"You... you... you!" The teased Miss Chu Xuan was flushed with embarrassment and indignation, her face so red it seemed about to drip blood.
"Ahem, ahem, ahem..."
Just then, an ill-timed coughing sound came from the other side of the video window.
Why did that voice sound so familiar?
A figure appeared behind Miss Chu Xuan.
Old Man Chu!
The air seemed to suddenly fall silent at that moment.
Zhao Chen felt somewhat awkward...
Teasing someone's granddaughter right in front of her grandfather.
And he was none other than Governor Chu He, a Five-Star Marshal!
A terrifying figure who dared to directly bring his interstellar fleet to someone else's doorstep to "kidnap a grandson-in-law."
"Chu Xuan, how are the first batch of T3 Flame Dragon-class medium interstellar destroyers that were recently built and commissioned into service going?
If there are any issues or anything you don't understand, you can come ask me directly." Zhao Chen's expression turned serious, completely different from his previous playful demeanor.
Chu Xuan shot him a glare. She naturally knew why he had changed his tune so quickly.
Since her back was to her grandfather, Chu Xuan moved her lips, putting on a fierce expression: I'll deal with you next time.
Then Chu Xuan also adopted a serious tone: "The T3 Flame Dragon-class medium interstellar destroyers are proceeding very smoothly.
The reason I contacted you this time is because the Stellar Glory Empire is about to hold a military procurement event soon. I will be attending as my grandfather's representative, and my grandfather hopes you will come with me."
"Me too?" Zhao Chen was somewhat surprised.
Li Yaqi had just told him about the Empire's military procurement, and now Chu Xuan was inviting him to attend. These two matters had coincidentally come up at the same time.
"It's good to go out and see more. There will be many starships at the military procurement event. Seeing and hearing more is always better than working behind closed doors." Old Man Chu spoke up at this point.
Zhao Chen thought it over. This matter wouldn't cause him any losses.
After all, he didn't have much to handle at the moment.
It would also be a good opportunity for him to observe the current actual situation of the Stellar Glory Empire at the military procurement event. With the rise of the Fierce Dragon Fleet, he would inevitably have some contact with certain forces within the Stellar Glory Empire in the future.
At the same time, if Li Yaqi encountered any trouble, he could handle it promptly.
Zhao Chen also guessed Old Man Chu's intention in asking him to attend with Chu Xuan. It was undoubtedly to formally push him to the forefront of the Chu Family and tie him to their chariot.
But this was also a form of protection for Zhao Chen. The reputation of the Chu Family carried significant weight.
"Alright then, I'll make some preparations on my end. Give me a time from your side." Zhao Chen agreed.
"Arrive at the Main Star Harbor of the Third Star System in the Starlight Central Star Domain by the end of September." Chu Xuan said.
Only the star systems under the Starlight Central Star Domain had no names. Perhaps they once did, but after the establishment of the Stellar Glory Empire's regime, the star systems in the Central Star Domain had their names abolished, all prefixed with numbers.
The lower the prefix number, the higher the status of that star system within the Central Star Domain.
Zhao Chen noted it down: "Alright, I'll contact you when I arrive."
Afterward, they discussed more about the T3 Flame Dragon-class medium interstellar destroyers. The T3 Flame Dragon-class medium interstellar destroyers were performing exceptionally well in the hands of the Chu Family.
Of those thirty T3 Flame Dragon-class medium interstellar destroyers, twenty had already been deployed to serve in the border regions under the control of the Chu Family's empire.
The communication ended.
"Then I'll go make some preparations," Chu Xuan said excitedly. Although there was still over a month until that time, Chu Xuan was already looking forward to it.
Old Master Chu looked at his granddaughter and suddenly said something that nearly made Chu Xuan trip over her own feet: "When did you and Zhao Chen become intimately involved?"
Chu Xuan barely managed to steady herself, her face flushed with embarrassment as she looked at her grandfather. "Grandfather... that was all just that guy talking nonsense. You... you said it yourself before, our status was only to... to control Zhao Chen and protect him! It was all fake! It doesn't count!"
"Actually, turning a fake act into reality is also possible," Old Master Chu said nonchalantly.
"Grandfather! I'm ignoring you!" Chu Xuan stamped her foot in frustration and then quickly ran off.
Old Master Chu watched his granddaughter's retreating figure as he sat in the recliner in the courtyard. The reason he had such thoughts was entirely due to the actual performance of the T3 Flame Dragon-class medium interstellar destroyer!
He had been impressed by the descriptions on the blueprints before, but those were just blueprints after all.
After seeing the T3 Flame Dragon-class medium interstellar destroyer actually commissioned into service, Old Master Chu truly felt the terrifying capabilities of that young man.
This T3 Flame Dragon-class medium interstellar destroyer truly offered exceptional value for money. At such a low construction cost, they had actually managed to produce a T3 interstellar destroyer.
So far, its performance on the border battlefield had also been outstanding and commendable.
He was growing increasingly eager to see the T4 interstellar destroyer that Zhao Chen would produce. At this moment, he suddenly felt that three years seemed a bit too long...
Late August, Galactic Stellar Calendar
This day was special for Zhao Chen, for the Fierce Dragon Fleet, and for the Fierce Dragon Star System.
Why?
Because the T3 Glorious Moon-class Stargate in the Lion King Star System had been completed and could be connected today.
This meant that the Fierce Dragon Star System would finally escape its previous awkward situation of having no usable stargate.
Bridge of the T3 Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruiser
Zhao Chen and Secretary Officer Lilith were both present, along with Chief Engineer Annie.
They watched the window display before them, which showed the T3 Glorious Moon-class Stargate No. 1 operating at low frequency.
"Ten minutes until the scheduled time," Annie said, her expression also very serious. After all, this T3 Glorious Moon-class Stargate No. 1 before them was something she had personally supervised the construction of.
It was like her own child.
Previously, 80% of the trial runs had been completed, but the crucial stargate connection had been delayed for various reasons.
Now, they finally had this opportunity.
A stargate without a connection was an incomplete stargate.
And now, this T3 Glorious Moon-class Stargate No. 1 in the Fierce Dragon Star System would officially become complete.
"Report, five minutes remaining. We can initiate the stargate connection channel on our end," Sister Niu reported from the on-site work window beside Annie.
"Initiate the stargate connection channel!" Annie gave the order.
"Initiating stargate connection channel. Awaiting signal connection from the other stargate," Sister Niu reported.
Now, all they could do was wait.
One minute...
Two minutes...
Three minutes...
For everyone present, each second felt like an entire year.
The estimated five minutes quickly passed.
But the T3 Glorious Moon-class Stargate One showed no response.
Zhao Chen didn't speak. He knew this time was merely the agreed-upon estimate. Given the immense distance between the two locations, some delay was perfectly normal.
Another five minutes passed.
The T3 Glorious Moon-class Stargate One still showed no response.
Annie bit her lip, her anxious expression making it seem as if she might burst into tears at any moment.
The eighth minute!
Suddenly, a light surged from the T3 Glorious Moon-class Stargate One. Between the two crescent-shaped frames, a shimmering ripple appeared, like the surface of a lake.