The deal was concluded.
Li Yaqi paid three million star coins to buy out the complete interstellar technology of the T1 Wolf Lice–class medium interstellar destroyer fileciteturn23file0.
Once the agreement was confirmed, Zhao Chen did not hesitate.
All remaining technical data—manufacturing parameters, material specifications, and concealed core modules—were sent directly to Li Yaqi's mailbox.
No escrow.
No intermediaries.
No delay.
Along with the data came a short message.
"I have sent the complete interstellar technology data to your mailbox. Please transfer three million star coins to my account within three days after verification."
Below it was a Star Empire interstellar bank card number.
Li Yaqi stared at the screen, momentarily stunned.
"…You're sending it now?" she typed back. "Aren't you worried I might regret it?"
This didn't resemble a high-value interstellar arms transaction at all.
It felt more like buying groceries in a supermarket.
A response arrived almost immediately.
"I trust Li Wei."
A pause.
"And if you dare default, I'll make you pay a thousand times the price."
Then—
"I have other matters to attend to. Happy cooperation."
The chat interface went dark.
The other party had logged out.
Li Yaqi sat there in silence, heart still racing.
She realized something unsettling.
She didn't know his name.
She didn't know his background.
She didn't even know how to contact him again.
"All I know," she murmured, rubbing her temples, "is that this is the strangest business deal I've ever made."
Strange person.
Strange transaction.
But as long as she possessed the complete Wolf Lice technology, nothing else mattered.
With this design, she was confident.
Within six months, Beiyan's starship arms division would turn losses into profit.
Those waiting to see her fail—
Would choke on their own laughter.
Zhao Chen felt a completely different emotion.
"…I should've asked for four million."
He leaned back, rubbing his forehead with a wry smile.
He was still inexperienced in business negotiations.
Objectively speaking, a three-million-star-coin buyout for a T1 starship design was already extremely high by market standards.
It was simply that Li Yaqi's timing had been perfect.
A thirsty person would never argue over the price of water.
"Three million…" Zhao Chen murmured.
His thoughts shifted naturally to his next goal.
The T2 Queen Bee–class heavy aircraft carrier starship.
Building a real starship was nothing like assembling wrecks.
Raw materials.
Shipyards.
Precision manufacturing equipment.
Engineering personnel.
Logistics.
Every line item burned money.
A lot of it.
Beep—beep.
His handheld terminal rang.
Zhao Chen glanced at the caller ID and raised an eyebrow.
Zhao Wan'er.
"Oh?" he said lazily as the call connected. "The eldest miss finally remembers she has a brother?"
Zhao Wan'er rolled her eyes on-screen. "Stop talking nonsense. I have friends here."
She stepped aside, revealing two women behind her.
One tall and elegant.
One small, energetic, with twin ponytails.
"This is Senior Sister Su Lan from fifth year," Zhao Wan'er said stiffly. "And this is Xue Xiaoxiao, my classmate from fourth year.
"…You already know this one."
She emphasized the last words with obvious disgust.
Su Lan smiled politely. "Hello. Wan'er mentions you often."
"Then she must be badmouthing me," Zhao Chen replied calmly. "That's fine. I'm used to it."
Before Su Lan could respond, Xue Xiaoxiao suddenly leaned toward the camera, eyes sparkling.
"Brother Zhao Chen! Can I see your cannon?!"
Zhao Chen froze.
Zhao Wan'er immediately yanked her back. "Xiaoxiao! Watch your words!"
"I just want to see the 1200mm heavy cannon on Blizzard Zero up close," Xue Xiaoxiao protested, pouting.
Zhao Chen cleared his throat and smoothly changed the subject.
"Senior Sister Su Lan," he said, gaze sharpening slightly, "you didn't come here just to chat. What's the matter?"
Su Lan's smile faded.
"It's about yesterday's duel," she said frankly. "Zhang Haoran is trying to use connections.
"Someone who knows I'm close to Wan'er asked me to mediate.
"They want you to withdraw the expulsion penalty."
Zhao Chen narrowed his eyes but didn't interrupt.
"Isn't the penalty fixed once registered in a starship duel?" he asked.
"Normally, yes," Su Lan replied. "But academy regulations allow the winner to cancel the punishment—if they agree.
"In other words, it's your decision."
She paused.
"If you're willing to talk, I can arrange a meeting. You can name your conditions.
"I won't ask you to give up anything for free."
Zhao Chen nodded slowly.
"Can I speak to my sister alone?"
Su Lan understood immediately and left with Xue Xiaoxiao.
The video window now held only siblings.
"You want me to help her," Zhao Chen said calmly.
Zhao Wan'er hesitated, then nodded. "Senior Sister Su Lan has always taken care of me.
"She owes someone a favor—Han Tianwang, a fifth-year senior.
"He's using it to harass her and force her to date him.
"If this matter can end the debt… she won't have to endure him anymore."
Zhao Chen listened quietly.
Then he smiled.
"Alright," he said. "Tell her to set the time and place.
"I'll talk."
Zhao Wan'er's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Who told you this was the first thing my sister ever asked me to do?" Zhao Chen replied lightly.
"Don't get carried away!" Zhao Wan'er snapped, blushing. "I wasn't begging you!"
She cut the call.
Zhao Chen leaned back, fingers interlaced.
Zhang Haoran's fate meant nothing to him.
Without the system task, he wouldn't have cared at all.
But now—
Helping his sister.
Settling Su Lan's trouble.
And extracting compensation from someone desperate enough to ask.
The corners of Zhao Chen's mouth curved upward.
Tomorrow—
Would be interesting.