Zhao Chen, you were too impulsive earlier. I know you hate that Zhang Haoran for stealing... Jiang Shasha... but you shouldn't have challenged him to a starship duel.
Now that the duel application has been submitted... there's no way to cancel it...
If things get really bad, I'll lend you my T2 Hyena." Li Wei walked beside Zhao Chen, looking so anxious it seemed like he was the one participating in the duel rather than Zhao Chen.
"No need, I have my own starship." Zhao Chen felt warmth in his heart seeing Li Wei's genuine concern for him.
Li Wei truly considered him a brother, ever since Zhao Chen started helping this wealthy second-generation heir from a trade family with his studies and assignments on their first day at the academy.
Without Zhao Chen's help, Li Wei would never have passed any exams in the past three years.
Their friendship had been strong ever since.
"You have a starship? How come I didn't know?" Li Wei stared at Zhao Chen in surprise.
Zhao Chen spent practically every waking hour with him except when sleeping or using the bathroom - how could he possibly have a starship without Li Wei knowing?
"We're going to get one now." Zhao Chen smiled.
"What? Now?" Li Wei froze, then clutched his head: "My dear Baron, this joke has gone too far. Are you planning to use one of the academy's warehouse starships against Zhang Haoran?"
Half an hour later.
Zhao Chen and Li Wei arrived at the academy starship warehouse.
Unlike the spaceport where operational starships docked, this warehouse stored decommissioned vessels - some so old they could be described as dust collectors, having sat untouched for who knows how many years.
"Hello professor, I'm here to exchange for a starship." Zhao Chen approached the warehouse administrator's counter.
The administrator glanced at Zhao Chen. With finals approaching, he was accustomed to third-year students preparing starships for the next semester.
"Browse this list yourself. It contains specifications and required academy points for each model." The administrator opened a display panel for Zhao Chen.
The screen showed nearly three hundred starships.
Most were T1-class, and almost all were secondhand.
After all, who would store brand-new starships here?
"Zhao Chen, you've maintained good grades. Three semesters should have earned you about 30,000 academy points.
You could exchange for this T2 Hyena-class Medium Interstellar Destroyer - twenty years old with minor hull damage.
Though outdated, its core systems remain functional." Knowing the duel was inevitable, Li Wei tried suggesting practical options.
Zhao Chen shook his head and kept browsing.
Li Wei recommended several other cost-effective T2 starships, but Zhao Chen rejected them all.
"How long are you going to take? There may be three hundred ships here, but only a few are actually suitable." Li Wei grew impatient with Zhao Chen's indecision.
"I've already chosen." Zhao Chen announced.
"Chosen? Which one?" Li Wei looked at him curiously.
Zhao Chen turned to the administrator: "Professor, as long as I have enough points, I can exchange for multiple starships, right?"
"There's no limit on quantity." The administrator confirmed.
Zhao Chen selected three ships on the display: "I'll take these three."
Three?
Both Li Wei and the administrator were stunned.
They simultaneously checked the chosen vessels:
T2 Hyena-class Medium Interstellar Destroyer: 59 years in service, previously suffered severe hull damage, three main cannons critically damaged but repaired... 9,000 points required.
T2 Gray Wolf-class Light Interstellar Cruiser: 65 years in service... 7,000 points required.
T2 Devil Crocodile-class Medium Interstellar Battleship: 80 years in service... 11,000 points required.
Seeing these specifications, Li Wei and the administrator were speechless.
These three were undoubtedly the oldest relics in the entire warehouse.
"Are you certain? These ships may have been decent in their prime, but their components are severely degraded now." The administrator tried to dissuade him.
Li Wei added urgently: "Zhao Chen, stop joking! Starship duels are one-on-one - having three won't help."
"My decision is final. Please process the exchange." Zhao Chen insisted firmly.
After repeated confirmations, the administrator finally approved the transaction.
Li Wei covered his face, feeling like this must be a dream - nothing Zhao Chen did today made any sense to him.
"These three ships are now registered under your name, accessible anytime.
Warehouse storage remains free for one month, after which docking fees apply." The administrator looked at Zhao Chen like he was insane.
"Professor, points can also exchange for starship components, correct? And each student has free access to maintenance docks - I haven't used mine for three semesters, so I should have thirty days' worth." Zhao Chen added.
"That's correct." The administrator nodded.
"Then I'd like to request these components and a maintenance dock to transfer all three ships and these parts to." Zhao Chen handed over another list.
The administrator skimmed the mundane component list.
Zhao Chen's remaining points barely covered the additional items.
"Would you like to hire engineers or technicians for modifications?" The administrator asked.
"No need." Zhao Chen declined.
The administrator shrugged: "Everything will be ready within thirty minutes. You'll receive the dock number notification."
"Thank you, professor." Zhao Chen said.
After completing the paperwork, Zhao Chen and Li Wei left.
"What a strange student." The administrator muttered.
Outside, Li Wei finally exploded: "Zhao Chen, what are you thinking?
Those three junkers are useless!
You're gambling with your future!"
Zhao Chen remained calm: "Li Wei, trust me. I know what I'm doing."
"You... whatever, I'm done with you." Li Wei stormed off angrily.
Zhao Chen sighed. Even if he explained now, Li Wei wouldn't believe him.
Better to let results speak for themselves.
*Ding·Third-year cadet Zhao Chen has been granted access to Dock No.017 for small/medium starships. Present cadet ID card for entry during authorized period.*
After receiving the notification, Zhao Chen bid temporary farewell to Li Wei and headed to the dock.
Swiping his ID card at the entrance, massive doors opened to reveal a cavernous space spanning several football fields, filled with the pungent smell of metal and starship lubricants.
Inside awaited his three vessels.
Their rust-marked hulls testified to long years of service, despite the academy's maintenance efforts.
Zhao Chen first approached the central control panel, summoning holographic displays and rapidly inputting data streams.
Soon, complete schematics of all three ships appeared, including 3D models Zhao Chen had reconstructed.
Close inspection revealed the models divided into gray and red zones.
"Just need to combine these sections!" Excitedly, Zhao Chen overlapped the red zones, forming a crude, mismatched starship silhouette.
Then he accessed a classified file from his personal terminal - displaying another starship model.
The T3 Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruiser