Late August
It had been two months since the North Star Starship Military Academy went on break, which was also the amount of time Zhao Chen and the others had spent at Arctic Fox Starport.
In the starship construction area, which had previously only contained the keel of a carrier starship, a brand-new carrier starship now stood proudly.
With its new starship armor and yellow-black hull paint scheme, the entire streamlined hull was impressive both aesthetically and practically.
Beside it, the Zero Blizzard looked like a child standing next to an adult in comparison to this new vessel.
Zhao Chen took a deep breath, dragging his exhausted body as he completed the final starship inspection.
Then, he swayed and nearly collapsed to the ground.
"Is it finished?" Zhao Wan'er walked over, holding a meal she had prepared for Zhao Chen.
"It's finished. The next step is the sea trial test." Zhao Chen took the food Zhao Wan'er handed him and began eating immediately, not even bothering to wash his grimy hands.
No one knew how he had survived these past two months.
During these two months, he hadn't had a single full night's sleep. Fortunately, the advanced medical technology here and the energy drinks he relied on to stay alert had kept him going—otherwise, he would have collapsed from exhaustion long ago.
Thankfully, his hard work paid off. In just two months, he had completed the construction of this T2 Queen Bee-class Heavy Carrier Starship.
Witnessing all this, Zhao Wan'er was truly convinced of her brother's abilities. To single-handedly build a T2 Queen Bee-class Heavy Carrier Starship, and one he had designed and researched himself—if the instructors at the North Star Starship Military Academy found out, they would be humbled.
"How come I never realized you had such incredible abilities before?" Zhao Wan'er asked curiously.
Before this, Zhao Chen had always been unremarkable—at most, a bit studious, but otherwise lacking any standout qualities.
"Our family already has Eldest Sister, a prodigy, and now you, another genius.
If I had shown my talents too, don't you think some people with ulterior motives would have taken notice?
I suspect the people in the Fierce Dragon Star System were afraid of you growing too powerful, which is why they chose this timing.
Tall trees attract strong winds." Zhao Chen offered this as an excuse.
"So you've been hiding your abilities all along?" Zhao Wan'er was astonished.
"It's called staying low-key." Zhao Chen crossed his arms.
Just then, Charlotte walked over.
"Captain, you called for me?" Deputy Captain Charlotte was in much better condition compared to two months ago and had grown accustomed to life under Zhao Chen's command.
After all, who wouldn't enjoy three meals a day of natural food?
"How is the training going for the five hundred half-beast female starship crew?" Zhao Chen inquired.
Deputy Captain Charlotte had spent a month purchasing five hundred half-beast female starship crew through Arctic Fox Starport's slave trafficking network.
Upon receiving them, she immediately began their training.
Fortunately, they all recognized Charlotte as the legendary general, so they obeyed her management.
Moreover, with the welfare benefits Zhao Chen had set for his female crew, the sight of white flour buns alone had already made them reluctant to leave.
"The training for the five hundred half-beast female starship crew is progressing smoothly. If we had five Zero Blizzards now, they could be deployed in a battle-ready state immediately," Deputy Captain Charlotte replied.
"What about this T2 Queen Bee-class Heavy Carrier Starship?" Zhao Chen pointed at the T2 Queen Bee-class Heavy Carrier Starship behind him.
Deputy Captain Charlotte glanced at the massive yellow-and-black starship and said confidently, "Within three days, we can master this starship and form effective combat capability."
Zhao Chen patted Zhao Wan'er's shoulder. "Charlotte, take Wan'er and the selected one hundred crew members and board the ship. Conduct a sea trial test on this T2 Queen Bee-class Heavy Carrier Starship."
"Me too?" Zhao Wan'er asked in surprise.
"You said before that you really wanted to have a carrier starship, right? This starship is my gift to you.
But when we return to the Academy, you'll temporarily use your original starship first. This carrier starship can't be exposed yet—tall trees catch the wind," Zhao Chen said.
Zhao Wan'er looked at Zhao Chen in astonishment, pointing at the T2 Queen Bee-class Heavy Carrier Starship and then at herself. "You... want to give this starship to me?"
"It's not free, you know. You need to serve as my captain. What... not willing?" Zhao Chen teased.
Zhao Wan'er rolled her eyes. "I... I'll just help you out for now... Who cares about your starship..."
After saying that, Zhao Wan'er immediately pulled Charlotte along to board the ship and familiarize themselves with the T2 Queen Bee-class Heavy Carrier Starship.
The interior space of the T2 Queen Bee-class Heavy Carrier Starship was countless times better than that of the Zero Blizzard.
Everything was brand new!
Unlike the Zero Blizzard, where traces of age could be seen everywhere.
Zhao Wan'er arrived at the bridge of the T2 Queen Bee-class Heavy Carrier Starship. The entire bridge was a circular enclosed structure, but when activated, it would display all the surroundings of the starship using 360° panoramic projection technology!
"Charlotte, let's get ready! I can't wait to take this starship out for a sea trial!" Zhao Wan'er said eagerly.
Commanding and piloting a carrier starship had always been Zhao Wan'er's dream.
She never imagined it would actually come true.
"We still need some preparation time, about half a day.
First, we need to let the crew familiarize themselves with the starship's environment and their respective positions.
Fortunately, some of the half-beast female crew members I recruited previously served on carrier starships, so they have experience in this area and should adapt quickly.
Moreover, this is only a T2-level carrier starship, so the technical difficulty shouldn't be too high," Charlotte said.
She then began selecting crew members for the T2 Queen Bee-class Heavy Carrier Starship. The chosen crew members quickly received notifications to report to the starship immediately.
In a large cabin, Charlotte looked at the one hundred half-beast female crew members assembled before her. Each wore neat clothes and had a smile on their face.
Just a month ago, when they were first brought here, they were all dressed in slave attire, terrified like birds in cages.
As Captain Zhao Chen put it,
Now, there was light in their eyes.
"I now announce something: from this moment on, you are the official crew members of this T2 Queen Bee-class Heavy Carrier Starship.
Detailed position assignments will be sent to each of you.
Over the past month, I believe you have all been very happy living on the Zero Blizzard."
But you must remember, who gave you all of this?
Perhaps you still doubt that man, question that man, but no matter what, now you must fight for him!
If anyone slacks off in their combat duties.
Even if you were once my comrades, I will expel you from this starship." Deputy Captain Charlotte stared at each person present. "Remember two words: 'gratitude'!
That man gave you a second life. Without him, you wouldn't be living in clean rooms or eating delicious food now!
We beastmen must understand the importance of repaying kindness!
Is that clear!"
"Clear!"
Zhao Chen lay on the large bed in his captain's quarters aboard the Zero Blizzard, watching the scene of Charlotte's admonishment.
Through the 'Eye of Insight,' he could see that these half-beast female starship crew members, if not extremely loyal to him, at least held no hostility and were filled with gratitude.
He believed it wouldn't be long before their attitudes completely changed.
"Let's see what I've gained." Zhao Chen fought off his drowsiness and opened the System Interface.
When the construction of this T2 Queen Bee-class Heavy Carrier Starship was completed, a system task notification had actually popped up.
[Quarterly Mission: Own a starship (system-produced).
Completed! Task reward can be claimed!]
Zhao Chen clicked to claim the task reward.
[Quarterly Mission reward claimed, distributing task rewards]
[Received 5 Task Points]
[Received one T2 Hammer-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ship Technical Blueprint]
[Received 500 System Points]
[Received T1 Super Soldier Serum]
Zhao Chen's drowsiness suddenly vanished!
An interstellar industrial ship!