"You'd best be prepared to answer for what you've said." Governor Chu's eyes were fixed on Zhao Chen, and the look in them was nothing like before.
"My word is my bond. But I'll need a little time," said Zhao Chen.
In a blink the Governor's kindly smile returned. "I can set you up with the finest research resources in the best laboratory in the Chu River Star Region. Any assistant you need, anywhere in the Starlight Empire, I'll find for you. I could even see about bringing in professors and talent from the Galactic Alliance."
"That won't be necessary — I'm used to working alone, and free. I'm an odd-tempered man; I don't care to develop starships in some lifeless research lab. Put me in your laboratory and I might never produce the ship technology you want — not in my whole life." Zhao Chen smiled and waved it off.
"You truly won't come?" The Governor stared at him.
Zhao Chen shrugged. "Does it matter where I do the building and the research? So long as Your Grace ends up with what you want. Besides — if I really did come to you, there's no telling how much trouble I'd bring down on you."
The Governor was silent a moment, then: "How much time do you need to produce this cost-effective, mass-producible T4 warship you speak of?"
"10 years—" No sooner had the number left his mouth than the Governor cut him off.
"10 years is too long. No."
"Five, then!" said Zhao Chen.
The Governor held up three fingers. "Three years. In three years I want a full feasibility report and technical blueprints for a T4 warship. As for construction, I'll take that on entirely — and you needn't fear this old man will cheat you; the technology stays yours. If it's truly as economical as you claim, then for every ship I build, I'll pay you a licensing fee of 50 times its build cost. This I guarantee, on my honor as the Governor of Chu River."
50 times the per-ship build cost in licensing.
Ordinarily, market profit on a T1 ship ran five to 10 times cost; on a T2, around 20; on a T3, around 40. T4 ships, being as yet impossible to sell in bulk — and impossible to sell openly at all — kept their build and sale prices relatively secret. 50 times was, comparatively, the old man getting the better of the bargain; but since he'd handle construction himself, sparing Zhao Chen the cost and the build time, it was hard to say who came out ahead.
"But—! How am I to believe you actually have it in you to develop a T4 warship of such high cost-effectiveness?" The Governor's tone turned on a pivot, his gaze pinning Zhao Chen.
Zhao Chen smiled. "Then let me first give Your Grace a highly cost-effective T3 interstellar destroyer. The T4 warship I develop will be built out as an extension of the research on this very destroyer."
"A T3 destroyer on the market these days generally costs around 7 million star coins to build, and sells for 200 to 300 million." The Governor let this drop as if in passing.
"This T3 destroyer of mine ranks in the top three among all known T3 destroyers for combat power — and costs under 5 million star coins to build!" Zhao Chen said with a grin.
The Governor narrowed his eyes at him. "Out with it, then. You bring out a thing this good — what is it you want from me?"
"I don't want anything. I regard this as nothing more than an ordinary transaction. And I too am a subject of the Starlight Empire; as an Imperial Baron, I must naturally think of the Empire. The Mechanical Race is our enemy — they must be defeated! For the Empire's future, I'm willing to give of my spirit. Of course… I'd also rather not be troubled by others. You understand the principle well enough: a man may be blameless, yet the jade he carries becomes his crime." Zhao Chen spread his hands, the picture of helplessness.
"This T3 destroyer blueprint you speak of — when can you get it to me? Don't worry, I won't swallow your ship technology whole, boy. If it really is as good as you say, then for every one my Chu family builds, I'll pay you 30 times the build cost in licensing." The Governor said it evenly.
"I can transmit the ship technology to you, encrypted, within a single day," Zhao Chen said plainly.
The Governor was a little taken aback at the boy's crispness — that he'd actually dare hand over T3 ship technology this readily. In anyone else's place, the very thought would have been agony.
"Very well. I'll be waiting. As for whether we truly work together in the end — I'll give you a detailed answer within five days." With that, and without waiting for Zhao Chen to reply, the Governor withdrew from the holographic conference.
Zhao Chen withdrew as well. Sitting there in his office chair, he found his whole back soaked through. Discussing business with a Star Region Governor, an Imperial Duke, a Five-Star Marshal was truly more exhausting than fighting a whole battle against the hive-race.
"Good thing I made preparations beforehand, laid all that groundwork — otherwise I'm certain this crotchety old man would have hauled me back at any cost." Zhao Chen let out a long breath.
And the groundwork he'd spoken of? It was, in fact, simply his performance in this rescue operation.
For now, the only one I can lean on is still the Chu family. But I can't let them turn me into a bird in a cage. So long as I'm still out here, I have a chance to rise. First bait the old codger with a T4 warship, then win his trust with the T3 ship technology… Though — 30 times the per-ship build cost in licensing. Is a Duke's family fortune really this filthy-rich? Zhao Chen found himself genuinely tempted; a long-term partnership wasn't out of the question at all.
Still, nothing's nailed down yet. Who knows how this old fox will decide to deal with me in the end. Better redeem the T3 warship he wants first. Zhao Chen opened the System page.
As for this T3 warship for the Chu family, he'd long since made up his mind.
Spend 7,000 system points and 10 task points to redeem the item "T3 Flame Dragon-class Medium Interstellar Destroyer" blueprints?
Confirm!
Congratulations — T3 Flame Dragon-class Medium Interstellar Destroyer blueprints acquired.
Remaining system points: 7,720
Remaining task points: 64
Zhao Chen then set about compiling the technical dossier for this T3 Flame Dragon. All the data lived in his head; to send it to Governor Chu, he had to edit a copy of it out by hand.
Flame Dragon-class Medium Interstellar Destroyer
Class: interstellar destroyer
Tech level: T3
Hull armor: 1,200–1,400 units
Star shield energy: 10,000 units
Cruising speed: 160 star-knots
Warp drive: grade-6
Length: 899 meters
Mass: 230,000 tons
Crew: 100
Weapons: two 1000mm quad-mount medium railgun main guns; eight medium rapid-fire electronic secondary guns; thirty-two medium pulse-laser secondary guns; ninety-six medium close-in guns.