"I have noticed that too. But as of now, the only lead we have is that these five Dragon-folk fleet groups have remained garrisoned at the frontier of the Dragon-folk tribe's own territory, with no sign of any movement. Because that lies at the far end of the Warhammer Interstellar Commonwealth's map, exceedingly far from us here. You may understand it as the two ends of a ball. So even though I have sent several T4 Banshee-class Light Interstellar Stealth Scout Ships, it will be hard to send back the reason why these five Dragon-folk fleet groups are not in the war in any short time. But I have already arranged for close watch upon every important star-gate hub; the moment these five Dragon-folk fleet groups hasten in to join the fighting, we shall have word of it at the first instant," Charlotte answered.
Zhao Chen was silent a while. He did not care about five more Dragon-folk fleet groups upon the frontal field, 150,000 interstellar warships.
What surprised him rather was this abnormality in the other side's military disposition.
The other great tribes had essentially dragged out the legion fleets they kept at the bottom of the chest.
The Giant Lion tribe, for instance, might be said to have committed its whole army.
The reason for this was of course not that the Giant Lion tribe meant to fight the Owl Dragon Legion to the death of both; Zhao Chen judged it far likelier that the Giant Lion tribe wished to fish up more benefit for itself out of this decisive battle.
For, supposing the Dragon-folk tribe truly defeated the Owl Dragon Legion, the next target to be dealt with would naturally be their own Three Giants' power.
And apart from the Giant Lion tribe, the leaders and chieftains of the other tribes all harbored notions of this kind in greater or lesser degree.
So that these five Dragon-folk fleet groups holding their troops motionless was indeed something out of the common.
Where a thing runs strange, there is a demon in it.
But as matters stood, all Zhao Chen could do was remind Charlotte to take more care.
Returning to the present, Zhao Chen looked at the data on these 1,500,000 enemy warships without stirring, and merely called up another set of data of greater value.
Which was the number of interstellar warships of each grade in the enemy fleets.
First the number of T4-grade interstellar warships.
The Holy Radiance Empire's side had sent near 150: the T4 Sacred Lucent-class Light Interstellar Cruiser, the T4 Divine-Envoy-class Medium Interstellar Destroyer, and the T4 Retribution-Angel-class Heavy Interstellar Battleship.
The Warhammer side's figure was very 'handsome' indeed: a full 1,500!
Though of these, the T4 Dragon-Knight-class Heavy Interstellar Cruiser and the T4 Butcher-class Medium Interstellar Destroyer made up 80%, and both of those are quasi-T4-grade interstellar warships.
Of the genuine T4 Ankylosaur-class Medium Interstellar Frigate there were only 300.
Seeing this, the corner of Zhao Chen's mouth could not help rising.
Nor did he forget to remark, "Earlier they claimed to have 1,000 T4 interstellar warships, and now they have produced 1,500 outright. Sure enough, nobody is honest when it comes to reporting figures; everyone has a little private stock tucked away."
Though at this Zhao Chen was not in the least concerned.
In the matter of T4-grade interstellar warships, he had above 500 in service in his own hands — and every ship class among them, complete.
Reading further down.
The Holy Radiance Empire's side had, for the remainder, 50,000 T3 interstellar warships and 250,000 T2 interstellar warships.
Whereas the Warhammer Interstellar Commonwealth's remainder was 100,000 T3 interstellar warships, 700,000 T2 interstellar warships, and 500,000 T1 interstellar warships.
Going by these figures alone, one might suppose the Warhammer side was doing rather well.
But anyone with a little discernment would see at a glance the gulf in strength between the Holy Radiance Empire and the Warhammer Interstellar Commonwealth.
Of T4-grade interstellar warships there is no need to speak.
In the matter of T3 interstellar warships, on the face of the figures the Warhammer has twice as many as the Radiance.
But one must consider the base!
The Holy Radiance Empire's 50,000 T3s stand upon a base of 300,000 interstellar warships.
Whereas the Warhammer Interstellar Commonwealth's hundred thousand T3s stand upon a base of 1,300,000 interstellar warships.
The one is six to one; the other 12 to one.
And as everyone knows, the Warhammer's interstellar warships are the weakest of their grade — so the actual gap is greater still.
As for the rest, there is no need to speak of it. The Warhammer Interstellar Commonwealth says on the face of it that it has assembled a combined fleet of 1,300,000 interstellar warships this time.
In fact 500,000 of those are T1-grade interstellar warships.
And what can a T1 interstellar warship do?
T2 interstellar warships are, in the Owl Dragon Legion's eyes, already not worth the striking.
The reason Charlotte could be so composed was that, in her eyes, the opponent—
was in hard fact only 150,000 T3 interstellar warships and those T4 interstellar warships.
The rest were no more than a swarm of ants.
One need only take a little care during the fighting not to be entangled by these ants.
Were it another opponent, this problem might perhaps be a worry.
But for the Owl Dragon Legion, which had always pushed firepower output to its utmost, it posed no threat whatever.
"Lilith — a month's time. Are our war-readiness stores and munitions all in place?" Zhao Chen asked Lilith, that housekeeper of his.
Lilith nodded. "Owing to this month of buffer, we have prepared war stores to the value of 800 billion star coins. And of that, 200 billion we owe besides to that Miss Leona, for the ransom she brought us. It is only a pity that the ransom to the value of 400 billion star coins was, in the overwhelming part, not war-readiness raw materials; or we could have laid in more this time. And hereafter, should the war break out. The Owl Dragon star system can guarantee a logistical supply of at least 10 billion star coins daily. Besides which, the Starlight Empire's Empress knows our situation, and bade me convey to you that should you have need— she can put the whole Starlight Empire's industry to work providing us war stores; and her legion fleets await your dispatch at any moment as well."
Zhao Chen nodded in satisfaction. War stores to the value of 500 billion star coins were enough to fight the coming battle.
As for Empress Qin Xiaolei's support, Zhao Chen thought it unnecessary.
The Starlight Empire now had 100 wasted things awaiting revival, and much of its manpower, materials and money were being placed upon construction; to increase investment in military industry at this juncture would greatly slow the Starlight Empire's speed of recovery.
As for the legion fleets in Qin Xiaolei's hands, though they used Owl Dragon-series interstellar warships throughout, the gap between them and the Owl Dragon Legion's strength was no small matter of a degree or two.
Brought onto a battlefield in earnest, they would presumably bear no small casualties.
The value against the cost was not high.
In the present state of things there was no need to move them.
"Convey to Qin Xiaolei on my behalf that I am grateful for her kindness, but that at present we have no need of this aid. Let her set her mind at rest and handle the Empire's affairs well. If there truly is need, I shall not stand on ceremony," Zhao Chen said straight out.
His standing now was that of the Starlight Empire's Prince Regent; he had every right to pass over Qin Xiaolei outright and move the greater part of the Starlight Empire's military strength.
"And that thing — how does it stand?" Zhao Chen looked to Lilith.
Lilith's lovely eyes shone with light. "By the latest word, they are working at it round the clock. But it still needs a week yet — and that not counting the trial-navigation program afterward."
"Trial navigation… I have a more fitting proving ground for that here." The corner of Zhao Chen's mouth rose, and he wore a look of anticipation.