[Random selection begins...]
Before Zhao Chen could think further, among the three options, a cursor began to move rapidly, like a spinning roulette wheel.
Finally, the cursor stopped on option two.
[Congratulations, Host, for obtaining the 'Fleet Luck Bonus' and the 'Eye of Insight'; the Host must unconditionally comply with the rule 'Fleet Recruitment Restricted to Female Soldiers.' If violated, the above two rewards will be revoked, and an unspecified punishment will be imposed!!]
Zhao Chen covered his face.
Only recruiting female soldiers... this rule is a bit too... something... But for some reason, Zhao Chen actually felt a tiny bit of anticipation in his heart.
First, back to the main topic. Since this fact could no longer be changed, he might as well go with the flow.
Let's take a look at the two rewards he obtained.
First, the 'Fleet Luck Bonus.' As the name suggests, any entity under Zhao Chen or within his fleet would receive a certain luck bonus. As for the specific effect, it was impossible to know, as luck was too mysterious a thing.
Next was the 'Eye of Insight.' It could be used on any species aboard Zhao Chen's own starship to detect whether they harbored hostility or killing intent toward him. In other words, as long as he was on his starship, Zhao Chen would be absolutely safe.
"Students, that's all for today's lesson. The semester is almost over, and starting next semester, we will begin practical combat training.
Since all of you are students of the Starship Captain Department, you will each need to have your own starship by then.
This starship can be purchased by yourselves or exchanged using Academy Points.
The crew for your starship can be students from other departments within the academy or hired personnel, as long as they comply with the relevant regulations." After announcing this, the teacher left the classroom.
The teacher's announcement was about the curriculum for the next semester, requiring each student to prepare their own starship.
Those with family resources could purchase one themselves.
Those less well-off could use the Academy Points accumulated over the past three years to exchange for one from the academy's starship list.
Immediately, every student began discussing the starship they planned to prepare.
"Let me tell you, my dad has already prepared the latest T2-class Interstellar Destroyer for me. It's this year's newest model and has been a bestseller for the past decade."
"Pfft, let me tell you. What is a man's romance? It's massive ships and massive cannons! If you're going to pilot one, it has to be an Interstellar Battleship! That's what you call a man's toy!"
"You guys come from well-off families, but I'm not so lucky. I'll just get an Interstellar Frigate to complete my studies."
Listening to the discussions around him, Zhao Chen couldn't help but fantasize about his own starship.
As a boy, who didn't dream of gallivanting across the universe as a child?
"Old Zhao, have you decided which starship to exchange for? You better hurry up and prepare. Although the academy provides a decent list of exchangeable starships, if you act too late, the good ones will be gone.
Besides, you still need to assemble a crew." Li Wei leaned in beside Zhao Chen.
Zhao Chen casually asked, "How are your preparations going?"
Li Wei grinned and raised his hand, revealing a handheld terminal on his wrist that resembled a watch but was as light as a thin wing. A holographic projection emerged from it, displaying a three-dimensional model of a starship.
Its design was rather traditional, similar to ancient naval vessels.
Several main cannons and missile launchers could be seen on it.
"A T2-class Hyena-class Medium Interstellar Destroyer, currently priced at 4.3 million Star Coins on the market!
My dad ordered it for me, and he even arranged the starship crew for me—all retired veterans with over ten years of service!" After saying this, Li Wei seemed to remember something.
He looked at Zhao Chen with some concern and said, "Old Zhao, um... if you really can't find a suitable starship in the academy warehouse, I can ask my dad to help you..."
"It's fine, I already have an idea about the starship. After we finish eating, we'll go and claim my starship," Zhao Chen replied with a smile.
Li Wei's family background was quite good, as they were involved in interstellar trade. It was said that they ranked among the top ten in the northern star region of the Stellar Glory Empire.
So, it was no surprise that he could afford a T2 Hyena-class Medium Interstellar Destroyer worth four million Star Coins.
After their casual chat, Zhao Chen and Li Wei headed to the academy cafeteria together.
On the way, Li Wei noticed that Zhao Chen seemed distracted and assumed he was still thinking about the starship.
In reality, Zhao Chen's status was no less impressive than Li Wei's. Because Zhao Chen's father had passed away early, Zhao Chen had already inherited the title of Baron and owned a star system territory.
Unfortunately, the star system territory Zhao Chen possessed was extremely resource-poor.
Moreover, it was a single-star system, which meant that a Stargate could not be built there. A star system without a Stargate and without specialty resources was essentially labeled as worthless.
Zhao Chen's title of Baron originated from his grandfather, who had once served as an Imperial Fleet Commander in the Stellar Glory Empire. He had earned military merits, been granted the title of Count, and awarded a fiefdom.
However, in the generations of Zhao Chen's grandfather and father, neither had achieved enough merit to elevate or consolidate the title, causing it to degrade step by step. By Zhao Chen's generation, the title of Count had become Baron.
If he failed to earn further merits during his lifetime, his descendants would be unable to inherit the title, and the territory would be reclaimed by the Empire.
Given Zhao Chen's current situation, it seemed almost impossible.
It was said that in Zhao Chen's star system, there wasn't even a single T2-class starship. The only vessels responsible for maintaining order in the system were a few outdated T1-class starships. Fortunately, due to the system's poverty, interstellar pirates didn't have their eyes on it.
In the past, Li Wei had often wanted to help Zhao Chen, but Zhao Chen was too proud to accept assistance from others.
"Um... Old Zhao, let's sit over there."
Suddenly, Li Wei put his arm around Zhao Chen's shoulder, trying to steer him toward a different path, as if intentionally avoiding something.
But the person Li Wei didn't want Zhao Chen to see, Zhao Chen had already spotted.
Jiang Shasha.
Zhao Chen's fiancée, in theory...
However, at this moment, Zhao Chen's fiancée, Jiang Shasha, was with another boy. Anyone who knew Jiang Shasha was aware that this boy was pursuing her.
Li Wei covered his face, thinking, "Damn, it really is a small world. How can we run into this woman everywhere?"
He knew that Zhao Chen and Jiang Shasha had practically grown up together. Since Jiang Shasha was from the same star system as Zhao Chen and her family were nobles within his territory, the two had been betrothed since childhood.
However, everything changed after Jiang Shasha and Zhao Chen enrolled together in this academy.
Within the academy, there were boys with more illustrious backgrounds than Zhao Chen, and those who were far more extravagant in their spending. In comparison, Zhao Chen was merely a down-and-out noble from the backwaters.
At first, Zhao Chen had been very fond of Jiang Shasha, but her actions repeatedly hurt him. Zhao Chen had tried to salvage their relationship, only to be met with Jiang Shasha's cold and cruel indifference.
Li Wei knew that Zhao Chen had been utterly heartbroken over this, to the point of losing his appetite on several occasions.
What Li Wei didn't know was that just today, overwhelmed by the pain of heartbreak, Zhao Chen had taken his own life by ingesting poison, which was why this version of Zhao Chen now existed.
"The seats by the window are over there. Let's sit there," Zhao Chen said, rejecting Li Wei's suggestion and walking straight ahead.
To outsiders, it appeared as though Zhao Chen was heading directly toward Jiang Shasha.