Dragon Ball's Frieza Was Doomed Long Before He Fought Goku
Warning: spoilers ahead for Dragon Ball Super chapter 77!
Most Dragon Ball fans believe that things started falling apart for Frieza when Goku transformed into a Super Saiyan and nearly killed him, heralding a new age of foe who could challenge his supremacy. Frieza feared the Legendary Super Saiyan so much before his encounter with Goku that he destroyed the Saiyan homeworld of Planet Vegeta to end their line right then and there. But Dragon Ball Super recently revealed that the tyrant's business partners, the Heeter Force, were plotting his demise long before Planet Vegeta's destruction.
The rich and powerful intel group might be presently engaged in business with Frieza, but they are obviously the weaker of the two powers - and their members aren't too pleased about it. Ever since their introduction in Dragon Ball Super's "Granolah the Survivor Saga," the Heeters have been plotting a way to overcome Frieza. And chapter 77 of Dragon Ball Super just revealed that they have been perpetually stuck in this scheming phase for possibly 50 years.
During the fan-celebrated flashback depicting Bardock's relationship with the Cerealians, Goku's father stumbles across the Heeters discussing their plot against Frieza. As part of the original agreement, the Saiyans will conquer the Planet Cereal for Frieza and the Heeters will serve as his brokers, selling the planet to another race. The Heeters plan on only giving Frieza's army a tenth of the overall profit. The group hope to use this money to fund their overall effort of overthrowing Frieza and gaining control of his army. Since the Heeters are still working with Frieza decades later, it seems the tyrant never caught on, which explains their riches and connections in the present day.
What's curious, however, is why the Heeters didn't take action after Frieza's defeat on planet Namek. A year passed between then and Frieza's eventual return to Earth. During this reprieve, Frieza's father found his son's shredded body floating in space and reconstructed him with cybernetic parts. Even more puzzling is that after Future Trunks killed Frieza, the tyrant spent 14 years being tortured in hell before Goku has Frieza wished back to help Universe 7 in the Tournament of Power. What's clear is that after Frieza is allowed to live for helping save Universe 7 and reunites with his army, the tyrant is still in good standing with the Heeters, even after all of this time.
While it's tempting to see the Heeters as a minor threat because of this, it's worth noting that their plans have continued to make them wealthy and influential. They've had a long, long time to build the resources and influence they'll require to take Frieza down for good. Goku's defeat of Frieza may have been the beginning of a new era for the villain, but now it's clear he has returned to a threat that's been bubbling under the surface of Dragon Ball for even longer.