Jiang Xiong, the patriarch of the Jiang Family, was currently walking slowly into the Zhao family mansion with his two children.
"Father, what you just said... is it true that two starships completely annihilated the interstellar pirate fleet?" Jiang Ziwen, Jiang Xiong's son and Jiang Shasha's younger brother, asked quietly.
Beside him, Jiang Shasha's expression was extremely grim. She bit her lip lightly, seemingly lost in thought.
"The battlefield was at Longwei Star. We have a branch family there, so the information is absolutely accurate. The wreckage of those interstellar pirate starships is still drifting outside Longwei Star," Jiang Xiong said solemnly.
"Sis, both those starships belong to Zhao Chen? Where did Zhao Chen get such incredible starships?" Jiang Ziwen asked curiously.
Jiang Shasha recalled the images of the two starships her father had shown her earlier. One of them was the carrier starship currently hovering 20,000 kilometers above their heads.
"One is called Zero Blizzard. Zhao Chen used it to win the starship duel at the North Star Starship Military Academy. I haven't seen the other carrier starship, and I don't know anything about it," Jiang Shasha said quietly.
Suddenly, the scent of blood filled the air.
Just as they wondered where the smell of blood was coming from in the Zhao family mansion, the scene before them made all three of them widen their eyes in shock.
Stone pillars stood erect in the Zhao family courtyard, each with a person tied to it. Some were alive, some were half-dead, and some were already corpses.
They recognized the identities of these people.
Among them, one dead and one alive were particularly familiar to them.
The heads of the Bao and Cui Families—two of the three great families of the Fierce Dragon Star System!
Passing through this "forest of stone pillars," Jiang Xiong and his two children arrived before the Zhao family members.
Jiang Shasha looked at the man before her.
Unfamiliar...
Although his appearance was familiar, his gaze, expression, and the aura around him made her feel that the Zhao Chen she had known for over twenty years was completely different from the Zhao Chen standing before her now.
"Jiang Xiong of the Jiang Family, accompanied by my children Jiang Ziwen and Jiang Shasha, have come as ordered to pay our respects to the Baron," Jiang Xiong said, bowing respectfully to Zhao Chen first.
Jiang Ziwen and Jiang Shasha followed suit.
"Uncle Jiang Xiong, you've arrived quite early," Zhao Chen said, smiling as he looked at Jiang Xiong.
"As soon as I received the Baron's message, I came immediately without delay," Jiang Xiong replied, lowering his head with a humble and earnest demeanor.
"Are you aware of the rebellion of the Bao and Cui Families?" Zhao Chen cut straight to the main point.
Jiang Ziwen and Jiang Shasha's hearts skipped a beat, feeling as if a knife were pressed against their necks.
"I am aware," Jiang Xiong said.
"Did you participate?" Zhao Chen asked calmly.
"No," Jiang Xiong replied.
"If you didn't participate, what were you doing during this time?" Zhao Chen stared at Jiang Xiong.
"I only learned about the rebellion of the Bao and Cui Families a month ago. By then, Fierce Dragon Prime was already under their control. The starships under my command were also forcibly requisitioned by them. I had no desire to join them, but I was powerless to stop them, so I could only watch as everything unfolded. Fortunately, the Baron is safe and has resolved the crisis."
Jiang Xiong's tone shifted as he knelt on one knee. "But I know that as a vassal, my inaction during the rebellion of the Bao and Cui Families is tantamount to being an accomplice. I, Jiang Xiong, am willing to accept any punishment from the Baron."
"Please, Baron, spare the wives, children, and elders of my Jiang Family!"
Jiang Shasha looked worriedly at her father, then at the unfamiliar man.
"You are not at fault, and I do not blame you for this matter. First, take your children and step aside. Later, I will convene a noble council of the Fierce Dragon Star System." Zhao Chen directly shifted the topic.
He did not immediately punish or deal with the Jiang Family over this matter.
Time passed bit by bit.
The number of corpses and prisoners in the Zhao Family courtyard grew larger and larger, and more and more clan heads of the nobility arrived upon receiving the news. Each person who came, upon seeing the bloody scene in the Zhao Family courtyard, turned pale with shock.
"Everyone is here." Jiang Hong walked up to Zhao Chen and whispered.
Zhao Chen scanned the Zhao Family courtyard. Apart from the living and dead tied to the pillars, all the nobles, big and small, of the Fierce Dragon Star System were present, totaling about twenty or thirty people.
Among them, the most powerful was the Jiang Family, the only one of the three great families that remained.
"The matter of the Bao Family and Cui Family's rebellion has been dealt with thoroughly.
All those involved are also tied to those stone pillars." Zhao Chen pointed at the blood-stained pillars.
"I know that many of you in the past did not accept me as your lord.
You thought I was a waste." Zhao Chen spread his hands: "It doesn't matter. I truly don't care about these things. You can talk about me behind my back however you like.
If you feel I am not worthy to be your lord, you are also free to choose to leave the Fierce Dragon Star System and seek development elsewhere. I, Zhao Chen, will not stop you."
Zhao Chen's expression changed, exuding authority without anger: "But I despise those who act one way in front of me and another behind my back. Since they chose this path, they must pay the price for their choice.
Jiang Hong."
"Your subordinate is here." Jiang Hong stepped forward.
Zhao Chen took out a list: "For the families on this list, all those still alive are to be imprisoned. The leaders are to be executed, and the remaining family members are to be sent to the mining zone for indefinite labor."
Everyone present looked at Zhao Chen's list with terror.
It was a death list.
"As for the families not on the list, how many of you are truly clean? You know it in your hearts.
In the past, I didn't bother with whatever small moves you made.
From today onward, remember this: the Fierce Dragon Star System belongs to the Zhao Family!
If you are unwilling, you can get out of here.
Otherwise, I worry that one day you might also end up on these stone pillars." Zhao Chen turned around, his back to the crowd: "Alright, the meeting ends here."
"Second Grandmother, it's getting late. We should go eat.
I've prepared dinner for you. You'll surely like it." Zhao Chen smiled as he supported Old Madam Zhao into the main house, completely different from the grim reaper-like Zhao Chen moments before.
Those left in the courtyard exchanged bewildered glances.
Someone was the first to move, and gradually, everyone lowered their heads and left the Zhao Family estate.
On the Jiang Family shuttle.
"Prepare. We are relocating the entire clan." Jiang Xiong said gravely.
"Relocating the entire clan? Why? We have considerable assets in the Fierce Dragon Star System!" Jiang Ziwen exclaimed in surprise.
Jiang Xiong sighed and said, "Didn't you hear the underlying meaning in Zhao Chen's words just now? He was warning us.
If we don't obediently hand over these assets, our Jiang Family will become the third Bao Family and Cui Family!"
Without our assets, we can start over from scratch.
Moreover, I've long had arrangements in other star systems.
As an interstellar merchant, one must understand the principle of having multiple escape routes."
"But... do we really have to leave? Shasha is Zhao Chen's fiancée. Given the relationship between our two families, we could wholeheartedly support Zhao Chen. Perhaps we could even become second only to him in the Qilin Star System!" Zhao Ziwen fantasized.
Jiang Shasha lowered her head even further upon hearing this.
Jiang Xiong looked at his daughter and said coldly, "Don't you know what your sister did at the North Star Starship Military Academy?
Our ties with the Zhao family have long been severed.
If we also get involved in the rebellion of the Bao Family and Cui Family this time, Zhao Chen would not hesitate to tie us to those stone pillars as well.
While we still have a choice, it's better to leave here wisely."
Jiang Xiong gazed toward the Zhao family's direction through the shuttle's window: "The Zhao family has a son who has truly grown up."