But Turles was no longer thinking what he had been a moment ago.
He was currently working with the Heeters Group to carry out an invasion mission for the Frieza Force.
The last thing he wanted was to get involved with the Galactic Patrol.
"Never mind."
Tights was about to say something else.
"Huh?"
Turles waved his hand.
"No need to trouble yourself. I'm pretty busy with work right now, and suddenly I don't really feel like going back."
He turned around without even giving Tights time to react.
Tights stared at him in bewilderment, caught off guard by his sudden change of heart.
What kind of twist was that?
How could there be no buildup at all?
She wouldn't dare write something like that in her novels!
Her editor would reject the manuscript!
Tights wanted to call him back, but Turles had already walked several steps away.
Just then, Turles stopped.
He turned slightly to the side.
"Oh, right. If you don't have anything to do here, I suggest you don't stay on this planet too long, if you don't want to die."
With that, Turles walked away, leaving Tights staring after him.
He was soon swallowed up by the passing crowd.
What did that mean?
Tights was completely baffled.
She lowered her head and pulled a little notebook with dog-eared pages from the side pocket of her backpack.
She scribbled for a while, then added two enormous question marks.
Turles turned through the flow of pedestrians and crossed a shopping plaza, finding Daiz and Cacao on the shaded side of a high-rise building.
The two were standing at the meeting spot they had agreed on earlier.
Daiz leaned against the wall, his short, pale blue hair stirring slightly in Planet Karen's gentle breeze.
Cacao stood beside him, and the optical unit on his metal torso swept toward Turles.
Turles took the communication earpiece from a hidden pocket at his waist and put it back on.
He reconnected to the channel he had cut off earlier.
"Mr. Turles?"
"Did something happen just now? Why did you suddenly lose contact?"
Turles's face remained expressionless.
"It's nothing. Go on."
Maki took a deep breath on the other end and could only drop the matter.
Following Maki's directions, Turles and the other two arrived at the place where they would be staying on Planet Karen.
It was in a commercial office building on the outskirts of Planet Karen's capital region.
The Heeters Group had rented the entire first basement level under the name of a shell company.
The space was much larger than Turles had expected.
The area that should have been a parking garage had been converted into a complete operations command center.
Soundproof wall panels divided the floor into several separate sections. The largest held a circular control console, with a holographic projector that had yet to be activated at its center.
Although Elec and the others were not there in person, they all appeared as holographic projections on the wall-mounted projectors.
The moment the holographic projector activated, blue-white light filled the entire underground space.
A three-dimensional model of Planet Karen rose from the center of the console, rotating slowly. The locations of continental plates, oceans, urban clusters, and military bases were all clearly marked with points of light in different colors.
Elec's holographic image stood at the other end of the projection table. His hands were clasped behind his back, and his short silver-gray hair had a cool sheen under the projected light.
"Mr. Turles, I'll get straight to the point."
Elec spoke at an unhurried pace, but every word carried a precision born of repeated deliberation.
"This operation won't require you to take action."
Turles's brow twitched.
"At least, not in the initial phase."
Elec raised his right hand and drew a line through the air with his finger.
The three-dimensional map enlarged, focusing on a continent in Planet Karen's northern hemisphere. Several red points of light flashed at the locations of military bases.
"Planet Karen has a United Government system. Each of its twelve administrative regions has its own independent military forces, which are centrally deployed by the United Government."
His finger tapped again. Three of the red points turned yellow.
"The military commanders of these three administrative regions are deeply dissatisfied with the current United Government's policies."
"Unequal resource allocation, military budget cuts, and the 'demilitarization' policy the United Government has pursued in recent years."
Elec's voice was as flat as if he were reading a report.
"These three commanders control thirty-five percent of Planet Karen's total military strength. Among them, Morton, the commander of the Northern First Military District, is the central figure of the entire opposition."
Turles said nothing. He waited.
Elec continued.
"Over the past six months, we've established contact with Morton through various channels. Funding, weapons, intelligence-we've given him everything we needed to."
Maki's holographic image sat nearby with her legs crossed, chewing on who knew what this time. She chimed in.
"Simply put, we've already fed General Morton his fill."
Elec ignored his sister's interruption.
"The core of the plan comes down to one word-a coup."
"The three military districts led by Morton will launch a joint offensive and overthrow the current United Government."
Elec traced an arc across the map, leading from the three yellow points in the north straight to the central region where the capital was located.
"Once the coup begins, the United Government will inevitably mobilize its remaining forces to suppress it."
"Civil war," Turles added.
"Exactly." Elec nodded.
"The civil war will drain both sides' military strength and the reserves of the planetary defense system. Once both sides have fought each other to exhaustion..."
His finger came to rest on the capital's location on the map.
"Mr. Turles will then intervene as a 'peacekeeping force.'"
By this point, Turles had basically understood Elec and the others' plan.
A military coup within Planet Karen would trigger a full-scale civil war, leaving both sides badly battered.
Finally, the Frieza Force would intervene under the pretext of having been "invited to keep the peace" and clean up the aftermath.
"Mr. Turles, remember, no matter how things stand for Morton's side in the end, you must make sure this planet is left with only a single government under our control."
Turles hesitated briefly, but still nodded.
He was no saint. At a time like this, he felt sympathy and sorrow for the people of this planet.
But he had no obligation to change their fate.
Nor did he have the ability. Even if he, Turles, were not here today, someone else would carry it out.
As for whether he would go to hell after he died, he didn't want to dwell on that either.
He only knew that if he failed to complete this mission, even if he didn't go to hell, every step of the rest of his life would be difficult.
"The timing of the coup has already been set. Morton's preparations are nearly complete; there's only one last step."
"What?"
"He needs to confirm that, after he makes his move, there will be enough outside power to 'help' him at the critical moment."
Elec looked at Turles.
"He needs to meet you to discuss the specifics."
Elec tapped a finger on the map.
A green point of light appeared on the edge of the Northern First Military District.
"Three days from now, Morton will visit a civilian spaceport under the Northern First Military District's jurisdiction in the name of an 'inspection.' When the time comes, Mr. Turles only needs to appear as hired security. We'll arrange a natural opportunity for you to meet."