In the conference room of the T2 Queen Bee-class Heavy Carrier Starship.
Eighteen succubi stood at the ready.
"The exam begins now. You have three hours to complete the test questions in front of you," Zhao Chen said, looking at the eighteen succubi.
Each succubus had a holographic screen before her, displaying the exam questions.
The moment Zhao Chen announced the start of the exam, not a single succubus spoke; they all began working diligently on the questions.
In fact, all these questions were ones Zhao Chen had asked his sister Zhao Wan'er to find from past exams of the Civil Service Department at the North Star Starship Military Academy.
And these were all sixth-year exam questions!
The materials Zhao Chen had previously given to Lilith and the others were the theoretical materials that sixth-year students in the Starship Civil Service Department at the North Star Starship Military Academy needed to study.
But Zhao Chen had only given them one month.
During this month, these succubi studied every day, even while eating, sleeping, or bathing.
Today was the day to test their abilities.
Time passed bit by bit.
Some succubi remained expressionless, some frowned in thought, and others grew anxious and worried.
The three hours soon came to an end.
"Everyone, stop all actions. I will collect your exam content. As for the results, I will announce them in a few hours. For now, leave the conference room immediately and take a break," Zhao Chen said seriously.
Although the exam had ended, not a single succubus dared to relax. They all stood at the ready outside the conference room.
The young succubus Bessie tugged at Lilith's hand and whispered, "Sister Lilith, if... if... we don't do well on this exam, will Captain... drive us away?"
Although Captain Zhao Chen had only said that the exam would determine their future positions on the starship, he hadn't mentioned whether failing would result in them being expelled.
So, they had been on edge for the entire month.
"It's fine. You've all worked very hard. I believe you'll do well on the exam," Lilith comforted her.
An hour later, Zhao Chen pushed the door open and came out.
The eyes of all eighteen succubi fell on Zhao Chen, filled with tension, anxiety, and fear.
"I will now announce the exam rankings.
First place: Lilith."
Lilith's ranking was something everyone had expected, as her talent was the highest among all of them.
"Second place: Maxi.
Third place...
...
Sixth place: Bessie
..."
Upon hearing her ranking, Bessie breathed a sigh of relief. At least she was sixth and not at the bottom.
The succubi at the bottom of the ranking grew nervous, looking helplessly at Lilith and the Captain. Some even covered their faces and cried, regretting why they hadn't studied harder.
After Zhao Chen finished reading the rankings, he looked around and said, "All of you have passed the exam."
They passed!
At this, even the succubi at the bottom of the ranking took a deep breath.
One succubus cautiously asked, "Captain... does that mean... we can stay too?"
"Of course," Zhao Chen said with a smile.
In truth, whether they did well on the exam or whether they could stay was entirely up to Zhao Chen.
The assessment was merely a formality.
But it must be said, they performed exceptionally well.
In just one month, even the lowest-scoring succubus reached the level of a fourth-year student in the civil service department of the North Star Starship Military Academy!
Among them, Lilith achieved the highest score, surpassing the academy's assessment passing mark by several points.
"I will now announce your future positions.
Lilith will serve as my Secretary Officer, Maxi will be assigned to the Bridge of Zero Blizzard..." Zhao Chen announced each person's assignment, all within Starship Civil Service Positions.
Among them, Lilith's position was the highest.
The Secretary Officer, within a fleet, could be considered the second-in-command, just below the Fleet Commander.
On a starship, they were undoubtedly among the top three in authority, on par with the Deputy Captain.
"Me... Secretary Officer?" Lilith was also taken aback.
"Correct, this is what you deserve based on your abilities. I hope you will work diligently in the future.
If we encounter other succubi in the future, you can recruit them just as Charlotte did," Zhao Chen said.
Lilith looked at Zhao Chen with some surprise, completely unprepared for him to place such trust in her.
"Captain, I will definitely work hard!" Bessie exclaimed excitedly beside her.
Being able to stay here was the happiest thing for them.
And so, Lilith and the other succubi officially joined the Fierce Dragon Fleet.
...
In the final days of late November
Zhao Chen's T2 Hammer-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ship was officially completed.
The Fierce Dragon Insignia, representing the Fierce Dragon Fleet, now adorned its Ship Hull.
"With this, I can build our starships faster and in greater numbers!" Zhao Chen gazed joyfully at the T2 Hammer-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ship before him.
He turned to Charlotte beside him: "How is the task I assigned you coming along?"
"During this period, as per your request, I have assembled 200 demi-human crew members with experience in starship manufacturing and maintenance," Charlotte reported.
"Excellent! Starting tomorrow, have them Board the Ship and begin training, aiming to master the T2 Hammer-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ship as quickly as possible!" Zhao Chen said with excitement.
However, Charlotte then poured a bit of cold water on Zhao Chen's enthusiasm: "Captain, although we now have the T2 Hammer-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ship,
the funds in our fleet's account may not be sufficient to construct another starship.
Previously, we sold the starship wreckage from the Three-Claw Snake Interstellar Pirate Fleet, earning four hundred thousand Star Coins.
Combined with our remaining funds, our account now holds a total of nine hundred thousand Star Coins."
Nine hundred thousand Star Coins indeed fell short of meeting the raw material requirements for building a starship.
They were short on money again.
Zhao Chen scratched his head, surprised that after just a few months, they were already facing a financial shortage again.
He needed to find a way to make money.
But the deadline for the Quarterly Mission requirements was now less than two months away.
He didn't have much time left.
[System Task triggered: 'Accept and complete the Bounty Mission issued by the Arctic Fox System's lord.' Do you accept this task? Refusing the task will cost 300 System Points.]
A System Task popped up at this moment, and it seemed to be related to the Arctic Fox System.
Zhao Chen originally didn't want to accept it, but considering the 300 System Points penalty for refusing the task, he still chose to accept.
[Task Content: Accept and complete the Bounty Mission issued by the lord of the Arctic Fox System
Task Difficulty: C-grade
Task Reward: Five Task Points and 1000 points
Special Reward: One random reward based on task completion rate
Failure Penalty: Deduct 1000 System Points]
Zhao Chen glanced at the System Task and immediately asked Charlotte to check if any Bounty Missions had been issued in the Arctic Fox System.
"You already know about this?" Charlotte looked at Zhao Chen in surprise.
"Know about what?" Zhao Chen looked at Charlotte, sensing that she must have learned something.
Charlotte explained, "Just now, Arctic Fox Starport broadcasted a system-wide announcement, requesting private fleets and Adventurer Fleets to accept a Bounty Mission.
The content is: In a remote Asteroid Base within the Arctic Fox System, a Cosmic Insect Nest has appeared. A small Imperial Fleet has already been dispatched for support, but the number of Interstellar Zergs in the nest is significant, and the battle situation is unfavorable.
The lord fleet of the Arctic Fox System and additional Imperial Fleets will take a day to arrive, while it would only take three hours to get there from our location.
The mission requirement is to assist in evacuating the five million residents on that Asteroid Base!"
Zergs?
Zhao Chen's eyelids twitched.