After finalizing the cooperation agreement with Medusa, their communication ended.
Zhao Chen looked around at Charlotte and the others, but no one spoke.
"What? Aren't you curious why I want to cooperate with the Snake People Clan?"
Charlotte said calmly, "I'm only responsible for fighting."
Shen Bing added, "I'm just your subordinate now, so I naturally follow your orders unconditionally."
Zhao Wan'er rolled her eyes and said, "Anyway, you're not at a loss. You even got five hundred starships as support for free.
You were already planning to deal with the Fire Salamander Tribe's allied fleet. As for what this Snake People Clan Queen wants to do, it doesn't really concern us much.
If it can really be as she says, then that's even better.
If any problems arise in the middle, we can just break off the agreement. You still won't be at a loss."
Zhao Chen nodded with a smile. What Zhao Wan'er said was exactly what he was thinking.
If the Snake People Clan truly cooperates with him, he can build connections in the Reef Starfield.
If they try to become a second Fire Salamander Tribe, Zhao Chen wouldn't mind letting that Queen taste the bitterness of defeat.
To be honest, that aggressive look of hers actually stirred a desire to conquer.
"Charlotte, go and prepare. Ensure all starships are in optimal combat readiness.
After all, this time we're dealing with ten T3 interstellar warships. We can't afford to be careless," Zhao Chen said seriously.
"Yes."
Zhao Chen's Fierce Dragon Fleet began entering combat readiness. The T2 Lion King-class Heavy Interstellar Missile Ship, which was about to be decommissioned, was also prepared to join the battle formation at the front line!
Taking advantage of this gap, Zhao Chen opened the System Interface.
He had been rushing along the way and hadn't had time to check the refreshed Quarterly Mission.
[Quarterly Mission: Exchange a T3 Starship Technical Blueprint from the System Store
Number of combat-type starships reaches thirty (17/30)]
The requirement of thirty combat starships isn't a problem given the production capacity of the T2 Hammer-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ship Zhao Chen currently possesses.
However, the first requirement—exchanging a T3 starship from the System Store—poses a slight challenge.
After all, exchanging a T3 starship requires a significant amount of System Points. Zhao Chen didn't have many left after exchanging for the T3 Glorious Moon-class Stargate, and it's far from enough to exchange for a T3-level starship.
He needs to find a way to earn some System Points.
[System Task Triggered: Battle with the Fire Salamander Tribe Alliance
Task Content: Please achieve the following indicators during this battle. Final Task Reward will be based on completion rate. If completion rate is below 60%, the task fails.
Requirement One: Destroy a certain number of enemy ships to earn 5% task completion each (five hundred ships, one thousand ships, one thousand five hundred ships, two thousand ships, two thousand five hundred ships, three thousand ships)
Requirement Two: Destroy T3 interstellar warships in the enemy fleet. Each ship earns 5% task completion.
Requirement Three: Eliminate key figures in the enemy fleet to earn 5% task completion each (Han Tianwang, Zhang Haoran, Fire Salamander Tribe Chief, Black Boar Tribe Chief, Cerberus Star Pirate Gang Leader, Gabor Race Chief)]
The sudden appearance of the System Task was within Zhao Chen's expectations.
After all, wherever there's a 'good show,' the System is sure to be involved.
However, the two target characters that appeared in the System Task left Zhao Chen somewhat taken aback.
Han Tianwang? Zhang Haoran?
When Zhao Chen saw these two names, he was stunned for several seconds before he realized.
Aren't these the two wealthy guys who treated me to a meal back then?
"The Fire Salamander Tribe is actually connected to them? And they actually appeared in the Reef Starfield?" Zhao Chen was somewhat surprised. He began to suspect that the reason the other side mobilized so many starships to attack him might be related to Han Tianwang and Zhang Haoran.
"This is starting to get interesting..." Zhao Chen narrowed his eyes.
Earlier, Medusa had mentioned that behind those stellar powers of the Fire Salamander Tribe, there was a force from the Stellar Glory Empire. In particular, the Cerberus Star Pirate Gang was a puppet propped up by that force.
As for what specific force it was, Medusa wasn't too clear either. She only knew it came from the Stellar Glory Empire and likely held a significant position.
That force had been quite active in the Reef Starfield recently.
They had even attacked the fleet Medusa was in a few months ago. However, due to the covert nature of the operation and Medusa's own silence on the matter, no one outside knew about it.
But how could Medusa just let it go? Now that she finally had a chance for revenge, she seized the opportunity to propose a cooperation request to Zhao Chen.
Zhao Chen looked at this System Task more carefully.
Completing each requirement indicator would grant 5% task completion.
In other words, he needed to complete at least twelve to reach 60% task completion.
There were ten T3 interstellar warships, six indicators for enemy ship destruction, and six character targets.
At most, he could complete twenty-two!
"Since you're seeking death yourselves, don't blame me." A murderous glint flashed in Zhao Chen's eyes.
Over three thousand starships majestically traversed the Lion King Star System Stargate and arrived in the Lion King Star System.
This was probably the first time such a large-scale combat interstellar fleet had appeared in the Lion King Star System!
Especially since it included ten T3 interstellar warships!
Inside the Stargate Control Room, the administrator, an older man, looked at the spectacle before him. Although he had received the relevant notification earlier, witnessing it firsthand still left him dumbfounded.
"Wow... even the interstellar fleet of the Cerberus Star Pirate Gang is here!" his companion exclaimed beside him.
The administrator recalled the orders passed down from above: proceed as usual, but deploy reconnaissance drones to record the battlefield and report any intelligence immediately.
Do not interfere with the battlefield!
"Uncle, do you think the Lion King Fleet can still win this time?" his companion asked.
"Don't ask what you shouldn't. Just do your job properly!" the administrator said sternly. His intuition told him this interstellar battle was anything but ordinary.
It might even affect the entire situation in the Reef Starfield!
He stared into the starry expanse as the over three thousand starships gradually disappeared into the distance.
Silently, he sent out a message through a private channel.
Approximately ten minutes after this fleet of over three thousand starships departed, the Stargate received another request for passage from five hundred starships.
"What? Another five hundred starships? The Lion King Star System is really bustling today."
"In previous years, there might not have been as many combat starships in an entire year as there are today," a companion muttered in confusion beside him.
The administrator watched as five hundred starships passed through the Stargate.
On the hull paint schemes of these starships was an emblem of a nine-headed snake.
The Snake People Clan's starships had arrived!