Richter, who is sporting a brown jacket to cover his white shirt and jeans that matches his brown shoes, rings the doorbell of a well-known mansion located in Sanc Kingdom, a country that is known in his world. "Who is it?" a female voice was heard on the intercom. "Preventer Angel" replied by the Baam Prince, "Preventer Angel? Richter?!" The female voice reacted as the intercom video suddenly comes to life showing her face, she had a platinum black hair that had boy cut style but she has a longer bangs that is hanging on the left side of her though-yet-innocent looking face almost cover her dark purple eyes. "Hi Noin, is Zechs there?" Richter asked as he smiled to one of his old friends. "W-Wait, I'll open the gates" Noin replied with an excitement as the gates on the mansion automatically opens.
Noin, who wears a white long-sleeved turtle-neck shirt that is covered by black coat which is matched by a black pants, opens the door to meet Richter, she hugged him and smiled saying "Richter, I can't believe you're back! When did you arrived?" "Yesterday evening, I managed to book a last-minute flight and find myself a 3-star hotel here for a short stay" Richter removed his sunglasses as he entered the mansion "You? The Prince of Planet Baam, stays in a 3-star hotel?" Noin chuckled on the statement of the Baam Prince who also chuckles.
"Anyway, how's Raiza? The last time we saw you guys was a year ago during our wedding, after your expedition and after that, you guys went off radar" Noin inquired as they walked towards the living room. "Well, she's 2 months already" Richter replied smiling to his old colleague. "Oh my… That's good news!" Noin happily replied upon hearing such news "How about you guys?" Richter asking the relevant question in which Noin only sighed and said "Given the missions that we had from Lady Une or Banjo? It will be a miracle if we will ever have a child."
"You just need time, who knows you might give birth to twins" Richter encouraged making the female Preventer laughed "You really like to keep our hopes up do you?" remarked by a man that gets the attention of the two as he approached them. The man had a long platinum blonde hair, he had a Nile blue eyes, an angelic face and like Richter, he had a build of a military man yet had a bearing of a noble, he wears a blue button shirt covered with black coat that matches his black pants.
Richter gave a chuckle on the remark "You know I cannot offend the true master of the house, especially if it is Mrs. Peacecraft" he replied with a bit of sarcasm which makes Noin raise her eyebrow to their visitor while the other man laughed as he gave the Baam Prince a brotherly hug saying "Damn you, Richter, it is been a year" "Yeah, Zechs or should I say Milliardo?" Richter said smiling to his old comrade in arms.
"Milliardo is now my official name, as per new policy of the Earth Federation, everyone who serves in the military or similar agencies like the Preventers must use their documented legal name for security purposes" Milliardo informed the Baam "New Policy? Who pushed that?" Richter asks as Milliardo and his wife look each other first and sighed "Let's have a sit first." Milliardo suggested as he look at his wife who told them "You boys have a lot of catching up to do" as she calls the attention of one of the maids to bring them refreshments "I'll leave you guys for a while, I need to go to the kitchen and make our lunch" Noin added as she make her way to the kitchen.
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Millardo informed Richter about the events that happened while he is gone as the maids served them tea and various cookies and fruits "So, this new policy forces your sister to resign in her position due to not obtaining the right qualifications." Richter commented as he sips his tea "Can't blame them, Relena was still a minor and haven't finished her studies, that's why I send her back to school at the Far East." Milliardo replied as he notices Richter who bites a sliced apple, make an eye gesture to him.
Milliardo made a gesture to the maids and butlers to leave and give them privacy which was complied. "Does she know?" Richter asked his friend in which the latter shakes his head saying "No, she doesn't. And just like everyone, Noin only knows that you and Raiza are living on a remote island which is off the grid. No one knows that you are staying in another world with Grandma."
Richter then finally give Milliardo a serious look which gives a hint to the Preventer and asked, "You're here not for just a simple visit, am I right?" The Baam just simply nodded as he produces the Scouter and the Dragon Radar from his leather side bag.
Milliardo look curiously at the two artifact devices that Richter placed on the table and was surprised "Wait, are these the two artifacts that you and Raiza discovered last year?" He asked. "Yes, And I would like you to try it" offered by Richter, Milliardo looked first at Richter as he tries to wear the Scouter first.
He looked at Richter as the Scouter measures the energy emitted by the Baam Prince which hits 2000 then 4000 then 6000 as he raises his Reiki and then he suppressed it down hitting the measure to 50, "Tch, show off…" Milliardo remarked in which the Baam smirked and said "I don't want that precious artifact to be destroyed, Raiza will kill me" which gives Milliardo a chuckle.
Then Milliardo tried the Dragon Radar, he pushed the button on top as it shows a red triangle in the center and seven blinking dots appear which is away from the red triangle. He presses the button again and it now only shows a single blinking dot which is still away from the red triangle. Milliardo keeps pressing it and observes that it only toggles the zoom-in and zoom-out of the radar.
Milliardo gives Richter a puzzling look and said "Alright, I understand what does this head gear do." pointing at the Scouter as he remove it and placed it on the table, but points to the Dragon Radar that he is holding "But, what does this radar do? I mean our radars and even the radars in Grandma's world has more sense than this one which only zooms-in and out? And what does these dots represent?" asking the Baam Prince who is sipping his tea.
Richter placed his teacup back to the table "That my friend, is no ordinary radar…" He answered which makes Millardo more puzzled "It's a Dragon Ball Radar, and that blinking dots represents the location of the Dragon Balls" Richter revealed which surprises the Preventer "D-Dragon Ball?! As in the one that you mentioned to me last time in regards with your father's last journal entry?" Milliardo asks in which Richter gives only a silent nod.
Milliardo simply looked at Richter in the eye, to check if there is a hint of deception or to make sure that his friend is not pulling off a bad joke, but there is none and the Baam Prince is just simply telling the truth "You've got to be kidding right?!" Milliardo reacted in disbelief on what his friend revealed to him.
"Zechs, I wish I was kidding…" Richter replied keeping the eye contact "But, everything that my old man had written in that journal are true. From how this world and Genkai's world was used to be one down to the wishing powers of the Dragon Balls during the ancient times… All of them are true…" He continued.
There is a silence among the two, Millardo absorbs everything what Richter had revealed to him. He looks at the two ancient artifacts then he pinched his nose bridge and give a sigh "If these Dragon Balls were collected by someone like Paptimus Scirocco or Trieze, then let's forget about the Balmarians subjugating the entire galaxy…" he said breaking the brief silence.
Richter smiled knowing that he finally convinces his friend "I know you would not let me down" he said as Milliardo just simply smirked "Because if I did, you will be back here with Genkai-sensei. You know I cannot win an argument with that old hag" he commented which gives the Baam prince a chuckle "Anyway, what's our next move Zechs?" Richter asked "Tomorrow, we will go to the new Preventer base at the Far East, I have someone in mind who can assists us." Milliardo said as he stands up when he noticed Noin signals them that their lunch is ready.
"Do I know that person?" Richter curiously asked as he also stands up "Yeah, you already know him. Anyway, let's have some lunch and later we will give you a tour here in Sanc" Millardo replied as they went to the dining hall.
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The following day, Milliardo and Richter arrived in the Preventers Far East Branch, a small building compared to the Main HQ or to its sister branches. Located in the heart of the government district, it's have a wide five underground floors in which the last basement level is dedicated for creating prototypes of new mechas, weapons, gadgets and vehicles, making the Far East Branch the Research and Development arm of the Preventers.
As they made their way to the highly secured area of the last basement, some of the staff and agents can't help but notice Richter due to the fact that he was one of the well-known Preventers along with Milliardo that help on defeating the Balmarians. But for some, the pair was really getting the attention of the ladies especially those who are new members of the agency.
The pair reached the main gate of the highly secured area which is guarded by two armed guards both are wearing the standard Preventers uniform, a blue suit which has a military brown on its shoulders with an emblem of yellow-red-yellow stripe and a P symbol on its center, the suit is matched with blue boots. The soldier looked at them and their id and make a salute, "Gentlemen, kindly tap your ids on the sensor" he said gesturing to the gate's sensor.
Milliardo tap his RFID card, then a pre-recorded voice spoke and asked, "Name please?", "Preventer Wind" replied by Milliardo, a whirling sound was made as the gate was opened. Richter did the same, the pre-recorded voice spoke and asked, "Name please?", "Preventer Angel" was his reply and the gate was opened allowing him to enter.
On their way to the office of person that they will meet, Richter took notice on one of the mechas that is being overhauled by the staff, he looked carefully at the mecha as it was very familiar to him. The mecha has a light purple color, on its chest is a pinkish winged serpent. The mecha is somehow attached to another mecha that looks like a lion that has a purple hair with a trident like horn on its forehead. He stared at the familiar mecha and when he looked at its head, it looks like a medieval knight, the only difference is it has two goat-like horns that is ornated on its centurion-like helmet.
"Is that Chimera?" Richter asked Milliardo who looks at the mecha and replied "It was… Strange, I wasn't briefed that it will be here…" "Because it just arrived yesterday" answered by a man who gets the attention of the two. The man has an unkempt spiky black hair that matches his thick eyebrows, he is wearing a round shape pince-nez[1] that matches his small black eyes. He is wearing the standard outfit of a scientists, a green long-sleeved collar shirt with red tie that is covered by a white lab coat, and a white pants and black leather shoes.
"I saw the two of you going to my old office, so I gave a chase" The scientist's long chin face gave a wide grin to the two high-ranking Preventers who in return smiled. "What happened to the old office, Professor Sanada?" Milliardo asked "I think it will be better if we discuss everything in my new office" Professor Sanada replied as he gestured the two to follow him.
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Richter sips his coffee as he digested the information, they learned from Professor Sanada about the mecha that he saw earlier. "So, my sister managed to find the remains of Chimera and provided the funds along with a team of Baam scientists on this joint project." "Well, to be honest, Tallgeese IV is quite an ambitious project, due to its capability to ride the Manticore." Professor Sanada continued as he looks at the window looking at the said mecha.
"Erika is a very determined person, especially if she wants something to be done" Richter replied as he looked to the mecha for a while and then looked back at the scientist. "Anyway, we would like to ask… How familiar are you in alternate worlds?" Questioned by the Baam Prince to the professor.
Professor Sanada was puzzled to the inquiry of Richter in which he asked, "May I know why such question is raised?". Richter smirked and answered, "What if I told you, Professor, that the reason that I am off the radar is not because I live in some remote island of this world, but rather I live in a totally different world". The answer given by the Baam Prince piques the interest of Professor Sanada as he looked at Milliardo who just simply nodded telling that Richter is telling the truth.
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Professor Sanada starts sharing his knowledge and experiences regarding his experiments and studies about Parallel Universes. From there, Richter starts to share his father's discoveries along with his discoveries as well, he also presented the Dragon Radar and the Scouter which amazes the scientists when the Baam Prince made a demonstration of the two artifacts.
"Fascinating…" Awed by the professor as he tries the Scouter and looked at Milliardo and Richter who are respectively showing a power level of 60 and 50. Then he also tries the Dragon Radar which just simply zooms-in and out as he plays it around "This ancient technologies can help us advance our own for hundreds of years, especially this Scouter!" declared by Professor Sanada as he points to the Scouter "Imagine, it can detect any energy signals miles away and a communicator as well! Such technology is so advance even in our own time!" he excitedly continued grinning to the other two as Milliardo and Richter just smiled awkwardly.
Milliardo clears his throat to catch the monologuing Professor's attention "Professor Sanada, are you aware of the situation that we have right now?" he asked in which the Professor just simply blinked and asked "Situation?" Milliardo gives a sigh as he looked at Richter who finally, shares what are the Dragon Balls and what are their capabilities.
Upon hearing on what are the Dragon Balls and what it can do, Professor Ken Sanada, gives a grim look as he put down the Scouter "The power that can grant any three wishes…" He said as he plays around with the Dragon Radar, "The thought of it falling into wrong hands already sends a chill on my spine…" The professor continued as he looked at the other two.
Richter then simply give him a simple question "Can you help us out?" the Professor smirked "Of course! This is also the perfect opportunity to test the devices that I created for such expedition" he enthusiastically replied to the Baam in which the latter smiled welcoming the commitment of the Professor.
Opening his leather briefcase, Milliardo produces a list of candidates that he preferred to embark on the expedition to retrieve the Dragon Balls and presented it to Richter and Professor Sanada. Professor Sanada saw the list and added four additional names on the team. "A nine-man team? How about we split this taskforce into two?" suggested by Milliardo which is agreed by Richter and Professor Sanada.
Milliardo, Richter and Professor Sanada agreed not to disclose to the taskforce the full details of their mission and the Dragon Ball's existence will not go out to anyone neither to their relatives nor to the higher ups of the Preventers. Finally, Richter gives his Dragon Radar and Scouter to Professor Sanada who promises to replicate the two artifacts before end of the day since they will be used by the taskforce on their mission in two days.
-End of Chapter 7-
Author's Notes: [1] Richter, Raiza and Olban are characters from a Mecha anime series Tosho Daimos. However, all of the mecha series and characters will be based on Super Robot Wars Alpha Gaiden verse with exception of some
[2] To view this chapter with pictures, kindly visit the wordpress version: dragonballnb(period)wordpress(period)com/2020/09/27/chapter-07-a-visit-to-an-old-friend/