As Goku stood there with a confused look on his face, Tien realized he needed to explain things more clearly. Goku wasn't always the best at understanding vague plans, especially when they didn't involve fighting or food.
Tien took a step closer and started to speak in a calm and serious tone.
"This place I'm talking about," Tien said, "it's not just any cave. It's a huge one. A treasure cave."
Goku blinked. Tien continued.
"It's full of riches. I mean, gold coins, sparkling jewelry, rare antiques, and shiny gems. All of that is hidden inside the cave."
Tien's voice grew more passionate. He was dreaming big.
"I'm planning to build a kingdom. A real one. With cities, people, and everything. But to do that, I need money. A lot of it."
He looked Goku in the eyes.
"If you remember where this treasure cave is… can you show me the way?"
Goku stood still for a moment, thinking hard. His eyebrows pulled together as he tried to remember. Then, his eyes lit up with a flash of memory. He scratched his head, thinking about the past.
"Oh yeah," he said slowly. "I remember now. That cave… It was the one where I fought the Red Ribbon Army. General Blue was there. It was a pirate's hideout."
He raised a finger and smiled as the memory became clearer.
"It's underwater."
Goku turned and pointed toward the east.
"If you go that way, and keep flying for about fifteen minutes, you'll get there."
"But it's hard to find. Since it's underwater, you might miss it if you don't look closely."
Tien nodded seriously. Even though the directions were not very detailed, they were enough. Tien trusted his instincts. He opened his phone, marked the map, and placed it back in his pocket.
Then, putting a hand on Goku's shoulder, he smiled and thanked him warmly.
"Thanks, Goku. This means a lot. With that treasure, I can finally start building my Triclops Kingdom."
He paused for a moment and added kindly, "When it's done, please come visit. I'd love to give you a tour."
Goku grinned and laughed his usual cheerful laugh. "Of course! I'll come by."
Tien chuckled too, happy that things were going well. But just as they were enjoying the moment—
A voice rang out from Goku's house.
"Treasure cave? What treasure cave?"
They turned around to see a woman walking out of the house. It was Chichi, Goku's wife. She had a curious and sharp look on her face.
Chichi had just finished putting Gohan to sleep when she heard the words "treasure cave." She couldn't ignore something like that. She walked quickly toward them, tying up her hair as she approached. She smiled politely at Tien, then turned to Goku.
"So… what's this about a treasure?" she asked again.
Tien smiled awkwardly, feeling a little nervous. He could already tell that Chichi was very interested in what they were talking about. This might be trouble.
Goku, still smiling, explained the situation like it was no big deal.
"Oh! I was just telling Tien about a cave I found while fighting the Red Ribbon Army. It had gold and shiny stuff in it. He wanted to know where it was, so I told him."
He smiled proudly, like he'd just done a small good deed.
Chichi's smile stayed on her face, but one of her eyes twitched slightly. She looked calm, but she was clearly trying very hard not to get angry.
She took a deep breath and said gently, "But Goku… we also need money."
She looked down, almost sadly.
"My father's money won't last forever. And you don't have a job, Goku. We need money for Gohan's future—especially for his education."
She looked over at Tien and then back at Goku.
"Maybe we can take half of that treasure? I mean, you found it first. Tien wouldn't have known about it without you."
She turned to Tien, hoping he would agree. But before Tien could answer, Goku stepped forward.
"No way," Goku said firmly, shaking his head.
"That treasure doesn't belong to me. I just told Tien about it. I can't take something that isn't mine."
He crossed his arms and smiled kindly at Chichi.
"We'll find a way to pay for Gohan's studies later. Don't worry."
Chichi stared at her husband, speechless. She loved him, yes—but sometimes, his honesty was just too much. She clenched her fists slightly, hiding her frustration.
Tien, however, noticed everything.
He saw the way Chichi's smile trembled, the way her eyes darkened slightly. A small idea formed in his mind. A clever idea.
Tien needed strong people for his kingdom. He wanted to build a team—like Frieza had with the Ginyu Force. And Goku would be a perfect addition. The only problem was that Goku would never agree on his own. He would say no, just like he did now.
But what if Chichi convinced him?
Tien smiled softly and spoke again.
"If you really need money, I might have a solution."
Both Goku and Chichi looked at him.
"I told you I'm building a kingdom, right?" he said. "Well, I need people to help me. There are many jobs available. Goku could work for me if he wants."
"I'll pay him well. You could have your own land… maybe even a big house there."
Chichi's eyes sparkled. She rushed forward and grabbed Tien's hand excitedly.
"Really? That's amazing! Goku, this is perfect. You finally have a job!"
She turned to her husband with bright, excited eyes.
"Come on, Goku, say yes!"
Goku looked unsure. He scratched his head again and frowned.
"I don't know… if I work, I won't have time to train."
He looked at the ground.
"And if we move to your kingdom, I'll be far from Grandpa Gohan's house. I don't want to leave this place."
Chichi's smile faded slowly. She looked shocked—and angry.
Again, her husband had refused a chance to earn money and live comfortably.
Tien took a step back. He sensed that the calm mood was about to turn into a storm.
Goku smiled awkwardly and tried to comfort Chichi by placing a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry," he said. "We'll be fine. I promise."
But Chichi didn't answer. Her jaw was tight. Her hands were clenched.
She loved Goku. She really did. But sometimes… sometimes, she just couldn't understand how someone could be so pure.
Tien watched the couple silently, already thinking of his next move if they start fighting.
Advanced chapters ahead on patréon
www.patréon.com/ImagineMaker