"The Galactic Alliance was established under the leadership of three powers: the Stellar Glory Empire, the Divine Radiance Empire, and the Warhammer Star Federation, along with several small and medium-sized interstellar civilizations.
However, the real decision-making power lies with these three stellar hegemons.
Additionally, the borders of these three interstellar civilizations all happen to adjoin the Mechanical Race, making them interdependent like lips and teeth.
Throughout this Millennium War, both sides have maintained a tug-of-war, with victories and defeats on both sides, but neither has been able to eliminate the enemy in one go."
After saying this, Lilith looked at Zhao Chen. "And the Chu River Star Sector in the Northern Star Region of the Stellar Glory Empire happens to be the area closest to the Mechanical Race. This region remains in a state of combat readiness year-round.
The fact that the Governor of the Chu River Star Sector is also a Five-Star Marshal is not without reason."
Zhao Chen looked at Lilith with satisfaction. This girl had absorbed a great deal of knowledge during this period; her brain was like a small computer.
"Although the route we are escorting is near the combat zone,
Mechanical Race starships rarely appear in this area, and there is no need for them to attack our small interstellar transport fleet.
So, under normal circumstances, this escort mission shouldn't carry significant risks." Lilith expressed her thoughts.
"Theoretically, that's true, but for some reason, ever since I met that Sergeant Major, I've had a very bad feeling." Zhao Chen rubbed his temples.
Lilith comforted him, "Perhaps it's because this is your first time in such an environment, Commander. It's natural to feel somewhat nervous."
"Maybe." Zhao Chen tried not to dwell on it.
After all, no matter what happened later, he no longer had the option to back out now.
Abandoning an Imperial Army bounty mission at the last minute would have severe consequences. It might even be reported directly to Zhao Chen's Academy. In that case, forget about skipping grades; whether Zhao Chen could graduate smoothly would become a question.
"Commander, there's something that might distract you. I'm sure you'll be interested." Lilith suddenly said.
"What is it?" Zhao Chen asked curiously.
Lilith raised her hand, and a holographic display appeared. It showed a little girl only 1.2 meters tall, wearing a slave collar that Zhao Chen recognized.
A slave?
An underage girl slave?
"Why do you think I'd be interested in this?" Zhao Chen glared darkly at Lilith. Had something he done given Lilith such a misunderstanding about him?
"Huh? You're not interested?" Lilith was surprised.
Zhao Chen's expression was complicated; he didn't know how to explain it to Lilith.
"This is a member of the Dwarf race. I thought the Commander might be more interested."
"Dwarf race?" Zhao Chen immediately snapped back to attention, pointing at the 1.2-meter-tall girl. "This isn't an underage girl?"
"Underage?" Lilith shook her head. "Of course not. She's already an adult. She's even a few years older than you, Commander. But due to their racial genes,
the Dwarf race's height maxes out at around 1.3 meters, with some as short as one meter."
So that was it. It wasn't that Lilith had misunderstood him.
"Why are you showing me this?" Zhao Chen asked curiously.
Lilith pulled up information on the Dwarf race: "The Dwarf race is one of the rare stellar races, similar to the Succubus race. Long ago, they were once a powerful interstellar civilization, but were later defeated by other interstellar civilizations.
The Dwarf race thus became a stellar nomadic race without a territory.
Dwarves lack strong physiques and are not skilled in combat; however, they are natural-born technical engineers! They excel at researching various technologies.
Their ability to learn technological expertise is several times greater than that of other interstellar races.
Currently, half of all Dwarves are employed in stellar industrial factories or technology research institutes across various interstellar civilizations.
They have a nickname: 'Stellar Artisans'!"
Zhao Chen instantly understood Lilith's meaning: "You want me to recruit her!"
Lilith nodded: "Currently, our Fierce Dragon Fleet is most lacking in this type of technical talent. Right now, although there is a group of demi-human mechanics and engineers responsible for the two T2 Hammer-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ships,
their abilities are clearly only passable and cannot fully utilize the efficiency of the T2 Hammer-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ships.
If we had a Stellar Artisan, I believe it could greatly increase the work efficiency of our interstellar industrial ships!"
Zhao Chen rubbed his chin: "That makes a lot of sense, but with just one Dwarf, wouldn't the number be too small?"
"One Dwarf is indeed few, but perhaps she could help us contact other Dwarves? We could give it a try," Lilith suggested.
"You have a point. Anyway, we don't have anything else to do right now.
How do we buy this Dwarf?" Zhao Chen inquired.
"This item appears directly on the Third Star System Network's Slave List, priced at three thousand Star Coins. You can contact the seller directly to make the purchase," Lilith said, pulling up the detailed information.
Three thousand Star Coins.
This was much more expensive than when Zhao Chen previously bought a hundred demi-human slaves, including Charlotte.
In the past, Zhao Chen would have agonized over this for a while.
But now, Zhao Chen didn't even blink.
"Wait... this person..." Zhao Chen saw the seller and realized it was someone he knew.
"You negotiate with the other party and finalize the price. I'll go pick up the person," Zhao Chen said.
"Alright."
Lilith went to negotiate with the other party, who responded quickly.
Both sides soon agreed to a transaction of three thousand Star Coins.
Zhao Chen glanced at the transaction address and left the starship to pick up the person.
In a private room at a teahouse in the Starport, a Dwarf was pushed inside.
"Boss, the goods you wanted... Oh, it's you!" The leather-clad woman looked at Zhao Chen in surprise.
"What a coincidence." Zhao Chen had already noticed that the seller of this little Dwarf was this very leather-clad woman.
"I never thought the handsome young man liked this type," the leather-clad woman said, looking at Zhao Chen with a teasing smile.
"Ahem... Let's just proceed with the transaction," Zhao Chen directly proposed the trade.
The leather-clad woman didn't dawdle either. Once the three thousand Star Coins were transferred, she pushed the little Dwarf in front of Zhao Chen and tossed him a button—the controller for the slave collar.
"Handsome, interested in adding one more person?" After the transaction, the leather-clad woman began to flirt with Zhao Chen again, licking her red lips.
"Sorry, I'm not interested."
"I need to inspect the goods now. Could you please..." Zhao Chen issued the dismissal.
The woman in the leather jacket wasn't angry at all. Having just closed a deal worth three thousand Star Coins, she was overjoyed.
Although that dwarf was special, no one had ever been willing to pay three thousand Star Coins for her. Just when she thought she would have to lower the price and sell her off, Zhao Chen appeared.
"Young man, take your time inspecting the goods. Oh, by the way... she's still a virgin... be careful. If you really can't manage, I can help." The leather-clad woman, reaching the doorway, couldn't resist testing the waters one more time.
"No need," Zhao Chen replied.
The woman shot him a disdainful look for being so clueless and left the private room.
Zhao Chen looked at the little dwarf who had timidly shrunk into the corner since entering.
She had looked small in the holographic image, but seeing her in person made her seem even tinier.
It was hard to believe that such a small frame belonged to a Stellar Artisan.
"What's your name?" Zhao Chen asked.
The female dwarf huddled even tighter, whispering softly, "Annie..."
Zhao Chen reached out his hand toward the dwarf Annie, and she immediately shrank back fearfully, like a startled little mouse.
Gurgle, gurgle...
Just then, her stomach made a noise.
"Was that your stomach growling?" Zhao Chen asked, already knowing the answer.
"N-no..." Annie replied in a voice as faint as a mosquito's hum.
Zhao Chen extended his hand again. "Then come with me. I'll take you to get something good to eat."
Upon hearing about food, Annie finally lifted her head, her large, watery eyes looking up at Zhao Chen.
For some reason, this scene made Zhao Chen feel a pang of guilt.