"These are the prices I gave before for that batch of Owl Dragon-line warships provided to Tilia. Though, considering the help the Angel Race's fleets gave us in this hive-race crisis, upon the total price of those 10,000 hulls we granted a very great favor," said Zhao Chen.
"That Tilia told us too.
"And we are exceedingly interested in these Owl Dragon-line warships.
"But upon the matter of price…" The Holy Angel King paused, and went on, "If the price might be made somewhat more favorable, we should be willing to procure more of them. Above all the price of these interstellar missiles."
Here at last was the core of this discussion.
Zhao Chen had foreseen it: their inviting him this time was in high likelihood to bargain over price.
Zhao Chen said, without changing countenance, "These prices are in truth already very reasonable. Understand that our Owl Dragon's researching out these warships carried very great cost. Above all these interstellar missiles!"
"That too we know." The Holy Angel King nodded; upon the matter of these missiles there was helplessness in her heart as well.
She had set the angel Susan before this to studying these missiles, to see whether they might be built for themselves.
And they had indeed built some — but in effect far behind the Owl Dragon-line missiles, and with an exceedingly high rate of failure.
Several times they had even come near threatening the missile ship itself.
Understand that a missile ship fitted with a great quantity of missiles is of itself a moving powder barrel; and now this powder barrel of yours carries a risk of bursting on its own — who could accept that?
There being no help for it, they could only go on choosing to procure Owl Dragon-line missiles.
"But at present we are in a hard fight without cease against the Demon Race's fleets, and want a great quantity of missiles to make up our stores. And this price is truly very dear. We hope the Owl Dragon's lord may grant us some favor," said the Holy Angel King.
The War Angel King said as well, "My lord of the Owl Dragon, if you can render us help. You are the most honored friend our Angel Race has!"
Fine words with the mouth — who cannot say them?
Only what comes into one's own hand is truly the genuine article.
Though he must not shear the wool forever either; the Demon Race is his own enemy too, and the face that ought to be given must be given.
And these warships and missiles, favor or no favor, left him a very great space of profit all the same.
"Then how would this be. For the sake of the friendship between us. Let it go by the same fitting-out as that batch of Owl Dragon-line fleet I gave Tilia: 10 trillion star coins the procurement price for every 10,000 warships.
"As for the missiles: the procurement price of the T3 Judicator-class Heavy Interstellar Missile Ship's missiles is already very low, and for the T4 Hell-Angel-class Heavy Interstellar Missile Ship's missiles I can hold to 300 billion the batch, unchanged.
"That is already the greatest favor I can give." Zhao Chen said it too with a face of perfect sincerity.
Thereafter the two sides discussed it several rounds more.
And this meeting closed at last with Zhao Chen's side granting some further missiles with each missile ship besides.
And at present, then, they would sign with Zhao Chen a military order worth 100 trillion star coins, in portions of 10 trillion each.
Money in one hand and goods in the other; settled upon the spot.
"Then may I ask the Owl Dragon's lord — when can these military orders be delivered!" The War Angel King was plainly in great haste now.
Zhao Chen showed a thinking look, and then said, "As to the warships, in ten days to half a month we can deliver one batch. As to the missiles, our greatest supply is on average 5 trillion star coins' worth a week — at the least 20 trillion in a month."
Ten thousand hulls in ten days; thirty thousand Owl Dragon-line warships in a month.
Which, set against the several million hulls upon the fields now, was somewhat too small.
But these Owl Dragon-line warships could serve to exceedingly critical effect.
"Very well! Then we lay it upon the lord!" the War Angel King said sincerely.
Zhao Chen nodded, nor did he forget to add a word. "And here I must stress one thing besides. It is money in one hand and goods in the other; and the payment must be in those raw materials laid down in the agreement."
"Upon that set your mind at rest; we shall carry it out by the agreement!" the Holy Angel King promised.
"Very well; then if there is nothing further. I shall take my leave. I shall arrange the relevant production as fast as may be, and make certain these orders are delivered early!" Zhao Chen rose to take his leave.
At which the three Angel Kings did not detain him.
This time all three saw Zhao Chen to the Holy Temple's doors.
Because two of the Angel Kings were but holographic projections, they could see him only so far.
And the Holy Angel King walked the whole way down the Holy Temple Mount, saw Zhao Chen aboard his shuttle, and watched the shuttle draw away.
"This military order alone begins at 100 trillion star coins, not counting the vast procurement of missiles within it." The angel Susan beside her drew her brows slightly together.
Rich and open-handed as the Angel Race is.
This 100 trillion is equal only to a single quarter's output of the Angel Race at its height!
But through this recent stretch of time, the Demon Race's growing strength and its great invasion had told directly upon the productive capacity within Angel Race territory.
It might be said they now ran a deficit every month.
The military budget had passed 50 percent of the monthly output!
It might be said they were eating into the old stock.
"For our Angel Race's future, there is no help for it. Now we can only pray this war may pass as soon as may be," the Holy Angel King said gently.
…………
At the moment Zhao Chen came back aboard his own ship.
The secretary Lilith, past all waiting, sent a video request from the Owl Dragon Star System.
"How did the talk go?" Lilith asked it with her eyes alight.
Zhao Chen sat in the captain's chair, lifted both feet, and set them straight upon the arm of it.
"All went smoothly; we signed the order at the price we settled beforehand.
"100 trillion in military orders, each portion of 10,000 warships worth 10 trillion.
"And besides that, the right to procure missiles — at most 5 trillion star coins' worth supplied to them a week.
"By the state of their fields now, by my guess every week's share will be used up.
"So in a month we can complete at the least 40 trillion star coins of military orders." Zhao Chen said it with a grin.
Hearing it out, Lilith — though she had looked for it — was past all containing her excitement.
"Excellent! The build cost of this batch of 10,000 warships is but 200 billion star coins! Turn round and sell it, and it is 10 trillion! And these missiles want no saying: even sold at a cut price, there is a space of several times over in profit — and their difficulty of production is not high at all; they may quite well be pushed down to the middle and lower industrial bases to build!" Lilith's eyes shone golden.
In this moment she seemed already to see wealth coming in an unbroken stream from the Angel Race to the Owl Dragon's bases!
And Zhao Chen's mouth turned up at the corner in a smile too.
By which the Angel Race would provide Zhao Chen near 49 trillion star coins of wealth a month.
Which would let Zhao Chen carry out, without a care in the world, his plans for expanding the Owl Dragon Star System's fleets and its industrial bases.
Thanks be to the dear angels!