In the end, this bit of business came to rest with Li Yaqi laying out 3 million star coins to buy the T1 Wolf-Louse-class Medium Interstellar Destroyer technology outright.
The agreement nailed down, Zhao Chen sent the whole of the T1 Wolf-Louse's technical materials straight over to Li Yaqi.
"I've sent the ship-technology data to your inbox. Within three days of receiving the materials, transfer 3 million star coins to this account of mine."
Below it was the number of a Starlight Empire Interstellar Bank card.
"Sir… you're sending me the ship technology just like that? Aren't you afraid I'll go back on the deal?"
Li Yaqi was baffled that the other party would do such a thing without the slightest hesitation. Did he truly not fear she might welch on the debt?
This was nothing whatever like an interstellar transaction. It was more like idly buying something off a supermarket shelf.
"I trust Li Wei. And besides, if you truly dared do such a thing, I'd make you pay a thousandfold price for it. Well then, I have other matters to see to; I'll leave off here. A pleasure doing business."
The network room showed that the other party had left.
Li Yaqi hurriedly made to ask how she might contact him in the future — but there was no longer any response.
"What a strange man. This has to count as the most bizarre bit of business I've ever done." Even now, Li Yaqi felt as though she were dreaming.
And she realized, besides, that she didn't so much as know what to call the man.
A strange man… a strange transaction…
But no matter how it had gone — so long as she could get her hands on the complete T1 Wolf-Louse technical materials—
—she was confident she could turn the starship-arms trade from loss to profit within half a year!
And leave all those who'd been waiting to have a laugh at her expense with their jaws on the floor!
————
Over on Zhao Chen's end, there was still a certain ache in his heart.
"If I'd known, I'd have said 4 million…" Zhao Chen gave a rueful smile.
When it came to doing business, he was still altogether too green.
In truth, a 3 million-star-coin buyout price was, for T1 ship technology, already reckoned on the high side.
It was simply that it had happened to catch Li Yaqi at a moment when she was starved for ship technology.
A thirsty man who's just been handed a bottle of water will, naturally enough, overlook a somewhat steep price.
"3 million… 3 million…" Zhao Chen now set to planning the build of his second starship — that T2 Queen Bee-class Heavy Carrier Starship.
To build a starship called for laying in a great many things.
It was not so simple a matter as assembling a ship.
Raw materials… a build site… build technology… and on and on… there was far, far too much to see to.
Beep, beep, beep.
Zhao Chen's handheld terminal sounded.
One look — and it was, of all people, his little sister Zhao Wan'er.
"Well now — the young lady deigns, for once in a blue moon, to contact me." Zhao Chen looked at the Zhao Wan'er on the far side of the video window and spoke with a teasing note.
Zhao Wan'er rarely sought Zhao Chen out; and when she did, it was generally in person and in private.
At this moment Zhao Chen noticed that behind Zhao Wan'er stood two more great beauties — no, rather, one great beauty and one small.
"Enough of your smart mouth, my friends are right here." Zhao Wan'er tossed Zhao Chen an eye-roll.
Then Zhao Wan'er shifted aside and introduced the two beauties, large and small.
"This is Sister Su Lan, a fifth-year; and this is my classmate, the fourth-year Xue Xiaoxiao. This one I needn't introduce, I suppose — my brother."
As she said the words "my brother," Zhao Wan'er's face was plainly one of distaste.
"Hello. We often hear Wan'er speak of you," Su Lan greeted him with polite courtesy.
"Speak of me? Come now — if she isn't badmouthing me, that's already something to be grateful for." Zhao Chen shrugged.
"Brother Zhao Chen, can I see your big cannon!" The twin-tailed loli Xue Xiaoxiao suddenly leaned in close, her eyes shining.
Zhao Chen was momentarily stunned. That phrasing was a touch too…
Zhao Wan'er promptly hauled Xue Xiaoxiao back. "Xiaoxiao, what are you saying!"
"What? I only want a close-up look at that 1200mm heavy cannon on Brother Zhao Chen's Blizzard Zero." Xue Xiaoxiao said it with a pout.
"Sister Su Lan — you've all sought me out for some reason, surely? Just tell me what it is." Zhao Chen steered the subject elsewhere; this little loli's way of putting things was truly…
Su Lan said, "Then let's speak of the matter directly. This time we've come, in fact, on account of yesterday's starship duel."
Zhao Chen narrowed his eyes and said nothing, waiting for the rest.
Su Lan went on, "Zhang Haoran has been pulling strings and calling in connections. Someone, knowing I'm on close terms with your sister Zhao Wan'er, came to me. They're hoping you might cancel the expulsion penalty on Zhang Haoran."
In truth, the moment Su Lan brought up the starship duel, Zhao Chen had known it was about Zhang Haoran.
There was no chance Zhang Haoran would meekly withdraw from the Northstar Starship Military Academy. It bore, after all, on his whole future.
"This expulsion penalty is logged into the starship duel itself. Can it even be canceled?" Zhao Chen asked, curious.
Su Lan said, "By academy rules, the wagers in a starship duel are recognized and enforced by the academy. But if the winning side is willing to cancel the penalty wager, then the losing side can be spared it. So it requires a nod from you."
Zhao Chen said nothing.
Su Lan continued, "A friend asked me to see to this; I owe him a favor. If you're unwilling, then forget I said anything. If you're willing to talk, I can arrange a time and place for the two of you to sit down together. You can name whatever conditions you like — for we can't very well have you cancel the penalty for nothing."
"Might I have a private word with my sister?" said Zhao Chen.
Su Lan agreed, and she and Xue Xiaoxiao withdrew.
"All right — Sister Su Lan and Xiaoxiao have gone. Say whatever it is you want to say." Zhao Wan'er folded her arms across her chest.
"Do you want me to help this Sister Su Lan?" Zhao Chen asked.
Zhao Wan'er gave a start. "That's your business; why are you asking me?"
"This little sister of mine doesn't lightly ask me for anything. This Sister Su Lan must be quite close to you." Zhao Chen looked at Zhao Wan'er with a smile.
Zhao Wan'er's cheeks flushed, and she said honestly, "I'll admit it — I'm very fond of Sister Su Lan. Ever since I came to the Northstar Starship Military Academy, she's looked after me a great deal. She's one of only two friends I have here; the other is Xue Xiaoxiao. I know about Sister Su Lan's situation, too. The one who asked her to see to this is a fifth-year senior named Han Tianwang. He once did her a favor, and ever since, he's used that as his pretext to cling to Sister Su Lan — he even wants her to go out with him. She doesn't like him, but, owing him that favor, she can only endure his pestering. If… if this time she can pay back the favor she owes him, then Sister Su Lan won't have to endure his harassment any longer."
Zhao Chen nodded. "All right, then. Have Sister Su Lan arrange it; send me the time and place tonight. I agree to a talk."
"Really!" Zhao Wan'er was surprised.
"Well, it is the first time my little sister's ever asked me for anything." Zhao Chen grinned.
Zhao Wan'er threw him an eye-roll. "Who… who asked you for anything… help or don't, see if I care." With that, she cut off the comm.
Zhao Chen fell to thinking about the matter of Zhang Haoran.
In truth, whether Zhang Haoran withdrew or not was, to Zhao Chen's mind, of no importance at all. He had never once cared about this bit-part player, nor about whatever Zhang Haoran's relationship with Jiang Shasha might be.
Were it not for the sake of the system mission, he'd never have proposed the starship duel in the first place.
And now here was a chance — a chance to help his little sister's senior, and, at the same time… to squeeze the fellow for all he was worth.
So fine an opening as this — how could Zhao Chen let it slip?
The corners of his mouth curled slowly upward. Tomorrow, there'd be a fine show to watch.