Learning about "Son Goku" the World Martial Arts Champion was harder than Videl thought it would be, after leaving Gohan's house yesterday she started investigating however the existence of a much more famous Son Goku was muddying the waters.
All she could get was what Sharpner said yesterday. A very gifted fighter who was the Champion before her father. As the World Martial Arts Championship didn't allow recording back then, there weren't any fights of him she could watch.
However Videl had a lead regardless of all the difficulties. Papaya Island's local newspapers seemed to have archives going as far back as 50 years and during her phone calls last night one of the newspapers confirmed that they had several reports on the "Son Goku" Videl was talking about from as far back as he got the second place in the 21st World Martial Arts tournament.
After reaching Papaya Island in her Capsule Copter, Videl looked at the city she would return to in half a year to finally surpass her father.
Not wanting to waste any time Videl immediately went to the address she got and saw an old but well maintained building.
A young girl about her age immediately came up to her when she entered and asked, "Miss Videl, right? We have been waiting you." in an excited way.
Despite not being a fan of using her name and fame in her private life, Videl didn't hesitate to do so when it came to other matters, she answered, "Miss Terry was it? I believe we talked last night."
Clearly starstruck from talking to a celebrity, the secretary of the newspaper answered without thinking about it too much, "Oh you remember? Yes, we talked about opening up the archives of ages 750, 753 and 756 for the dates World Martial Art Tournaments took place."
"I am grateful to you and the owners of this newspaper for allowing me to go through something so precious." despite being known as the berserker daughter of Mr. Satan, Videl had picked up a few tricks from her father that she wished she hadn't. One of those tricks was using praises (To the point one might call flattery however Videl would never admit to that) to make other people like you.
She didn't know why her father was so masterful at this even though he was the strongest person on the world but from time to time Videl benefited from it as well.
Enthusiastically the secretary started explaining, "Actually, up until 10 years ago, this company, 'Papaya Times', was a gossip magazine and only by chance we have what you are asking for. However you couldn't find what you are asking for elsewhere because every single newspaper around this area have been bought and they all sealed their archives for restructuring."
This bit of information was really interesting to Videl so she asked, "Do you know who did that? Newspapers specifically in Papaya Island sounds like a niche market."
After thinking about it for a second she answered, "I don't think there really is a conspiracy, ever since Mr. Satan won the 24th World Martial Arts tournament, corporations from all over the world have been trying to expand here."
Videl nodded at her answer however she wasn't exactly convinced. Every single Newspaper being bought out while the potentially much more popular Gossip Magazine being left alone felt fishy to her however this would require its own investigation.
In the basement of the building, Papaya Times' archives of over 70 years sat and the secretary started to talk, "It might seem weird to you that we, a gossip magazine, have records of a martial artist, at least I certainly thought we didn't have anything until I asked yesterday however there is a common denominator that meant we had to run those stories."
After finally getting to the section where the Age 750 publications were in, she started to comb through all issues one by one and finally found it, "Check it out, I am sure you'll be very surprised too."
Videl didn't particularly appreciate her for playing these games but the contents she saw on the page had to be seen to be believed. A blurry photo with a speculative title on an article barely as long as two paragraphs shocked her to the core.
"Was the Heiress of Capsule Corp. Bulma Brief Celebrating Young Martial Artists' Success?"
The photo attached, though blurry by today's standards, showed a young Bulma Brief eating a dinner in a restaurant with several other people.
Text of the article mentioned very clearly that three of the people on the table with her were finalists of the World Martial Arts Tournament that took place the day of, quarter finalist Yamcha, semi finalist Krillin and the second place Son Goku. There was also a person speculated to be the legendary martial artist, Muten Roshi and an unidentified person.
It concluded with the article advising its readers to keep an eye out on the Martial Arts world as Capsule Corp money could change everything up.
After reading through it Videl looked at her guide with a shocked expression, world's richest and smartest person, the genius inventor who changed how people lived, was at the very least acquainted with Son Goku since she was 16.
Looking at the picture again, Videl quickly spotted her target of investigation, Son Goku. He wasn't difficult to find, his hair had barely changed from this photo where he looked like a 9 years old kid to his recent photos as the president of LL35.
Videl tried to spot if she knew any of the other people from the image however aside from Bulma Brief and Son Goku, everyone else was unfamiliar to her. However she got out a camera and took a picture of the page. She knew this was a privilege she couldn't get without her surname however she was glad to have asked for it yesterday as this was perhaps exactly what she was looking for.
The secretary said, "I was as surprised as you were when I saw that Ms. Videl, even now there is nothing about Mrs. Bulma or the Capsule Corp having anything to do with Martial Arts however she knew some of the best of the best." while moving to the next issue.
This was something hard to disagree with. Even if rest of the population wouldn't know, Videl certainly would because her father carefully tracked how much funding and resources each fighter had, there was definitely no one with an abundance of resources or sketchy sponsorship from shell companies.
Capsule Corp outsourcing firm security to LL35 could be considered nepotism to some however anyone worth their weight in salt knew that LL35 was the best in the business, it would be stupid not to hire them.
Stopping Videl's train of thought, they arrived at the next issue they had to look at.
This time Videl looked at the magazine without hesitation and confirming her guesses this was again related to Bulma Brief, the title read:
"Broken Love? Bulma Brief Pictured Cheering in World Martial Arts Tournament After Lover's Injury"
Next to a picture of Bulma Brief in the audience of the World Martial Arts Tournament, there was an article that talked about how Bulma Brief continued cheering for fights in the ring even after her then-boyfriend Yamcha's leg was broken.
The article went on to speculate that their relationship might have soured in recent years and who Bulma Brief actually came to cheer for was the young star of the fighting world, Son Goku.
"This article is just pure trash" said Videl reflexively, it was just speculation about a rich girl's personal life without any info that wasn't in the last article.
The secretary had an understanding expression on her face when she said, "You might think so but I think this 'Yamcha' character is more important than it appears on a first glance."
With a single, doubtful word, Videl replied, "Explain."
"See, this is just what I got out of a cursory glance however Yamcha's past is very interesting to me. He used to be someone completely unknown before the 21st Martial Arts Tournament to the point where there is no proof he existed as a human prior to that. He joins the same three tournaments Son Goku does, becomes a quarter finalist in each of them and after that his career takes a drastic shift."
After waiting a second and not getting a response from Videl she continued, "He becomes a baseball player and the best one at that. For 11 years, until 5 years ago when he retired, he was the highest earning sportsman in the entire world other than your father."
"LL35's contract with World Baseball Association…" Videl said out loud. The circle of Son Goku, who had his family live without electricity or running water included some of the most powerful people on the world. Bulma Brief, the Turtle Hermit Roshi and apparently people like this Yamcha person as well.
With a disappointed sigh the secretary replied, "Oh so you already now, then are you investigating him because of his relation with your father?"
Videl asked with a confused look, "What are you talking about Ms. Terry? I am unfamiliar with that." she didn't know this Son Goku worked with her father, only the other one.
"Oh you didn't know?" she said while walking towards the last issue she had to show today, "LL35's first contract wasn't with Capsule Corp or World Baseball Association, it was with Satan Star Residential Complex. At the time the majority stockholder was your father."
Trying to keep a calm face Videl said, "If you didn't mention this I would have had no idea, maybe asking my father about Son Goku would have been easier but I got to meet you this way."
After reaching the third and final magazine issue, the secretary suddenly stopped and said, "This is a very special issue that was never sent to the prints due to certain reasons so it is the first time anyone who wasn't employed here is going to see it."
Using up the last of her patience Videl replied without any anger and venom to this woman who loved theatrics for the last time, "I am honored to have the occasion."
After taking the magazine Videl's eyes were shocked open, there was a picture of two people hugging in the middle of the old World Martial Arts Tournament ring. One of them was Son Goku however Videl was unfamiliar with the other person. The title of the article was:
"Childhood Friend of Bulma Brief and Two Time World Martial Arts Tournament Finalist Son Goku Engaged on Stage"
The body of the article talked about the history between Son Goku and Bulma Brief, his success in the previous tournaments and finally talked about how he got engaged to another contestant of the tournament in the quarter finals.
However reading the name 'Chichi' was what shocked her. She was extremely surprised to learn that Gohan's mother, who she assumed was treating Gohan barely better than a prisoner, was an accomplished fighter.
Though she hadn't looked into it personally, from what she heard, 23rd World Martial Arts tournament had the highest average fighter quality in the tournament's history, unlike 24th where her father was the clear winner and Gohan's mother was one of those 8 people who qualified.
Not wanting to show what she was actually investigating, Videl said, "Ms. Terry, I am happy to have met you however I should organize the information I got and comb through it."
Understanding her point, the secretary quickly said, "I am sure you are very busy Ms. Videl, however before I send you off, could you please give me an autograph?" her voice which was very confident and energetic when talking about her investigations got shier and shier towards the end of her sentence.
Videl smiled as she liked this girl and said, "Sure, where should I sign?" after getting her pen out.