Zhao Chen looked at Chu Xuan with a smile. "Laying your cards out so bluntly?"
"Because I feel you're a decent sort of person — good friend material," Chu Xuan said frankly.
Zhao Chen went on, "Then what happens if I refuse?"
Chu Xuan rubbed her chin and said, mulling it over, "If you refuse, my grandfather will likely send people to investigate you closely. And should he find you standing against our Chu family, or in close ties with the Chu family's enemies— —then there'll be only one outcome…"
As she said it, Chu Xuan made a gesture across her throat.
Zhao Chen nodded; a handling of that sort he'd long foreseen — it was only the most ordinary of moves, after all.
"I do hope you'll cooperate with our Chu family; I don't want a friend I admire dying at my family's hands."
Chu Xuan looked at Zhao Chen sincerely. "You have a gift in starship development and manufacture, and our Chu family can give you the finest resources in that line. You're now lord of the Owl Dragon System, and we've looked into the Owl Dragon System's state too. If you're willing, we can use the Chu family's connections to arrange a fresh fief for you; and of course, if you don't wish to change, we can furnish the Owl Dragon System great resource-aid too — no star-gate, granted, but at least it won't be left a barren system. You're a baron in rank now; in future you could be at least a viscount — the inheritance of rank is no problem."
Chu Xuan tossed out a whole heap of sugar-coated cannonballs at once.
Were it anyone else, they'd likely have chosen to throw in with the Chu family on the spot.
But Zhao Chen knew: the secrets he carried doomed him to be unable to throw in, heart and soul, with any one power.
In future he'd bring out T4-ship technology, and even T5-ship technology; and by then, how would the one he served handle him?
Deeds so meritorious they overawe the sovereign, ending at last in bleak ruin — Zhao Chen had seen no few films and shows on that theme.
But to fall out with the Chu family now was impossible too, and he'd already brought out the T2 Queen Bee-class Heavy Carrier Starship technology, star-shield and all.
Though, taken as a whole, T2-ship technology couldn't yet catch the Chu family's eye.
Else the one meeting Zhao Chen here today wouldn't be Chu Xuan — he'd have been escorted to the Chu family manor to face that Chu family Governor.
"I need a bit of time to think it over," Zhao Chen said with a smile.
He had to handle his relations with the Chu family with due measure — not too close, but not a refusal either.
For the Chu family might well become Zhao Chen's shield and talisman; it came down to how Zhao Chen used them!
"I can understand that; I can win you a stretch of time. But it can't be too long," Chu Xuan said.
After a round of discussion, Zhao Chen saw Chu Xuan back to her lodging at the Northstar Academy, and himself returned to the Blizzard Zero.
In the captain's bedroom, Zhao Chen lay on the bed.
First he opened his cadet page.
Cadet: Zhao Chen
Sex: Male
Race: Human
Age: 21
Identity: North Wind Star Region · Owl Dragon System lord (baron rank)
Grade: Fifth Year
Department: Captaincy
Class: Fifth-Year Class One
This arrangement into Fifth-Year Class One left Zhao Chen a touch surprised.
For Fifth-Year Class One was the finest class among the fifth years; the cadets who studied there, after graduation — not to say soaring high, but at least they could live in comfort.
What was more, the great majority of them were of noble birth to begin with.
And as ill luck would have it, Zhao Wan'er and Xue Xiaoxiao were both in this class.
So it was that Zhao Chen, the elder brother, was now a classmate of his own younger sister.
"It's fifth year now; next comes finding a way to amass enough fifth-year assessment credits before the end of June. This time there's no need for threefold — only to promote successfully to sixth year. After the term opens in October, I use three months to amass threefold the sixth-year credits, and graduate ahead of schedule." Zhao Chen began reckoning his annual plan.
In theory there was no great problem in it.
But amassing threefold the sixth-year credits was no simple thing.
A task of the same grade as that escort task earlier could at most guarantee a smooth graduation within the sixth year.
"There's still how to handle relations with the Chu family." Zhao Chen scratched his head — truly no end of things.
……
"Sis, I've told you — stop looking. If someone doesn't want to reveal his identity, then don't go forcing him, all right? A melon wrenched off the vine isn't sweet." Li Wei looked helplessly at his sister across from him.
Li Yaqi fixed her eyes on Li Wei. "You really won't tell me what identity this person holds! Don't forget — I'm your elder sister!"
"Hold on! That move won't work on me. If you dare put me in a hard spot over this, I'll tell that person! And we'll see whether he's willing to meet you then." Li Wei laughed.
There was no denying it — this remark of Li Wei's struck Li Yaqi's tender spot.
She truly didn't dare offend that person; after all, her Northern Goose Starship Technology Group, under her hand now, had grown up only on the strength of that person's technology.
"Hmph — even if you won't say, I can find him myself. The Northstar Academy is only so big; I simply won't believe otherwise!" Li Yaqi gave a cold snort; she raised a hand and called up dossier after dossier of the Northstar Academy's serving instructors and professors.
And began matching them one by one.
Li Wei watched his sister at this and said, covering his face, "Sis, is there any need! All the man did was give you a hot-selling T1 ship technology."
Li Yaqi paid this brother of hers no mind — what that person had given her was not so simple as one T1-ship technology, but four whole ship technologies, one of them a T2-ship technology besides.
By now she'd already expanded the Northern Goose Starship Technology Group's ship factory, and soon these four ship technologies would make their debut.
She could vouch that these four ship technologies could, beyond doubt, push her Northern Goose Starship Technology Group to its very peak.
"Oh, right — didn't you say you have a good friend at the Northstar Academy called something like Zhao Chen? You said he looked out for you a great deal at the academy; that without his help, you might not have managed to complete your grade assessment credits smoothly these past three years. As it happens I've come this time — set a time, and I'll stand him a meal, to thank him for looking after you these years at the academy," Li Yaqi said.
Li Wei's body gave a jolt — surely his sister hadn't already worked out that this person was Zhao Chen?
"What? Some problem? I hear he only got back to the academy today, didn't he — he ought to be free." Li Yaqi, sensing something a touch off about her brother, asked.
In truth, her seeking out Zhao Chen was, on one hand, to thank him for looking after her brother, and on the other to sound out some intelligence from the mouths of those around her brother.
"I… I'll ask him for you…" Li Wei said, feigning composure.
To refuse outright now would surely rouse his sister's suspicion.
Zhao Chen — you'll just have to pray for your own deliverance.