Supreme Kai Shin and Kibito spun around. An elderly figure—dressed like them, but ancient—stood behind them. Divine Ki radiated.

  "Who are you?"

  "Me? I'm the Supreme Kai from fifteen generations ago!"

  Shin and Kibito froze. Fifteen generations?! Impossible. But that divine Ki...

  "G-Grand Supreme Kai?!"

  "Don't call me that. I'm retired."

  Old Kai waved dismissively.

  "How were you inside the sword?"

  Old Kai coughed. "A terrible villain—not Majin Buu—feared my power. Sealed me in the blade."

  Gohan whispered to Perilla. "Is he really that strong?"

  Perilla smiled. "Want to test him?"

  "No way. Mom taught me to respect elders."

  ...Gohan's surprisingly honest.

  Perilla glanced at Trunks. He shook his head fast. "Perilla-nee, on Earth, if an old person falls in front of you, you're finished even if innocent. I'm not testing anything!"

  ...With Bulma's wealth, scam artists wouldn't survive. But this timeline's Trunks is gentle like Gohan. Main timeline kid Trunks would've tested him immediately.

  Old Kai grumbled. "I thought King Kai's Planet's Supreme Kai would free me. Instead, it's Chronoa's successor. Supreme Kais keep getting weaker."

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  Shin's face burned. Harsh. But true.

  The Supreme Kai of Time doesn't live on King Kai's Planet. Her life isn't bound to a Destroyer God. She's different.

  Old Kai shuffled toward Perilla. Rubbed his hands. "Chronoa's successor is excellent! How is she? Can I—"

  "The Supreme Kai of Time is fine. Busy. She doesn't want to see you. She's afraid she'll use Time Reversal to seal you back in the sword."

  Old Kai's face stiffened.

  Shin and Kibito's gossip senses tingled. This old Kai has history with the Supreme Kai of Time?!

  The Supreme Kai of Time looks like a young girl, but she's older than everyone except Old Kai. They say her true form—after unsealing her power—is the most beautiful Supreme Kai in history.

  Though if Miss Perilla becomes a Supreme Kai, she'd rival that.

  Old Kai eyed Perilla. I have thoughts. But I don't dare act. Chronoa's protective. Her time powers surpass my magic. If I try anything, I'll get sealed again. Plus, Perilla's my junior. I have standards.

  "Old Kai, can you destroy the sealed Majin Buu?!"

  "Me destroy Majin Buu? That's..."

  Easy, right?

  "Absurd!"

  Silence.

  He's bluffing!

  Gohan and Trunks' eyes screamed contempt.

  "What's with those looks?! You disrespecting me?!"

  "No, grandpa, we—"

  "I was going to help! Now forget it!"

  Stubborn old man.

  Perilla sighed. My turn.

  "Old man, you're helping them. No choice."

  "Why?! Just because you're Chronoa's successor doesn't mean I'll—even if Chronoa herself came, I wouldn't—"

  "You said a 'terrible villain' sealed you, right?"

  "W-What about it..."

  His tone wavered.

  Perilla's eyes narrowed. Smiled. "But I heard Lord Beerus sealed you."

  Boom.

  Shin and Kibito's jaws dropped. "Lord Beerus?!"

  Old Kai's heart sank. Damn it!

  "Old Kai argued with Lord Beerus. The reason's unclear. But afterward, Beerus sealed him. The Supreme Kai of Time knew but didn't intervene—because of Old Kai's... personal reasons. Am I right?"

  "So what if—"

  "Lord Beerus wakes in a few years. If I tell him what you just called him... what do you think he'll do?"

  "That's—"

  "Old Kai, you wouldn't want Lord Beerus to seal you again, would you?"

  Old Kai recognized the phrase. That tone. Like those island nation films. The heroines always cave after hearing it. Now I understand how they felt. Damn.

  "Fine. Fine! Just don't tell Beerus."

  "Naturally. Deal?"

  "Deal."

  They high-fived. Gohan frowned. Feels like a shady transaction. But Perilla wouldn't... must be my imagination.

  Still—who's Lord Beerus? Why do the Kais fear him more than Majin Buu?

  ~~~~??~~~~~~~~??~~~~

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