Presently, early in the morning, Shen is leaving West City after spending the night there. He has gotten everything he wanted from the city.
He met Bulma's father; Dr. Brief, and has now bought a ten percent share in Capsule Corp.
Since the company isn't yet the giant it will become in the future, the share prices were at least reasonable, granted he spent two-thirds of the treasure he had on hand.
Still, who is he now?—a very rich man. he can always go back and bring more wealth from the cave. the pirate treasure has made him unfathomably rich, maybe even the richest in the whole world.
Dr. Brief was also a rather free-spirited person. He was chill and enthusiastic about technology. But More importantly, with Dr. Brief's help, Shen has found the perfect scientist for his private lab...
According to Dr. Brief, this friend of his lives somewhere in the snowy highlands, north of East Capital.
So Shen is flying northeast right now.
Dr. Flappe—a man who appears in the Muscle Tower arc of the larger Red Ribbon saga.
He had almost forgotten about this scientist. Being that he had only made a minor appearance in the original Dragon Ball series, he didn't leave much of an impression.
But now, since Shen recalls who this man is, he is sure of who his scientist is going to be.
Although Dr. Flappe is just an above-average scientist, he is a man of honor—meaning he can keep secrets. Cherry on top, he is also a loner who can work diligently in one place for a long period of time without any distractions. . . . . . Like a Slave.
Swooo!! He increases his speed, out of excitement. . . . . .
"The world is starting to get brighter. Is it because I am having a good day?" — No, it is because it's the middle of the day, and he is about to reach the snowy highlands where Dr. Flappe lives.
Before entering the snowy highlands, he buys a map of the area, not wanting to risk getting lost in such a place.
He then goes around the snowy villages, inquiring the inhabitants about Dr. Flappe's whereabouts...
After searching many different villages for nearly a week, he finally finds the man in a remote place called Jingle Village.
From what Shen heard from Villagers; He resides in a wooden house located deep within the forest of Jingle Village.
Shen knocks on the red-plank door.
Following a creak!, the door opens.
A person gradually comes into view.
Right away, Shen recognizes the man. It's hard not to, as the man has a bird's nest for a head. Blue-haired weirdo, that's how Dr. Brief described him.
"That's about right!" Shen blurts out.
"Sorry??" The weird bird-nest-man looks confusingly at the old man standing on his doorstep...
He tries to remember if he knows the guy but nothing comes to mind. "Who might you be, old sir?"
Shen clears his throat. "Oh, sorry for that. I am called Master Shen; people also know me as the Crane Hermit."
"Y-You mean?... The Crane Hermit, Master of the renowned Crane School?" Dr. Flappe asks with a suspicious look. Anyone who knows a little about the world knows the names of the two renowned schools of martial arts and their leaders.
"You seem to be doubtful?!"
"It is hard to believe such a world-famous master would visit me here."
Shen smiles. "Worry not, I will show you my proof."
Dr. Flappe watches in astonishment as the old man's feet leave the bounds of Earth, contradicting all common assumptions of human limitation.
Exceeding even that, the strange old man now in the sky fires what seems like a laser beam from his index finger.
A loud thunderous sound echoes in his unbelieving ears as his legs become wobbly, while he somehow balances himself.
"Who would have known humans had such capabilities?" He looks in awe as the unforgettable man descends from the snowy white sky, akin to a god.
"So, do you believe me now? If I had my official identity card right now, I could have also show you that."
"No! No! This is more than enough. Sir, Please come inside." Extending his arms, he shows his guest the way in.
He seats the old master on a sofa and brings him a cup of tea and some snacks. Following that, he himself sits on a sofa opposite the one his guest is sitting on.
"What could I do for you, sir?" Slowly and cautiously, he asks the hermit. "You must have a reason for troubling yourself all the way here, right?"
"I do have a reason... or rather a proposition for you. You see, I am trying to build a research laboratory, but I didn't have a good scientist to help me with it... That is until I found out about you. I have come a long way searching for you, and I want you to help me."
"Me? Really?" Dr. Flappe is dumbfounded. He never would have guessed that was the reason. afternall He isn't a very accomplished or talented scientist.
"Why would you trust a failure of a scientist like me? Please, I request you find someone else. Just about everyone is more talented than me." he sees himself as such, afterall during his university days, he was never able to outdo a real genius like Dr. Brief.
this has essentially lead him to believes that he could never hope to compete with an actual genius.
"I found your location from Dr. Brief." Shen calmly states.
"Really?" Dr. Flappe is a little astonished and even a bit skeptical. Always losing to a one-sided rival, does take a toll on someone.
"Yes, really! How do you think I found you? It seems he vaguely remembers you as a noteworthy rival... he was curious about what you were up to nowadays."
All of a sudden the once downcast Dr. Flappe become lively. he feels his heart beating rapidly, as blood and adrenaline rush throughout his body.
"So, are you with me, Mr. Scientist?" Shen asks with warm smile.
"Yes!" A word escapes the man's throat, with a slight elation to it.
...
Shen departs from the northern highlands, leaving his new employee to sort things out. They have agreed to meet at the nearby West City in a month.
Currently, he is aimlessly flying in the azure sky. "Now where should I go? Karin Tower? ...No, not yet."
Unexpectedly, he decides to go out of his way and do something very uncharacteristic of him.
He fixes his direction southward. There's a certain brat he wants to meet.
He jets off to a not-so-popular place called Mt. Paozu.
...
"Wow! This place is even more beautiful than it is in the anime. Even remembering it through the previous Master Shen's memories doesn't do it any justice."
The scenic slender mountains, comparable to towering pillars that kiss the heavens and pierce even the clouds, would convince anyone; it's the mythical dwelling of dragons.
Shen explores the area, looking for something. After searching for some time, he finds it: a peculiar one-story pagoda-style cabin.
Even without entering, he immediately finds out with his Ki that there is no one in the house... so he waits... he waits for the owner to arrive.