The alloy door to the command room closed behind them.
The humble smile on Morton's face did not last long. It soon gave way to a complicated expression, a mixture of excitement and calculation.
He personally pulled out chairs for Turles and his two companions, a complete contrast to the lofty manner he had displayed moments ago.
Daiz swaggered over and sat down, his military boot knocking against the floor.
Cacao stood silently behind Turles, like a motionless metal statue.
In the training ground, the warrior named Carl was still kneeling on the ground, her body trembling slightly. She still had not managed to get back on her feet.
But no one seemed to be paying her any attention anymore.
"Mr. Turles, please look."
Morton's finger traced a path across the map. This time, his movements were full of respect.
He lit up a dense ring of red dots around the capital region.
"These are the core defensive lines of the United Government's central military district. Seventy percent of its mobile forces are deployed there, along with its latest planetary orbital cannons."
"Once the coup begins, my troops will advance on the capital from three directions at once, tying down the central military district's main forces along these defensive lines."
Morton's finger finally came to rest at the very center of the map, on the United Government building in the capital.
"And your target, Mr. Turles..."
Morton raised his head and looked at Turles.
"...is the two 'super soldiers' in the United Government's hands."
"They're secret weapons the United Government has developed over the years, and the reason they dare keep cutting the budgets of our border garrisons."
"Each of them has a combat power far above Carl's."
Morton tapped the tabletop, and two encrypted files were retrieved and projected in front of Turles.
Codename: Shield. Codename: Spear.
The files were simple, containing only codenames, blurry portraits, and a conspicuous number for each.
[Combat power: 9000] [Combat power: 10000]
A flicker of surprise crossed Turles's face when he saw them.
This planet really isn't that simple.
A warrior with a combat power of ten thousand!
No wonder Planet Karen became a major gathering place for aliens in this region of space.
Strength is always the first factor in diplomacy!
To Morton and the whole of Planet Karen, these two super warriors were an insurmountable barrier.
That also explained why Morton had held thirty-five percent of the forces, yet had not dared to make a move.
Morton watched the silent Turles and assumed he had been stunned by the two numbers.
He cleared his throat, preparing to emphasize just how difficult the task was.
"Ten thousand or nine thousand, it doesn't matter."
Turles's calm voice rang out in the command room.
"They're equally weak."
"Go on. Tell me what you have in mind."
Morton's mouth hung open, all the words he had prepared caught in his throat.
He licked his dry lips and leaned forward involuntarily.
"Mr. Turles, can you... be sure?"
There was a barely perceptible tremor in his voice.
Turles did not answer.
He simply lifted his eyes and gave Morton a cold look.
Morton instantly shut his mouth.
Then a jolt of wild joy shot from Morton's tailbone to the top of his head.
Suppressing the excitement that was almost bursting out of him, he finally revealed his true goal.
"Mr. Turles, I have an unreasonable request."
He rubbed his hands together, looking like a child about to receive a beloved toy.
"I don't want those two super soldiers killed."
"I need... to capture them alive."
"Because they carry the next generation of genetic enhancement technology, secretly developed by the United Government!"
A fanatical light burst into Morton's eyes.
"As long as I get that technology, I can mass-produce super soldiers of my own!"
"When that happens, never mind unifying Planet Karen-even if we go beyond this galaxy, we'll be able to claim a place for ourselves!"
The more he spoke, the more excited he became, as though he could already see a future in which he ruled over all.
In the command room, only his wild fantasies echoed.
Morton grew more fired up as he spoke.
"Mr. Turles, can you picture it?"
"You saw Carl's strength just now."
Morton pointed toward the corner.
Carl was leaning against the wall, barely able to stand upright.
"His combat power alone is 5500."
"One Carl isn't enough. But what if I had a thousand Carls, ten thousand Carls?"
"The United Government, peaceful evolution-it's all just a bunch of fools' tricks."
He paced back and forth behind the table.
His military boots thudded against the metal floor.
"I want to unify Planet Karen, and that's only the first step."
"As long as we have a factory to mass-produce super soldiers, the First Military District can break free of the United Government's control completely."
"Once all of Planet Karen is united, we can expand our interstellar fleet."
"What are those aliens who only know how to collect protection money worth?"
Morton turned and stared at Turles.
"The people of Karen will fight their way out of this galaxy."
"In this universe, we will establish the Karen Empire."
His breathing was heavy, and his eyes were bloodshot.
His whole body was in a state of extreme frenzy and excitement.
Turles sat in his chair with his arms folded across his chest.
He watched the Planet Karen general in front of him, who was spraying spittle as he spoke.
Good grief, he's worked himself into a frenzy with his own speech...
Is this idiot's brain full of holes?
He's dreaming of conquering the universe.
He doesn't even understand the position he's in right now.
Nothing but a pawn stirred up by the Heeters Group and used to foment unrest on Planet Karen.
They'll crack open Planet Karen's shell and sell the meat inside for a good price.
After the coup, if this planet's native inhabitants still exist, they'll soon become wanderers in the universe.
Or slaves.
There won't be any Karen Empire.
There'll be nothing.
Of course, Turles would not say any of this.
Fools worked the hardest.
"Your plans are grand, General," Turles interrupted Morton.
He sat up straight. "But that's not what I should be concerned with. Let's talk about exactly how we're going to do this."
Morton also realized that he had lost his composure somewhat.
There was no point discussing these things with alien mercenaries.
"Codename Shield handles security in the inner city and rarely leaves the government building. Codename Spear is on mobile standby, usually at the northern district barracks. Once the fighting starts, they'll definitely join forces."
He immediately straightened his uniform.
He pulled out his chair and sat down again.
"You're staying in the central capital for now, aren't you? After my troops launch their attack, they'll send you a signal."
"The main energy control station will be cut off, and the air defense alarm will sound three times."
"That signal can be picked up anywhere in the city."
Morton marked a flashing location on the holographic map.
"When you hear that signal, it'll be time for you to move in."
Morton tapped twice, hard, on the center of the map.
"By then, a gap will have opened in the central military district's defense network."
Morton continued working at the console.
"Codename Shield's duty is to provide close protection for the government's senior officials and defend the central building to the death. Codename Spear is part of the mobile forces and will most likely be deployed to stabilize the defensive lines once the fighting starts."
"This is where we predict they'll move."
After he finished speaking, Morton pressed his palms together, his manner exceedingly courteous.
"Mr. Turles, I'm counting on you for these two. Please make sure they're kept alive."
Turles stood up.
"Got it."
He turned and walked straight toward the door. Daiz and Cacao followed close behind.
Morton quickly sprang from his chair and trotted along beside him. "Mr. Turles. It's not safe outside the spaceport. I'll arrange a convoy to escort you back to the capital."
"No need." Turles did not break stride. "Your convoy is too conspicuous."
Morton stopped at the door, rubbing his hands and nodding repeatedly.
Only after the figures of Turles and his two companions had disappeared did a trace of displeasure appear on his face.
He flung out his hand, turned, and walked back inside.