The day was still bright but slowly came to an end.
Along the broad field roads, Darc was riding his bicycle.
Sometimes he would stop at intersections and look at his map but that didn't help much at all. He has missed a certain item he needed to actually get somewhere. A freaking compass!
`Damn, now where the hell am I? Kerno town is here.´ He pointed at a location on the map and traced his path. ´It´s southeast from the west city. I made a turn here and another one here but why does it feel like I completely got lost?´
He looked around himself and tried to see another town or something like that. He should have already passed one but he actually didn't. That was the first time he doubted his sense of directions and it proved right. He got lost.
´Can't do anything about it. I will just follow the road and ask someone for directions if I meet anyone. Now, which way? Right or left?´
He stood at another intersecting road right now and looked at each direction. One seemed to lead into a forest while the other had still plain grassland.
Darc decided to follow the plains and started riding along that road.
Unlucky for him he didn't meet anyone until it became dark. So he paused his travel and made his camp. He took out his tent from the capsule and inspected it.
It was pretty big for a tent and probably had about space for 4 people inside it. Even though it would be a little cramped if said amount of people do get inside.
There was already most stuff like a sleeping back and pillows inside it. That was the amazing thing about these capsules. They were a wonder of science in the field of space law. Everything inside would remain the same state as when it got compacted into a capsule.
Sure if the capsule gets destroyed the items in it would probably also be lost. He didn't test it yet but for now, who cares. It's still convenient.
That is also a reason why he will not carry his dragonballs in one of these capsules. Who knows what would happen to them.
After setting everything up he took some things out of his portable fridge and started eating.
Clapping his stomach after being full he went inside the tent and slept through the night.
----
The next morning the came out of it and stretched. Putting everything back into his capsule box and taking out his bicycle he continued his travel.
There wasn't much happening the first 2 to 3 days until he saw a truck.
Darc grinned and waved at the truck so that he stopped.
"Hey there!", Darc said to the driver after he stopped and let his window down. It was an anthropomorphic animal resembling a boar. It was actually rare to see such people in his town but it seems the further he traveled the more he would see.
He was quite interested in the diverse life forms that lived on this planet. There were even talking dino´s but those still were man-eating carnivores that he would better see on a grill than have a civilized conversation.
The anthropomorphic animals were by far better.
"Hello, kid. What are you stopping me for?", asked the driver. He was a male if he ever had to guess.
"I just wanted to ask if am on my right path to the west city?" Darc pointed into the direction he wanted to travel further.
The driver smiled. "Doing some trip, huh? You are a lucky kid, this road is the main one and does lead to the west city. With your bicycle, you would probably take another day to reach it."
Darc smiled as well and chuckled. "Thanks, mister. I nearly thought I would be lost. Alright then. I will be on my way. Bye bye!"
The driver waved him goodbye and started driving off just like Darc started to ride off into the direction of the west city. He luckily could make it in less than a day.
-----
Later on, Darc could finally see the silhouette of the city and also started to meet more and more vehicles that drove on the many streets. There were even hovering vehicles that probably only were exclusive to city folks or rich people?
Sure enough, after entering the city it was like a completely different era altogether. The sci-fi vibe was really strong in the cities he thought.
Being a little bit dazed by the city he sighed. He probably looked like a country bumpkin seeing civilization for the first time.
´Now, where is the building? I am at the outer periphery and as I remember the capsule corporation should be somewhere in the center of the city?´
He looked around again and rode with his bike deeper into the city. When he was kinda confused at times he asked the locals where the corporation was and soon enough he reached the building.
"Finally...", he grumbled a little while scratching his head. It took him longer than he thought it would.
He pressed the intercom. "Hello~! Is Dr. Briefs home? I would like to speak with him.", he asked and waited for an answer.
A robotic voice answered that he is at home and that it would inform Dr.Briefs right away.
A while later a middle-aged man with blue hair, a pair of glasses and a white coat walked outside of the building. He had a cigarette in his mouth. Weirdly enough there was no Tama on his shoulders. Tama was the adorable little cat that was always close by his side. Maybe it wasn't born yet?
Dr. Briefs came closer and smiled at Darc. "Well, hello there child. You wanted to speak with me?", he asked while staring at him. He seemed a little surprised that a kid wanted to talk with him. But then again, Dr. Briefs was a kindhearted soul that never really let things go to his head. And that had something to say after being the richest person on this earth.
"Yes, Dr. Briefs. My name is Darc Soya. I would like to ask for a favor. And since you are the one who created the capsules...", replied Darc and took a capsule out. "I thought you are the only one that could help me out. If not such a genius inventor like you then who else could help me.", added Darc afterward to compliment him. And that wasn't even bootlicking since it was the truth.
Dr. Briefs chuckled. "Is that so?" He looked upwards thinking about something. "Come on inside, Darc. We can talk about your matter inside." Dr. Briefs walked inside after his words.
Darc just kept after him and followed inside.
----
Sitting around a table where his dragon ball was placed at, Darc started explaining to Dr.Briefs about the matter from the legend and that he would need something like a radar for these balls to find them. After all searching without a clear goal was like searching the needle in a haystack.
"So, that's why you need my expertise. Interesting, I probably could make something like that but it will take a while. A day or so should be enough.", said Dr. Briefs with an understanding nod.
Darc only chuckled lightly and nodded "That would really help me out. Otherwise searching for them would be a pain."
It seemed he lucked out that Dr. Briefs is such a nice person and actually is always trying to invent new stuff. Or else he wouldn't be so sure how he could convince him to make the radar for him.
Dr. Briefs nodded with a smile "I must say, to go out on an adventure so young is really brave." He took the dragon ball and stood up. "I will be taking this for the time being. You can stay at our house while I make the radar."
"Is that really alright?", Darc asked in return. He didn't think he would be invited to stay here. After all, he was a stranger.
"Sure, don't worry about it. There are enough rooms available." Dr. Briefs said. It was true. The house was huge compared to other buildings.
At the same moment, Ms. Briefs came walking with a tray and some cold beverages on it.
"Hello there, sweetie. Would you like to have some iced refreshments? It's always nice to have guests come by. Especially such young, cute boys. I am Ms. Briefs, the wife of Dr. Briefs that you already know of. And how do you do? If there is anything you need while you are here just tell me.", said Ms.Briefs with a chuckling smile.
Darc was felt weirded out. Her words kinda sounded wrong but he doubted she would mean it like that, right? But he still blushed a little bit because of her friendly attitude.
"Eh...Hello there, Ms. Briefs. I am fine, thank you. And sure, why not...", replied Darc and took one glass of iced tea and started drinking it.
Darc also noticed that a girl around his age was standing not too far behind her and looked at him suspiciously. Was that Bulma? She does have blue hair so it should be her as he remembered Tights had blonde hair like Ms.Briefs.
He looked at her and she noticed his gaze.
Ms. briefs still smiled and noticed him looking at her. "This girl here is my daughter. Come, say hello to our guest, dear.", said Ms. Briefs to the girl.
The girl came forward and took a while until she spoke. "Hey there. I am Bulma. What are you doing here?"
Darc his mouth twitched. She already has her tomboyish personality it seems. She was pretty direct to the point and didn't look like she trusted him. Why should she anyways?
Ms. Briefs scolded her that it's not the way to greet someone but Darc waved his hand.
"It's alright, Ms. Briefs. I don't mind. My name is Darc. Nice to make your acquaintance, Bulma.", he gave her as an answer. "And I came here to ask your father for a favor..."