"This... I'll consider it further. If there is a need, I will discuss it with you in detail," Queen Medusa said.
"Very well, I await Your Majesty's news," Zhao Chen replied with a smile, looking at the Queen.
Soon, Queen Medusa's subordinates had tallied the approximate gains from this battle operation.
The direct profits that could be clearly accounted for amounted to as much as one billion Star Coins!
This portion included the wreckage of enemy starships that were destroyed, the starports, and some stored strategic supplies.
The indirect profits ranged between one and two billion Star Coins!
This part consisted of the tax revenues from the territories controlled by those stellar powers and the yields from the mining planets.
This only accounted for the indirect gains over the past ten years; the next twenty, fifty years... were not included in the calculation.
"In that case, I will prepare one billion Star Coins for you. How does that sound?" Queen Medusa proposed.
Zhao Chen glanced at Secretary Aili beside him.
In fact, Secretary Aili had also estimated the approximate figures. Originally, it was considered good if they could obtain profits between five hundred million and eight hundred million Star Coins.
Queen Medusa's offer of one billion Star Coins was, in fact, a gesture of goodwill toward Zhao Chen.
A small portion of this consisted of raw materials, while the rest was funds Queen Medusa intended to allocate to Zhao Chen.
"Then let it be so. I wonder if it's possible to convert these into raw materials as much as possible, and the sooner the better," Zhao Chen inquired.
"I know an interstellar merchant in the Reef Starfield who can exchange them for raw materials, though there may be some losses," Queen Medusa said.
"Losses are not a problem. As long as you can procure raw material supplies worth around eight hundred million Star Coins within a month," Zhao Chen conceded a twenty percent profit margin.
Queen Medusa nodded. "Very well, I can help you get in touch."
"Thank you."
"Our cooperation this time has been very pleasant. I look forward to our next collaboration."
"Of course. If Your Majesty is interested in that T2 interstellar missile ship, don't forget to contact me."
"Uh..." Queen Medusa ended the communication with a vague response.
After a single battle, they had gained raw material resources worth eight hundred million.
Indeed, war is forever the fastest path to wealth.
"Commander, the battle report for this engagement has been compiled," Secretary Aili reported, stepping forward after seeing that the commander's communication had ended.
"Go ahead," Zhao Chen said.
Secretary Aili raised her hand and projected several electronic documents containing detailed reports on various aspects of the battle.
These included enemy casualties, losses to their own starships, and the consumption of stellar ship ammunition and energy.
There was no need to review the enemy casualties—2,500 starships, including eight T3 interstellar warships.
"Some of our starships sustained hull damage, and stellar drones need to be replenished. According to statistical calculations, repairs are estimated to cost 500,000 Star Coins.
As for the consumption of stellar ship ammunition and energy, aside from the stellar missiles of the T2 Lion King-class Heavy Interstellar Missile Ship, the total consumption for the remaining starships amounts to 1.5 million Star Coins.
During this battle, the T2 Lion King-class Heavy Interstellar Missile Ship consumed a total of 2,000 stellar missiles, valued at 1.2 million Star Coins.
The total battlefield losses for this engagement amount to 3.2 million Star Coins."
"Forty-five injured, no casualties," Secretary Aili reported.
A consumption of over three million Star Coins, compared to a direct profit of one billion Star Coins, yielded a profit margin exceeding three hundred times.
And this was under the premise that Zhao Chen had given up a significant portion of long-term gains.
Truly worthy of being called "war."
However, it must be said that the three T2 Lion King-class Heavy Interstellar Missile Ships were incredibly costly. The ammunition consumption of these three missile ships alone nearly matched the combat expenditure of the entire fleet.
This was still based on the construction cost of the stellar missiles. If calculated according to the price previously quoted to Queen Medusa, it would have amounted to tens of millions of Star Coins!
"I understand," Zhao Chen nodded with satisfaction.
Secretary Aili's work capabilities in this area were quite commendable.
Afterward, Zhao Chen ordered the fleet to return to the temporary Fierce Dragon base here to undergo repairs and resupply by the T2 Hammer-class Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ship.
Logically, resupply tasks should be handled by specialized stellar supply ships, as they are the most efficient.
However, since Zhao Chen currently had no stellar supply ships, he had to rely on the interstellar industrial ship to double up for the task. Efficiency might be slower, but it would have to do.
The only regret from this battle was that Han Tianwang managed to escape.
After Han Tianwang fled, he would likely report Zhao Chen's information to the forces backing him.
However, Zhao Chen was actually quite confident that they would not disclose his information.
The forces behind Han Tianwang undoubtedly had some faction within the Stellar Glory Empire as their backer.
Since they were operating covertly in the Reef Starfield, they would certainly not want their activities exposed within the Stellar Glory Empire.
Thus, in this situation, Zhao Chen and the forces behind Han Tianwang found themselves in an unspoken understanding.
Both sides were aware of each other's existence and remained adversaries, yet neither would leak the other's intelligence to the Stellar Glory Empire—at least not publicly.
This created a state of equilibrium.
After all, the Lion King Star System could not remain hidden forever. In three to five years, or at most a decade, it would inevitably be exposed.
Zhao Chen did not expect to keep it concealed indefinitely. The most important thing was to survive this initial difficult period, allowing him to build a sufficiently powerful interstellar fleet capable of self-defense.
"It's precisely because of the insufficient starship count that we can never completely annihilate the enemy fleet," Zhao Chen muttered to himself.
He urgently needed to expand the number of combat-type interstellar warships.
Although the system required thirty ships, that number fell far short of Zhao Chen's needs.
First, set a small goal: establish a corps-level interstellar fleet of three hundred starships!
With T3 interstellar warships as the main force and T2 starships as support!
"Charlotte, Aili. You two will remain in the Lion King Star System. I need to return to the Fierce Dragon Star System first.
Aside from the T3 Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruiser, I will leave all other interstellar warships with you.
Proceed with the construction of the Lion King Star System according to the original plan. The captured Fire Salamander Tribe interstellar warships can be handed over to the Dwarf race—they are in need of starships, after all.
Those T1 interstellar warships should meet their requirements.
As for the raw material supplies delivered by the Snake People Clan, prioritize using them to construct our Stargate."
Zhao Chen briefed Charlotte and Aili on his travel plans.
The reason he was in such a hurry to return to the Fierce Dragon Star System.
Was mainly to check out the reward given by the System Task.
High-Quality Interstellar Resources... what on earth could that be?