Watching Bardock depart, finally exiting the palace and disappearing from sight, King Vegeta's expression grew increasingly menacing.
The human heart is the most unpredictable.
Bardock had enough reverence and loyalty towards King Vegeta.
But King Vegeta still viewed Bardock as a threat!
In his view, Bardock, in some sense, had already threatened his position.
Merely being revered as a legend by the low-class warriors was a challenge to his dignity.
In fact, Bardock himself didn't realize that he was only trying to do better, but his contributions were deemed as outshining the master.
Of course, the most critical and main reason was still that Bardock was just a low-class warrior.
Not only in King Vegeta's heart but also in the minds of all elite warriors, a lower-class was still a lower-class, not even qualified to speak with them.
In the eyes of the arrogant elite warriors, low-class warriors were ants to be commanded and toyed with at will.
"Hmph!! Once Frieza is dealt with, and I ascend to the throne of the universal emperor...then will be the time for a true reckoning." King Vegeta's eyes flashed with killing intent, which he quickly concealed.
If Bardock wasn't strong enough, if he didn't have enough utility for him, he would never allow such an uncontrollable situation among his subordinates...
...
Leaving the palace, Bardock didn't return immediately but started looking for Raditz within the palace grounds.
His schedule in the upcoming days was tight; in ten days he would depart, and in seven days Raditz would also set out with Prince Vegeta to conquer a planet!
So, in the coming days, he had to impart some knowledge daily.
Moreover, there were things he needed to discuss with Raditz alone, preferably without Gine knowing.
After wandering for a while, Bardock finally found Raditz in the outermost training ground of the palace, along with Vegeta.
As a subordinate, even with a power level of over ten thousand, Bardock still respectfully greeted the prince.
As for the others, Bardock ignored them completely.
Firstly, he had enough strength to disdain these upper-class and elite warriors.
Secondly, he didn't care to associate with them.
Even though his son would be working under them for some time, King Vegeta had promised to ensure Raditz's safety, so these people wouldn't dare to act recklessly.
If they did, he wouldn't let them get away with it!
This is the suppression brought by strength.
Taking Raditz out of the palace, Bardock essentially requested leave for Raditz from Vegeta for the next few days.
Otherwise, as Prince Vegeta's personal guard, Raditz would have to be by the prince's side almost constantly, except for occasional breaks.
Bardock's request was not something Vegeta would refuse.
Of course, Raditz had just requested leave from him a moment ago, and he didn't pay much attention to it.
To him, whether Raditz was by his side or not made no difference.
Initially, he was puzzled by his father's decision to assign someone of the same age with a power level of only a few hundred to his side.
Only later did he gradually understand his father's intentions.
Although Vegeta was only five years old now, his thinking was not comparable to ordinary people.
As a prince, he saw many aspects, not just identity; the most crucial was the power level.
Being conceited was inevitable, but he also had self-awareness.
Watching Bardock and Raditz leave, Vegeta's eyes shone with a glimmer beyond his years, his expression serious.
A lackey beside him couldn't help but instigate, "Your Highness, you shouldn't have been respectful to that guy Bardock! He's becoming increasingly arrogant, relying on his high power level."
"Yes, Prince Vegeta! Just now, he didn't even show you any respect."
As two upper-class warriors with a power level of 3000 spoke up, Vegeta's gaze became sharp.
But instead of being directed at the departing Bardock, it was aimed at the two men beside him: "If you have the skills, don't gossip behind people's backs! It just shows you're useless!"
After saying this, Vegeta turned and headed towards the palace hall.
His power level had long surpassed 3000, so even without his prince status, he could stand up to these two.
Vegeta's cold sarcasm left the two upper-class warriors' faces ashen and extremely unpleasant.
To be fair, Vegeta was more tolerant and discerning compared to King Vegeta.
When comparing Bardock to the useless weaklings around him, he preferred Bardock, who had become strong purely on his own as a low-class warrior.
Strictly speaking, as a low-class warrior among Saiyans, Bardock was the only one Vegeta had remembered since childhood!
Even in the later stages of the original work, Vegeta recalled Bardock.
...
Walking on the bustling streets of the royal city, Bardock and Raditz observed the surrounding buildings and various aliens while conversing.
"According to King Vegeta, in seven days, I will be going to Planet Larp with the prince?" Raditz said excitedly after hearing Bardock's words.
For him, he had been looking forward to this day for a long time.
He didn't know that this expedition would be the beginning of his tragic life.
"In seven days, you will go on an expedition with the prince's elite troops. A few days after you leave, I will also go on a new mission.
"Raditz! You are my son, and as my son, you will bear a pressure far greater than that of ordinary Saiyans! During the time you have spent with the prince, you should understand how cruel we Saiyans are by now.
"In fact, it's the same for every race, survival of the fittest!..."
Bardock rarely spoke in such a heartfelt manner.
But at this moment, he had to impart some important truths to his son.
He didn't know if it was some premonition or if Bardock had long wanted to tell his son, but previously, he didn't have the time, or Raditz was too young to understand.
"Dad, today you seem a bit..." Raditz was momentarily stunned, unable to articulate what was going on with his father.
Bardock smiled softly and reached out to ruffle Raditz's hair: "Strange, right? Some things you may not understand now, but you will in the future! You will grow up and find your own path."
Raditz nodded in confusion.
Bardock spoke to him about many things, an experience Raditz had never had since he was born.
For the first time, the father and son talked so much.
After Bardock finished everything he wanted to say, he left Raditz with one sentence: "If I'm no longer around, then I leave your mother, brother, and Talot in your care."