Inside the Saiyan Royal Palace Hall, Bardock sat calmly upon the throne, dressed in a black training suit.
His posture was relaxed, yet his presence alone carried overwhelming authority.
Nestled in his arms was Gine, petite and graceful. She leaned shyly against him like a budding flower.
Seeing the Saiyan kneeling on one knee below, Gine gently stood up from Bardock's embrace and obediently moved to stand beside the throne.
Bardock asked lazily, "How many people did Vegeta bring back this time?"
The Saiyan replied respectfully, "Reporting to the King—Vegeta brought back three people. Besides himself, there are two children."
"Prime Minister Paragus has already rushed over and sent me to await Your Majesty's instructions."
Bardock frowned slightly, stood up, and said, "Toma, take me to see."
Just as he was about to leave, Gine softly called out, "Wait, Bardock. Put on the royal cape."
She retrieved a cloak from a mannequin behind the throne and carefully helped him put it on.
The Royal Cape was personally designed by Bardock. Its inspiration came from the Marine capes of One Piece from his previous life—but refined to suit Saiyan authority.
The cape was jet black, embroidered on the back with a golden roaring Great Ape. High-ranking officials wore red capes instead.
On the chest hung a purple ape-head medal—the Saiyan identity emblem.
Purple: Royal Family
Gold: Officials
Silver: Ordinary clansmen
Bardock looked down at Gine as she fastened the cape, tenderness filling his eyes.
"Aren't you coming to watch?" he asked softly.
Gine smiled faintly, straightened his clothes, and replied gently, "No. I prefer quiet places. I'll stay and prepare dinner for when you return."
Bardock nodded, his gaze resolute. He flung the cape over his shoulders, exuding kingly dominance.
"Then wait for me at home."
With that, he strode out, following Toma.
At Glory Square in the center of Saiyan Royal City, an enormous crowd had gathered. Countless Saiyans surrounded the area so tightly that it was nearly impenetrable.
When Bardock arrived, the crowd parted automatically, forming a clear path.
At the center of the square, two children—both under a meter tall—were locked in fierce combat.
One had waist-length hair and wore a black battle suit.
It was Raditz, Bardock's eldest son.
The other child wore simple clothing, but his face closely resembled Vegeta's. The two were evenly matched.
Bardock smiled faintly and pointed toward the children.
"Vegeta," he said calmly, "is this your confidence for returning to Saiyan Star?"
Not far away, Old Vegeta stood with arms crossed. When he saw Bardock, his face darkened.
"Don't call me Vegeta," he shouted. "Call me King Vegeta!"
Paragus, who had been watching him closely, turned and saluted Bardock with his right hand on his chest.
"Your Majesty."
Bardock gave no reply, only nodding slightly before fixing Old Vegeta with a sharp gaze.
"You call yourself King Vegeta," Bardock said coldly.
"Then tell me—do your clansmen acknowledge you?"
Whispers instantly spread among the surrounding Saiyans.
"Hmph. He wants the throne with just that?"
"Dream on. With Lord Bardock here, how could it ever be his turn?"
Old Vegeta trembled with rage and humiliation.
"You ignorant fools!" he roared. "I'll prove it to you!"
Bardock sneered. "Then show me."
Old Vegeta raised his hand and released an Artificial Moon, his face filled with pride.
"See this? The ultimate secret technique of the royal family!"
The crowd fell silent for a split second—
Then laughter erupted.
Bardock laughed openly.
In the original timeline, Prince Vegeta had once claimed the Artificial Moon was a royal secret. But those days were long gone.
Years ago, Bardock had already popularized the technique among all Saiyans. A tenfold combat boost was too valuable to hoard.
"Is that it?" a Saiyan scoffed, casually forming his own Artificial Moon.
"Since when was this considered special?" another mocked, creating one as well.
"Open your eyes!"
"You—You—!" Old Vegeta trembled, nearly coughing up blood as he pointed at the crowd.
Meanwhile, the battle between the children ended in a draw.
Raditz strode proudly to Bardock, chest puffed out.
Bardock knew his son was upset—he hadn't come to watch the match.
Feeling a little guilty, Bardock rubbed his nose and roughly ruffled Raditz's hair.
"Well done, Raditz."
Raditz lifted his chin proudly.
"Of course. I'm the Prince of the Saiyans. How could I lose?"
The other child wasn't so fortunate.
The moment he returned to Old Vegeta's side, he was scolded harshly.
"Useless!"
The child trembled, his face turning pale.
Old Vegeta's expression darkened further. He turned to the silent child beside him—the one with an eternally indifferent gaze.
"Reg, you're up."
Reg glanced at Old Vegeta, unmoved.
Old Vegeta muttered coldly, "That useless Tarble—"
Before he could finish, Reg stepped forward.
A combat power of one hundred thousand erupted instantly.
White ki flames surged violently around him.
Paragus reacted immediately.
"Your Majesty, let me handle this."
Bardock nodded. "Good. Only you are suitable."
At this stage, aside from Bardock—whose combat power, when suppressed, still reached 370,000—Paragus was the strongest Saiyan, with 110,000 combat power.
Paragus stepped forward, standing opposite Reg.
Reg's icy eyes locked onto him as his ki intensified.
Paragus took a deep breath.
"Kid," he said in a deep voice, "let me test you."
He released his aura as well, energy surging outward.
Reg struck first.
His figure blurred, instantly appearing before Paragus, fist aimed straight at his face.
Paragus dodged sideways and countered.
The two exchanged blows, evenly matched.
"Hmph. Is that all you've got?" Reg sneered.
"Don't get cocky!" Paragus snapped.
As the battle dragged on, Paragus gradually gained the upper hand.
He seized an opening and drove a kick into Reg's abdomen, sending him flying backward.
Reg stabilized himself, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth—yet his eyes burned fiercely.
"It's not over!"
Bardock's voice rang out sharply, "Paragus. End it."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Paragus surged forward, no longer holding back.
His aura sharpened, pressure crashing down like a tidal wave.
In a flash, he closed the distance.
Bang!
His fist struck Reg squarely in the head.
Reg's vision went black.
He collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Paragus stepped forward, grabbed Reg by the collar like a chick, carried him back, and tossed him at Bardock's feet.