So great a number of interstellar transports could not of course berth at this starport; the starport could not hold them.
So these fleets of interstellar transports all hovered in a stretch of space outside it.
"How is it so many interstellar transports have come?"
"What fleet blazon is that? I have never seen it before."
"Look, quick! Is that not a T4-grade interstellar transport? By the hull's outer shape it is larger even than our Angel Race's T4 interstellar transports."
At every place within the starport from which the outside could be seen, that astonishing number of interstellar transports in the distance was noticed.
And the most important thing of all was that these interstellar transports were, without exception, T3-grade and T4-grade.
This case struck the starport's highest administrator dumbfounded as well.
And just as this starport administrator was at a loss how to handle the business, he received an urgent notice.
The content of it was that this starport was to enter a state of emergency control at once, that all starships able to sail were to leave within a set time, and that any requirement whatever of the visiting Owl Dragon fleet was to be satisfied.
And he was told besides that the Holy Angel King would very soon come in person.
On seeing this notice he was much astonished.
And above all on seeing at the end that the Holy Angel King would come in person, he grasped the more how important this business was.
Daring no negligence whatever, he went at once to set matters in order, and to receive that Owl Dragon fleet by the highest standard.
He got in contact with the other side's fleet himself, and asked whether they had any requirements.
The answer he had was only that they should make ready such supply resources as would answer for the energy replenishment of these interstellar warships, and at the same time not disturb them.
The Holy Angel King's fleet came very quickly.
Three thousand interstellar warships sailed to the place.
From a great way off the angel Tilia saw that waiting fleet of interstellar transports.
At a glance there were five or six thousand of them at the least.
And a fifth of those were T4-grade interstellar transports besides.
Which left the angel Tilia somewhat stirred within: if the Owl Dragon could truly prove they possessed this industrial strength, then for the Angel Race it was beyond doubt a very great good thing!
The Angel Guard Susan beside her looked upon the scene with her brows drawn together; within, she was unwilling to believe it still.
Very soon, at the angel Tilia's own contacting, a video window opened.
The three of them saw the man across from them, seated upon a sofa.
"By our agreement, I have brought the 10,000 T3 Radiance-class Medium Interstellar Destroyers required by the military order," Zhao Chen said with a smile.
None of the three angels spoke at the first moment.
The truth was that within, none of them had digested the thing yet.
Zhao Chen saw their minds from their expressions, and went on. "You may send people across to inspect the starships we have delivered."
"My lady, let me go!" The Angel Guard Susan volunteered it.
She did not believe this Owl Dragon could truly complete this military order to quality and to quantity in so short a time!
The Holy Angel King looked at this subordinate she had cultivated.
She knew Susan's character: conceited and proud somewhat, but very capable in the matter of starship technology, and very scrupulous in her work besides.
"Go, then," said the Holy Angel King.
"Yes." The Angel Guard Susan answered, and at once left the bridge to take a shuttle and go inspect the goods.
"Then might I ask about the payment for our goods — the 2 trillion star coins' worth of raw materials required within the military order?" Lilith at this point showed herself from beside Zhao Chen and put the question.
That Zhao Chen should come across again this time had in fact been opposed by no few within the Owl Dragon.
For after such a business as had happened before — though all knew it was a disaster past control, they had the lingering fear of it still.
But for a meeting of such importance, Zhao Chen would not be easy in his mind if he did not come himself.
At the last, upon everyone's discussion, Lilith came across together with Zhao Chen.
The angel Tilia, at the Holy Angel King's ear, was explaining that Lilith held the standing of the Owl Dragon's highest secretary.
And at this time the two of them discovered a very awkward thing.
Namely… that they seemed not to have had time to make ready the payment.
Before this, they had never thought the Owl Dragon could complete this military order so fast — and complete the whole of it besides… at least, so the other side now said.
Lilith sensed the other side's bearing, and her brows drew slightly together. "Your side has surely not left the payment unprepared?"
The angel Tilia explained at once. "We did make ready. But we never thought your side could deliver the military order in so short a time. So the raw materials that payment requires have not yet been shipped here. They are being dispatched now. Three days at the most… no! Two days, and they can be shipped here."
Lilith's brows drew together.
It was Zhao Chen at this point who came out and saved the situation. "We can understand it; but by the rule, the payment must pass with one hand and the goods with the other. Though we may allow your side to inspect and take receipt of the goods first."
At Zhao Chen's words the angel Tilia might be said to have let out a breath.
And thereafter it was but to wait for the answer the Angel Guard Susan would give.
Time passed, moment by moment.
Ten minutes…
Half an hour…
An hour…
"Susan has gone to inspect the goods; does it want so much time as this?" the Holy Angel King inquired in puzzlement.
"I shall contact Susan now." The angel Tilia, fearing Susan might have made some trouble, began contacting her at once.
This communication was a long while in going through before the other side was reached.
Within the video window, the first thing the angel Tilia saw was the Angel Guard Susan's look and expression of something like disbelief, as though she had seen a thing that could not be.
"Susan, how does it stand upon your side?"
"Susan?" The angel Tilia called several times before Susan answered.
She looked toward the video window with a somewhat stupefied expression.
"Susan, how has the inspection gone upon your side?" the Holy Angel King inquired.
The Angel Guard Susan gulped, and there was a shake in her voice. "I… I have inspected 36 of the other side's interstellar transports… and upon them I have seen the module components of the T3 Radiance-class Medium Interstellar Destroyer we required. The quality… in quality there is no trouble whatever. They even… surpass the T3 Radiance-class Medium Interstellar Destroyers… our own Angel Race produces…"
At hearing Susan say this, both the Holy Angel King and the angel Tilia showed astonished expressions.
Of Susan's estimate they had no doubt whatever.
That a person so conceited and proud should own with her own mouth that starship components produced by others far surpassed those produced by their Angel Race.
That was enough to show how shaken Susan must have been by what she saw.
And they understood as well why Susan had spent so much time: she had made her inspection of a full 36 interstellar transports.
They could even picture how, through that hour, Susan had gone flying like a mad thing from transport to transport.