Dragon Ball Roshi-Chapter 173 - : How Could This Be

The room descended into an icy silence.

When Tam entered holding a little girl's hand and saw those two familiar yet unfamiliar faces, he froze in a suffocating stillness. Standing at the doorway, his facial muscles twitched briefly before his expression turned completely cold.

On the other side, Taro could clearly hear the rapid fluctuations of Tam's heartbeat and keenly sense his erratic breathing. Taro sighed silently. Hathaway, meanwhile, gazed at her now-grown son with a tender yet apologetic look. His eyes, filled with an unfamiliar distance, pierced her heart.

Twenty-one years had passed since the last time parents and child met, and now, such a cold and distant reunion left Hathaway's parents exchanging helpless glances.

The little girl, Tam's six-year-old daughter Mu Ninn, sat with her father on the opposite sofa, caught in the strange atmosphere and full of questions. She glanced at her father beside her, then curiously at the man and woman across from them — two elderly strangers who somehow felt incredibly warm and familiar.

"Grandpa? Grandma?" The little girl timidly broke the silence, her soft voice like that of an innocent, endearing creature.

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Tam's hand, which had been holding hers, instinctively tightened.

"Oh my!" Hathaway's parents gasped softly in surprise. No one had introduced Ninn to her grandparents, yet the clever child had figured it out on her own. But how? She had never seen Taro or Hathaway before!

"What a smart and beautiful little girl!" Hathaway exclaimed warmly from the sofa, her heart brimming with affection as she gazed at the little girl who bore such a striking resemblance to her younger self.

"Come here, to Grandpa," Taro said with a smile, beckoning gently.

Ninn returned his smile, her sweet and pure expression seeming to bring springtime into the living room. However, she turned her head to glance at her father beside her. The sensitive girl noticed that her father didn't seem to get along with his parents.

Though only four years old when her chaotic-living biological mother handed her over to Tam in exchange for money, Ninn had already learned to read the room. The life she'd lived before coming to Tam's side was far from comfortable, and her early maturity often showed. Now, while she appeared calm and composed, two years ago, she had been so silent it broke hearts.

"Daddy?" she asked softly. She wanted to run over and hug her grandparents, but first, she sought her father's approval. She wanted to see him smile. Yet, since they entered the room, her father had worn a cold, emotionless expression that made her uneasy. She had never seen him so distant before, and it frightened her a little.

Tam shot a cold glance at the two people across from him. He lowered his head, as if preparing to say something, but to his shock, he realized his hand had involuntarily released Ninn's. An invisible force wrapped around his hand, rendering his fingers uncontrollable.

Believing she had her father's permission, Ninn smiled brightly, jumped off the sofa, and walked over. Standing obediently in front of her grandmother, she couldn't resist the urge to hug her.

Hathaway opened her arms and embraced the little girl, kissing her soft cheek. "Your name is Ninn? Mu Ninn?" she asked with a smile.

"Yes," Ninn replied, nodding in Hathaway's embrace. Then, with a hint of curiosity, she asked innocently, "What's your name, Grandma?"

"My name is Hathaway. It's a pleasure to meet you, beautiful little girl," Hathaway said warmly, her smile unstoppable. Smart children were always endearing, and Mu Ninn, who looked so much like her younger self, was no exception.

Ninn beamed while nestled in Hathaway's embrace, her missing front teeth showing in her bright smile. Suddenly realizing how "ugly" that might look, she quickly pressed her lips together to hide it. Hathaway, utterly charmed by the little girl's innocent awkwardness, couldn't resist planting two more kisses on her soft cheeks.

Meanwhile, Tam was lost in thought, recalling the supernatural force that had pried his fingers apart just moments earlier. Memories of his childhood came rushing back: the magical Flying Nimbus, his ability to survive in oxygen-deprived environments, his father frequently using Instant Transmission to take him and his mother places, the mysterious red bird on the island, and, of course, Taro's frequent displays of extraordinary abilities — flying, launching Ki blasts, and telekinesis.

As a child, Tam had taken these phenomena for granted, never questioning their significance. Now, however, he couldn't ignore the truth: his father was a powerful, enigmatic figure who defied the bounds of science.

Father and son locked eyes across the coffee table, their expressions calm yet filled with unspoken tension.

Flutter, flutter*.*

A fiery red bird flew in from outside, landing gracefully on the table. Its head tilted curiously as it surveyed the scene. Hathaway's parents exchanged a knowing glance. "Could this be a descendant of Ash/Ember"? it was hard to believe a bird could live for twenty-one years and retain the same demeanor, so it must be a descendent.

Nestled in her grandmother's embrace, Ninn's eyes lit up at the sight of the beautiful bird. She longed to touch it.

Taro extended his hand toward the phoenix-like creature, palm up, his fingers gesturing gently. "Go let the little girl hold you," he instructed.

Ninn blinked in surprise, while Hathaway smiled awkwardly. Her parents didn't believe the bird could understand Taro's words, let alone obey. Tam, however, seemed deep in thought, recalling the phoenix's behavior from his childhood.

Sure enough, after Taro spoke, the bird obediently flew over to Ninn. Hovering in front of her, it flapped its wings gently. Unable to resist, Ninn reached out her small hands, and the bird landed softly in her palms, its talons delicate against her tender skin.

The little girl held the fiery-red pigeon-like creature as though it were a priceless treasure, her cautious demeanor making Hathaway chuckle. Hathaway playfully shot a mock glare at the bird, which promptly lowered its head and hopped onto Ninn's shoulder, nuzzling her cheek affectionately. Ninn giggled, her delight filling the room.

---

"Damn it! How could they do this?!" Tam erupted suddenly, slamming a fist onto the table. His other hand raked through his hair, his brow furrowed as he seethed. "They took Ninn without telling me?! Those two bastards! How could they?!"

"Don't talk about them that way, Tam," Hannah, Hathaway's mother, sighed as she sat beside him. "They're still your parents..."

Tam snorted dismissively. "They're reckless, irresponsible bastards," he muttered through clenched teeth.

Nearby, Hathaway's father approached and said calmly, "Maybe they just wanted you to return. To go back home."

Tam exhaled deeply, leaning back against the sofa, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. After a moment, he straightened, pulled a cutting-edge, unreleased StarTech smartphone from his pocket, and dialed a number.

"Hancock, prepare a helicopter for me... Yes, now. Immediately. I want to be on the company rooftop in fifteen minutes!"