The news of the Mechanical Race's large-scale troop withdrawal quickly spread throughout the upper echelons of the Stellar Glory Empire over the following days.
After all, such a major event could not possibly be kept secret.
Everyone was speculating about the reason behind the Mechanical Race's withdrawal.
It was rumored that the leadership of various stellar powers within the Galactic Alliance was currently discussing the matter.
At the same time, the galactic resources left behind in the star systems vacated by the Mechanical Race had caught the attention of various factions within the Galactic Alliance, as those territories were now essentially unclaimed lands!
Galactic Calendar 3031, October 10th
Zhao Chen scheduled a time with Li Yaqi for a holographic communication to discuss the recent military procurement.
Li Yaqi appeared before Zhao Chen.
"Congratulations, President Li," Zhao Chen applauded, offering his praise. "These days, the front pages of the Stellar Glory Empire's hot news are almost all related to the North Goose Starship Technology Group. You're being called the Business Empress!"
"Please don't tease me," Li Yaqi said with a hint of weariness. "I've been exhausted these past few days. Outsiders might not know, but despite all this hard work, I'm still just someone's employee." She gave Zhao Chen a somewhat reproachful look.
Come to think of it, she found it strange. For such a massive business deal, Zhao Chen had truly not intervened at all from the start of their cooperation to the very end. He had even entrusted a portion of the profits to be held in the North Goose Starship Technology Group's accounts with complete trust.
In the past, it was understandable, but now, even after signing starship orders worth tens of billions, Zhao Chen still showed no intention of interfering.
She didn't know if he was genuinely uninterested in money or if he truly trusted Li Yaqi completely.
"Let's talk. How did the signing of this military procurement contract go?" Zhao Chen inquired.
Li Yaqi raised her hand, presenting a top-secret electronic copy of the military procurement order contract before Zhao Chen for him to review at his leisure.
"The signing went very smoothly. Originally, the Imperial Army planned to procure 10,000 units. However, since our Tier-2 Tibetan Mastiff-class ships are priced at only 3 million Star Coins, they decided to increase the order quantity to 15,000 units. The total value of the military procurement order is 45 billion Star Coins."
Forty-five billion Star Coins—this exceeded expectations by a significant margin.
Li Yaqi continued, "According to the Imperial Army's requirements, this entire order must be delivered by the end of next year. During this period, several batches will be delivered progressively as agreed.
Based on our previous profit-sharing agreement, where I bear all costs, you will receive a share of 31.5 billion Star Coins.
Congratulations, Viscount. By then, your wealth may even surpass that of some Counts and Marquises.
Furthermore, we have also received orders from various other factions.
We have completely captured the entire market share for the Tier-2 Hyena-class."
Zhao Chen applauded and said, "Isn't this all thanks to your maneuver at the Military Procurement Conference, which directly accelerated the demise of the Hyena-class?
And Miss Li Yaqi, you haven't made a small profit from this deal either.
The raw material costs are only around 3 billion Star Coins. Other expenses like labor, transportation, and expanding production lines, when combined, shouldn't exceed 9 billion Star Coins.
You're still making a profit of nearly 5 billion Star Coins.
As far as I know, the net profits of the former North Goose Interstellar Trade Group over ten years probably didn't amount to as much as you've made from this single deal."
This collaboration was a win-win situation for both Zhao Chen and Li Yaqi.
Li Yaqi gained the opportunity to showcase her talents in the field she had always dreamed of.
As for Zhao Chen, he could now sit back and earn money effortlessly.
"I will still leave the management of the North Goose Starship Technology Group entirely in your hands, but I need you to handle a few things for me," Zhao Chen mentioned one of his requests.
"Please go ahead," Li Yaqi replied.
Zhao Chen said, "Now that the North Goose Starship Technology Group has grown in scale, procuring starship raw material resources has become much easier than before.
So, from now on, I'd like you to purchase an additional set of the starship raw material resources I need. I'll arrange for Red Eyes to transport them discreetly through her channels."
In the past, the North Goose Starship Technology Group only procured a few billion worth of raw material resources annually.
Back then, Zhao Chen didn't use this channel directly, as it would have easily exposed their relationship.
But now, with the North Goose Starship Technology Group's vast operations, such a procurement of raw materials wouldn't attract any attention, allowing Zhao Chen to use this channel with confidence.
"That won't be a problem. Just provide me with a raw material order when the time comes," Li Yaqi nodded in agreement.
After their conversation concluded, the communication ended.
With the Imperial Military Procurement matter now settled, and since Zhao Chen couldn't see his Eldest Sister, he had no desire to stay any longer.
After bidding farewell to Chu Xuan, Su Lan, Xue Xiaoxiao, and the others,
Zhao Chen's three Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruisers set off to return to the Fierce Dragon Star System.
Meanwhile, the public was still abuzz with discussions about how the North Goose Starship Technology Group's release of the two Tibetan Mastiff-class Medium Interstellar Destroyers had dethroned the Hurricane Consortium's two Hyena-class Medium Interstellar Destroyers.
Little did they know that the true mastermind behind this incident had already quietly departed.
In their eyes, all attention was on Li Yaqi, the rising Business Empress of the North Goose Starship Technology Group!
Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruiser · Bridge
"It's much more comfortable being back on my own starship bridge," Zhao Chen adjusted the captain's chair to a comfortable position while opening the System Interface.
Over the past few days, he had been spending time with Zhao Wan'er and the others, leaving him no opportunity to check the latest Quarterly Mission.
[Quarterly Mission:
Requirement One: Exchange for a Tier-3 Auxiliary Starship Technical Blueprint
Requirement Two: Own 100 combat-type interstellar warships]
Requirement Two wasn't particularly difficult. If the numbers fell short, he could simply produce a few more Black Rhinoceros-class Interstellar Heavy Assault Escort Ships—they were cheap and offered great value for money.
As for Requirement One, Zhao Chen needed to consider the issue of System Points.
At that moment, Zhao Chen felt as though someone was staring at him.
He opened his eyes to find Zhao Wan'er standing beside him, gazing intently at him.
"Is there something on my face?" Zhao Chen touched his cheek.
Zhao Wan'er remained silent, continuing to stare at him.
"What's wrong?" Zhao Chen asked, puzzled.
Like a detective, Zhao Wan'er leaned in mysteriously and asked, "That Li Yaqi and those two Tibetan Mastiff-class Medium Interstellar Destroyers—are they connected to you?"
Damn, this woman's intuition is truly something.
How did she manage to figure it out?
Zhao Chen was startled, but his expression remained unchanged on the surface: "How could I possibly have any connection with that business prodigy?
If there's any connection at all, I only know her younger brother."
"Really?" Zhao Wan'er eyed Zhao Chen suspiciously.
Just then, Secretary Officer Bessie suddenly approached and reported, "Commander, the latest message from the base has arrived."
"Go ahead," Zhao Chen immediately inquired.
Zhao Wan'er stopped pressing further.
Secretary Officer Bessie said, "It's about the intelligence gathered by Red Eyes. They have discovered the base of that slave trafficking organization!"
Zhao Chen's spirits lifted instantly: "Bessie, return to the Fierce Dragon Star System at the fastest possible speed!"
He was eager to claim his Tier-4... or rather, eager to avenge Red Eyes!
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