The cursor spun.
Once.
Twice.
[Random selection in progress…]
Zhao Chen barely had time to react before the indicator darted wildly among the three options like a roulette wheel. His heart rose with it, then sank.
The cursor stopped.
Option 2.
[Congratulations to the host for acquiring: Fleet Luck Bonus and Eye of Insight.] [Restriction enforced: Fleet may recruit female soldiers only.] [Warning: Any violation of this rule will result in the immediate revocation of rewards and the imposition of unknown punishment.]
Zhao Chen covered his face.
"Only… female soldiers?"
The restriction hit harder than the reward sounded impressive. Too extreme. Completely unreasonable. And yet—annoyingly—some inexplicable spark of anticipation flickered beneath the frustration.
He exhaled.
What was done was done. Complaining wouldn't change reality.
He focused on the rewards instead.
The first was Fleet Luck Bonus. As long as an individual or unit belonged to Zhao Chen or operated under his command, they would receive a passive boost to their luck. The exact effect was undefined—fitting, given how intangible luck itself was.
The second was Eye of Insight. When activated aboard his own starship, Zhao Chen could perceive hostility and murderous intent from any species on board.
In other words—once they were on his ship, betrayal was impossible.
That alone made the restriction easier to swallow.
"Class dismissed."
The instructor's voice cut cleanly through the room. "This semester concludes today. Next term will focus on practical training. As students of the Captain Department, each of you must possess a starship by then.
"You may purchase one independently or exchange academy points for a vessel from the school's inventory. Crew members may be recruited from other departments or hired externally, provided they meet regulations."
With that, the instructor departed.
The classroom erupted.
A starship.
For captain cadets, this was the true threshold.
Those from powerful families would simply buy one. Others would empty three years' worth of academy points for a modest vessel from the school warehouse.
"Let me tell you, my father got me a T2 Star Destroyer—latest upgraded model. Most popular ship in the last decade."
"Tch. What's the romance of a man if not a giant ship and an even bigger cannon? If you're flying anything, it should be a battleship!"
"I'll be lucky if I can scrape together a frigate. As long as I pass, I'm satisfied."
The chatter washed over Zhao Chen as his thoughts drifted.
What kind of starship would be his?
As a child, hadn't he dreamed of carving a path through the universe?
"Old Zhao."
Li Wei leaned in. "Have you decided yet? You should act fast. Good ships disappear quickly—and you still need to recruit a crew."
Zhao Chen asked casually, "What about you?"
Li Wei grinned and raised his wrist. A paper-thin terminal shimmered to life, projecting a rotating hologram of a starship.
Its design was classic—broad hull, visible gun ports, layered armor plating. Main cannons and missile arrays were clearly marked.
"T2 Hyena-class medium interstellar destroyer," Li Wei said proudly. "Market price: 4.3 million star coins. My father ordered it—and even arranged the crew. All retired veterans, over ten years of service."
Then his expression shifted. "Old Zhao… if you really can't find anything suitable in the academy warehouse, I can ask my dad—"
"It's fine," Zhao Chen interrupted with a smile. "I already have a plan. After dinner, I'll go pick up my ship."
Li Wei blinked in surprise but didn't press further.
His family's status made the Hyena-class destroyer unsurprising. Li Wei's household ranked among the top ten interstellar trading families in the northern Star Region.
They left the classroom together and headed toward the cafeteria.
Li Wei noticed Zhao Chen's distracted expression and assumed he was still worrying about ships.
In truth, Zhao Chen's background was no weaker than Li Wei's.
He was poor—but not insignificant.
His father had died young, leaving Zhao Chen a hereditary baron and the ruler of an entire star system.
The problem was that the system was worthless.
A single-star galaxy. No stargate. No special resources. A dead end on every trade route.
The title itself had once been glorious. Zhao Chen's great-grandfather, a fleet commander of the Star Empire, had earned an earldom through military merit and was granted this territory as a fief.
But over generations, that glory faded. His grandfather and father failed to earn further distinction, and the title degraded—earl to viscount, viscount to baron.
If Zhao Chen failed to win merit himself, the title would end with him. The territory would be reclaimed by the empire.
At present, his star system possessed no T2 warships at all—only a handful of aging T1 vessels barely capable of maintaining order.
Ironically, its poverty made it safe. Pirates had no reason to come.
Li Wei had offered help more than once, but Zhao Chen had always refused.
Then—
"Uh… Old Zhao, let's sit over there."
Li Wei suddenly steered him toward a side path, arm slung awkwardly over Zhao Chen's shoulder.
Zhao Chen already knew why.
He had seen her.
Jiang Shasha.
His fiancée—at least, in name.
She stood not far away, laughing softly beside another boy. Anyone familiar with her knew the truth: that boy was pursuing her openly.
Li Wei grimaced. Of all places, of all times.
Zhao Chen and Jiang Shasha had grown up together, born in the same star system. Her family, a noble house within his territory, had arranged their engagement early.
Everything changed after they entered the academy.
Here, there were boys with greater status, deeper pockets, and brighter futures. Compared to them, Zhao Chen was nothing more than a declining rural noble.
He had once loved Jiang Shasha deeply.
She repaid him with distance, indifference, and cruelty.
Li Wei knew Zhao Chen had gone days without eating because of her.
What he didn't know was that today—overwhelmed and broken—the original Zhao Chen had chosen poison.
"That seat by the window looks nice," Zhao Chen said calmly. "Let's sit there."
He stepped forward, rejecting Li Wei's attempt to divert him.
To anyone watching, it looked like Zhao Chen was walking straight toward Jiang Shasha.Chapter 2: Choices and Currents
The cursor spun.
Once.
Twice.
[Random selection in progress…]
Zhao Chen barely had time to react before the indicator darted wildly among the three options like a roulette wheel. His heart rose with it, then sank.
The cursor stopped.
Option 2.
[Congratulations to the host for acquiring: Fleet Luck Bonus and Eye of Insight.] [Restriction enforced: Fleet may recruit female soldiers only.] [Warning: Any violation of this rule will result in the immediate revocation of rewards and the imposition of unknown punishment.]
Zhao Chen covered his face.
"Only… female soldiers?"
The restriction hit harder than the reward sounded impressive. Too extreme. Completely unreasonable. And yet—annoyingly—some inexplicable spark of anticipation flickered beneath the frustration.
He exhaled.
What was done was done. Complaining wouldn't change reality.
He focused on the rewards instead.
The first was Fleet Luck Bonus. As long as an individual or unit belonged to Zhao Chen or operated under his command, they would receive a passive boost to their luck. The exact effect was undefined—fitting, given how intangible luck itself was.
The second was Eye of Insight. When activated aboard his own starship, Zhao Chen could perceive hostility and murderous intent from any species on board.
In other words—once they were on his ship, betrayal was impossible.
That alone made the restriction easier to swallow.
"Class dismissed."
The instructor's voice cut cleanly through the room. "This semester concludes today. Next term will focus on practical training. As students of the Captain Department, each of you must possess a starship by then.
"You may purchase one independently or exchange academy points for a vessel from the school's inventory. Crew members may be recruited from other departments or hired externally, provided they meet regulations."
With that, the instructor departed.
The classroom erupted.
A starship.
For captain cadets, this was the true threshold.
Those from powerful families would simply buy one. Others would empty three years' worth of academy points for a modest vessel from the school warehouse.
"Let me tell you, my father got me a T2 Star Destroyer—latest upgraded model. Most popular ship in the last decade."
"Tch. What's the romance of a man if not a giant ship and an even bigger cannon? If you're flying anything, it should be a battleship!"
"I'll be lucky if I can scrape together a frigate. As long as I pass, I'm satisfied."
The chatter washed over Zhao Chen as his thoughts drifted.
What kind of starship would be his?
As a child, hadn't he dreamed of carving a path through the universe?
"Old Zhao."
Li Wei leaned in. "Have you decided yet? You should act fast. Good ships disappear quickly—and you still need to recruit a crew."
Zhao Chen asked casually, "What about you?"
Li Wei grinned and raised his wrist. A paper-thin terminal shimmered to life, projecting a rotating hologram of a starship.
Its design was classic—broad hull, visible gun ports, layered armor plating. Main cannons and missile arrays were clearly marked.
"T2 Hyena-class medium interstellar destroyer," Li Wei said proudly. "Market price: 4.3 million star coins. My father ordered it—and even arranged the crew. All retired veterans, over ten years of service."
Then his expression shifted. "Old Zhao… if you really can't find anything suitable in the academy warehouse, I can ask my dad—"
"It's fine," Zhao Chen interrupted with a smile. "I already have a plan. After dinner, I'll go pick up my ship."
Li Wei blinked in surprise but didn't press further.
His family's status made the Hyena-class destroyer unsurprising. Li Wei's household ranked among the top ten interstellar trading families in the northern Star Region.
They left the classroom together and headed toward the cafeteria.
Li Wei noticed Zhao Chen's distracted expression and assumed he was still worrying about ships.
In truth, Zhao Chen's background was no weaker than Li Wei's.
He was poor—but not insignificant.
His father had died young, leaving Zhao Chen a hereditary baron and the ruler of an entire star system.
The problem was that the system was worthless.
A single-star galaxy. No stargate. No special resources. A dead end on every trade route.
The title itself had once been glorious. Zhao Chen's great-grandfather, a fleet commander of the Star Empire, had earned an earldom through military merit and was granted this territory as a fief.
But over generations, that glory faded. His grandfather and father failed to earn further distinction, and the title degraded—earl to viscount, viscount to baron.
If Zhao Chen failed to win merit himself, the title would end with him. The territory would be reclaimed by the empire.
At present, his star system possessed no T2 warships at all—only a handful of aging T1 vessels barely capable of maintaining order.
Ironically, its poverty made it safe. Pirates had no reason to come.
Li Wei had offered help more than once, but Zhao Chen had always refused.
Then—
"Uh… Old Zhao, let's sit over there."
Li Wei suddenly steered him toward a side path, arm slung awkwardly over Zhao Chen's shoulder.
Zhao Chen already knew why.
He had seen her.
Jiang Shasha.
His fiancée—at least, in name.
She stood not far away, laughing softly beside another boy. Anyone familiar with her knew the truth: that boy was pursuing her openly.
Li Wei grimaced. Of all places, of all times.
Zhao Chen and Jiang Shasha had grown up together, born in the same star system. Her family, a noble house within his territory, had arranged their engagement early.
Everything changed after they entered the academy.
Here, there were boys with greater status, deeper pockets, and brighter futures. Compared to them, Zhao Chen was nothing more than a declining rural noble.
He had once loved Jiang Shasha deeply.
She repaid him with distance, indifference, and cruelty.
Li Wei knew Zhao Chen had gone days without eating because of her.
What he didn't know was that today—overwhelmed and broken—the original Zhao Chen had chosen poison.
"That seat by the window looks nice," Zhao Chen said calmly. "Let's sit there."
He stepped forward, rejecting Li Wei's attempt to divert him.
To anyone watching, it looked like Zhao Chen was walking straight toward Jiang Shasha.