr. Satan?
"Grandpa, I really didn't mean it... I'm still young, don't be mad at me." Ji Huahua shook the elder Ji's arm, acting cute and spoiled, yet a flash of ruthlessness appeared in her eyes.
Then, Ji Huahua glanced toward the top of the stairs, seemingly having made a decision.
"Grandpa, I really was just joking with sister, please don't be angry anymore." Ji Huahua took a step forward, reaching out to pull the elder Ji's sleeve, swaying it gently as she acted spoiled, while a ruthless glint flickered through the depths of her eyes.
Yes, as long as I push this old man down, he won't have the strength to donate the inheritance to Mr. Satan anymore.
"Grandpa, let me take you downstairs to get some rest," Ji Huahua said with "concern," supporting the elder Ji's arm as she led him toward the door.
The elder Ji was so angry he felt dizzy and couldn't even speak, allowing Ji Huahua to half-pull and half-drag him toward the stairs.
Just as they reached the top of the smooth steps.
A murderous light flashed in Ji Huahua's eyes. She suddenly let go of his arm and shoved the elder Ji hard toward the bottom of the stairs!
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The old man lost his balance and tumbled down the steep staircase like a rag doll. His cane flew from his hand, hitting the wall with a loud clatter.
"Grandpa!" Gine let out a piercing cry of alarm. She struggled to stand from her wheelchair, her hands gripping the armrests until her knuckles turned white, but her body was too weak to rise.
Gine could only watch helplessly as her most beloved grandfather rolled down the stairs, blood snaking down the steps. She was powerless to do anything, and tears instantly blurred her vision.
"Ji Huahua!" Gine shook with rage, her face as pale as paper and her lips trembling so much she nearly bit through them.
"Grandpa fell down by himself because he wasn't careful. It has nothing to do with me." Ji Huahua dusted off her hands. The pitiful look from before was gone, replaced by cold triumph as she quickly distanced herself from the act.
"You... you..." Gine was too angry to speak, her chest heaving as a sense of suffocation washed over her.
"But this is for the best," Ji Huahua glanced at the unconscious old man at the bottom of the stairs, a cruel smile curling her lips. "Now Grandpa won't be able to donate the money to Mr. Satan!"
Since the old man looked like he wouldn't survive anyway, she simply stopped pretending.
"You... you killed your own grandfather with your own hands!" Gine's voice was tearful, filled with unbelievable fury.
"I didn't do it. He really just fell by accident." Ji Huahua stiffened her neck, her eyes darting around, still refusing to admit it.
However, just as Ji Huahua finished speaking, her eyes suddenly widened. Her triumph was instantly replaced by terror. Her mouth hung open as she pointed toward the window, her voice trembling. "Who... who... who is that?"
This was the third floor!
At that moment, several figures appeared out of thin air at the window, quietly watching everything in the room.
Moreover, one of the girls looked exactly like Videl.
Almost the instant Bardock saw the scene inside the room, he flew in through the window, bringing a sharp gust of wind as he landed steadily beside Gine's wheelchair, his gaze urgently scanning her.
The Gine before him was almost identical to the one in his memories, except that due to her long illness, her cheeks were hollow, her eyes were sunken, and her once-vibrant eyes had lost their luster. She was so weak she looked as if she might fade away with the wind.
Gine also slowly turned her head, silently looking at this strange man before her, her brow slightly furrowed.
She felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity from this person, as if she had seen him somewhere before. Deep in her heart, an indescribable flutter even surged.
Then, Son Gohan and Videl also flew in through the window, the airflow from their landing rustling the curtains.
Ji Huahua rubbed her eyes hard, her face turning pale and then flushed.
It really was Videl!
Why was she here?
And... she flew in?!
"Gine..." Videl quickly walked to the wheelchair. Seeing Gine's pale face and red eyes, her nose wrinkled and her eyes grew moist.
Lately, Videl had been so preoccupied with being with Gohan that she hadn't visited her best friend in a long time.
In just over ten days, Gine had become so seriously ill.
To be continued…
Since I was unable to post on Sunday due to some issues, today there will be a double update!
Advance 100 Chapters are up on my Patreon!
pat reon.com/AlphaSenatus