Roy didn't have much of a reaction to any of it, because he didn't even own a cellphone yet. He knew very little about what was happening outside.
Luke had also protected him well. None of those publishers had managed to track him down and harass him.
So Roy's most immediate, gut-level reaction was:
This house is amazing!
It was a building in a classical European artistic style, with a courtyard of its own.
The yard had flowerbeds and a swimming pool, and there were dedicated staff to maintain everything.
The environment was flawless. Luke really was a good guy!
His second reaction was:
Luke is really damn rich!
A house this valuable, and he just handed it over like it was nothing. And from the look of it, he had several other houses on the same level.
Tch… manga creators are loaded.
What Roy didn't know was that this was Luke's best property. In order to win Roy's loyalty, Luke had gone all in.
Luke knew Roy was the type to value bonds and repay kindness.
But he'd seen far too many cases in the manga industry where an "old-timer" nurtured a newcomer, only for the newcomer to turn into an ungrateful wolf and bite back.
Rather than trust in gratitude and morality, it was better to talk in terms of tangible benefits—real benefits.
That had always been Luke's rule for doing things.
And clearly, that rule had let him live very comfortably.
The moment Android 18 laid eyes on the place, she immediately decided she was moving in.
So the two of them did a simple pack-up and moved their luggage over.
That night, after Roy finished bathing, he looked at Android 18, who was also resting nearby.
These past two days, they'd been busy finding Luke to swap housing, organizing their things, and moving—so they really hadn't had much time to just talk.
Sometime later, Android 18's cool, pleasant voice finally sounded. The icy aura around her began to soften little by little.
"What are you looking at? What are you thinking about?"
"I was just thinking… why are you so beautiful?"
"Heh. Liar."
"How could I possibly lie to you?"
"Liar~~~"
The night air was cool, and everything felt gentle as water.
…
The next day, Roy—who had rested all night yet still felt like he couldn't muster any strength—was jolted awake by the telephone ringing.
He opened his eyes and saw Android 18 lying sideways beside him, propping her cheek up with her arm as she watched him.
"You're awake."
"Yeah." Roy felt a bit awkward.
There's no such thing as a field that gets plowed to ruin—only oxen that get worked to death.
Especially when that "field" can beat the hell out of a Super Saiyan prince. Strong as hell.
He picked up the phone. It was Luke calling, asking how the new house felt.
Then Luke casually brought up Dragon Ball's sales performance.
Dragon Ball had already become a phenomenon-level manga. On the market, Shonen Magazine was in such short supply that it couldn't meet demand anymore, and there were signs of piracy starting to emerge.
Luke had called to share the good news—while also talking about earnings.
The moment money came up, Android 18 immediately perked up. She snatched the phone away and started bargaining hard on the line.
After a while, she finally hung up.
Android 18 shot Roy a calm, sidelong glance.
And instantly, a blazing fire of ambition surged up in Roy's chest.
You're like a fire in the dead of winter!
Your roaring flames set me ablaze!
Burning up my calories!
A brand-new day began—with the second round of morning cardio.
On the other side, in the office, Luke stared at the receiver in his hand, looking a bit dazed.
"Where did that kid Roy pick up such a terrifying woman? She squeezed a whole chunk of profits right out of me…"
But then Luke thought again—since she'd negotiated so frankly and seriously, it meant Roy still wasn't going to leave Shonen Magazine.
Luke immediately felt much more at ease.
…
"One reason Dragon Ball is so explosive is the cute, fun character designs. If an anime has ugly characters with no distinct traits, it's easy to forget. But the way Son Goku is drawn is just unbelievably adorable.
"And it's not only Goku—Krillin, Yamcha, Bulma, that pervy Master Roshi, Chiaotzu, and so on. Every character looks distinctive, eye-catching, and instantly likable.
"And it's not just humans. There are pigs, cats, dogs—animals that show up in the anime with human-like presence, fully blended into the human world. Adding so many little animals makes Dragon Ball's world feel more harmonious and full of charm.
"It gives you this sense of free, unrestrained imagination.
"In that world, it feels like anything can happen—any miracle can pop out at any moment."
That was the outside world's praise for Dragon Ball—and there was a lot more praise like it.
As time passed, Dragon Ball's popularity only escalated. It swept through the entire city, and it was even pushing outward into the wider world.
Everyone was talking about Dragon Ball—young or old, rich or poor. For a time, Dragon Ball became the universal topic after meals and during breaks.
That was the charm of Dragon Ball.
(End of Chapter)
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