Traveling from the North Star System to the Arctic Fox System didn't leave Zhao Chen with any particular feeling. If no one had told him, he might not even have realized he had arrived in another star system.
Because everything in sight was basically the same: the dark universe, boundless space, and planets, moons, and asteroids of various shapes and sizes...
When Zhao Chen woke up from the hibernation pod again, the discomfort he had felt the first time was slightly reduced, but his legs were still trembling.
"Captain, our ship has reached the outer perimeter of the Arctic Fox Starport," Deputy Captain Charlotte reported.
Zhao Chen looked at the massive starport before him. Its size was countless times larger than the starport at the North Star Starship Military Academy.
Because this was a real starport!
It could also be called an interstellar city!
"Contact this person. Tell them it's Zhao Chen from the Zero Blizzard," Zhao Chen raised his hand and sent a communication link to Charlotte.
Charlotte complied, and soon a video window popped up.
On the other side was an elegant woman dressed in what looked like a work uniform.
"Hello, Mr. Zhao Chen. I am a staff member of the Arctic Fox Starport, ID cc11. It's an honor to serve you.
According to the requirements you previously communicated to us, a Large Starship Modification, Construction, and Upgrade Workshop has been prepared for you. I will send you the address. You have reserved it for a two-month period at a price of 100,000 Star Coins.
Additionally, the 'goods' you ordered, with a total value of 1.5 million Star Coins, have all arrived. As per your request, they have been placed in your Starship Workshop," the female staff member said with a smile.
"1.5 million Star Coins!" Zhao Wan'er exclaimed in shock, staring wide-eyed at Zhao Chen, who remained unfazed.
Deputy Captain Charlotte also glanced at Zhao Chen in surprise, but her years of mental discipline prevented her from losing composure like Zhao Wan'er.
"Thank you, miss. I'll treat you to tea another day," Zhao Chen said with a smile.
The female staff member covered her mouth and chuckled. "You're too kind, sir. During your stay, I am your dedicated point of contact. If you have any needs, feel free to contact me anytime.
I am available 24/7," she added, not forgetting to give a flirtatious glance.
This was a major client—the commission from this deal was equivalent to half a year of her usual base salary!
Deputy Captain Charlotte received the location of the Starport Berth and, under the starport's guidance, slowly navigated toward it, preparing to dock.
"What's with this 1.5 million Star Coins?" Zhao Wan'er couldn't hold back and asked again.
"I sold a T1 Starship Technology," Zhao Chen didn't hide it, as there would be no point in keeping it secret for much longer anyway.
"Sold T1 Starship Technology?" Zhao Wan'er was dumbfounded.
Zhao Chen took out an Imperial Card, tapped it, and a holographic projection displayed the remaining balance.
Over 1.9 million Star Coins!
"Where did you get so many Star Coins?" Zhao Wan'er exclaimed in astonishment.
Even the family assets in the Fierce Dragon Star System weren't this substantial.
"I sold the T1 Starship Technology for 3 million, and I squeezed 500,000 out of Zhang Haoran.
Renting this Starship Workshop at the Arctic Fox Starport for two months cost 100,000 Star Coins.
The batch of goods I ordered cost 1.5 million Star Coins.
Then, before the Zero Blizzard set sail, supplies cost 10,000 Star Coins.
Adding up all the miscellaneous expenses, I'm left with about 1.9 million Star Coins," Zhao Chen shrugged.
Zhao Wan'er listened to all this, unable to regain her composure for a long time.
She had also grasped the key point—T1 Starship Technology?
"Where did you get T1 Starship Technology?"
"I developed it myself."
"Since when do you know how to develop starship technology?"
"You saw me assemble a starship, didn't you?"
"Assembling and developing are two completely different things."
"In my view, it's just a slightly more challenging task."
Zhao Wan'er held her head, wondering when developing an entirely new starship had become just a "slightly more challenging task."
Beep beep beep
Just as Zhao Wan'er was about to press further, her Handheld Terminal flashed. She glanced at it, her expression turning serious. "It's the Hidden Sentinel arranged by my sister!"
"Ask if she can do a Video Communication," Zhao Chen requested.
Zhao Wan'er inquired and replied, "She says yes, but only for five minutes!"
"Five minutes is enough."
The Video Communication quickly connected, and a video window appeared before Zhao Chen and Zhao Wan'er.
On the other side was a refined and polite woman.
Zhao Chen recalled information about this woman from his memory.
She was a minor supervisor in the Interstellar Trade Industry of the Fierce Dragon Star System.
He hadn'tt expected her to be the Hidden Sentinel arranged by his eldest sister. Her name seemed to be Jiang Hong.
"Second Young Master, Third Young Lady," Jiang Hong bowed slightly.
"Let's keep it brief. Tell us what exactly is happening in the Fierce Dragon Star System?" Zhao Chen asked directly.
Jiang Hong was taken aback. She hadn't expected the previously timid Second Young Master to speak so assertively, but this was precisely what she had intended to discuss.
"I received news two days ago.
Several nobles from the Fierce Dragon Star System have colluded with Interstellar Pirates. They plan to use the pirates to ambush you and the Third Young Lady with a fleet while you return to the Fierce Dragon Star System during your vacation.
Once that happens, they can petition the empire to appoint a new lord.
I haven't been able to contact the Eldest Young Lady, so you and the Third Young Lady must not return now!" Jiang Hong explained.
An Interstellar Pirates attack?
Zhao Chen snorted coldly. This scheme was truly clichéd, but he had to admit it was highly effective.
"Do you know how many starships the Interstellar Pirates they contacted have prepared to ambush us? Also, provide the list of nobles involved in this plan and the Starship Count they control," Zhao Chen inquired.
Jiang Hong didn't understand why Zhao Chen was asking this, but coincidentally, she happened to know. "That group of Interstellar Pirates isn't a major force; they're just roving bandits.
They have only thirty starships, five of which are T2 Starships, and the rest are T1 Starships.
I already have a list of the Fierce Dragon Star System nobles involved in plotting this plan. If you need it, Second Young Master, I can transmit it to you.
The fleets controlled by these nobles number only a dozen or so starships, mostly T1 Starships, with a few families possessing one or two T2 Starships."
"Transmit the list to me immediately. Continue to conceal your identity and stand by. Notify me at once if you receive any other intelligence," Zhao Chen ordered.
"Yes," Jiang Hong replied, surprised at how readily she had obeyed the Second Young Master's command. She quickly asked, "What are your plans, Second Young Master?"
"For now, we won't return. I'll contact you if there are any further plans," Zhao Chen said.
"I'll try to contact the Eldest Young Lady. As long as she intervenes, this matter can definitely be resolved."
"It's not safe for me to stay in contact for too long, so I'll end it here. Second Young Master, Third Young Lady, please stay safe." After saying this, Jiang Hong ended the communication.
At that moment, a list appeared before Zhao Chen and Zhao Wan'er.
The Cui family, the Bao family...
There were more than ten family factions listed, large and small, but most were insignificant minor families and forces.
Only the first two were significant for the Fierce Dragon Star System.
"I never expected the Cui and Bao families to collude with interstellar pirates in an attempt to kill us!" Zhao Wan'er said angrily.
"The influence of the Cui and Bao families in the Fierce Dragon Star System has long surpassed that of our Zhao family. Our position as lords is merely nominal.
Their desires are insatiable; they don't want to remain just nobles within a single star system."
Looking at the list, Zhao Chen remarked with some surprise, "But what I didn't expect is that her family isn't on it."
"So, what do we do now? Oh, right, you still haven't explained why we came to this Arctic Fox Starport!" Zhao Wan'er's questions were about to explode like a volcano.
"I already told you earlier—to build starships," Zhao Chen said.
"Build starships? Build what kind of starships?" Zhao Wan'er asked in astonishment.
At that moment, the Zero Blizzard had already entered the large starship workshop.
This starship workshop was dozens of times larger than the one at the North Star Starship Military Academy!
Even the Zero Blizzard had more than enough space to dock inside.
"We came to the Arctic Fox Starport because it has one of the few large starship workshops in the Northern Star Region of the Star Glory Empire, complete with all necessary supporting equipment. Various raw materials can also be dispatched at any time, greatly increasing the speed of starship construction."
Zhao Chen looked at the starship workshop before him, feeling a surge of excitement.
"Build starships... build starships, what exactly are you planning to build?" Zhao Wan'er couldn't help but press further.
Zhao Chen raised his hand, and a holographic image of a starship appeared before Zhao Wan'er, instantly capturing her attention.
It was a carrier starship, with an exceptionally magnificent design.
"This is it."