"Fifty billion is a rather large number... It would be easier to handle through official channels. But to keep it hidden and unknown..." Li Yaqi showed a somewhat troubled expression, then added, "However, there might be one person who could manage it."
"Who?" Zhao Chen inquired.
"Someone you've met before," Li Yaqi said.
Zhao Chen's mind conjured the image of that woman wearing a mask, with black patterns on her face and crimson eyes.
"The Bloody Mary Mercenary Corps?" Zhao Chen uttered the name of the organization she belonged to.
Li Yaqi nodded. "Bloody Mary has channels to source raw materials discreetly and is exceptionally skilled at transporting such supplies. They are intimately familiar with the interstellar border spaces between various star systems, treating them like their own backyard. The tasks they undertake always ensure that orders are delivered to clients in the shortest possible time. But... there's one thing... their prices are very high!"
"How high?" Zhao Chen asked.
"Assuming you want to transport raw materials worth fifty billion Star Coins, she would take a 30% cut, which is fifteen billion Star Coins. The upside is that she only takes her share upon delivery and is very trustworthy. That's why many in the Interstellar Black Market are willing to do business with her. However, due to her methods, she has also made quite a few enemies," Li Yaqi explained.
A 30% cut—the profit margin was simply staggering. But at the moment, Zhao Chen urgently needed a batch of raw materials for constructing the Stargate and expanding his fleet, among other necessities.
"Help me get in touch with her. I want to discuss this deal!" Zhao Chen said seriously.
Li Yaqi was surprised. Zhao Chen had previously needed to borrow two million Star Coins from her in advance, yet now he was talking about a fifty-billion Star Coin transaction without batting an eye.
"I'll help you reach out. We should have a reply within three days," Li Yaqi said.
"Good." Zhao Chen looked at Li Yaqi and asked, "How much do you know about that red-eyed, masked woman? And how did you two meet?"
To be honest, Li Yaqi's style and that woman's were like two different worlds.
Li Yaqi recalled, "It was back when I had just started helping my father with his business. I was in charge of a long-distance trade transport at the time. I led one of my Interstellar Transport Ship Fleets to deliver a shipment to the Warhammer Star Federation. During the voyage, we passed through a medium-risk zone and happened to encounter Red Eyes, who was fleeing from pursuers. Oh, right, you probably don't know her name. In fact, no one knows her real name. Those familiar with her call her Red Eyes. Over time, it became her codename. At the time, Red Eyes was escaping in a battered shuttle. For some reason, I inexplicably took her in. I helped her evade her pursuers and even brought her all the way to the Warhammer Star Federation. Along the way, I tended to her injuries and let her stay in my room. Over time, we became familiar. When she left, she told me to contact her if I ever needed anything. To be honest, I've asked her for help many times. In terms of favors, she's long since repaid me, but she's still willing to assist me with certain matters. Of course, I always pay her the commission."
As for understanding her... actually, not that much. She has many secrets, and even when facing me, she won't reveal them.
To this day, I've never seen her face beneath the mask..."
Listening to Li Yaqi's story, Zhao Chen gradually formed some impressions of this woman named Red Eyes.
She was a woman cold on the outside but warm on the inside, who valued emotions but wasn't good at expressing them.
"In short, when cooperating with her, as long as you don't do the things she hates most, there generally won't be any problems," Li Yaqi said.
"What are the things she hates most?" Zhao Chen asked.
"Slave trading, especially child slave trading," Li Yaqi said seriously. "Our Northern Goose has never been involved in the slave trade business.
Perhaps that's why Red Eyes doesn't dislike me.
As for the reason, I suspect it's related to something that happened in her childhood.
There are rumors that her younger brother was captured and sold. When her parents finally found him, they discovered that due to a malfunction in the oxygen supply system in the cargo hold of an interstellar transport ship, all the child slaves in the entire hold had died, including her brother."
Zhao Chen was taken aback. Slave trading?
He wondered if his practice of buying slaves to serve as starship crew violated her principles.
"Alright, I understand. Please help me contact her first, and I'll handle the rest myself," Zhao Chen said.
"Okay," Li Yaqi agreed.
After that, the communication ended.
It would take a few days to wait for Li Yaqi's reply.
Zhao Chen didn't idle around either. He led the six migrating T2 Hammer-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ships and began heading toward the Fierce Dragon Territory.
The Soaring Dragon Base was left under the protection of the Zero Blizzard to oversee the construction plans for the four types of starships by the four T2 Hammer-class ships.
Because the flight speed of the T2 Hammer-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ships couldn't match that of the T3 Blizzard, this journey would take up to half a month.
On the third day of returning to the Fierce Dragon Star System, Zhao Chen welcomed a 'guest' on the bridge.
A 'little girl' with dark circles under her eyes and messy, puffy hair.
Looking at Annie before him, Zhao Chen didn't recognize her at first.
"The detailed construction plans for the two Stargates you wanted," Annie said, staggering step by step onto the bridge as if she might collapse at any moment.
She walked up to Zhao Chen and sent him an electronic document.
Then, ignoring the surprised looks from the surrounding starship crew, Annie walked over to the captain's chair. Using both hands to grip the chair, she gave a little kick with her legs and barely managed to climb onto it.
Looking utterly drained, she slumped into the captain's chair.
"How long... have you been without rest?" Zhao Chen asked, somewhat concerned as he looked at Annie's weakened state.
"Ever since you gave me that T3 Stargate technical data, I've been working overtime according to your plan to draft the construction plans... I finally managed to finish them," Annie said, half-closing her eyes and raising a trembling hand to point at the electronic report in front of Zhao Chen.
It was as if this were Annie's final wish before passing away.
Zhao Chen glanced at the electronic document.
He had indeed assigned this task to Annie. He could have done it himself, but after all, such matters couldn't always be handled personally—talents needed to be nurtured.
Zhao Chen had the idea to nurture Annie, so he naturally assigned this task to her.
Annie surprisingly lived up to expectations and actually completed the task.
After reviewing it, Zhao Chen found no issues at all.
He couldn't help but marvel at the little Dwarf's remarkable talent.
"Your plan is excellent. It can significantly reduce the construction time of the Stargate and increase the efficiency of the T2 Hammer-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ship," Zhao Chen praised.
Annie half-opened her eyes: "Commander... then... can... can... Annie... get... a... bonus..."
"A bonus is possible..." Zhao Chen suddenly noticed something and pointed at Lilith behind Annie: "Lilith, why are you bringing over a chocolate cake?"
"What, chocolate cake!" Annie suddenly perked up, standing on the captain's chair with both feet, her eyes gleaming as she looked behind.
But all she saw was Lilith, empty-handed and smiling.
At that moment, Annie felt a gaze from behind and thought to herself, "This is bad."