Zhao Chen first claimed the mission reward — a gain of five task points and 2,000 system points.
Before — System points: 7,420
Before — task points: 60
Gained — System points: 2,000
Gained — task points: 5
After — System points: 9,420
After — task points: 65
Then Zhao Chen turned to that newly appeared mission option. This time it was a two-choice mission; he had to select one of the two.
One was of lower difficulty, a C-rank mission with a very simple requirement: protect this planet. The Fire Salamander clan would surely not let matters rest, and would come to harass it again; so long as he kept the planet safe, that would do.
The other mission was of higher difficulty, a B-rank mission. Its requirement was to take control of the entire FY System.
By what Zhao Chen understood, the FY System had, in all, two stars, six planets, two dwarf planets, 180,000 asteroids, 27 moons, and better than 100 periodic comets. The system's extent was smaller than the Owl Dragon Star System's, but it had two stars — and therefore a star gate. Its population was about the same as the Owl Dragon Star System's, but living conditions here were polarized in the extreme, and the order badly chaotic: those with strength could do as they pleased, while those without became the most bottom-rung existences, ground down by others. Yet unlike the Owl Dragon Star System, which for these last several decades had seen only a net outflow of people, the FY System took in no few refugees from the outside world every year — which was exactly why the Reef Star Region, barren as it was, still held so many people.
"Take control of the FY System…" Zhao Chen reckoned the gains and losses in his heart.
The downsides were plain enough: it meant setting himself utterly against this Fire Salamander clan, and finding a way to wipe them out besides — otherwise there was no telling when they'd come to make trouble for him. And if the Fire Salamander clan had some ally or the like, it could set off a whole chain reaction — the sort where you beat the son and the father comes for you. Garrisoning this system, too, would require a dedicated fleet. And with the various powers of the Reef Star Region all tangled up in one another, Zhao Chen had no wish to court unnecessary trouble.
But the upside was just as plain: Zhao Chen would have a "hidden base." True, he had the Owl Dragon Star System as his domain out in the open — but that lay in the North Wind Star Region, with the Starlight Empire's royal house overhead and, next door, the loving care of Governor Chu of Chu River. Before he'd grown strong, one careless slip and his old home might be gone. As the saying goes: a cunning hare keeps three burrows. Setting up a second lair of his own was hardly excessive, surely? Add that this place had two stars, an old star gate already in place, and was thus reasonably convenient for travel.
The one shortcoming was that the place was poor in resources; if he built a shipyard base here, transporting raw materials would be a serious problem, and build costs would rise accordingly. Star gate or no — if a great volume of raw materials were shipped in continually, the jackals and tigers of the Reef Star Region were crafty as anything.
"Risk and reward both — I think it's worth the gamble!" Zhao Chen made his decision.
A thought stirred.
Claim Mission Two.
Mission Two: Take control of and occupy the entire FY System.
Difficulty: B-rank
Reward: 20 task points and 7,000 points.
Requirement: Within two months, take control of more than 90% of the FY System's planets, and establish the Host in an unshakable position within the system.
Penalty: Deduction of 7,000 points.
Zhao Chen mused wryly to himself: Little lizard, oh little lizard — we have no old grudge and no fresh feud between us, but who told you to go bullying my little dwarf technicians? Who told you your territory happened to be the FY System? If you must blame something, blame your own poor luck.
And so the great mission of toppling the Fire Salamander clan's brutal rule and delivering the countless souls of the FY System came to rest upon Zhao Chen's shoulders.
After a full meal, Zhao Chen fell into idle talk with Chief Bajin. Zhao Chen frankly and openly made known his wish to recruit the dwarf race.
"You wish to recruit us?" Chief Bajin was somewhat taken aback.
Zhao Chen pointed at Annie. "In Annie I've seen your gift as interstellar artisans. I can prepare a planet in my domain for you to live on. I protect your safety, and you, by working for me, earn food and pay. The work carries no danger, either — it's simply what you're good at: manufacturing things like interstellar warships, combat mecha, strategic materials, and other such industrial-technical production."
Chief Bajin's expression turned hesitant.
Had it been anyone else, he might have refused outright. The reason he'd led his people to hunker down in this system, turtle-like, was not that no one had ever tried to recruit them; it was that, more often than not, those who recruited them ended by treating them as lesser. They were not of the same race, after all, and dwarves looked small and easy to bully by nature. Those interstellar civilizations or powers who recruited them would, at first, be all fine words; but bit by bit it turned into exploitation, or a whittling-down of the benefits they'd first promised. Or else, once they'd learned the dwarves' techniques, they killed the donkey the moment the grinding was done.
"Dad, it really is wonderful where the Commander is. The food's ever so good, and you can even drink liquor!" Annie played wingman for Zhao Chen from the side. Having tasted for herself the good of the Owl Dragon Fleet, Annie naturally hoped her people could live alongside her in the Owl Dragon Fleet, or in the Owl Dragon Star System.
"You saved my daughter, and this time you've saved our people besides. I do trust you. But… to have me lightly decide on a thing like moving the whole clan — I'm sorry, I can't give you the answer you want in so short a time." Chief Bajin looked at Zhao Chen, troubled. The two of them had, after all, met only this once.
Chief Bajin hastened to add, "If it's myself alone, then what I said before stands — I'm willing to work for you. But I… don't speak for all my people. If you have need… I could resign my post as chief and leave with you…"
"Dad, how can you be so rigid! Here we can't eat our fill or keep warm, and we have the stinking lizards' oppression to bear besides." Annie was beside herself with anxiety at his side. An opportunity this fine, and her father didn't know to seize it!
Zhao Chen nodded. "I can understand your thinking — perhaps you can't yet fully trust me. And you've said it yourself: you can't speak for your people. So let's do this. You pass my proposal along; when the time comes, the dwarves willing to go with me can board those five T2 Moose and travel to my domain. I'll guarantee that your line of contact with this first batch of dwarves stays open; once they've been settled in my land and have lived and worked there a while, you can learn from their own mouths whether everything I've promised is true."
"Yes! The Commander's right — Dad, if you don't believe it, go and see for yourself!" Annie said firmly. She was certain that once her people had tasted the life in the Owl Dragon Fleet, they'd be too happy ever to think of leaving.
Zhao Chen regarded Chief Bajin for a moment. He could, of course, have simply resorted to force; but for talent like this, Zhao Chen would try courtesy before force — if he could win them over by reason, so much the better. He didn't want it to come to the worst. For having people work for you sincerely, of their own hearts — that was the key to efficient, sustainable growth!
"I can convey your words to my people. If they're willing to leave with you, I won't stand in their way." Chief Bajin, in the end, gave ground.
Zhao Chen showed a satisfied smile. So long as there was a first batch of dwarves to join him, there'd be a second batch, and a third. Who could resist, once they'd tasted it for themselves?
"There's one more thing I want to tell you all. Given the safety of this planet of yours — the Fire Salamander clan will surely come to harass it again — I've decided I'll take control of the entire FY System by force, and wrestle control of this place away from the Fire Salamander clan's hands. By then, even if you choose to remain here, you'll be in no danger." Zhao Chen dropped a piece of news that was, to Chief Bajin, like a bomb.
"You mean to wrestle the FY System from the hands of the Fire Salamander clan?" Chief Bajin gaped at Zhao Chen, dumbstruck.