Zhao Chen and Annie walked out of the tea restaurant, with Annie following cautiously behind him.
Annie had no intention of escaping. Leaving aside what might happen if she did run, the slave collar around her neck allowed its holder to locate her at any time, and it also contained an electric current switch.
Zhao Chen didn't dare walk too fast. If he moved at his normal pace, Annie behind him would have to jog to keep up, panting heavily. He was genuinely worried she might collapse from exhaustion.
"Can't you lower the price a bit? We're buying a hundred energy blocks in total. Give us a better deal!"
Zhao Chen heard a familiar voice and turned to look.
He saw Shen Bing with a female starship crew member, negotiating with a merchant at a weapons and ammunition sales point in the port.
They were purchasing energy blocks, the fuel source for starships.
For just a few dozen Star Coins, Shen Bing had been haggling with the merchant for what felt like ages.
It was hard to believe that the girl bargaining so fiercely was the same aloof class monitor from before.
"Miss, this is the price for energy blocks. It's the same across the entire Third Star System. Take it or leave it." The merchant, annoyed, scowled darkly.
Shen Bing's expression was complicated. She bit her lip lightly and finally took out her Imperial Card to pay for the energy blocks.
"Xiao Li, wait here for a moment. I'll go check out the ammunition our starship needs." Shen Bing headed toward another cargo container.
She left the female crew member behind to wait for the delivery of the energy blocks.
"I remember you're Liu Lili from Class Nine, right?"
A sudden voice from behind startled Liu Lili.
Liu Lili looked around nervously and was surprised to find it was Zhao Chen. "Classmate Zhao Chen, what are you doing here?"
"I accepted the same escort mission as you," Zhao Chen explained.
"That's great! Then we can look out for each other. I was worried something might go wrong on this mission." Liu Lili said happily.
Previously, students at the academy had a rather poor impression of Zhao Chen. But after he defeated Zhang Haoran at the end of last year's term, everyone's opinion of the former Waste Baron had changed dramatically.
Strength was always a person's best calling card.
"Are you here procuring military supplies?" Zhao Chen asked, glancing at Shen Bing, who was still bargaining with the merchant in the distance.
"Yes," Liu Lili nodded. She noticed the timid little girl behind Zhao Chen but didn't ask further.
Nobles often had their peculiar habits.
"Why did you accept this mission?" Zhao Chen inquired curiously.
Liu Lili hesitated, unsure whether she should say.
Zhao Chen immediately transferred five Star Coins to her. "It's rare to meet a classmate here. Consider this my treat for a drink."
Five Star Coins!
That wasn't just enough for a drink—it could cover a month's worth of food expenses.
Liu Lili thought for a moment, deciding it wasn't a big secret, and began chatting openly with Zhao Chen.
Zhao Chen finally understood why Shen Bing was here.
The reason was simple: money!
Shen Bing's grandmother had suffered a relapse of an old illness before the new year. Her organs had already failed, and only her brain remained in a frozen state. If she didn't receive treatment within six months, she would surely die.
However, Grandma Shen's illness requires the use of the highest-grade medical pod, costing as much as 100,000 Star Coins!
"If it weren't for the Academy's rule that starships purchased with Academy Points cannot be sold, Shen Bing would probably have sold her starship outright!" Liu Lili sighed. "And ordinary missions simply can't accumulate such a large sum in a short time.
The only option is a military mission.
When the crew learned that Shen Bing was taking on a military mission this time, half of them disagreed and chose to leave.
Now, our T2 Hyena-class Medium Interstellar Destroyer is only staffed at half of its standard positions, with everyone taking on multiple roles.
Everyone who stayed either sympathizes with Shen Bing or has been helped by her or her parents in the past, which is why they're willing to undertake this mission together."
"Grandma Shen is seriously ill, but what about Shen Bing's parents? Aren't they involved?" Zhao Chen inquired.
"Shen Bing's parents passed away long ago. Both were soldiers in the Imperial Army and sacrificed their lives in a battle.
But that battle... due to certain reasons, the Empire did not issue any compensation payment.
They left behind only Shen Bing, her younger sister, and their elderly grandmother.
During their lifetime, Shen Bing's parents often helped others. My family, for example, was once helped by theirs, which is why... I'm here this time.
As for the five Star Coins I took, it wasn't to betray Shen Bing... after all, this isn't some big secret. With these five Star Coins, I can buy many portions of synthetic food.
Lately, to save on expenses, Shen Bing has been eating only one meal a day, just to save those pitiful few Star Coins." Liu Lili spoke with a heavy heart.
So, Shen Bing had such a story.
"Then why have I never heard her mention it before?" Zhao Chen asked.
Liu Lili explained, "Shen Bing is a strong-willed girl. She never shows her vulnerable side to outsiders and always shoulders everything herself.
Honestly, I'm really worried that one day she might not be able to bear it all."
Zhao Chen pondered thoughtfully.
"Well... I'll take these supplies back to the starship first. During the escort mission later, I'll have to trouble you, Zhao Chen, to look out for us." Liu Lili took the opportunity to build rapport.
After bidding farewell to Liu Lili, Zhao Chen glanced at the class beauty, who was still haggling fiercely with a merchant over a few thousand rounds of close-defense cannon ammunition.
He quietly returned to the T2 Queen Bee-class Heavy Carrier Starship with Annie.
Stepping onto such a large starship, Annie immediately grew nervous, carefully following behind Zhao Chen.
Lilith was already waiting at the hatch.
Seeing the incredibly charming woman before her, Annie lowered her head even more, her self-esteem shrinking. Distracted, she accidentally bumped into Zhao Chen, who had stopped walking.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I... I didn't mean to." Annie hurriedly apologized, her eyes already glistening with tears.
"Lilith, take her to bathe first, then to the cafeteria for a meal. Let her get familiar with the starship's environment." Zhao Chen instructed Lilith to settle Annie in.
As fellow women with similar backgrounds, they should be able to communicate easily.
"Understood." Lilith looked at the young girl before her and said with a smile, "Let me take you to bathe first and change into some clean clothes."
Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle.
Annie's stomach growled again, and she blushed, lowering her head further.
Lilith looked at Annie with sympathy, as if seeing her own people who had once wandered with her everywhere.
"Then I'll take you to eat first. After the meal, we can bathe." Lilith suggested.
Annie nodded proactively this time, because there was food to eat...
"I have some matters to attend to. I'll leave her in your care." Zhao Chen handed Annie over to Lilith.
Lilith then took Annie to the starship cafeteria.
When Annie entered the starship cafeteria, she unexpectedly smelled an incredibly delicious aroma, one she had never encountered before.
"What would you like to eat?" Lilith asked, looking at Annie.
"I... I'll have anything..." Annie didn't dare lift her head, let alone look at the food and menu on the serving counter.
"Then I'll order my favorite." Lilith ordered two servings of fried rice and led Annie to a clean spot to sit down.
As Lilith sat, she noticed that Annie had actually sat directly on the floor beside the chair, hugging her legs and curling into a ball. Her eyes never left her own worn-out shoes, which already had holes.
A pang of sorrow struck Lilith's heart. She immediately picked Annie up and placed her on the chair.
"Annie... body dirty... will stain... the chair..." Annie said anxiously, trying to get down from the chair.
Lilith looked directly at Annie and said earnestly, "Annie, remember, here you can sit on a chair! You don't have to sit on the floor anymore, and no one will hit you or bully you!
From now on, this is your home!"
--Enjoying the story? Want more chapters? Check out my Patreon and support me for 80+ advance chapters.
Just search for "LegendaryTL" on Patreon!"
Thanks!