Inside the conference room of the T2 Bee Queen-class Heavy Aircraft Carrier Starship, eighteen succubi were currently standing by, ready for action.
"The exam begins. You need to complete the questions in front of you within three hours," Zhao Chen said, looking at the eighteen succubi.
Each of the eighteen succubi had a holographic screen in front of her, displaying their assessment questions.
The moment Zhao Chen announced the start of the exam, not a single succubus spoke; they all began to diligently work on the questions.
In fact, all these exam questions were found by Zhao Chen, who had his younger sister, Zhao Waner, retrieve them from past civil service department exams at the North Starship Military Academy.
And these were all sixth-grade exam questions!
The materials Zhao Chen had previously given to Lilith and the others were the theoretical materials that civil service students at the North Starship Military Academy needed to study in their sixth year.
However, Zhao Chen only gave them one month.
During this month, these succubi studied every day, even while eating, sleeping, and showering.
And today was the time to verify their abilities.
Time passed bit by bit.
Some succubi showed no change in expression, some frowned in thought, and some were anxious and worried.
Three hours quickly passed.
"Everyone, cease all activity. I will receive your exam content. As for the results, I will announce them in a few hours. You are now to immediately leave the conference room and engage in free activities," Zhao Chen said seriously.
Although the exam was over, every succubus dared not relax in the slightest; they all remained outside the conference room, poised and ready.
Little succubus Betsy pulled Lilith's hand and softly asked, "Sister Lilith, wha… what if… if we didn't do well on this assessment, will Captain Zhao kick us out?"
Although Captain Zhao had only said that the assessment concerned their future positions on the Starship, he did not say whether they would be expelled if they failed.
So, they had been on tenterhooks for the past month.
"It's alright. You all worked very hard. I believe your assessment will be fine," Lilith comforted her.
An hour later, Zhao Chen pushed open the door and came out.
The gazes of the eighteen succubi all fell on Zhao Chen, filled with tension, anxiety, and fear.
"I will now announce the assessment results and rankings.
First place, Lilith."
Lilith's ranking was something everyone had anticipated, as her talent was the highest among all of them.
"Second place, Marcie.
Third place…
…
Sixth place, Betsy…"
Upon hearing her ranking, Betsy breathed a sigh of relief; at least she was sixth and not at the bottom.
The few succubi at the bottom of the rankings were now nervous, looking at Lilith and the Commander helplessly, some even covering their faces and crying, regretting why they hadn't studied harder.
After Zhao Chen finished announcing the rankings, he looked around and then said, "Everyone's scores are passing."
Passing!
At this, those few succubi at the bottom of the rankings also let out a long breath.
One succubus cautiously asked, "Then, Commander… can we… can we stay?"
"Of course," Zhao Chen said with a smile.
In fact, whether they performed well in the assessment and whether they could stay was entirely up to Zhao Chen.
The assessment was merely a formality.
But it must be said, they truly performed well.
In just one month, even the succubus with the lowest score reached the level of a fourth-year civil service student at the North Starship Military Academy!
Among them, Lilith even achieved the highest score, a few points higher than the passing score of the academy assessment.
"I will now announce your future job positions.
Lilith will serve as my Secretary, Marcie will serve on the Zero Blizzard Bridge…" Zhao Chen announced everyone's positions, all of which were civil service roles on the Starship.
Among them, Lilith's position was the highest.
A Secretary, in an Alliance Fleet, can be said to be the second-in-command, second only to the Fleet Commander.
And on a Starship, she is definitely one of the top three power-holders, on par with the Deputy Captain.
"Me… Secretary?" Lilith was also startled.
"That's right. This is what you deserve based on your ability. I hope you will work diligently in the future.
If we encounter other succubi in the future, you can also recruit them, just like Charlotte," Zhao Chen said.
Lilith looked at Zhao Chen with some surprise; she had not expected him to value her so highly.
"Commander, I will definitely work hard!" Betsy, who was beside her, said excitedly.
Being able to stay here was the happiest thing for them.
And so, Lilith and the other succubi officially joined the Xiaolong Fleet.
…
In the last few days of November, Zhao Chen's T2 Iron Hammer-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ship was officially completed.
The Owl Dragon emblem, representing the Xiaolong Fleet, also appeared on its hull.
"With it, I can build our Starships faster and in greater numbers!" Zhao Chen looked at the T2 Iron Hammer in front of him with joy.
He looked at Charlotte next to him: "How are the matters I asked you to handle progressing?"
"During this time, according to your request, I have gathered 200 half-orc crew members who have experience in Starship manufacturing and maintenance," Charlotte reported.
"Excellent! Starting tomorrow, have them board the Starship and begin learning, quickly mastering the T2 Iron Hammer!" Zhao Chen said with some excitement.
Charlotte, however, poured cold water on Zhao Chen:
"Commander, although we now have the T2 Iron Hammer, the funds in our Alliance Fleet's account may not be enough to build another Starship.
Previously, we sold the wreckage of the Three-Clawed Serpent Interstellar Pirate Fleet and obtained 400,000 star coins.
Adding our remaining funds, we now have a total of 900,000 star coins in our account."
900,000 star coins—this indeed could not meet the raw material requirements for building a Starship.
Short on money again.
Zhao Chen scratched his head, not expecting to be short on money again after only a few months.
He needed to find a way to make money.
But only a little over a month remained until the deadline for the quarterly mission requirements.
He didn't have much time left.
[System Mission Triggered: 'Accept and complete the bounty mission issued by the Lord of the Arctic Fox Galaxy'. Do you wish to accept this mission? Refusing the mission will cost 300 System Points.]
At this moment, a system mission also appeared, and it seemed to be related to the Arctic Fox Galaxy.
Originally, Zhao Chen didn't want to accept it, but seeing the 300 System Points cost for refusing, he still chose to accept.
[Mission Content: Accept and complete the bounty mission issued by the Lord of the Arctic Fox Galaxy.
Mission Difficulty: Class C.
Mission Reward: Five mission points and 1000 points.
Special Reward: A random reward will be given based on mission completion.
Failure Penalty: Deduct 1000 System Points.]
Zhao Chen glanced at the system mission and immediately asked Charlotte to check if the Arctic Fox Galaxy had issued any bounty missions.
"You know about this?" Charlotte looked at Zhao Chen in surprise.
"What is it?" Zhao Chen asked; it seemed Charlotte knew something.
Charlotte said, "Just now, the Arctic Fox Starport broadcast throughout the entire Starport, requesting private fleets and adventurer fleets to accept a bounty mission.
The content is that a Cosmic Insectoid Hive has appeared on a remote asteroid base in the Arctic Fox Galaxy.
A small Imperial Army Fleet has already gone to support, but the number of interstellar Zerg inside the hive is considerable, and the battle situation is not good.
And the Lord Fleet of the Arctic Fox Galaxy and another Imperial Army Fleet will need a day to arrive, while it only takes three hours to get there from our location.
The mission requirement is to cover the evacuation of five million residents on that asteroid base!"
Zerg?
Zhao Chen's eyelids twitched.