The Owl Dragon domain.
"The Bloody Mary Mercenary Company's women-soldiers number some 3,000, with over 5,000 more in logistics and other lines. First, we'll put the women-soldiers through an assessment; those who pass will be arranged into our Owl Dragon Fleet. The rest of the people will all be settled on the planet where the dwarves have been housed." Lilith was reporting to Zhao Chen on how to arrange these personnel of the Bloody Mary Mercenary Company.
Lilith looked at Zhao Chen and said further, "Commander, are you certain about grouping all the mercenary women-soldiers who pass the assessment into one unified ship, rather than breaking them up and folding them, mixed in, into our interstellar fleet?"
Zhao Chen knew what Lilith was thinking. He shook his head. "The Bloody Mary Mercenary Company has joined us in the form of a cooperation for now. If we go and break their people apart outright, mixing them in, isn't that as much as hinting to them that we hold something against them — that we suspect them? Don't employ those you suspect; don't suspect those you employ. Since I mean to use them, then I'll use them boldly."
Lilith nodded in understanding.
In truth Zhao Chen had still kept himself a fallback: at the worst, he'd have some backdoor devices installed within the interstellar warships assigned to the Bloody Mary Mercenary Company's crew. If the Bloody Mary crew genuinely fought valiantly for him, those backdoor devices would never once be put to use. But should there be any "just in case"… then Zhao Chen would not be soft of heart, either. All the more so since, under the Eye of Insight now, not one of those female mercenaries posed any threat to Zhao Chen.
Just then the bridge doors slid open on their own, and Chitong — already changed into an Owl Dragon Fleet uniform — walked in. The one thing unchanged, though, was the sword tucked at her waist, and the mask upon her face. As for Chitong's unwillingness to show her true face, Zhao Chen paid it no mind. Everyone has secrets of their own; why must one insist on exposing another's? When she wished to speak of it, she'd speak of it in her own time.
"Commander, Chitong reporting for duty." Chitong stood before Zhao Chen, her bearing truly much like that of a professional officer.
"How have your people's arrangements come along? Are they growing accustomed to life here?" Zhao Chen asked with concern.
Chitong said, "Everything is very fine; the living facilities are complete in every particular, and you've even provided us a first month's free supply of nutrient rations. I truly don't know how to thank you."
"What's there to stand on ceremony over — we're all our own people now. Though the living costs after this may need them to fend for themselves. After all, there are dwarves living on this planet too, and I can't treat one differently from another," Zhao Chen said in earnest.
Chitong said, in a tone of understanding, "That I understand. I went to look over the dwarf clan's living quarters as well. Everyone works in the industrial factories themselves, exchanging labor for food — as is only right and proper. Though our people may not have the dwarves' gift in this line, doing a bit of light work is no trouble for them. And besides, I've talked it over with the Bloody Mary Mercenary Company's people; we'll set aside a portion of our own monthly wages to support the children and those whose circumstances are the harder ones. The help you've given us is already more than enough; we don't wish to trouble you further."
Zhao Chen went on, "As for the arrangement of the Bloody Mary Mercenary Company's former crew, I've already drawn up a plan on my end. First is to determine whether those crew of yours have ability enough, by the assessment standard of the Goddess Academy-class ship; if any fall short, they can only go on to further study and be trained up until they meet the standard. Those former interstellar warships of yours must all be phased out — you may, of course, keep them for your own use, but they can only voyage within this star-region. These are the interstellar warships I'll be preparing for you. The operating documentation for them I'll share out to you."
Zhao Chen put up the model imagery of the T2 Black Rhino and the T2 Snow Mastiff.
To Zhao Chen's arrangements, Chitong expressed her satisfaction and acceptance. Over this stretch of time she'd also had a taste of the combat power of these warships of Zhao Chen's Owl Dragon Fleet. Each and every one of them was a peak existence within its own class. Even that T2 Black Rhino was a terror of a thing that dared to take on a T2 battlecruiser single-handed. Set against those former warships of her mercenary company, the gap was simply beyond describing. That Zhao Chen would assign these to her outright had already left Chitong much surprised; what reason had she to refuse?
"Oh, that's right — by the terms of our earlier agreement, once the last batch of raw materials is delivered into place, I'll pay you a commission of 1,500 million star coins. I'll transfer it to your account right now." As he spoke, Zhao Chen made ready to carry it out.
Chitong stopped him, again and again. "Commander, let's not even speak of this commission. After all, we're now your subordinates."
"That won't do — this is an agreement we signed beforehand; as for your being my subordinates now, that's another matter entirely!" Zhao Chen said resolutely.
Chitong countered, "Then if you put it that way, may I ask — how much do you reckon the lives of us Bloody Mary Mercenary Company people, whom you saved, are worth?"
Zhao Chen was left at a loss for words.
A faint smile showed on Chitong's face. "Commander, we understand the kindness in your heart. Had you not come to our rescue, then never mind a commission of 1,500 million star coins — right now, by our reckoning, we'd all have become so much refuse adrift in the cosmos."
Well, this was fine indeed — he'd taken Chitong in, and spared himself 1,500 million star coins into the bargain.
"Since you put it so… then I'll hold that 1,500 million star coins for you first. If in future the agreement runs out and you mean to leave, I can throw in those warships as a gift besides." Zhao Chen looked at Chitong with a smile.
Leave?
Three years' time — Zhao Chen simply didn't believe he'd be unable to "tame" these interstellar mercenaries!
"Oh, and there's the matter of taking revenge on those interstellar powers who attacked you. My capabilities on the intelligence side are lacking, so this may need you to go and scout it out yourself. I can now arrange a T2 Black Rhino for you, and you carry out the mission of gathering the relevant intelligence. If we get solid, definite intelligence, then by about… by the start of October or so, we can launch a military operation against them!" Zhao Chen seemed exceedingly keen on this business of helping Chitong take her revenge, wearing the look of one who'd been dwelling on it all along.
Chitong hadn't expected Zhao Chen to be, of all things, more anxious about this matter than she was herself; in her heart she was somewhat moved. But she still said, "I'll go and carry out the reconnaissance mission. As for the revenge, there's no need to be hasty over it — the other side's backer is the Prince Faction, after all, and to tug one hair is to move the whole body!"
Set against her earlier fury for revenge, just now Chitong had calmed. She'd seen the life her companions had, with such difficulty, only now settled into. If, at a time like this, that life were to be wrecked on account of revenge, she'd reproach herself and feel the guilt of it. Though it was most unfair to those crew who'd fallen, Chitong had to weigh the whole situation.
"No! You needn't fret so over the revenge. I've said I'll help you take your revenge, and I'll most certainly see it done! This grudge of ours — it must be repaid!" Zhao Chen said, unshakable and unwavering. His manner was as though it weren't Chitong who sought revenge, but he, Zhao Chen, who had a score of his own to settle!
In truth all of this was on account of that branch mission of Chitong's.
Branch mission: Chitong's Revenge
Content: Investigate and kill the leading figures of the slave-trading organization under the Prince Faction, along with the fleet commander who attacked the Bloody Mary Mercenary Company's home base; and destroy that organization's home base.
Reward: one T4 starship technical blueprint.