Strike! Red Ribbon Army Part 2

Goku had set out once more to find the Four- Star Ball that had once belonged to his grand- father, but during the course of his adventures, his Dragon Radar was broken. And so Goku set off to West City to see if Bulma would fix it for him.

After meeting up with Bulma, Goku got his Dragon Radar fixed and was about to resume his hunt for the Dragon Balls. But Bulma suddenly announced that she wanted to join him...

And so Bulma tagged along with Goku as naturally as if they were going on a day hike. But the Dragon Ball they were after was also being sought by the Red Ribbon Army, the most infamous army in the world.

The photo of that brat has been sent to him!

Contact General Blue and tell him to do everything in his power to eliminate that brat as soon as he finds him!

That boy is heading this way!

Whoa, whoa... Did this call for such violence? I mean, they were just perverts.

The Dragon Ball they were after turned out to be at the bottom of the ocean. However, the Red Ribbon Army was also after it. And so Goku and Bulma headed for Master Roshi's to ask him if he knew of any way to search the ocean floor...

Our heroes had discovered that the third Dragon Ball was at the bottom of the sea. However, they needed a submarine to reach it. So Goku and Bulma headed off to consult with Master Roshi who lived nearby...

Huh?! If it isn't Goku in the flesh!

It's been a while since I've seen you!

Umm, it's not Tortoise. I'm Turtle, remember?

Indeed he is.

Master. Young Goku is here to see you!

I wonder what happened.

We better hurry before the whole cavern collapses!

Our heroes continued their Dragon Ball hunt despite the traps that the pirates had left behind! Little did they know General Blue was on their tail. Who would be the first to get their hands on the Dragon Ball?

Bulma and Krillin followed the signal on the Dragon Radar as they made for the exit of the crumbling cavern. But along the way, they stumbled upon the pirates' hidden treasure!

Oho ho ho...

Huh?!

Th-The bad guys...!!!

G-Go for it, Krillin! You can do it!

Swat that creep down like a bug!

We gotta get out of here before the whole place comes down!

At the bottom of that pool.

But there's no time! We gotta run!

Huh?!

We've got no choice! Let's make for the exit!

Bulma and Krillin prepared to make tracks as the cavern started to crumble. As promised, Goku joined them as soon as he found the Dragon Ball. And so it was that our heroes barely escaped a watery grave...

Well, you can count me out. I don't have a death wish like you do!

This was the last time I helped you, and I mean it!

Well, I wouldn't have come if you had told me about the Red Ribbon Army!

Our heroes had risked their lives to find the Dragon Ball, but sadly, it wasn't the Four-Star Ball Goku had sought. It appeared that Goku's quest to find it would continue. But there was another who was also still on the hunt...

Goku was at Kame House, preparing for his next Dragon Ball hunt. Little did he know that General Blue had just barely escaped the undersea cavern's collapse until the fiend suddenly appeared and snatched all three of Goku's Dragon Balls...

Darn it!

Why are you people collecting Dragon Balls, anyway?

If that jerk thinks he's gonna keep my Dragon Balls, he's sorely mistaken!

Argh!

Ha ha! He's flying!

Nice work.

Where's the bad guy?!

What do you mean, "really-really far away"...?

You can't see him anymore.

Wow... You're neat!

But they're so small...

Seems there're tons of people stronger than me!

Guess that means I gotta train even harder!

And so Goku managed to recover his Dragon Balls, but his Dragon Radar was still in General Blue's hands. As things stood, he could neither find his way back to Kame House nor continue his quest for the Dragon Balls...

Shall I build you a new radar?

What?! You?! Really?!

You're welcome.

Ha ha ha.

I guess the genius gene runs in the family!

And so Goku bid farewell to Penguin Village and resumed his quest for the Dragon Balls. What new adventures awaited him?

Goku headed west in search of the next Dragon Ball, but even there, he found that the Red Ribbon Army was up to no good! However, Goku ended up defeating Colonel Yellow after his underhanded attempt at stealing the Dragon Balls. He also managed to save a father and son who lived in the Sacred Land of Korin...

Thank you for saving my son.

You're after this orb, too?

At long last, Goku had found the Four-Star Ball that had once belonged to his grandfather! But the Red Ribbon Army had not given up on eliminating Goku and gathering all the Dragon Balls...

Good of you to come, Mercenary Tao.

I'll pay anything as long as you get the job done.

General Blue...

I'm impressed you made it back here.

I couldn't care less about that!

That Goku kid took our Dragon Balls.

You got a lot of nerve waltzing in like this!

But I was able to steal the enemy's Dragon Radar!

Here it is!

I'll use it to collect all seven Dragon Balls, you'll see!

If I recall, your assignment was to get the Dragon Balls, not this radar!

And the punishment for failing a mission is death.

B-But...!

Still, you have served the Red Ribbon Army well, so I'll give you one last chance.

I'll overlook your failings if you can defeat Mercenary Tao here.

Fine by me. Now let's see what you can do.

General Blue's back was to the wall before he even knew it, for Mercenary Tao was as formidable as his reputation. With a single strike of his tongue, he instantaneously vanquished his foe...

General Blue is... With just a single strike?

I-I can't believe it.

H-He definitely lives up to his reputation.

I see... I never knew that orb held such secrets.

So that's why those rascals have been trying to steal them.

By the way, what's that long, skinny thing over there?

That sacred spire soaring into the sky is called Korin's Tower.

They say if you reach the top using only your own strength, you'll meet the hermit who lives there. And if you drink the Sacred Water he gives you, it will supposedly multiply your power many times over.

My tribe has served as the guardians of this tower for generations.

I tried when I was younger, but I didn't make it.

I don't think anyone has ever made it.

Korin's Tower soared into the sky above the Sacred Land of Korin. Those who climbed it were said to have their power multiplied many times over. But now, the sacred land was on the brink of bloodshed...

You're still standing after my Kamehameha?!

Dodon Ray!

How could you do that to them!

Tao, the greatest assassin in the world, had slain Bora and Goku after the Red Ribbon Army hired him for a hit. He had also stolen the Dragon Balls and left the Sacred Land of Korin. The grief-stricken Upa dug a grave for his father, and as he dug another for Goku, he received the shock of his life when his friend suddenly opened his eyes...

Having it under your shirt like that saved your life!

I wish my father had survived too.

Huh?! You can do that?!

Mercenary Tao hadn't realized that Goku was hiding the Four-Star Ball under his shirt, and that hidden Dragon Ball ended up saving Goku's life. But could Goku really defeat the formidable Mercenary Tao and resurrect Bora with the Dragon Balls?

Goku had fallen before the terrible strength of Mercenary Tao, but the Four-Star Ball hidden under his shirt had saved his life. However, he was not yet strong enough to defeat his foe. What was Goku to do?

He took all the orbs you had in your bag.

Say, Goku! Why not try climbing Korin's Tower?

I bet you can do it!

It's really there, I'd bet on it!

Yes, they say the hermit is always watching.

Please don't fall!

Got it! Good luck!

You really are some- thing else... You only took three days.

What're ya waiting for? Bottoms up!

Why would you?

The Sacred Water isn't really anything special. It's just plain old water.

What?!

Hey, that's not fair! You tricked me!

Nya-ha-ha! It was no trick!

For your power has already multiplied many times over!

Has it finally sunk in?

Reaching the top of my tower and snatching the bottle from my grasp...

...has trained you to become many times more powerful in all different ways!

Now, go back down and test the fruits of your training!

There goes one destined for great things.

If I'm not mistaken...

That kid may have already surpassed Master Roshi...

Goku had ascended Korin's Tower and gained great strength. Meanwhile, Mercenary Tao had returned to the Sacred Land of Korin to steal the Four-Star Ball from him. Their final showdown was about to begin!

G-Goku!

Did you reach the top?! Did you drink that strange water?!

It... It can't be!

How could my Dodon Ray... not have...

Yeah! You did it!

I'll make you pay, brat!

Goku repelled Mercenary Tao's Dodon Ray, demonstrating the fruits of Korin's training! Out of options, Tao fought back with weapons but was ultimately defeated when Goku kicked the assassin's bomb back at him...

Hooray!

Okay!

Goku had defeated Mercenary Tao and recovered his Dragon Balls. But would he be able to find the rest and bring Upa's father back to life?

With his newfound power gained at Korin's Tower, Goku had finally taken down Mercenary Tao. However, to bring Upa's father back, he still had to find the remaining three Dragon Balls. And according to the Dragon Radar, two of them were located to the southwest of the Sacred Land of Korin...

It's too dangerous, Goku, even for you!

You can't take on the Red Ribbon Army alone!

Okay, but promise you'll run if it gets too dangerous.

Goku had at last crushed the Red Ribbon Army single-handedly. Now there was but one Dragon Ball left to find! However...

Huh?

Aw man...

Looks like the Dragon Radar is busted again.

What?!

Even the police were powerless against the Red Ribbon Army.

Just one little kid.

Very heroic of you, Goku!

With the Red Ribbon Army vanquished, the fierce battle for the Dragon Balls was over, for now, at least. All that was left to do was to find the final Dragon Ball and ask Shenron to resurrect Upa's father! But where is that last Dragon Ball?