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In the sacred realm of the God of Destruction within Universe 7, Lord Beerus watched the projection with a mixture of amusement and irritation.
"That old fossil still loves to boast," Beerus muttered, pouting his lips with a look of pure disdain. "I didn't seal him in that sword because he was some unstoppable force. I did it because I was afraid his sheer incompetence would get him killed—and take me right along with him!"
Beerus knew the truth. To the uninitiated, the Old Kai might look like a legendary figure of immense power, but to a God of Destruction, he was just a eccentric old man. Aside from his status as a Supreme Kai, there was nothing truly formidable about him. Still, since he was technically the Supreme Kai of Universe 7, Beerus decided to hold back from sending a bullet comment to expose the old man's mediocrity to the entire multiverse.
Across the dimensions, other viewers were being completely fooled. They looked at the screen with awe, convinced this ancient deity must be far superior to the current, somewhat timid Supreme Kai.
Meanwhile, at the Land of the Kai, Shin and Kibito were paralyzed with shock.
"What?! The Z-Sword actually held an ancestor within it this whole time?" Shin stammered, his eyes wide.
They were mortified. Not only had they been ignorant of their own history, but even with this knowledge, they were powerless. Breaking the Z-Sword might be simple enough, but pulling it from its pedestal was another matter entirely. In the video, Gohan had only succeeded after ascending to Super Saiyan 2. In their current timeline, the only being with the raw strength to unsheathe it would be Lord Beerus, and they knew better than to ask.
"I'm sorry, Ancestor," Shin whispered, offering a silent apology. "You'll have to endure the sword a bit longer. At least until Son Goku and the others push their limits further." To a god, a decade or two was but the blink of an eye.
Back in the video, the Old Kai was visibly annoyed that Goku and Gohan doubted his divinity. He claimed to possess a hidden, transcendent ability. Intrigued, Goku asked the old man to perform the ritual on Gohan. However, the Old Kai, still stinging from Goku's earlier disrespect, flatly refused.
Goku, ever the pragmatist, offered a bribe: an adult magazine. The Old Kai scoffed, claiming his clairvoyance allowed him to see beautiful women whenever he pleased.
"What good is just watching?" Goku countered with a sly grin. "I could arrange for you to actually touch one."
The Old Kai's attitude flipped instantly. He agreed with a speed that left Gohan reeling, though Goku wasn't surprised at all. He had already clocked that this ancient deity shared the exact same "refined tastes" as Master Roshi.
The trouble began when Goku started looking for a volunteer. He first suggested Gohan's girlfriend, Videl. Gohan turned bright red, flatly refusing to involve her in such a ridiculous scheme. Thinking tactically, Goku then suggested Bulma. Gohan recoiled in horror, certain that Aunt Bulma would kill them both if they even asked.
Unfazed, Goku turned back to the Old Kai and brazenly lied, claiming Gohan had agreed. It was a rare, cunning display from the Saiyan, shamelessly selling out his own son and friend for the sake of power.
The bullet comments erupted instantly.
Bulma: "Son-kun! You actually sold me out?! I can't believe that sweet little boy grew up to be so devious!"
Master Roshi: "Goku has finally grown up. He's actually mastered the art of the honey trap. To think he couldn't even tell the difference between a boy and a girl when we first met..."
Krillin: "It's true. Our Goku is a man of the world now. I'm almost moved to tears."
The veteran martial artists felt a strange sense of pride. To them, Goku's newfound manipulation was a sign of maturity. However, others weren't as amused.
Yamcha: "Goku, this isn't right! You can't just use Bulma as bait like that!"
Son Goku: "Huh? What's the big deal? Bulma used to do stuff like that all the time back in the day, didn't she?"
Watching from his own realm, Akira couldn't help but chuckle at the exchange. He recalled tactical analyses from his previous life about this very moment. Some argued Goku was being intentionally manipulative, but Akira knew the truth was simpler: Goku's moral compass regarding social norms had been forged by Bulma herself. During their early adventures, he had watched her use her charms to navigate countless obstacles. To a Saiyan who viewed the world through the lens of efficiency, it was simply a logical tool.
Vegeta: "Kakarot! You utter bastard!"
The Prince of Saiyans didn't quite understand why his blood was boiling, but seeing Kakarot bargain with his wife's dignity—even in a video—sent him into a silent rage.
Garp: "Bwahaha! This Son Goku is a sharp one, using his own family as a lure. Tactical genius!"
Sengoku: "I don't think it's tactical, Garp. Look at his face—he genuinely thinks this is a normal way to handle things."
Bulma: "Sigh... Son-kun is just like that. His inability to understand social boundaries used to give me such a headache. I'm not even mad; I'm just surprised he remembered those old tricks."
Bulma realized with a start that she might have been the one to lead Goku astray all those years ago. If the boy had grown up thinking "charm" was a standard currency, it was because she had spent their entire childhood spending it.