Now that he had found the three children had gifts in these directions and were interested in such things, Zhao Chen naturally saw no need to stop them.
He was not the kind of parent who only knew how to shelter children and had no open mind.
And the three children seemed very keen on these things too.
Besides, one thing Annie had said made very good sense: the question of the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's future succession.
In fact Zhao Chen had once had a long heart-to-heart with Charlotte and Lilith about this question.
After all, it was not as if such things had never happened in history: brothers and sisters taking up arms against one another to fight over the right to inherit the throne.
Zhao Chen naturally did not want such a thing to happen among his children.
So Zhao Chen had talked over this question very plainly with Charlotte and Lilith.
On the question of the right to inherit the Empire in future,
Charlotte's and Lilith's attitude was in fact very direct: they did not mind either way, and would go entirely by Zhao Chen's arrangements.
Zhao Chen gave them great respect, which made them a good deal bolder before him.
But on some traditional matters they were still rather conservative at heart, such as the passing of imperial power.
As they saw it, the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire had been founded entirely on Zhao Chen.
So to whom Zhao Chen passed these things on was entirely Zhao Chen's own will.
As Zhao Chen's women, they would have no objection.
And plainly such an answer was what Zhao Chen wanted.
It was as good as putting the question back before Zhao Chen.
So Zhao Chen had said straight out what he thought.
All along, with Zhao Chen, professionals handled professional matters.
So he would not talk of any such thing as succession by the eldest son of the principal wife.
Zhao Chen's proposal and idea was that until the three children came of age, the three children should grow freely; apart from stopping things that broke the law or went against morality,
everything else would be left to their own tastes.
Whatever hobbies they had, they would back them without condition; after all, with an Owl Dragon Emperor like this to lean on behind them, there was almost nothing in the way of hobbies that could not be satisfied for them.
If they only wanted to enjoy life, or pass their lives quietly, that would not be stopped either.
With the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's fortune and territory as they were now, fulfilling the children's little wishes like these was no problem at all.
The fortune their parents had built up for them was enough to keep them for tens of thousands of lifetimes.
To return to what was said before:
as to the question of who would inherit this Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire in future,
if possible, the choice would naturally be made first from among Zhao Chen's offspring.
For instance, whoever was interested in military affairs, or in governing, would be considered first as the candidate, and then trained accordingly.
Then a governing team would be set aside especially for him or her; never mind founding an interstellar empire to last a thousand generations, a few thousand years of enjoying it should be no problem.
So, as things stood, Zhao Chen, Lilith, Charlotte and the others were in no great hurry, but were waiting for these few children to decide their own future paths.
So Zhao Chen had never imagined at all that these three children, before they were even three,[1] would already show such outstanding interest in certain fields.
First, Zhao Baier had shown interest in technology and making things, so in future one could consider training Zhao Baier in that direction.
Now or in future, starship military technology was a very important thing for an interstellar empire.
If in future the interstellar empire had no suitable heir, then Zhao Baier, with her attainments in military technology, would not be a bad choice either.
After all, an heir who held military technology, even if she was not good at governing an interstellar empire, would have at least the technological foundation she held to ensure that while she was on the throne, no one would question her.
As for governing the Empire, a cabinet or parliament or some such body could be formed to help the Empire's future heir with its administration.
Some might worry whether such bodies as a cabinet and parliament might affect the consolidation of royal power.
That was possible to a degree; among interstellar empires through the ages, if not half, then at least thirty percent and more of imperial civil strife had come from problems arising within.
And the chief role in it had been played by such bodies as cabinets and parliaments.
But one could not doubt the existence of cabinets and parliaments altogether because of such cases; after all, nearly ninety percent and more of interstellar empires had such bodies.
After all, without such a governing body in so vast an interstellar empire's structure, there would be very great problems of administration.
So such bodies naturally existed for good reason.
Even in the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire now, though there was no such body at the top for the moment, in the fief kingdoms below, and even within the domains of every star region and star system, there were some, such as lords' cabinets, lords' councils and the like.
And among the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's secret bills there were in fact already plans for forming bodies of this type.
The reason they were not being formed now was that, though there was no such body, people already in place could carry out such tasks.
For instance, for discussing military matters, Zhao Chen had Charlotte and the other Imperial Marshals discuss them.
For domestic affairs, Lilith was put in charge of holding meetings to discuss and arrange them.
So it looked as if there were no such thing as a cabinet or parliament.
But seen from another angle, weren't Charlotte, Lilith, Annie and the others, to some degree, a shadow cabinet?
That was also why Zhao Chen could do without a cabinet now: under Zhao Chen were a crowd of founding heroes he trusted, and with them in charge of such matters, one thing after another could be done with the greatest efficiency.
And when their generation stepped back to the second line, there would have to be bodies such as a cabinet and parliament.
Efficiency might drop somewhat, and some political plans would have to be discussed before they could be carried out, but at least the normal running of an interstellar empire could be ensured.
There is no gain without loss.
Everything has its two sides.
To return to what he had been thinking before:
that boy Zhao Hu liked piloting combat mecha, so he most likely had a temper that liked fighting.
Whether he could be trained to pilot interstellar warships in future, one did not know; if so, he could be made something like a general or marshal.
If his temper changed somewhat in future, he might be considered for inheriting the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's throne.
But as things were, in temper and intelligence Zhao Hu was utterly outclassed by his big sister and little sister; one could only see what the future held.
As for Zhao Liler, young as she was, she had actually passed the assessment for commanding a carrier starship in battle.
Mind you, the assessment for commanding as a carrier starship's captain was nothing like that for other starships' captains.
It could be called the hardest assessment of all.
After all, a carrier starship's captain had to command not only one interstellar warship, but also all the interstellar fighters, the interstellar drones, and this carrier starship itself.
And because a carrier starship's self-defense was very weak, its maneuvering and positioning in battle were all crucial.
The least slip, and the enemy might fasten on it and destroy it in the end.
And on a battlefield, the loss of one carrier starship cost far more than any other interstellar warship.
And unlike other interstellar warships' captain assessments, one subject of the carrier starship captain's assessment tested how you planned a carrier starship's course and evaded the fire of enemy interstellar warships.
And a child not yet three had actually passed it all.
One can imagine how unable Zhao Chen had been to believe it before.
And Zhao Liler's showing such a gift meant that Zhao Liler had a very strong grasp of the big picture and a strong ability to plan.
As far as these three children's tempers and abilities went at present,
if nothing changed in future, it was in fact Zhao Liler, the youngest child, who was best suited to be the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's future heir.
Zhao Hu could hold a post as a marshal and fleet commander, and Zhao Baier could be in charge of military production and technology research, development and manufacture.
At the thought that his children's futures all had good plans laid, Zhao Chen's heart could be said to be greatly gratified.
Perhaps this was how an old father feels.
"Um, since I'm going to be nanny to those three, oughtn't my pay to go up again?" Annie blinked her big, limpid eyes at Zhao Chen.
At once a few black lines appeared on Zhao Chen's forehead.
Still turning up her nose at what she gets now?
Mind you, Annie was now one of only three chief engineers in the Empire, and the pay of any chief engineer was certainly enough to keep a whole family of thousands, even tens of thousands, fed and watered without a care.
But Annie always seemed as if she could never be fed full.
One truly could not tell how Annie had come by this "money-gobbling pixiu" temper.
The corners of Zhao Chen's mouth turned up slightly as he looked at Annie, and the look made Annie feel very uneasy.
Zhao Chen said casually, "Every so often on your days off, you come over here to see the three children. How is it I never knew our Chief Engineer Annie was someone who liked children?"
Annie said, somewhat guiltily, "The three children and I just get along, so I come often to keep the three children company."
"Is that so? Then every month there are a few payments out of the pocket-money accounts I've set up for the three children." Zhao Chen looked at Annie mockingly.
The look on Annie's face now was as colorful as could be, as if she had been caught in bed with a lover.
"Those few payments line up exactly with the times you came to see the three children. But to hide something or other, none of these payments went straight into your account; they went into the accounts of several interstellar online shops you'd set up. Some of what was taken wasn't even crystal coins, but goods of equal value. And those goods, without exception, were presents the three children received. If I had someone look into where the money in those shop accounts ended up, it ought to show whose pocket all this went into, oughtn't it?"
Annie looked at Zhao Chen warily, then said, all hard-done-by, "The things I give the children are all worth something. I may be a chief engineer, but I can't possibly bear all of it myself. And some of the things the children wanted themselves; I… charging a bit of a middleman's fee isn't going too far, is it?"
"A bit of an agent's fee?" The corners of Zhao Chen's mouth could not help twitching.
He brought up a document, in which were some things he had had people look into last night.
Then, pointing at some records in it, he said, "Before, you gave Little Bai some raw materials and parts, and those raw materials and parts don't go for more than three hundred thousand crystal coins on the market. But you actually quoted Little Bai a price of three million crystal coins. My lady Chief Engineer Annie, how do you explain that?"
Annie's body, small to begin with, now seemed smaller still.
Zhao Chen fixed his eyes on Annie and said, "Annie, Annie. I never imagined you'd even swindle children out of their pocket money."
Whose child's pocket money is an unlimited black card from the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's biggest royal bank?
That was Annie's grumble in her heart, but naturally she did not dare say it aloud.
"I was worried the children had too much money in their hands and would get swindled. So I was keeping it for them first," Annie said with an ingratiating smile, then edged carefully toward the door: "Um… I seem to remember I've still got some work unfinished today, so I'll be off first…"
But before Annie could quietly slip away, her head was gripped by one of Zhao Chen's big hands.
"I've checked: today is your day off. Even if you really do have some work, I can ask for leave for you. Dearest Annie-baby, today you're going nowhere but here."
Zhao Chen said it with a kindly smile.
Annie's body stiffened; at that moment she felt as if she were facing a devil at her back.
"All right. Let's not keep the children waiting too long. As for the money you took before, I've already had it sent back the way it came. After all, doesn't our Chief Engineer Annie like children very much? Spending a little money on the three children: isn't that perfectly normal? Our Chief Engineer Annie wouldn't begrudge it, surely?" Zhao Chen put his hand on Annie's shoulder and pushed the door open.
And so Zhao Chen, a smile on his face, and Annie, crestfallen, walked out of the door.
In the courtyard the three children were playing with their presents.
Seeing Daddy and Big Sister Annie come out, the three children at once crowded around.
"Listen, all of you. From now on, whatever you want, just tell your Big Sister Annie. Big Sister Annie will give it to you, no conditions, no charge." Zhao Chen clapped Annie on the shoulder, then turned his head and looked at Annie with a smile.
The corners of Annie's mouth twitched slightly, but now she did not dare show any look of refusal, and could only squeeze out a smile and say, "Th… that's right. From now on, whatever you want, just tell your big sister, and your big sister will get it for you."
"Thank you, Big Sister Annie."
"I like Big Sister Annie best."
"Big Sister Annie, I want a bigger mecha, and more mecha…"
The three children chattered at Annie in their milky little voices.
They had no idea at all that their Big Sister Annie's heart was bleeding drop by drop now.
It hurt her like losing flesh.
All the pocket money she had earned before was not only gone entirely;
she would even have to pay out of her own pocket. At the thought of it, Annie felt wretched.
It seems I can't come here anymore!
"Oh, that's right. Our Chief Engineer Annie shouldn't be too busy for a while. Coming once a week should be no problem at all. Each time you can tell Big Sister Annie what you want. Just say it; don't stand on ceremony with our Big Sister Annie," Zhao Chen said at once, as if he had seen through what was in Annie's mind.
The look on Annie's face now was like someone who had lost a great deal of money.
"All right, since you've given these three children presents, you'd better teach them how to use them first." Zhao Chen patted Annie on the shoulder.
Annie tossed Zhao Chen a roll of the eyes; fleecing her wasn't enough, he even had her comb out the fleece he had sheared; that was no way to bully someone.
But there was no getting round who he was, and he was Annie's bread and butter besides.
Annie could only meekly admit defeat.
For the rest of the time, Zhao Chen sat to one side and watched Annie play with the three children.
One could see that Annie in her heart liked these three children very much too, perhaps because Annie herself had always had a child's heart.
So Annie in fact got on rather well among children, and had become something like the children's ringleader.
Of course, to earn a little on the side while being the children's ringleader she would have been very glad of too.
Only, that wish had now come to nothing.
And now Annie was consoling herself in her heart.
No need to worry.
This counts as a long-term investment now.
These three little ones are bound to be the Owl Dragon Interstellar Empire's future heirs, so what need will I have to worry in future?
Just a little slipping through these three children's fingers will be enough to keep me fed and watered without a care.
Hee hee hee.
At the thought of it, a smile spread over Annie's face in spite of herself.
Sure enough, I, Annie, am one clever big darling.
While Annie was playing with the three children, Zhao Chen was not idle either.
He sent the whole business of the three children and Annie to Charlotte and Lilith, so that they could know how things stood at once.
They were greatly astonished too; they had never imagined their children could show such amazing gifts so young.
They said at once that they would come over as soon as they had finished what they had in hand.
Both of them cared a great deal about the three children; it was only that in ordinary times the press of business that came with their posts mostly kept them from getting away.
Fortunately, with this campaign against the Devourer Civilization's universe[2] over, all three of them could more or less squeeze out some time.
That was how Zhao Chen came to be here keeping the three children company, and to catch the fellow Annie.
"All right, it's time to eat. I've got dinner ready here; put down what you're holding and come and eat first." Zhao Chen took off his apron, pointed at a big table of dishes laid out in the courtyard, and called to the four playing in the distance.
Somehow, as he looked at these four before him, he had the feeling he was raising four children.
When Annie heard it was time to eat, she was certainly the keenest of all.
Though some of the other three children were still reluctant to part from their first go with the "toys" in their hands, with Annie leading the way they came over obediently to eat.
Annie looked at the rich food before her, and her mouth fairly watered.
And His Majesty the Emperor had cooked it himself, at that.
As for Zhao Chen's cooking, she had tasted it years before, back in the Owl Dragon fleet days, and it was quite decent.
And the ingredients Zhao Chen used now were certainly top-notch.
One important reason Annie was so keen on coming to look after the three children was the food here.
The cooks Zhao Chen had provided for the three children here were top chefs, and the ingredients they used were the very best.
In other respects Zhao Chen might not let the three children live too lavishly, but when it came to eating, Zhao Chen certainly spared nothing.
Perhaps that had something to do with Zhao Chen's having always been keen on good food.
And for Annie, enjoying fine food here, where she could taste the best ingredients and dishes and pay nothing at all, was simply paradise.
By now Annie had already begun wolfing it down.
Eat back what I lost!
I have to eat back what I lost!
Annie kept muttering in her heart; today she had bled heavily, so with this rare chance to eat back what she had lost, how could she let so good a chance go by?
She would eat and eat, without fail.
Seeing Annie with so fine an appetite influenced the three children indirectly too, and the three children all began enjoying the food before them.
Seeing this, Zhao Chen was very gratified.
He had never imagined Annie would be good for this as well; this fine meal had not been prepared in vain.
Soon the night grew deep.
The three children, after playing all day, went off to dreamland early today.
And Zhao Chen dragged Annie, who was eating a late-night snack, into talking about work.
Annie lay sprawled on the sofa with no thought at all for how she looked.
Because Annie came here often, a room had been kept especially for her here.
So she was in no hurry to go back either; she would stay here tonight.
"How are the starship research projects going?" Zhao Chen asked.
Hearing Zhao Chen start talking about work, Annie could not help grumbling in her heart.
Boss! It's after hours now. Talking about work after hours here: isn't that rather a spoilsport?
But when it reached Annie's mouth, it came out quite differently; chewing the food in her mouth, Annie said, "Starship research. Some of it's made a little progress, but more of it is still going slowly. The main reason is still raw materials and energy. Without true T7-grade raw materials and energy, we can't build a true T7-grade interstellar warship. But as for quasi-T7 mass-produced interstellar warships, we'll soon be able to bring out a second model."
Zhao Chen's eyes lit up, and he could not help asking straight out, "A second model? Which building plan has made progress?"
Before Zhao Chen, the Owl Dragon Emperor, there was naturally nothing that needed keeping secret.
Annie said straight out, "It's the design plan for that quasi-T7 interstellar cruiser. We've solved the trouble with speed; we expect the lead ship of this second model of ours, the mass-produced quasi-T7-grade interstellar cruiser, to make its debut before the end of this year."