At Zhao Chen's trust in her, and the care he took over her affairs, Chitong was greatly moved. Once she'd received the T2 Black Rhino-class Interstellar Heavy Assault Frigate Zhao Chen had assigned her, she made ready to set off at once. Before departing, she specially charged her former vice-commander, Sister Pei — Pei Shengnan — that in the Owl Dragon System she must obey the orders of Lord-Commander Zhao Chen!
Pei Shengnan gave her word there'd be absolutely no problem there. At the outset she'd held a certain wariness, a certain guardedness, toward this man's Owl Dragon Fleet. But after a few days of living among them, she'd discovered this place was, quite simply, the life of her dreams. Powerful interstellar warships, and living treatment of fine quality besides — was there anywhere better than this?
"Remember! Take the safety of your own life as the first priority; whatever you run into, on no account take a risk!" On the video comm, Zhao Chen gravely charged Chitong. This fine employee, so hard-won, must on no account come to any mishap.
Chitong nodded. "Set your mind at ease. Even if I don't take good care of myself, I'll take good care of this warship you've given me."
Zhao Chen was left speechless a moment — was there something wrong with the wiring of this girl's mind, that what she cared about, of all things, was his warship? Still, so long as she could come back safe and sound, it was well.
Zhao Chen watched the departure of this T2 Black Rhino — its outward shape somewhat altered, its Owl Dragon emblem hidden away.
He would admit it: the reason he was so keen on this revenge of Chitong's was, in large part, still that branch mission. The reward of that branch mission was simply too rich — the technical blueprint of a T4 starship! With Zhao Chen's System mall unable, for the short term, to upgrade to a T4 mall, obtaining a T4 starship's technical blueprint from a mission was a chance Zhao Chen absolutely had to seize hold of.
Not many days after seeing Chitong off, Zhao Chen received a comm request sent by an old friend.
Li Yaqi.
Zhao Chen entered the holographic-image comm room. On the other end was Li Yaqi, who'd long been waiting.
"I heard about Chitong. I'd never have thought she'd actually join your fleet." Li Yaqi launched straight into the matter of Chitong the moment she came on.
"I gave thought to Chitong and her people's present situation. It's far too dangerous out there, and it happens I'm short of hands over here," Zhao Chen said.
Li Yaqi nodded. "That is indeed the best choice. Let's turn to business first. The reason I've sought you out this time is on account of the Empire's military procurement. We've already gotten the latest word released about the procurement, and this time the scale is going to be enormous!"
Saying this, Li Yaqi was, in her whole person, exceedingly worked up. For any starship manufacturer, to win a military procurement meant a meteoric rise. There was not one powerful starship manufacturer anywhere without military-procurement orders! To win a procurement order was, in itself, a kind of emblem of standing and of strength. It was the finest advertisement there was. See here — the interstellar warships we make are wanted even by the Empire's military; won't you hurry and come buy!
"And in the scale of this procurement, the order share for T2 interstellar destroyers is the largest pie among the T2 warships too — surpassing any procurement of the past! It's projected they'll procure 10,000 T2 interstellar destroyers, and the procurement budget is, by preliminary estimate, going to reach 40 billion star coins!" Li Yaqi at this moment was for all the world like a tigress in heat, her eyes ablaze. One could see how closely she'd been following this matter.
"10,000?" Zhao Chen too was given a start by the figure. By the normal ship-type ratios of an Empire second-line fleet, 10,000 T2 interstellar destroyers could satisfy the needs of at least some 15 legion-grade interstellar fleets! By rights, the Empire's second-line fleets ought not to need so many T2 interstellar destroyers, surely? The scale of this procurement did indeed exceed what one would have imagined.
"I've heard, moreover, that the Hurricane Conglomerate is, this time, dead-set on carrying this procurement off! And just now they're developing a T3 interstellar destroyer and a T3 interstellar transport, both at precisely the critical juncture of their development, requiring a vast injection of R&D funds. This has even led to grave trouble in the Hurricane Conglomerate's capital chain — so by their internal word, they must, whatever the cost, carry off this T2 interstellar destroyer procurement order. Just let this order transfuse fresh blood into them, and the Hurricane Conglomerate can smoothly complete the development of those two T3 warships, and thereby fully evolve, striding into the ranks of the Starlight Empire's true first-rate interstellar conglomerates!" Li Yaqi said.
The Hurricane Conglomerate?
Zhao Chen looked at Li Yaqi, the corner of his mouth curving faintly upward. "I imagine that, this time, you've already made ready to throw a bucket of cold water over them."
Li Yaqi, too, let a sly little smile show. "Our T2 Tibetan Mastiff-class Medium Interstellar Destroyer has already been built with success on my end, and the production line is fully laid out. What's more, we've completed the construction of 30 T2 Tibetan Mastiffs. When the time comes, I plan to bring these T2 Tibetan Mastiffs to this procurement outright — and we can most certainly snatch this procurement order away, right out of the Hurricane Conglomerate's hands!"
"Then I reckon that by then the Hurricane Conglomerate will have half a mind to kill you," Zhao Chen ribbed.
Li Yaqi lifted her chin and squared her shoulders, and said with confidence, "Since I've chosen to ride the wind and break the waves, then I can't go fearing the reefs and hidden currents that stand in my way!"
Zhao Chen nodded in satisfaction. "I'll await your good news. If there's anything you need help with, tell me anytime."
"I will."
The comm ended.
Zhao Chen's mood was none too bad, either. If it truly was a procurement order worth 40 billion star coins, then by the time it was done he could take a share of at least 25 billion star coins!
25 billion star coins!
Turning this astronomical figure over in his mind, Zhao Chen seemed to see himself building interstellar warships in vast numbers, possessing an enormous interstellar fleet of his own. The mere thought of it was rather thrilling.
Beep, beep, beep.
The handheld terminal gave off a chime — a video comm request.
Chu Xuan?
How was it everyone had come crowding in together today?
Zhao Chen tapped to accept. Chu Xuan's video window appeared before him.
"My wife-to-be, and what's put me in your thoughts?" In his good mood, Zhao Chen opened his mouth and set straight to teasing Chu Xuan.
Chu Xuan's face went crimson on the instant; shy and furious, she glared at Zhao Chen. "You… you… what nonsense are you talking… I… when did I ever… become… become your wife… You… you go spouting rubbish again… and see if I don't… see if I don't… pull out that… tongue of yours."
Zhao Chen shrugged, wearing the look of one deeply wronged. "Didn't our old master himself say it? I'm his granddaughter's husband — so doesn't that make me your husband? What's this, Eldest Miss Chu — you mean to pull your trousers back up and go back on it?"