"Both sides' warships have ceased fire. Our fleet's loss figures are tallied; these are the battlefield data Chitong has reported," Secretary Lilith reported to Zhao Chen.
Zhao Chen swept it a glance.
First and most conspicuous was the combat expenditure.
12 billion star coins in combat expenditure.
Of which 10 billion was the combat expenditure the 50 T3 Judicator-class Heavy Interstellar Missile Ships had fired off just now.
This sum of money, over in Chu Changhe's hands, could likely sustain a tug-of-war against the Princes' faction for five days, or even a week and more.
But in Zhao Chen's hands, it was fired off in five minutes.
Were Chu Changhe to know, he'd surely curse him for a spendthrift, and remind his granddaughter, good and proper, that in future she must mind the little coins and not let Zhao Chen fritter them away like this.
Still, had Zhao Chen not fired off that 10 billion star coins' worth of interstellar missiles, this legion-duel would not have ended in so short a span.
Setting aside the time the two legion-fleets spent voyaging, from the true opening of the fight to Saint Cana's declaration of surrender was under an hour!
For Zhao Chen, this money was well spent.
And if one looked again at the two sides' loss figures, it was more than well spent.
The Owl Dragon Legion's loss data:
First, the warships destroyed or crippled beyond repair — chiefly T3 Triceratops-class Interstellar Heavy-Assault Escorts, T3 Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruisers, and T3 Wind-Eagle-class Medium Interstellar Cruisers.
23 warships lost in all, of which only a scant few were destroyed outright; the great majority were crippled beyond worth repairing.
Then there were the starfighters and interstellar drones — the drones needn't be spoken of, built by Zhao Chen himself; however many were lost, it cost him no pang.
The starfighters' loss rate was under 5%; the Sacred Angel Legion's loss rate in this respect, by contrast, ran as high as 60%.
Had this battle not ended in time, the Sacred Angel Legion would likely have lost interstellar air-superiority entirely!
Casualties, by the tally, came to 1,727.
There were besides some 3,000 wounded to varying degrees, but they'd already been taken into the care of the interstellar medical ships, and posed no great problem.
So it was that the third battle of the Sacred-War Duel, which involved far more warships, cost fewer losses than the second battle's hundred-ship clash.
But this was only the Owl Dragon Legion.
Look, by contrast, at the Sacred Angel Legion's losses.
Though the tallied figures were only rough, they were already quite terrifying.
800-odd warships lost outright, including 10 T4-grade warships!
And 700-odd warships damaged to varying degrees besides!
Personnel deaths projected at some 300,000.
To sum up: the Sacred Angel Legion's loss rate in this battle topped 30%!
The Owl Dragon Legion's was a paltry 1%.
But in combat expenditure, the Owl Dragon Legion's was 100 times the Sacred Angel Legion's!
And that figure didn't reckon the value of the warships each side lost.
In truth, this too was a notion Zhao Chen had held from the start: one hidden aim of this Sacred-War Duel was to display the Owl Dragon Legion's military strength, and overawe the covetous eyes beyond the Starlight Empire.
The Starlight Empire was now in its civil-war phase, and this civil war likely wouldn't settle any time soon.
There were bound to be those, like the two great empires, who'd want to carve off a share of the Starlight Empire at such a moment.
But the Owl Dragon Legion, in the Sacred-War Duel, had beaten the Sacred Angel Legion and taken the victory.
A record like that was proof enough that the Starlight Empire, civil war or no, still had the strength to handle external troubles.
That even if it came to mutual ruin, it could still bite a chunk of flesh from an opponent.
This was a form of military deterrence!
"Commander, my lord — it's time to move to the final stage of the Sacred-War Duel," Lilith said softly at Zhao Chen's ear, her gaze turning to that layer of light-screen at the join of the two shuttles.
Zhao Chen stood and walked toward the light-screen.
At this Saint Cana across the way stood too, and came over.
Set against a few hours ago, the pack of confident Sacred Angel Legion high officers behind Saint Cana now looked, one and all, like beaten roosters.
"Your Excellency Zhao Chen, this Sacred-War Duel — we've lost. By the terms agreed beforehand, we will withdraw, and within the appointed span will not militarily interfere with the Starlight Empire's interstellar territories," Saint Cana said gravely.
"A stroke of luck. Were there another round, we wouldn't win so easily," Zhao Chen said modestly.
And this was the plain truth too; as for those little tricks of Zhao Chen's — with another round, and the Sacred Angel Legion prepared, even a loss wouldn't be so crushing as this.
"Lost is lost. Nothing more to say — Your Excellency Zhao Chen's warships are all very strong. If there's ever the chance, I'd truly love to board Your Excellency Zhao Chen's warships and take a good look," Saint Cana said, open and frank.
Defeated though the Sacred Angel Legion was, and heavy as it left her within, she genuinely loved and longed for the Owl Dragon Legion's warships.
Every one of them was a superb warship.
To command warships like those in battle was a truly blessed thing.
"Once we've cleared the battlefield, we'll withdraw. I hope Your Excellency Zhao Chen may win through in the Starlight Empire's civil war." Saint Cana fixed her blazing eyes on Zhao Chen.
"And I hope, too, for a chance in future to have another contest with Your Excellency Zhao Chen."
This woman truly was quite the war-lover.
Still, that forthright temper made her the sort one could befriend.
"If there's the chance, I'd be very glad to invite Miss Saint Cana aboard my warships for a look. And I'd very much like to tour those fine warships of yours too," Zhao Chen said with a smile.
Saint Cana gave a faint smile and let the matter lie.
In truth it was only a fond notion; given the positions of both sides, there was simply no way to board each other's warships openly and aboveboard.
Were Saint Cana truly to do so, on her return no few in the Imperial Council of Elders would move to impeach her.
This Sacred-War Duel had already landed her in no little trouble; better to keep quiet now.
"In a moment, we'll make ready to set sail home. Many thanks for the aid of Your Excellency Zhao Chen's interstellar medical ships — you've helped us save back no few of our wounded. On behalf of those wounded, I thank you. May the Sacred Light be ever with you." Saint Cana gave her thanks again.
But at this Zhao Chen's eyes narrowed, and a rather meaningful look surfaced.
"Oh, right — concerning the matter of treating your wounded. There's a medical bill here; I'll trouble Miss Saint Cana to settle it. After all, I'm only a small lord; those medical devices and supplies all have their costs — not like Miss Saint Cana's Sacred Angel Legion, with its great estate and the Holy Radiance Empire backing you. Now… which method of settlement will it be for you? You wouldn't… run a tab, would you?"
Zhao Chen: (*￣︶￣)
Saint Cana: (°ー°〃)