Chapter 15: Turles's Demand
"It's Saiyans!" Jaco stared at the three arrivals, voice low with shock.
"Saiyans? What are Saiyans? They look like Earthlings! Though Earth doesn't have people with tails!" Hearing Jaco, Tights asked confused.
"Saiyans—a warrior race famous throughout the universe. Combat units of Universal Emperor Frieza's army. They conquer and sell planets for Frieza. An extremely evil species!" Jaco explained briefly, then added puzzled: "But I heard Planet Vegeta was hit by a meteor years ago. All Saiyans supposedly died in that planetary destruction. Where did these come from? Survivors from somewhere else?"
"Hm? Evil species? They don't look evil. Except the long-haired one. Those other two seem pretty friendly. And handsome!" By the end, Tights couldn't help complimenting them.
"Friendly? Are you BLIND, Tights?!" Jaco hadn't expected her to start fangirling over Saiyans. He muttered his complaint quietly.
Tights rolled her eyes, continuing to stare at the three above.
Indeed, the arrivals were Turles's group. And the one who'd just attacked was Raditz.
After receiving the Galactic Patrolman's distress signal, considering future dealings with the Patrol, Turles had ultimately decided to rescue this officer. So he'd had Karl pilot the ship near Kano's space.
While the pirates were still in orbit, Turles had used ki sensing to confirm their strength. After ensuring no overwhelmingly powerful opponents existed, he'd left Paragus guarding the ship and brought Broly and Raditz down, following behind the pirates.
But what surprised Turles was recognizing this Galactic Patrolman—"Superman" Jaco. So at the critical moment, he'd had Raditz intervene to save both.
'Then that blonde beauty must be Bulma's sister, Tights.' Looking at the figure behind Jaco, Turles confirmed mentally.
Their arrival disrupted the standoff. Not only did Jaco fear Saiyans—the space pirates were equally wary.
During Frieza Force planetary conquest operations, space pirates were essentially competitors. Both sides had clashed frequently over territory. The Saiyans' reputation as a warrior race was well-known among pirates.
"Saiyans, we don't need this planet. Just hand over these two, and we'll withdraw immediately!" The pirate captain spoke with false bravado. Though his tone was tough, the words were clearly backing down.
"Oh?" Turles's interest piqued. "But you're already surrounded. Why should I listen to you?"
His words silenced the scene.
"Can this Saiyan not count?" Jaco muttered to Tights, making her laugh aloud.
Tights found this young Saiyan nothing like Jaco's descriptions of evil. Quite the opposite—he was interesting. And very handsome!
Tights's laughter broke the silence. Everyone snapped back to awareness.
Raditz glanced oddly at Turles, mentally recording that line. He'd learned from Broly that all Paragus's creative insults during training had come from Turles.
The pirate captain looked at his forces, then at the three opponents. His expression soured, glaring darkly at Turles.
"Saiyan, don't push your luck!"
Seeing the captain couldn't take a joke, Turles lost interest in continuing. He signaled Raditz, then flew toward Jaco.
Seeing Turles move, the watching pirates immediately attacked. A barrage of energy blasts poured toward the trio.
Turles ignored them, flying straight at Jaco and Tights. Just before the attacks landed, a figure blocked his path, rapidly swatting the blasts away. It was Raditz.
Turles had already instructed Raditz—this entire battle was his to handle.
After training, Raditz measured around 1,200 battle power. Still too short a time for major gains. This pirate group's strongest was their captain at 1,500. With Raditz's current strength, victory would be difficult but not life-threatening.
After accepting Raditz, Turles had decided to have Paragus train him. Once they built the gravity chamber, Raditz wouldn't escape either. With so few Saiyans remaining, relying solely on Turles and Broly wasn't enough. Every recruited Saiyan with potential would be pushed to their absolute limits. Besides, Turles wanted to see if Raditz could achieve Super Saiyan 3's hairstyle at Super Saiyan 1.
Though already regretting following Turles, Raditz didn't dare disobey. He glumly accepted the assignment.
"HAH!" With a battle cry, Raditz charged the remaining pirates.
"What now, Tights? That evil Saiyan's flying toward us. We're definitely done for!" Jaco kept whispering to Tights, completely missing her eye-roll that practically reached the sky.
Thud. Turles landed before them.
Examining the pair closely, Turles found Jaco did indeed resemble the giant who'd lend him light in his memories. And Tights truly lived up to the Brief family genes—thirty years old but looking twenty, with time adding charm rather than age.
"You're not afraid?" Turles spoke first. Though phrased as a question, his tone was certain.
"Why should I fear you, little brother?" Tights lived up to her reputation as a woman bold enough to adventure through space with Jaco. Instead of showing fear, she flirted with Turles. Maybe because Saiyans resembled Earthlings so closely, she felt a sense of familiarity.
But her words made Jaco's eyes roll back as he fainted!
"Heh." Jaco's performance made Turles laugh. A light chuckle escaped as he looked at Tights with amusement.
Understanding the meaning in Turles's eyes, Tights bit her lip internally, irritated. She kicked the "unconscious" Jaco, whose body twitched. Seeing that, she realized he was faking, growing even more annoyed.
"Alright, let me introduce myself. Turles, a Saiyan." Seeing Tights prepare another kick, Turles cut her off with his introduction.
Fixing her disheveled hair, Tights also turned serious: "Tights. An Earthling, and an author!" She even extended her right hand.
Quickly realizing Turles wouldn't know Earth's handshake custom, she awkwardly withdrew it. Really, Turles gave her such an Earthling impression that she'd instinctively made the gesture.
Women's intuition could be terrifying sometimes.
Seeing Tights's handshake attempt, complexity flashed through Turles's eyes before he quickly suppressed it.
Though Turles recovered fast, Tights—who'd been staring at his face—caught that fleeting emotion. Confusion stirred within her.
Though noticing her puzzlement, Turles didn't explain. He continued: "You sent that distress signal, right? I can help you leave, but you need to take us to Galactic Patrol headquarters."
"Impossible! I won't bring evil Saiyans to headquarters!" Hearing the demand, Jaco dropped his act, loudly rejecting it.
"Hm?" At the refusal, Turles's brow furrowed. His cold gaze fell directly on Jaco as terrifying pressure began radiating from his body.
Though enduring Turles's horrifying aura, Jaco surprisingly didn't back down. Even with cold sweat pouring out and legs barely supporting him, he persisted.
Tights wanted to speak, but feeling the terror emanating from Turles, she could only watch Jaco with concern.
After a standoff, Turles withdrew his aura. Jaco immediately collapsed. Tights rushed to support him.
"Fine. I won't go to Patrol HQ. But you'll help me find someone. Merus—a blue-skinned patrolman." Turles backed down, proposing a new demand.
"Merus?" Jaco exclaimed in surprise.
"Hm? You know him?"
"If it's who you mean, yes. But why do you want Merus?"
"...To become his student." After a pause, Turles gave an unexpected answer.
"Become his student?! x2" Even Tights was shocked.
"Yes." Turles nodded affirmatively again.
"You're a Saiyan asking a Galactic Patrolman to teach you? A patrolman weaker than you? Are you brain damaged?" Jaco blurted out his thoughts.
"Hm?"
"Smack!"
Hearing that, Turles glared at him. Tights facepalmed wordlessly.
Realizing he'd said something he shouldn't, Jaco smiled sheepishly at both, but ultimately agreed to introduce Turles to Merus.
By then, Raditz had cleared all the grunts and begun his final battle with the pirate captain. The three fell silent, watching the fight together.
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