Chapter 47 - 39 The Destination

You can read ahead up to 30 chapters on my Patreon and I've also activated a (date-to-date) subscription model on my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395 King Vegeta's face clouded with worry. Bardock was overdue. He'd expected him back within three months, but now, five or six months had passed with no word. "Your Majesty, could Bardock have run into trouble? Celipa and Toma's teams seem to have been wiped out," A Saiyan cautiously suggested. "Hmph, useless fools," King Vegeta scoffed. "What about Nappa's squad?" He demanded, fixing the Saiyan with a sharp gaze. "Nappa's squad is returning. They should reach Planet Vegeta within five months," The Saiyan replied respectfully. "Five months, huh?" King Vegeta mused. "Send word to Nappa. Tell him to hurry back and aim for a three-month return, if possible," He commanded, his tone brooking no argument. "Yes, Your Majesty!" The Saiyan bowed and quickly departed. Alone, King Vegeta's brow furrowed deeply. Bardock's absence forced him to reassess his plans. Nappa was a trusted ally, but his combat power hovered around 8,000 – just shy of 9,000. King Vegeta doubted Nappa could truly meet his expectations. His gaze swept over the ranks of elite warriors below, his eyes gleaming coldly. No one could decipher his thoughts. On the surface, Planet Vegeta appeared calm. The Tuffles had ceased their provocations, and the only skirmishes were among the Saiyans themselves. It felt like everyone was waiting – for something... for a specific moment. Frieza was waiting. King Vegeta was waiting. ... In the depths of space... Inside a damaged spaceship, Bardock lay battered and bruised. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his eyes burned with unrestrained fury. "Frieza!" He roared, his voice echoing through the small vessel. ... Meanwhile, in another distant part of the galaxy... Jiang Chen's spaceship finally touched down on Planet Tatar. This carefully chosen destination was not just a necessary stop on the route from Planet Vegeta to Planet Nierma; it was a technologically advanced world still beyond the reach of the Frieza Force. Though the Frieza Force was considered the supreme ruler of the universe, it had yet to completely dominate the galaxy. Especially at this early stage, Frieza's control over the North Area was still limited. Planet Tatar represented a power vacuum outside Frieza's influence. This was crucial for Jiang Chen. He needed to evade Frieza's watchful eye. Continuing to travel in his current spaceship was not an option – if Frieza's forces discovered his defection, they would undoubtedly send a team to hunt him down. With a combat power barely exceeding 1,000, even transforming into a Great Ape would only boost his strength to around 10,000. While that might be considered expert strength in the wider universe, it was mediocre within the Frieza Force. Jiang Chen was not willing to take unnecessary risks. A technologically advanced planet that could provide a new spaceship and help him escape Frieza's notice was essential. Jiang Chen's spaceship descended smoothly onto Planet Tatar, landing at the spaceport. As the hatch opened, he stepped out. To avoid drawing attention, he had already altered his appearance – no longer wearing the standard Frieza Force uniform, and his tail carefully hidden. He now looked like an ordinary child. As he entered the bustling spaceport, Jiang Chen couldn't help but marvel at the vibrant activity and advanced technology of Planet Tatar. However, he quickly refocused – he hadn't come here for sightseeing. It didn't take long for him to approach a Tatarian staff member at the spaceport and explain his purpose. "Guest, you're interested in purchasing a new spaceship and selling your current one?" The Tatarian asked in a polite and professionaltone and with a smile on his face. Much like Saiyans, the Tatarian people resembled Earthlings, with one key difference: they had four ears, stood about 1.2 meters tall, and possessed slightly larger heads – likely a result of evolutionary adaptations due to extensive brain usage. "Yes, where should I go to complete the transaction?" Jiang Chen inquired. "That's easy! Please, follow me!" The Tatarian said, gesturing with a courteous smile as he led Jiang Chen toward the far side of the spaceport. "Thank you!" Jiang Chen replied, following closely behind. Soon, they boarded a hover vehicle, which sped off toward a massive building. ... Half an hour later, Jiang Chen stepped into an enormous, high-tech facility. As they entered, another Tatarian approached, greeting them warmly. "Honored guest, how may we assist you?" The newcomer asked respectfully. "I need a new spaceship, and I also want to sell my current one," Jiang Chen explained, nodding toward his previous guide. "Oh, that's simple! Please, come with me. We have the most advanced spaceships in the entire North Area, as well as the most detailed star charts in the galaxy. You'll definitely find what you need here," The Tatarian said, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. Under his guidance, Jiang Chen soon laid eyes on a variety of sleek, state-of-the-art spaceships. The Tatarian hadn't exaggerated – these vessels were incredibly advanced. In fact, their technology might even rival that of Frieza's headquarters. What delighted Jiang Chen further was that his large spaceship, being of significant size and value, fetched a good price. The sale provided him with enough funds not only to purchase a smaller, more advanced ship but also to leave him with a decent surplus. Without hesitation, Jiang Chen bought a combat scouter and a complete star chart of the North Area along with his new ship. Once everything was in hand, Jiang Chen wasted no time. He immediately launched his new spaceship and set off into space. There was no room for delay – he had just sold his old ship, and if he lingered too long, the Frieza Force might realize his defection and take action. Getting trapped on Planet Tatar would be a death sentence. Even though the Frieza Force might not care much about a low-level Saiyan like him, there was always the risk. Jiang Chen wasn't about to take any chances. His main mission was still incomplete, and he had no intention of jeopardizing it due to carelessness. As it turned out, his decision to leave quickly was the right one. ... On Planet Salka... "What?!" Cui's brow furrowed, and his expression darkened. "Lord Cui, that spaceship landed on Planet Tatar, and the Saiyan sold it," An alien nervously reported, cold sweat forming on his brow. "Damn monkey!" Cui snarled. "Hurry! Send a team to Planet Tatar immediately. I want all available information!" He roared, his voice filled with rage. A brief explanation: The Saiyans of Planet Vegeta are Frieza's best warriors, scattered throughout the North Area to carry out missions. Frieza, aiming to eliminate them in one fell swoop, couldn't afford to act too hastily. A sudden move would alert the Saiyans, who might flee, complicating efforts to wipe them out. Instead, Frieza adopted a patient approach – gradually recalling the majority of Saiyans to Planet Vegeta over the course of more than a year. This strategy allowed him to gather them in one place for an eventual mass extermination. As for the remaining Saiyans still on missions, Frieza manipulated data to redirect them to more dangerous planets. By subtly changing mission parameters, he ensured that most of them would never return, a far more effective approach than abruptly halting all missions and forcing a risky regrouping. (End of Chapter)