The minor leader nervously watched the female officer surnamed Chu before him.
Even if the boss of their Black Fox Society were here right now, a single word from this woman could reduce the entire Black Fox Society to dust.
"This is what happened... We were previously capturing a group of succubi... but unfortunately, this gentleman got to them first.
We didn't know earlier that this gentleman was your friend. If we have offended him in any way, I am willing to atone with my death. I only hope you will not involve others." The minor leader steeled his heart and directly drew his laser rifle.
The moment he drew his laser rifle, several of Chu Xuan's personal guards had already locked onto the minor leader. If he made even the slightest threatening move toward Chu Xuan, before he could have any chance, this minor leader would be dead beyond dead.
Moreover, the young lady had a trump card on her person that could ensure her survival under any circumstances.
The minor leader handed the laser rifle to Chu Xuan, his respectful demeanor resembling that of a lapdog.
This made Zhao Chen, standing to the side, look at Chu Xuan with some surprise.
It seemed this woman's identity was quite astonishing.
Considering that just moments ago, even a One-Star Brigadier General obeyed her every command.
What kind of status did a One-Star Brigadier General hold?
Upon normal retirement, they could directly be conferred the nobility title of Baron or even Viscount—their status was definitely higher than Zhao Chen's!
Chu Xuan looked toward Zhao Chen beside her, clearly seeking his opinion.
"Get lost." Zhao Chen spat out a single word.
If it weren't for the cargo hold still being loaded, this would have already delayed his new ship construction by over ten minutes.
"I'm in a good mood today and don't want to see blood. Handle your own affairs yourselves.
Just make sure you understand one thing clearly: this person is my friend, Chu Xuan." A faint smile played on Chu Xuan's face.
The minor leader let out a long sigh of relief—at least his own life was spared.
However, since the young lady said to handle it themselves, he still had to show some attitude.
As for that attitude...
The minor leader looked toward the stunned Wang Qiang beside him.
With a cold expression, he walked over and unceremoniously began punching and kicking him.
"Daring to disrespect the friend of Miss Chu! I think you're looking for death!"
While cursing verbally, he also wished he could tear the man to pieces in his heart. However, Miss Chu had just said she didn't want to see blood.
So he couldn't deal with this guy on the spot.
"Big brother... big brother... stop hitting me... I... I know I was wrong..." Wang Qiang pleaded on the ground.
"Someone, take this guy away and deal with him according to our strictest punishment." The minor leader said coldly.
Sacrificing one key member to appease Miss Chu's anger—this deal couldn't be more profitable.
Not only would he do it here, but even if the boss of the Black Fox Society were present, he would do so without hesitation.
He might even kill all the underlings present just to amuse Miss Chu.
Upon hearing the minor leader's words, Wang Qiang immediately turned pale, his body trembling. He immediately crawled toward Chu Xuan and Zhao Chen like a dog: "I know I was wrong... I really know I was wrong... please... please don't kill me!
I... I have a three-year-old... elderly mother waiting for me to support her in her old age and see her off... and an eighty-year-old... wife and... a crying child relying on me to raise them..."
In his pleading, Wang Qiang's words became incoherent.
But seeing this, Zhao Chen remained unmoved.
Even if it truly was as he said, Zhao Chen believed that among those who had suffered losses and been bullied by him in the past, there were certainly people worse off than him.
This was simply his retribution.
In the end, Wang Qiang was dragged away by the underlings of the petty leader.
"Then... I... will take my leave," the petty leader cautiously asked.
"Get lost," Chu Xuan waved her hand dismissively.
The petty leader felt as if he had been granted a pardon and immediately left, while the members of the Black Fox Society scattered like birds and beasts.
As for that Wang Qiang, it was said that he was later tortured to death, and his body was found days later in a garbage dump within the Arctic Fox Starport.
The petty leader dared not disobey in secret.
Coincidentally, just as the Black Fox Society was leaving, the guard named Xiao Song, who had left earlier, returned.
Old Chen's face was deathly pale at this moment, his eyes filled with fear, and his legs trembled as if they were about to give way at any moment.
"How did things go?" Chu Xuan asked.
Xiao Song glanced at Old Chen, his eyes brimming with killing intent.
"All the navigation data in his Interstellar Transport Ship was deleted, but he probably didn't expect it.
There is a backup data file at the deepest level of the Starship System Processor. I retrieved this backup data.
The data contains his orders to the Interstellar Transport Ship Fleet to neglect their mission and delay their journey to the P331 asteroid."
Upon hearing this, Old Chen collapsed to the ground as if his body had fallen apart, utterly devastated.
"Our Imperial Army soldiers fought desperately on the battlefield to buy time, yet you delayed the precious time for rescue and evacuation from behind," Chu Xuan said coldly, her gaze fixed on Old Chen.
This time, she was not standing up for Zhao Chen but acting entirely out of her own anger.
She despised those who said one thing and did another, especially those who selfishly sacrificed others for their own interests, particularly when it endangered Imperial Army soldiers.
This Old Chen had crossed her bottom line.
"I was wrong... I was wrong... I... I'll give up all my property..." Old Chen pleaded incessantly.
"Xiao Song, send him to the Military Tribunal," Chu Xuan said indifferently.
"No... no... no... I don't want to go to the Military Tribunal... I... my cousin-in-law is the lord of the Arctic Fox System... you can't do this to me..." Old Chen cried out. He knew very well that once this woman surnamed Chu sent him to the Military Tribunal, even if he were innocent, he might not leave alive.
Moreover, the evidence against him was now irrefutable! He was doomed!
"Lord of the Arctic Fox System? If he thinks I'm wrong, let him come and find me himself," Chu Xuan snorted coldly.
"Our young lady doesn't like noise. Keep quiet," Xiao Song stepped forward and, with a seemingly casual punch, dislocated Old Chen's jaw.
"Ugh... ugh..." Old Chen tried to speak but could only make incoherent sounds.
He was then taken away by other soldiers, and his fate was predictable.
After this, the lord of the Arctic Fox System divorced Old Chen's cousin and came to Chu Xuan to apologize, bearing gifts. Fortunately, Chu Xuan did not punish him.
As for Old Chen, he was executed by the Military Tribunal.
Chu Xuan looked at Zhao Chen with satisfaction. "Well, I helped you settle these matters. How are you going to thank me?"
"Thank you? Do I owe you a favor?" Zhao Chen replied without changing his expression.
Chu Xuan was taken aback. She pointed at Lilith beside Zhao Chen, then at the spot where the Black Fox Society's minor leader had stood earlier. "Hey, don't you dare turn your back on a deal now.
If I hadn't stepped in today, who knows what the Black Fox Society might have done to you!"
"If a mere Black Fox Society could scare me, I wouldn't have taken just two starships to hunt Zergs back then," Zhao Chen replied with a faint smile. "Even if I reluctantly consider this as you helping me, at most it means we're even now.
Don't forget, it was me who gave you the lead on Old Chen's case. And if my fleet hadn't discovered their negligence and issued a warning back then,
P331 asteroid wouldn't have been evacuated so quickly during the later battle."
"You… you…" Chu Xuan was left speechless by Zhao Chen's words.
Remembering her underlying purpose, Chu Xuan took a deep breath and forced a smile. "Let's set that aside for now.
We're comrades who fought side by side, after all. How about I treat you to a meal?"
"No time." Without even looking back, Zhao Chen walked into the Starship Workshop. As the Cargo Hold had already been fully loaded and unloaded, he closed the main gate directly—he was in a hurry to start building the T2 Black Rhinoceros-class interstellar heavy assault frigate.
He paid no mind to Chu Xuan standing behind him, stunned and utterly unaccustomed to being treated this way.