Black Fox Society Headquarters
"The Chu Family's Eldest Daughter?" The leader of the Black Fox Society was startled upon hearing this name.
"The matter has been handled. That young lady probably won't hold us accountable," the small-time boss said. "However, we likely can't interfere with that batch of Succubi anymore.
Although we still don't know the identity of the man with the Chu Family's Eldest Daughter,
it's clear she values him highly, explicitly stating he is her friend.
The implied meaning in her words was clearly a warning to us."
The Black Fox Society leader frowned in thought. "This was a task Young Master Han entrusted to us, and we haven't completed it yet..."
"Young Master Han is important, but he's no match for the Chu Family!" the small-time boss muttered.
The Black Fox Society leader nodded. "That's true enough.
Forget it. If we're up against the Chu Family, our Black Fox Society isn't enough for them to deal with.
I'll relay this matter to Young Master Han. For now, you all should lay low and avoid stirring up any major trouble."
"Yes."
...
Time flew by, and it was now the end of December.
The originally spacious large starship workshop now felt somewhat crowded.
Because ten additional starships now occupied the space.
If these ten starships weren't relatively small in size, they probably wouldn't have fit at all.
Zhao Chen stood before the ten starships. After scanning them, a satisfied smile spread across his face.
"On my command, prepare to initiate starship startup tests!" Zhao Chen ordered the bridges of the ten starships.
The ten starships immediately showed signs of activity.
Simultaneously, beside Zhao Chen, ten video windows displayed each Captain methodically carrying out the starship startup procedures.
"Report, Black Rhinoceros-class Ship One, initiating starship engine startup."
"Report, Black Rhinoceros-class Ship Two, starship engine startup normal."
"Report, Black Rhinoceros-class Ship Five, starship transmission system auto-diagnosis in progress... diagnosis complete... operation optimal..."
"Report, Black Rhinoceros-class Ship Seven, starship weapon system auto-diagnosis in progress... diagnosis complete... operation optimal..."
...
Zhao Chen listened to each piece of reported data.
Soon, starships began completing all initial startup procedures.
"Report, Black Rhinoceros-class Ship Eight, initial startup complete, full-process diagnostics finished, starship all systems normal!"
"Report...
"..."
Reports of T2 Black Rhinoceros-class interstellar heavy assault frigates completing their self-diagnostic procedures came in one after another.
After all ten had reported, Zhao Chen's face beamed with a brilliant smile, and he clenched his fist slightly. "Excellent!"
After nearly a month's effort,
Zhao Chen had directly produced ten T2 Black Rhinoceros-class interstellar heavy assault frigates in one batch. Due to their relatively small size and the adoption of assembly-line production techniques, starship production efficiency was greatly increased.
Coupled with their low construction cost—only 100,000 Star Coins per ship—
these ten ships had merely consumed the 1 million Star Coins worth of raw materials purchased earlier.
"I never expected you to build ten T2 Black Rhinoceros-class interstellar heavy assault frigates all at once," Charlotte said, standing beside Zhao Chen as she surveyed the ten pitch-black starship frigates before them.
Apart from the hull paint scheme numbers—001, 002, 003, etc.—each starship was essentially identical.
Zhao Chen smiled, "After all, it was going to be built sooner or later. Our fleet only has two starships, one of which is a carrier starship. Although it has a star shield, it's not all-around defense.
We must equip a certain number of interstellar frigates to even begin to resemble a proper fleet, right?"
Charlotte looked at this interstellar frigate and marveled, "It's truly hard to believe that an interstellar frigate with such performance data only costs one hundred thousand Star Coins to build.
And in just one month, ten ships have been completed!
Both efficiency and quality have been assured."
"This is all thanks to the T2 Hammer-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ship! Without it, relying solely on the production capacity of the starship workshop here, we could have built at most three ships in a month." Zhao Chen glanced toward the side of the only starship workshop.
The hardworking T2 Hammer-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ship.
Fortunately, with it here, he didn't have to personally build the starships from scratch this time. He only needed to handle less than 1% of the core technical steps.
"Let's go out for sea trials later. After the trials are completed, we'll purchase a batch of military supplies and living supplies, then return to the North Star System," Zhao Chen arranged.
Three months had passed since Zhao Wan'er returned early to the North Star Starship Military Academy.
Taking a three-month leave as a student was indeed somewhat inappropriate.
In truth, whether Zhao Chen attended school or not made little difference now, but there was one issue that required him to obtain a degree certification from the North Star Starship Military Academy.
That was because the Stellar Glory Empire had a regulation: any lord must obtain a graduation certification from an interstellar military academy within the empire.
There was no specific requirement for which interstellar military academy, as long as it was a qualified one.
Thus, some spoiled heirs might simply attend some third-rate interstellar military academy, muddle through for six years, and then return to formally inherit their nobility title.
Due to his father's early death, Zhao Chen had succeeded to the title ahead of time according to imperial law.
However, if he failed to obtain certification from an interstellar military academy within a certain period, he risked being forcibly stripped of his title.
"I think there's one more matter that needs to be arranged," Charlotte said.
"What?"
"The establishment of our Fierce Dragon Fleet's regulations," Charlotte stated.
Zhao Chen looked at Charlotte.
Charlotte continued, "Previously, we only had two starships, so the assignment of duties was quite casual.
But now it's different. We have twelve combat-type starships and one support-type starship.
We already have the beginnings of a small fleet. To facilitate future management, we must establish a fleet system."
Zhao Chen nodded in agreement, "Since you've already thought about it, I assume you have a preliminary plan prepared."
"Starting today, your position will no longer be Captain, but Fleet Commander. You can choose any starship as your flagship, which will also serve as the fleet's flagship.
I recommend the T2 Queen Bee-class Heavy Carrier Starship, as it is relatively safer.
I will serve as the Captain of the Zero Blizzard, concurrently holding the position of Fleet Vice Commander.
Lilith can serve as your Flagship Secretary and Fleet Secretary.
As for the remaining starships, each will be assigned a Captain.
Before that, we still have around two hundred female soldiers without formal positions."
A single T2 Black Rhinoceros-class interstellar heavy assault frigate requires only twenty female soldiers to operate and pilot, so these two hundred female soldiers can perfectly fill this gap.
As for the selection of captains and the bridge crew for each starship,
that will need to be arranged by you personally." Charlotte laid out her plans one by one.
As expected of a former fleet commander, she had already thought through all the arrangements for Zhao Chen.
"You must already have a list, right? Show it to me later, and if there are no issues, I'll approve it directly.
I'll leave all these matters in your hands.
I'm a bit tired and will head back to rest now." Zhao Chen deliberately stretched lazily, shifting the work to Charlotte.
Charlotte rolled her eyes. This captain—no, he should now be addressed as fleet commander—was becoming more and more fond of delegating everything.
Zhao Chen naturally avoided doing anything he could delegate. With capable people under him, why should he trouble himself?
As for now, Zhao Chen wasn't actually going to rest.
Instead, he intended to check the completed quarterly mission and claim the reward!
[Quarterly Mission: Own three types of starships (system-produced).
Mission completed. Task reward available for claim.]