Through the porthole, the planet's outline was already clearly visible.
Its surface, a tapestry of emerald green and azure blue, bore some resemblance to the Earth in Turles's memories.
Turles had made a decision that went against his Saiyan "ancestors"!
He would go join Frieza!
As a transmigrator, he naturally knew all about the history between the Saiyans and Frieza.
As the culprit behind Planet Vegeta's disappearance,
Wasn't Frieza supposed to be his sworn enemy for wiping out his race?
But as far as Turles was concerned, to hell with that!
He hadn't been a Saiyan for long.
Planet Vegeta? His homeworld?
Sorry, he barely knew it!
Besides, even setting aside his status as a transmigrator,
Turles's original self had been sent to an unfamiliar planet as a child, just after emerging from the incubation pod and becoming self-aware.
His original self had felt no attachment whatsoever to this so-called Saiyan homeworld.
Much less when Saiyans were a race with little sentiment to begin with.
Besides, no one would feel sorry about the destruction of a race like the Saiyans...
So, setting aside that business between Frieza and the Saiyans,
Turles thought the Frieza Force was a good place to go.
Apart from the Frieza Force being able to shield them from Slug's pursuit,
Frieza himself, based on what Turles knew from his previous life,
Was a boss who genuinely cared about his subordinates.
Of course, that wasn't the whole story.
"Subordinates" here specifically meant "capable subordinates."
As long as you were capable and could get things done, he would treat you with courtesy and kindness.
Provided you didn't botch any "important" tasks he gave you.
On that point, Turles couldn't think of a better place to go than the Frieza Force.
Aside from Frieza, Turles had of course considered Earth as well.
But there was one crucial problem standing in his way!
He didn't have Earth's coordinates!
And information such as planetary coordinates was strictly regulated throughout the universe by the Galactic Patrol.
Collecting or even sharing such information privately was a violation of Galactic Law.
Without coordinates, even though Earth was also in the North Galaxy, the universe was infinite.
Compared with Earth, for which he had no coordinates at all, the Frieza Force's commercial planets and branch bases were scattered throughout the North Galaxy and very easy to find.
And as long as he could join an organization on the level of the Frieza Force, getting Earth's coordinates afterward might not be difficult.
While Turles continued to make plans,
The atmosphere in the Destroyer's cockpit was the complete opposite of the scenery outside.
Oppressive.
Stifling.
Amond was the first to lose patience.
"Lord Turles!"
His rough voice exploded through the cockpit.
He rose from his seat, the braid at the back of his head swinging behind him, and his already ruddy face reddened further.
"Lord Turles, why are we going to join Frieza?!"
Amond strode up to Turles and stood there like a small mountain.
"With the strength we have now, sooner or later we can..."
"Sooner or later you can what?"
Turles slowly turned around.
His gaze swept over his subordinates before him.
"Are you still dreaming of conquering the universe?"
He knew that, until now,
Every member of the Destroyer Army, including his original self, had still been immersed in the same thoughts as on every day of the past two years.
They had been full of hope that, by relying on the Tree of Might's fruit to grow stronger and stronger, the Destroyers could eventually replace the Slug Army or even the Frieza Force.
They were the perfect picture of frogs at the bottom of a well, gazing up at the sky.
A gang of thugs who had struggled through the universe for two years without all of them even surpassing ten thousand in battle power.
Yet they dared to claim they would conquer the entire universe!
Everyone aboard the ship was stunned by their boss's words.
Reiz and Lakasei both stopped what they were doing at the controls.
Daiz, his short hair light blue, leaned against the bulkhead with his arms folded. He too turned his head slightly and exchanged a look with Amond.
In the corner, Cacao's metal joints made a faint scraping sound.
Conquering the entire universe had not only been their ambition and aspiration for the past two years.
It had also been the boast their boss Turles had made when he led them in betraying the Slug Army and making off with the Tree of Might Seed.
How could their boss say something so completely at odds with that today?
In the end, Amond spoke for the others.
"My lord... what do you mean by a dream?"
Turles's expression was calm, his gaze cold.
"Exactly what I said."
He turned away again, gazing into the deep sea of stars.
"The universe is vast!"
"Before, just like you, I didn't know enough about it."
"But..."
Turles paused.
"Amond, and the rest of you."
"How strong do you think we are now?"
At that, Amond turned his head and looked around at his companions.
Daiz leaned against the bulkhead and gave him a slight nod.
Cacao's metal torso tilted forward a little.
At the controls, the brothers Reiz and Lakasei both turned around and looked at Amond.
Each of them responded differently, but they all shared the same confidence, radiating from within.
Seeing his companions' reactions, Amond puffed out his chest, his braid swinging again.
"Lord Turles!"
"Our strength might not be a match for a giant like the Frieza Force yet..."
He paused deliberately, gathering his enthusiasm.
"But compared to the Slug Army in the West Galaxy, we're definitely not far behind!"
Amond worked himself into a fervor with his own words.
His ruddy face grew even redder as he stepped closer to Turles.
"Lord Turles! If we can just find another planet or two suitable for planting the Tree of Might, your battle power will definitely surpass Slug's once you've eaten the fruit!"
"When that happens..."
He slapped his chest with a dull smack.
"We can swallow up all of the Slug Army's forces in the West Galaxy!"
"And that'll greatly increase the efficiency of cultivating the Tree of Might too!"
Amond grew more excited as he spoke.
The fervor and longing on his face were almost impossible to contain.
"After that, it'll only be a matter of time before you replace Frieza as emperor of the universe and we truly conquer the whole universe!"
As soon as he finished speaking,
Daiz nodded without hesitation.
The optical unit on Cacao's bright red and silver-white faceplate flashed repeatedly, clearly a sign of agreement.
The brothers Reiz and Lakasei said nothing, but they too turned to face Turles.
At that moment, every member aboard the ship was immersed in the same grand vision.
What a display of unity and lofty ambition.
Turles had said nothing throughout.
Every word Amond had spoken was filled with burning sincerity.
That sincerity even stirred a faint trace of guilt in Turles's heart.
But that was all.
Turles grinned.
It was a harsh, undisguised sneer.
"Hahaha-"
His laughter echoed through the cockpit.
The others were baffled once again.
None of them could understand what their boss was laughing at.
Turles braced one hand on the armrest of his seat.
"Amond."
"You're not the only ones I'm laughing at."
Turles raised his head, every trace of the smile gone from his face.
"I'm laughing at who I used to be, too."
Amond froze.
The fervor on his ruddy face had yet to fade when shock appeared alongside it.
"Lord Turles, what are you..."
"So naive it's almost endearing."
Turles cut him off.
"So ignorant it's laughable."
Daiz finally straightened up from the bulkhead.
Turles's gaze swept across each of his subordinates' faces again.
These men had followed his original self, risking their lives, fighting and staking their necks as they ventured through the universe. Their loyalty was beyond question.
But precisely because of that, his original self's blind confidence had led their understanding wildly astray as well.
Now that he had decided to join Frieza,
He had to set their thinking straight.
Unless he shattered that shell, there was no way forward.