And within this ransom document.
Lilith had most considerately worked out for Leona besides that, should they ransom every interstellar warship — the 20,000 tribal interstellar warships included—
the cost was estimated at near 500 billion star coins!
500 billion star coins.
What an enormous figure that was.
For all that the Warhammer Interstellar Commonwealth was vast in extent, the largest in territorial area of the Galactic Alliance's three great empires, its annual output value had only lately passed 15 trillion star coins.
And of that the Dragon-folk tribe's share was only 30%, of which military spending came to around 40% — and that a high proportion of military spending among the three empires at that.
It was also this cult of arms that had left the Warhammer Interstellar Commonwealth's economic foundation badly troubled, and the quality of life in the several tribes very poor.
500 billion star coins amounted to requiring the Dragon-folk tribe to lay out a quarter of a year's military budget to pay this ransom.
A very finely judged figure: no astronomical sum, one the Dragon-folk tribe could bear — and yet an outlay to make the flesh ache.
"Might I ransom only a portion—" Leona had found the 'loophole' in it, and looked at the man and the succubus opposite.
That succubus spoke up at this point. "Your Highness need not be hasty; you may look at the notes and conditions below."
Notes and conditions?
Leona glanced at them, and the reading of it nearly drove her to curse aloud.
Had she not been 'brought to heel' by Zhao Chen beforehand, Leona would assuredly have overturned the table.
The content of the notes was very simple.
To ransom an interstellar warship, one must equally ransom the soldiers and crew aboard it.
To ransom a legion fleet's commander, one must ransom every member of that legion fleet.
To ransom a fleet group's supreme commander, one must ransom every interstellar warship and every person of that fleet group.
This was bundled selling!
It sealed off thoroughly every one of those little calculations of Leona's from before.
Which gave Leona the feeling of having had a mouthful of ordure forced down her.
"These terms are somewhat harsh; we shall need to discuss it on our side—" Leona wished to play for time.
But Zhao Chen opposite would give her no such chance.
Zhao Chen raised one finger, and upon that finger a figure appeared.
24:00
"From this moment, I give you 24 hours to consider. Within 24 hours tell me the list of those you wish to ransom; the list must follow the conditions above, or we shall not acknowledge it. Once the ransom list is fixed, you must deliver us the whole ransom within three days. The ransom may be paid in any form whatever." When Zhao Chen had set out these conditions—
Leona's face opposite had already gone iron-dark.
A low keening came out of her throat despite herself.
With the makings of a rage that might break out at any moment.
Were that man opposite not on the far side of a network channel, she would have wrung the fellow's head off then and there.
"Your Highness… Your Highness…" The attendant beside her kept making urgent signs with his eyes.
By all means do not lose your temper now, or this negotiation cannot go forward at all.
Leona drew a deep breath.
500 billion star coins.
She bit lightly at her red lips, let out a long breath, and looked again at the man opposite. "Very well. As you say. I shall discuss it with my father."
"Very well; I await your good news." Zhao Chen answered with a smile, and thereafter closed the channel outright.
Seeing the video window close.
Leona could hold it in no longer; she shot to her feet and cursed this detestable man without cease, cursing her own damnable uncle along the way.
All because of this mess of his, they were to pay out 500 billion star coins in ransom.
Why could that good-for-nothing uncle not simply have died upon the field?
Leona drove fist after fist into the wall.
Which set the attendant beside her trembling with fright.
Some minutes later Leona recovered her composure.
She turned and looked at the attendant coldly. "Get me my father… and my mother's family besides. This 500 billion star coins cannot come from the royal house alone; they can very well clean up this mess for that worthless heir of theirs!"
"Yes…" The attendant nodded again and again, and stole several careful glances at that wall.
Under Leona's ravaging the wall was covered in a spider's web of cracks.
After Leona had left, that wall collapsed outright, laying bare the compartment beyond.
Wherein a Dragon-folk soldier with a head full of lather stared blankly at the wall that had just come thundering down before him.
This… what has happened?
I was only washing my hair…
...
"I wonder whether the other side will agree to this demand. 500 billion star coins amounts to a quarter of the Dragon-folk tribe's annual military budget. Our own monthly earnings only crossed that same 500 billion threshold a short while ago." Lilith looked at Zhao Chen, forcing down her laughter.
Zhao Chen shrugged, and looked toward the reverse side of that video window.
"If that Leona creature knew that the whole of this business was managed by your Black Fox line— she would likely not be able to keep from grinding your bones and scattering the ash." Zhao Chen looked teasingly at Chieftainess Hu Ya and Hu Xin'er opposite.
Hu Xin'er wore a look of pure excitement and brandished her fists. "That was truly too satisfying. To think we could prize 500 billion star coins out of the Dragon-folk tribe's mouth! Ha ha ha ha — I should dearly like to tell that Leona that this business was this young lady's doing!"
Chieftainess Hu Ya, seeing her own daughter's excited state, rapped Hu Xin'er upon the head to remind her to mind her bearing.
And then looked to Zhao Chen. "My lord, though on account of this Robert's standing the Dragon-folk tribe will very likely agree to pay this ransom. We must be careful all the same."
Zhao Chen nodded. "I know. This business is given over wholly to you. Though considering your safety, the part of it done in the open I shall handle myself."
Hu Xin'er blinked and looked at Zhao Chen. "My lord, we have done such a piece of business for you. 500 billion star coins! Surely you must give us some benefit."
This girl — how is it she seems so like Annie?
She does one piece of work and is thinking at once of the benefit.
"If you complete this business smoothly. I can permit your Black Fox tribe to enter the Owl Dragon household registration, and grant you rights of residence upon one habitable planet in the Owl Dragon star system," Zhao Chen said.
Hu Xin'er rolled her eyes and pouted. "What is an Owl Dragon household registration? 500 billion star coins, and you give us residence rights on one habitable planet… how stingy. With that money I could raise a fleet, seize a star system and set myself up as king."
"You will not be discourteous to my lord." Chieftainess Hu Ya rapped Hu Xin'er's head again.
Hu Xin'er clutched her head, wearing a look of pure injury.
She did not yet know the importance of this reward of Zhao Chen's; but by the time she first truly entered the Owl Dragon star system and understood its real worth—
she would know how important this reward was.
Indeed, in the not-too-distant future, the people of no few powers would long to hold a place within the Owl Dragon star system.
Because only so could one be counted as having truly blended into the Owl Dragon!
That identity was a treasure beyond price.