Hearing these reports of Lilith's.
Zhao Chen said, his voice low, "By the look of it now, we can only hope that crew of the Demon Race may leave off their stirring a little longer."
Both sides at present are laying up their own strength.
And no one knows which will move first.
But Zhao Chen has this confidence: the longer that time may be dragged out, the greater the advantage of the Owl Dragon Legion!
What the Owl Dragon Legion wants at present is time.
Only, matters commonly fall out contrary to the wish.
Time came in the turn of an instant to the end of March.
And while Zhao Chen's quarterly mission was still slow to refresh, a mission window appeared.
【Quarterly mission updated
Please choose the manner in which, within the three months to come, you will furnish military aid to the Machine Race and the Angel Race.
1: aid in forces
2: aid in weapons
3: aid in funds
4: waving the flag and shouting
Note: mark well — once the corresponding manner of aid is chosen, should you employ any other manner of aid, this mission shall be judged failed of itself.
Option four may obtain three T6 fighting-type interstellar warships; option three, two T6 fighting-type interstellar warships; option two, one T6 fighting-type interstellar warship; option one, one quasi-T6 fighting-type interstellar warship】
Zhao Chen drew his brows together; that this quarterly mission should appear at such a time means in the main that the Demon Race is about to make trouble for the Machine Race and the Angel Race.
And this mission's requirement is indeed somewhat outrageous.
Of option four no more need be said.
But the mission's rewards are truly very tempting.
The highest reward is three T6 warships — but that would mean Zhao Chen could furnish the Angel Race and the Demon Race no aid whatever.
"Then may I not furnish even these present military purchase orders?" Zhao Chen wondered within himself.
【Military purchase orders belong to that part which is aid in weapons and equipment. Should you choose manner of aid 3 or 4, you may not go on with aid in weapons and equipment, or the mission shall be judged failed】
Sure enough, there is no bug for him to wedge himself into.
Zhao Chen rubbed his own chin.
To speak truth, he would very much like to choose option four.
But judging it from the side of likelihoods: since the Demon Race dares open an attack upon the Machine Race of itself, that means they have some certainty of their own.
And if for three months he can give no support whatever, who knows what may happen?
And it would besides do grave harm to his own relations with the Machine Race and the Angel Race.
Of necessity Zhao Chen could only give up those three great T6 treasures.
And thereafter gave up the two great T6 treasures of option three.
For as to such a thing as aid in funds — are the Angel Race and the Machine Race short of funds?
What a jest!
Were they short of funds, they would not be buying interstellar warships of the Owl Dragon.
Still less to speak of the Machine Race, that existence rich in wealth and bold with it.
Which leaves option one and option two only.
Of which the reward of option two is of course the better, for there is at the least one T6 warship to be had.
At present Zhao Chen has no T6 fighting-type warship in hand.
And could the Owl Dragon at this time build and commission a T6 fighting-type warship, that would beyond doubt be a vast raising of his own strength.
A thought stirred in Zhao Chen's mind, and a golden frame appeared upon option two of the quarterly mission, standing for that this option had been chosen.
"It is the end of March only now, and this quarterly mission is to be carried out, and the mission's term is three months.
"A few days more and it is April; shall I not then be carrying out two quarterly missions at once?" Zhao Chen thought upon this somewhat strange point.
Never mind it; it is a system mission, and one has only to do it.
But at present a close watch must be kept upon the Demon Race's stir.
And just as Zhao Chen was thinking upon it.
Charlotte's side reached him.
"Commander, the latest word from the Angel Race's front-line field!
"The Demon Race fleets have stirred!" said Charlotte's holographic image.
"Set it out in particulars!" Zhao Chen asked, his face set.
Charlotte began to lay out the case with care.
Some hours since, a body of Demon Race fleets a million in number had set out for the border of the district the Angel Race now governs, with every look of opening war.
And upon the Angel Race's side the War Angel King and the Holy Angel King had already ordered every angel legion fleet into a state of battle!
"Which is to say they have not yet come to blows?" Zhao Chen asked doubtfully.
"Yes; the latest word at present is that the two sides stand yet at a stand-off.
"Six hundred thousand warships upon the Angel Race's side, a million upon the Demon Race's; and though there be a gap in number.
"Yet because the Angel Race is now fitted out with no few of our Owl Dragon-line warships, and the angel-line warships being of themselves no poor thing, the case upon the field at present should be called an even match," Charlotte gave out her analysis.
"It is not as it should be." But Zhao Chen at this time drew his brows together.
"What is it? Is something not as it should be?" Charlotte was perplexed and did not understand.
Zhao Chen narrowed his eyes. "I have studied the Demon Race's style of war; once they choose to attack, they do not drag and dawdle over it.
"And the more so in dealing with the Angel Race — always war opened outright, and the host charging.
"This posture of theirs now feels rather as if they were only making a show for outsiders."
"A show?
"And to what end?" Charlotte did not understand.
At this time something came to Zhao Chen; he asked at once, "Is there any word touching the Machine Race?"
Charlotte shook her head and said, "The Machine Race's territory is too great; we have not hands enough to watch it.
"But I can find means to reach the interstellar stealth scouts hidden within Demon Race territory, and see whether, by the Demon Race fleets' movements, they have any particular operation in hand."
Zhao Chen nodded and said gravely, "Watch it more closely, and above all upon the Machine Race's side.
"I shall reach the Machine Race myself besides."
"Very well."
The communication with Charlotte ended, Zhao Chen at once used the swift channel of communication set up before with the mechanical beauty Ah-Yin, and reached her.
"What is it?" Ah-Yin asked, cold as ice.
"The Demon Race has opened war upon the Angel Race again.
"But I fear their true object is you.
"And so I hope you may strengthen your own guard!" Zhao Chen warned her, his face set.
But Ah-Yin said on, cold as ice, "The Demon Race could never have the boldness to offend against our Machine Race.
"If it is your wish by this to draw our Machine Race's fleets into the board, and have us settle the Demon Race for you.
"I advise you rather to take that notion back.
"The mistress has said that the Demon Race is for you yourself to settle.
"Our Machine Race will furnish no further help.
"If there is nothing further, let it be so.
"Hereafter, unless there be important business, do not contact me."
Having said it, the mechanical beauty opposite cut the communication outright.
"This woman!" Zhao Chen had not thought his own kindly warning should be taken by the other for some hidden design.
The other side being one into whom neither oil nor rice will go, by the look of it now there is nothing for it but to leave the matter to heaven.