"There really was no need for such a grand display. I just came to have a casual look," Zhao Chen said, glancing at the beastman beside him who was both the Starship Captain and Dean of the Goddess Academy.
She had a pair of small round ears on her head, black circles around her eyes, and fair skin everywhere else, except for black skin that reappeared at her neck. A small tuft of white tail peeked out from her hips.
She wore a form-fitting skirt, and below it were what appeared to be natural 'black stockings.'
Note that these 'black stockings' were not the usual kind—they were actually the black fur of Dean Xiong Xiangxiang herself. From a distance, they truly looked like 'black stockings.'
As for whether other parts of her body were white or black, although Zhao Chen was curious, he couldn't see them.
This dean, named Xiong Xiangxiang, was a beastman from the Panda Clan.
According to Charlotte, this was a very ancient clan with extensive knowledge reserves and a remarkable talent for learning, known as the academic elites among beastmen!
Thus, Zhao Chen had appointed her as the Starship Captain and Dean of the Goddess Academy.
The earlier scene had been a welcome ceremony specially prepared by Dean Xiong Xiangxiang for Zhao Chen.
But honestly, it had truly startled him.
Being stared at by one or two, or even a dozen girls, might have felt nice to Zhao Chen.
But imagine being stared at by thousands of women—it was genuinely uncomfortable.
It felt like being prey eyed by hunters.
Zhao Chen had even noticed quite a few girls secretly taking photos of him. As for what those photos were used for, only they knew.
However, it was said that not long after, someone started selling so-called "commander's private photos" within the academy...
The problem was, they sold quite well!
"Mainly, this was unanimously requested by the students. They truly admire you," Dean Xiong Xiangxiang explained to Commander Zhao Chen.
"I can understand that, but studies should still come first. Why don't you show me around the academy and tell me about the situation here, as well as any problems you might have encountered," Zhao Chen said.
"Of course."
Zhao Chen followed Dean Xiong Xiangxiang as they toured the academy.
Calling it an academy, Zhao Chen felt it was more like an academy city.
Everything one could need was available here, with all aspects of life fully provided for.
But what was truly astonishing were the teaching facilities.
At that moment, Zhao Chen was in a simulated starship combat room.
Here, students could engage in simulated starship combat training, which included all the starships currently in active service with the Fierce Dragon Fleet.
This ensured that after graduation, students could quickly integrate into their assigned starship positions.
"This is pretty much the situation at our Goddess Academy.
So far, the Goddess Academy has been operating for nearly a month.
Since the Fierce Dragon Fleet hasn't been in urgent need of personnel recently, our training standard requires students to reach the level of senior interstellar crew before they can graduate.
Up to now, this batch will be able to supply the Fierce Dragon Fleet with three thousand senior interstellar crew members, whose abilities are equivalent to veterans with ten years of service in the Imperial Army.
The only thing they might lack is combat experience. Although the simulated starship courses allow for multiple space combat drills, it still can't compare to real combat.
But I believe that once they experience real combat, they will adapt quickly."
"They can emerge from their cocoons and become butterflies!" Principal Xiong Xiangxiang declared with unwavering conviction.
"I believe in you all as well," Zhao Chen praised.
He noticed that the recruits studying here all had a certain light in their eyes—a kind of belief, a kind of hope.
Such students were not absent from North Star Academy, but they were rare.
Only a small handful of students like Shen Bing possessed this kind of aura.
Beep beep beep beep
Just then, Zhao Chen's handheld terminal flashed.
"Excuse me, I need to handle something," Zhao Chen said, looking at Principal Xiong Xiangxiang.
"Please, go ahead," Principal Xiong Xiangxiang replied, tactfully walking away.
Zhao Chen opened his handheld terminal, and a window popped up with a video communication request.
(Your private contact 'Li Yaqi' is requesting a video communication with you. Accept?)
Li Yaqi contacting him at this time?
It must be something very important, because he had told her before not to contact him unless it was something significant.
Zhao Chen clicked accept.
A video window quickly appeared.
"Commander, please save Red Eyes!" Li Yaqi looked at Zhao Chen with an anxious expression.
Red Eyes?
Zhao Chen inquired, "What happened to Red Eyes? Don't panic, explain slowly!"
It seemed that the Bloody Mary Mercenary Corps' recent "delay" was indeed due to some trouble.
"It's like this... Red Eyes just sent me a distress message..." Li Yaqi began recounting the events.
Originally, the Bloody Mary Mercenary Corps had successfully procured this final batch of raw material supplies and were on their way to the Fierce Dragon Star System.
Among this transport fleet, Red Eyes had also smuggled some "private goods."
The Bloody Mary Mercenary Corps had pulled off a "double-cross" job, hijacking an interstellar transport fleet involved in the interstellar slave trade.
They then hid all those slaves on their own starship. The plan was to deliver Zhao Chen's batch of goods first, and then, on the return trip, smoothly leave the territory of the Stellar Glory Empire with the slaves.
But unexpectedly, for some reason, the enemy managed to locate the Bloody Mary Mercenary Corps. A fleet several times their size began pursuing and blockading them.
Left with no choice, Red Eyes could only send this communication to Li Yaqi. In truth, she wasn't really hoping for rescue.
She was informing Li Yaqi of the situation and asking her to convey her apologies to Zhao Chen, stating that she might have to break the contract for this final batch of goods.
"Red Eyes despises the slave trade, so she often attacks interstellar fleets involved in it to rescue the slaves.
Over time, some stellar powers specializing in the slave trade have set their sights on Red Eyes.
But relying on her familiarity with the interstellar border space, Red Eyes had always managed to get away smoothly.
Who would have thought that this time... she actually got entangled with the enemy.
For her to send such a message... it means her current situation is so dire that even she feels there's no hope of escape.
I... I really don't know what to do... I know you and Red Eyes only have a business relationship... there's no need to take risks for her...
But... but I really don't know what to do... she's one of my few friends..." Li Yaqi spoke with a sob, her eyes red and swollen.
Gone was the strong, capable woman she appeared to be in the outside world.
"Alright, stop crying.
That crying face doesn't suit CEO Li.
I'm aware of this matter, I'll find a way to handle it.
"Do you have the coordinate location from when the Bloody Mary Mercenary Corps sent you the message?" Zhao Chen inquired.
"I... I do! I'll send it to you right now..." Li Yaqi said repeatedly.
"Then wait patiently for my news." Zhao Chen ended the communication and walked toward Dean Xiong Xiangxiang in the distance: "Dean, I'm sorry, but I have something urgent to attend to and need to leave for a moment."
"Alright, you go ahead and take care of your business," Dean Xiong Xiangxiang said.
Zhao Chen returned to his shuttle and immediately headed back to the T3 Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruiser.
At that moment, Zhao Chen also received the data message sent by Li Yaqi.
The coordinate location from Red Eyes' last communication was actually right in the North Wind Star Domain.
However, it was located in a region of interstellar border space.
Zhao Chen immediately contacted Lilith: "Lilith, immediately prepare the T3 Blizzard for combat readiness. We have an operation.
Someone dares to mess with our Fierce Dragon Fleet's assets!"
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