When Zhao Chen opened his eyes again, they had already reached the outer area of the Arctic Fox Starport. In just a few more minutes of travel, the Arctic Fox Starport would come into view.
As soon as the starship resumed normal navigation, Zhao Chen immediately contacted the female supervisor with the code cc11.
"Sir, you're back?" The female supervisor covered her mouth, her eyes wide with surprise as she looked at Zhao Chen.
From the time this fleet left to its return, it had been less than five hours.
"Not welcome?" Zhao Chen teased.
"No... I... I didn't mean that... It's just... the battle at the P331 asteroid..." The female supervisor asked curiously, though this question actually violated the reception regulations—they were not allowed to inquire about guests' affairs.
However, because no detailed information about the P331 asteroid had been reported back so far, or perhaps because her clearance level was insufficient to be informed, she couldn't help but wonder: What exactly had the 'Black Dragon Fleet,' which had accepted the bounty mission but returned so quickly, done?
"The matter has been settled," Zhao Chen replied calmly.
Settled?
The simple answer only made the female supervisor even more curious.
"Help me extend the rental of my original Starship Workshop for another month. Also, I need the raw materials listed on this order—they must all be delivered within three days.
Some of them are for repairing the starships. According to the bounty mission, the hull damage and combat consumption incurred during this battle are to be borne by the issuer. I've listed this part separately." Zhao Chen sent over a list of raw materials.
"For this batch of goods worth one million Star Coins, deduct it from my bounty. If there's a shortfall, a sum of funds should be transferred within the next few days."
"Alright... Yes..." the female supervisor replied.
The communication ended.
What exactly had happened?
The female supervisor was still pondering when a communication request came in, opening directly without her consent.
It was an internal high-level communication.
The female supervisor immediately straightened her posture, surprised to see that the person on the other end of the video call was the chief supervisor of the Arctic Fox Starport.
"You just received the Black Dragon Fleet, correct?" the starport chief supervisor asked directly.
"Yes... yes," the female supervisor replied.
"Did they make any requests?"
The female supervisor relayed Zhao Chen's earlier words.
"Waive the fee for the one-month use of the Starship Workshop. Arrange the raw materials order for them within a day.
Additionally, the bounty and another sum of funds will be transferred to this gentleman's account within 12 hours.
You can send a message to inform him," the starport chief supervisor said seriously.
The female supervisor was astonished. What kind of identity did this gentleman have to warrant the starport chief supervisor personally overseeing the matter and expediting every request?
"From now on, you are promoted to Deputy Director of the Reception Department at the Arctic Fox Starport. You can delegate other guests to others. For now, you will be solely responsible for this gentleman's Black Dragon Fleet.
Accommodate any requests as long as they are not excessive. If you cannot fulfill them, contact me directly," the starport chief supervisor instructed.
"Deputy Director of the Reception Department?" The female supervisor felt dizzy. Before this, she had only been an ordinary starship reception supervisor—to put it bluntly, just a customer service representative.
Now, she had directly become the Deputy Director of the Reception Department, which meant she had been promoted several levels at once.
"Th-thank... thank you, sir." The female supervisor stammered.
The Starport's chief supervisor said, "If you want to thank anyone, thank your luck for encountering such a guest."
"Um... sir... what exactly is the background of this Black Dragon Fleet? Why are you treating it so seriously? Please give me some insight so I can be more careful." The female supervisor inquired cautiously.
"The background isn't entirely clear yet, but they successfully completed a Bounty Mission, leading the Imperial Fleet to carry out the safe evacuation operation plan on the P331 asteroid," the Starport's chief supervisor said gravely.
The female supervisor gasped. It was a mission that even many private fleets were unwilling to take on, yet they had actually completed it.
Although she had considered this possibility earlier, from the chief supervisor's choice of words, she could glean crucial information.
It was "leading the Imperial Fleet" to complete the mission, not "assisting" or "helping" the Imperial Fleet.
Don't underestimate these three different terms—their meanings are entirely different.
"Assisting" implies a subordinate helping a superior.
"Helping" suggests both parties are on equal footing.
But "leading" means that the Black Dragon Fleet was the core combat force in that battle, with the Imperial Fleet providing support and coordination on the side!
"Additionally, a high-ranking figure inquired about the Black Dragon Fleet's information. They will soon be visiting our Arctic Fox Starport. That person is not someone we can afford to offend. Even if the lord of the Arctic Fox System were here, he would have to smile warmly and entertain them with utmost respect," the Starport's chief supervisor said nervously.
Someone whom even the lord of the Arctic Fox System would have to treat with a smile?
The lord of the Arctic Fox System was a prominent Imperial Count, with hopes of being granted the title of Marquis within the next ten years!
For such an Imperial Count to have to treat someone with such caution, and for the Black Dragon Fleet to have connections with such a figure...
The female supervisor swallowed hard.
"Just focus on treating this guest well and report anything to me immediately," the Starport's chief supervisor said before cutting off the communication.
At that moment, the two starships of the Black Dragon Fleet slowly came into view of the Arctic Fox Starport, following guidance to enter the berths of the Starship Workshop.
The female supervisor pulled up the video feed, allowing her to see the two starships.
One was a Carrier Starship primarily yellow in color, and the other was a starship of an uncertain type.
The latter was in serious condition: its entire bow was dented, its ship hull was covered in craters as if struck by meteors, and there was a long, several-meter-long indentation along its port side.
These were actually the scars left from its encounter with the T2 Hive Mothership.
"What exactly did they go through?" the female supervisor muttered to herself.
...
Two starships entered the workshop berths. The T2 Hammer-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ship remained docked in its original position, while nearly one hundred half-beast female starship crew members, who were temporarily without formal assignments, stood in formation to welcome their return.
"Huff... huff..." Secretary Officer Lilith watched as the starships docked smoothly and let out a long sigh of relief.
After years of fleeing, this was the first time she had participated in an interstellar battle in her role as a starship secretary officer—and a battle against interstellar zergs at that.
Although she had appeared calm on the surface, deep down, she had been quite tense.
Now that it was over, she could finally set her anxious heart at ease.
"Arrange treatment for the injured on Zero Blizzard. If the injuries are severe, use the starport's medical pods. The fleet will cover the costs.
At the same time, the T2 Hammer-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ship will begin work, repairing and maintaining the hull of Zero Blizzard while also constructing the lost stellar drones for the T2 Queen Bee-class Heavy Carrier Starship, to restore its battle-ready state as soon as possible.
I'll oversee this matter personally. You'll assist me."
As soon as Zhao Chen arrived, he began assigning tasks.