This way, Zhao Chen's two systems, far apart though they were, would be as near as next-door neighbors. But there were drawbacks too.
The first was the ruinous cost: a single T3 Radiant Moon-class Star Gate ran to 2 billion star coins! And to link the Owl Dragon Star System with the Lion King System, Zhao Chen had to build two — a budget of 4 billion star coins.
The second drawback was throughput. Because it was a star gate built in a short time, under the twin traits of quick construction and long range, the problem of low throughput was born. Zhao Chen's T3 Radiant Moon-class Star Gate had only one-twentieth the daily throughput of a Starlight Empire gate of the same tier. Where the Empire's gate could move 1 million warships a day, Zhao Chen's could move only 50,000. But given Zhao Chen's present situation, these two gates would certainly be built in secret — the Owl Dragon end above all, where the choice of site was crucial: it had to be hidden from everyone, and the Starlight Empire in particular must not learn of it. So throughput wasn't so important either; after all, only the Owl Dragon Fleet's own ships would use it.
Weighing all these reasons together, Zhao Chen resolved that he would absolutely build a star gate belonging to the Owl Dragon Fleet itself!
Spend 15,000 system points and 50 task points to redeem the item "T3 Radiant Moon-class Star Gate" blueprints?
A thought stirred in Zhao Chen. Redeem!
Congratulations — "T3 Radiant Moon-class Star Gate" blueprints acquired.
Before — System points: 16,420
Before — task points: 85
Spent — System points: 15,000
Spent — task points: 50
After — System points: 1,420
After — task points: 35
Having redeemed this T3 gate technology, Zhao Chen's system points had bottomed out outright, and his task points too were much depleted. But however that might be, to possess star gate technology of his own meant the Owl Dragon Fleet had taken a great stride forward.
Seeing Zhao Chen speak so, Secretary Aili beside him asked nothing further. As secretary, she offered her views only when necessary, and did not talk out of turn.
"There's one more problem, though — it seems my star coins aren't quite enough. Two T3 Radiant Moon-class Star Gates cost 4 billion star coins to build. But right now I have only 1.4 billion left in hand — a shortfall of 2.6 billion," Zhao Chen muttered inwardly. Which meant he'd just have to wait for Governor Chu of Chu River to pay the balance of the licensing fee for that first batch of T3 Flame Dragon-class Medium Interstellar Destroyers. He also needed to survey, on the ground, the site for building the future T3 Radiant Moon-class Star Gate.
On the way back to the dwarf race's third planet, Zhao Chen opened the Lion King System's star chart and began selecting a site for the future T3 Radiant Moon-class Star Gate. This choice mattered greatly — it had to be a hidden spot. In the end Zhao Chen found several suitable locations, all at the edge of the Lion King System, some even reaching into the inter-system fringe-space zone. Places like these were, as a rule, very seldom visited; naturally, no one would ever think there'd be a star gate there.
Third Planet — Low Orbit
Zhao Chen looked at the video window before him; on the other end was Chief Bajin, his face brimming with excitement he could scarcely contain. He'd witnessed the terrifying combat power of the Owl Dragon Fleet — a Fire Salamander fleet that had come on in a mighty tide, losing over half its warships in the space of less than an hour. Before this, Chief Bajin could never have imagined it.
"Chief Bajin, I must make a trip back to my interstellar domain. But rest easy — I'll leave the greater part of my warships here. My interstellar industrial ships and interstellar transports carrying raw-material resources will come afterward, to repair and resupply these damaged warships and to protect the safety of the Lion King System."
"That is… some of our people… have now decided to go to your interstellar domain, Commander. The number is around 50,000." Chief Bajin raised the matter now.
The corner of Zhao Chen's mouth lifted; this was within his expectations. The battle with the Fire Salamander clan had not only shored up Zhao Chen's standing in the Lion King System, but had also let him build far greater prestige among the dwarf race.
"Very well. I'll arrange two Moose-class Heavy Interstellar Transport Ships to carry these 50,000 in migration to my interstellar domain. If the numbers build up to a certain point later, the remaining T2 Moose can set out as well," Zhao Chen said.
"Thank you so very much, Commander." Chief Bajin was full of gratitude. Zhao Chen had not only saved the dwarf race; he'd even given them one more path to choose. To call him the benefactor of the dwarf race was no exaggeration at all.
Ending the comm with Chief Bajin, Zhao Chen summoned Charlotte and Secretary Aili for a small meeting.
"Given how important the Lion King System now is to us, we need to arrange a fleet to garrison here for the time being — but I must make a trip away. Charlotte, you and Aili will remain in the Lion King System for this stretch. Afterward I'll dispatch T2 Iron Hammer-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ships and interstellar transports carrying raw-material supplies to support you here, and repair the damaged warships. We'll comm once every half day, to make certain of your safety on this end. And you must be careful of the Fire Salamander clan's revenge, which could come at any moment. Remember! The Lion King System matters, yes — but your safety matters more to me!" Zhao Chen looked gravely at Charlotte and Aili.
Aili gazed at the Commander, moved. "Rest easy, Commander. While you're away, we'll take good care of things here!" Secretary Aili said, unshakable.
Charlotte nodded slightly to Zhao Chen, signaling that she understood clearly.
Having settled a number of matters, Zhao Chen set out without another word — alone, in the one T3 Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruiser, sailing off toward the inter-system fringe space. So as not to alert the Fire Salamander clan, and to create the illusion that the T3 Blizzard was still in the Lion King System, Zhao Chen deliberately did not use the Lion King System's star gate on this return voyage. Instead he first used warp travel — spending an extra day and a half — to reach a neighboring system, used the star gate there to leave the Reef Star Region, and returned to the Owl Dragon Star System.
By the time the T3 Blizzard returned to the Owl Dragon Star System, the better part of half a month had passed. The time was now the end of May.
Zhao Chen first came to the Owl Dragon base in the Northstar Star System. Of the 12 T2 Iron Hammers originally here, only 10 remained now — for two of the T2 Iron Hammers, along with several interstellar transports, had by this time already reached the Lion King System. The latest word was that the T2 Iron Hammers had begun fleet-repair work outside the dwarf race's third planet, and that the transports' supplies were enough to restore those repaired warships to full fighting strength. But a redeployment like this had also meant that part of the original construction plan had to be postponed.