Over the next few days, Zhao Chen took control of the seven surrendered T1 starships.
Previously, Zhao Chen had Charlotte purchase five hundred half-beast slaves in one go at the Arctic Fox Starport, with one hundred assigned to the T2 Queen Bee-class Heavy Carrier Starship.
Including the one hundred half-beast slaves purchased earlier at the North Star Starship Military Academy, fifty were assigned to work on the Zero Blizzard.
This left a total of four hundred and fifty half-beast female starship crew members without formal positions.
They were temporarily assigned to take over these T1 starships, responsible for maintaining order in the Fierce Dragon Star System, while also collecting all thirty-five starship wreckages from the Three-Clawed Snake Interstellar Pirate Fleet at the Longwei Star battlefield.
All of this made the Fierce Dragon Star System appear to have returned to peace, with everything back to normal.
But the reality was that the Fierce Dragon Star System had undergone earth-shaking changes.
Originally, although the Zhao Family was a lord family, they had always been marginalized. In just one night, they had completely taken control of the entire Fierce Dragon Star System.
The T2 Queen Bee-class Heavy Carrier Starship, leading stellar drones and some of the Zhao Family's combat mechs, was tasked with seizing control of all the industries belonging to the families on the death list and placing them under Zhao Family control.
Since these families were all labeled as rebels, their family industries and assets were confiscated by the lord.
Just dealing with this alone took nearly a week.
"Young Master, these are the assets seized from those rebellious nobles over the past few days. Additionally, all their industries have been taken over by us and have fully resumed their previous production work," Jiang Hong reported to Zhao Chen.
Compared to Zhao Wan'er, Charlotte, and others, no one was more suitable than Jiang Hong to handle matters in the Fierce Dragon Star System.
Before this, she was only a small leader in the trade department, but relying on her connections within the Fierce Dragon Star System, she had a thorough understanding of both the internal and external affairs of the system.
Zhao Chen entrusted all these matters to Jiang Hong, and she did not refuse.
After all, her mission was to protect the Zhao Family's foundation for the Zhao Family's eldest daughter.
At the moment, the two were in Zhao Chen's temporary office at the Zhao Family estate.
"How much are the valuable assets worth?" Zhao Chen inquired.
"A total of over six hundred thousand Star Coins," Jiang Hong replied.
Zhao Chen was genuinely startled: "Over six hundred thousand Star Coins? These guys were really good at lining their own pockets. They managed to accumulate so much wealth!"
Jiang Hong continued, "Additionally, including the Jiang Family, dozens of noble families have relocated and left the Fierce Dragon Star System over the past week.
The industries left behind by those families have all been taken over by us, and anything they couldn't take with them naturally became the Zhao Family's property.
Those items are also worth about one hundred thousand Star Coins."
Another one hundred thousand Star Coins.
That made a total of seven hundred thousand Star Coins!
Zhao Chen couldn't have been happier. His T2 Hammer-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ship was now within reach.
"Young Master, is it really appropriate to just let the Jiang Family and those other noble families leave like this?
Your previous list already wiped out half of the noble forces in the Fierce Dragon Star System, including the two giants, the Bao Family and the Cui Family.
Now, even the Jiang Family has left, taking a group of noble families with them."
"Currently, the noble families remaining in our Fierce Dragon Star System are less than twenty percent of what they used to be!" Jiang Hong looked at Zhao Chen with concern.
Zhao Chen allowing those noble families to leave was truly a significant loss for the Fierce Dragon Star System.
"Those willing to stay will do so without us saying a word. Those who want to leave, we can't stop them even if we try," Zhao Chen said calmly. "This is for the best. With them gone cleanly, I won't have to watch them feign obedience while secretly defying orders, and I won't be tempted to chop off their heads."
Jiang Hong frowned. "Second Young Master, have you considered the Fierce Dragon Star System? You must know that after all this turmoil, the already meager foundation of the Fierce Dragon Star System has... has..."
"The Fierce Dragon Star System was already a mess. Could it possibly get any worse?" Zhao Chen spread his hands and said frankly. "Rather than clinging to a Zhao family shrouded in chaos, it's better to break it down and start anew!
Building a city on ruins is far simpler than renovating a decaying one."
Clap, clap, clap, clap
Applause rang out.
Zhao Chen and Jiang Hong looked over to see Old Madam Zhao walking out, leaning on her cane. "Well said—building a new city on ruins, breaking it down to start anew.
Jiang Hong, I believe Chen'er is right.
Rather than wasting time and effort dealing with those families, it's better to drive them all away and start fresh."
Seeing Old Madam Zhao speak this way, Jiang Hong had no grounds to refute, though she still disagreed with Zhao Chen's approach in her heart.
"Second Grandmother, why have you come out again?" Zhao Chen stepped forward and helped Old Madam Zhao sit down.
"I just came to see. I heard you'll be leaving the Fierce Dragon Star System in a few days to return to the North Star Starship Military Academy?" Old Madam Zhao looked at Zhao Chen.
Zhao Chen nodded. "Yes, it's already late September. The Academy opens in early October, and crossing the interstellar frontier space outside the Fierce Dragon Star System takes two weeks.
Although I've already taken leave, the Academy's assessments are strict. If I don't complete the required academic evaluations, I won't pass the final exams."
"That's true, your studies are important. It's just a pity our Fierce Dragon Star System doesn't have a Stargate. Otherwise, it would be much more convenient," Old Madam Zhao sighed deeply.
The lack of a Stargate in the Fierce Dragon Star System had always been a source of hardship.
Existing Star Gate Technology requires installation in star systems with binary star systems.
The Fierce Dragon Star System has only one star, making it impossible to build a Stargate.
"Second Grandmother, don't worry. Our Fierce Dragon Star System will soon have its own Stargate. When that day comes, if you miss me or Wan'er, just say the word, and we'll rush back to see you," Zhao Chen said with a smile.
The Stargate!
This was an unavoidable hurdle in Zhao Chen's plan to develop the Fierce Dragon Star System.
Among the T2 commodities in the System Store, there was no suitable technological solution.
The only hope was to upgrade the store to T3 and place his hopes on the T3 commodities!
"Hahaha, if only that day would come," Old Madam Zhao chuckled, though she didn't take it seriously.
After some casual conversation, Old Madam Zhao patted Zhao Chen's shoulder. "Chen'er, you've grown up. Whatever you want to do, go ahead and do it boldly. Second Grandmother supports you."
"You just said it yourself, the current situation in the Fierce Dragon Star System is a complete mess. How much worse can it possibly get?"
Zhao Chen nodded.
After Old Madam Zhao left, only Zhao Chen and Jiang Hong remained in the room.
"Jiang Hong, I know you've never accepted me. You believe the person sitting in the position of lord of the Fierce Dragon Star System shouldn't be me, but my Eldest Sister, right?" Zhao Chen looked at Jiang Hong, whose expression remained cold.
Jiang Hong showed no change in her expression. "Correct."
"I don't need you to accept me. As long as you are genuinely dedicated to the Fierce Dragon Star System, whether your loyalty lies with me or with my Eldest Sister, it's all the same to me," Zhao Chen said.
Jiang Hong remained silent.
Zhao Chen stared at Jiang Hong. "Wan'er and I plan to leave the day after tomorrow. I will leave you with two hundred demi-human crew members and the seven T1 Starships. You will have full command authority."
"All affairs of the Fierce Dragon Star System will be entrusted to you."
"Before I leave, I will announce that you are the acting lord of the Fierce Dragon Star System. Seeing you will be the same as seeing me."
Jiang Hong was astonished. She never expected Zhao Chen to make such an arrangement.
Knowing full well that her loyalty did not lie with him, he was still willing to entrust the Fierce Dragon Star System to her?