Zhao Chen frowned slightly. Governor Chu's words contained quite a bit of information.
Just as Zhao Chen was about to speak, Governor Chu cut him off first: "Don't ask too much. Those matters are not something you can participate in yet.
You just need to develop quietly and expand your interstellar fleet as much as possible.
Although your current Viscount title only allows you to have a private fleet of one hundred starships.
But you can transfer some of the T2 starships under your command to trustworthy interstellar families within your territory. Maintaining a fleet size of around one hundred and fifty ships usually won't be a big problem.
No matter the circumstances, the only force you can rely on is the starships you hold in your own hands."
Since the old man said so, Zhao Chen didn't ask further.
It was probably related to internal affairs within the Stellar Glory Empire, such as the Prince Party...
This kind of drama never goes missing, whether in ancient times or in the recent interstellar era.
As for the issue of interstellar fleet size, Zhao Chen had never intended to limit the number of ships in his fleet from the beginning.
The principle that truth always lies within firing range.
Zhao Chen had deeply understood this in his previous life.
Moreover, Zhao Chen also had the Lion King Star System. At worst, he could hide a batch of starships there and recall them when truly needed.
With the existence of the Stargate, this was merely a matter of requiring a little time and consuming some Stargate resources.
At this moment, Governor Chu also received feedback from his several Starship Research Institutes.
Without exception, they were all amazed by the advanced nature of these starship technologies. Although they were only partial starship technologies, they far surpassed those on the two T4 Interstellar Warships currently in service in the Stellar Glory Empire.
"Shall the seven billion Star Coins from the second batch of technology licensing fees all be converted into raw material supplies?" Governor Chu looked at Zhao Chen.
He had already completely forgotten what he had previously said: that it would be quite difficult to gather these raw material resources in such a short time.
"I have a raw material order here. Just follow what's on it." Zhao Chen transmitted a raw material order.
Governor Chu glanced at it; there were no scarce raw material supplies: "Since we happen to be talking today, how about this.
I plan to produce a third batch of T3 Flame Dragon-class medium interstellar destroyers this year, expecting to produce 300 T3 Flame Dragon-class medium interstellar destroyers. The technology licensing fee is 45 billion Star Coins.
I'll pay you 13 billion Star Coins first, and the remaining balance should be settled around the end of the year.
Should this funding also be converted into raw material supplies for you?"
As expected of his good father-in-law, knowing exactly what he lacked and delivering it.
Of course, this was also because Zhao Chen's T3 Flame Dragon-class medium interstellar destroyer was impressive; otherwise, Governor Chu wouldn't have produced three batches consecutively.
It indicated that this T3 Flame Dragon-class medium interstellar destroyer performed exceptionally well on the battlefield.
But there was also an underlying implication: the Chu Family seemed to be engaging in "military buildup" as well.
Nearly 50 billion Star Coins—this couldn't possibly be funding for the Imperial Army; it was most likely the Chu Family expanding its own military forces.
And they must have invested a significant portion of the Chu Family's assets.
Because according to Zhao Chen's understanding, the annual military budget of the Chu River Star Sector was only about 30 billion Star Coins!
However, these were not matters Zhao Chen needed to concern himself with at the moment. His immediate priority was to manage his own territory.
"Alright, just follow the raw material proportions we discussed earlier. Prepare a total of 20 billion Star Coins' worth of resource raw materials for me," Zhao Chen said.
Governor Chu nodded. "The first batch will be delivered to you within half a month. All of it will be transported to your Fierce Dragon Star System within three months. It's just a pity your star system doesn't have a Stargate; otherwise, the speed could be even faster."
Zhao Chen deliberately put on a helpless expression.
"You are now a Viscount. If you have the chance to be promoted to Count, I can try to arrange for you to get a star system where you can build a Stargate or one that already has one. After all, the situation in the Fierce Dragon Star System really isn't ideal. I'll think of something for you," Governor Chu muttered about this matter.
Zhao Chen's eyes lit up. Although he didn't mind the poverty of the Fierce Dragon Star System, it would naturally be best if he could openly have another star system of the Stellar Glory Empire. Then, he could openly possess a Stargate in that star system while secretly constructing a T3 Glorious Moon-class Stargate, which would greatly improve the efficiency of a series of operations.
"Thank you, Governor," Zhao Chen said.
Governor Chu had nothing else to discuss, so the meeting with Zhao Chen concluded here.
This meeting not only allowed Zhao Chen to happily secure 20 billion Star Coins' worth of raw material resources but also gave him a sense of the impending storm brewing within the Stellar Glory Empire.
Zhao Chen informed Lilith about the news that Governor Chu would be delivering 20 billion Star Coins' worth of raw material resources to them in the future.
He then left the T3 Phoenix-class Heavy Carrier Starship and boarded the T3 Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruiser, Ship One.
"Commander," Charlotte stood straight and saluted Zhao Chen.
The female soldiers on the bridge were also a little excited.
This had once been Zhao Chen's flagship, but since the T3 Phoenix-class Heavy Carrier Starship entered service, Zhao Chen had not appeared here for several months.
"This time, we'll use your flagship to return to Fierce Dragon Prime," Zhao Chen said.
Since the T3 Phoenix-class Heavy Carrier Starship was still in a stage of secrecy from the outside world, Zhao Chen would be using the old flagship, the T3 Blizzard Ship One, for this trip back to Fierce Dragon Prime.
"Yes," Charlotte nodded and immediately issued the navigation orders.
Destination: Fierce Dragon Prime.
"Commander, please," Charlotte gestured toward the captain's chair.
"You're the captain. If I sit there, wouldn't I be taking your spot and leaving you with nowhere to sit?" Zhao Chen teased with his words, but his backside was already settling into the chair.
Charlotte said seriously, "You are the commander. Every position here belongs to you. There is no question of taking or not taking."
"But this still makes me feel a bit guilty. Why don't you sit here too?" Zhao Chen patted his knee.
This scene made the nearby female soldiers glance over, with a few even looking on eagerly.
Charlotte's face instantly flushed red, and the tail behind her stiffened upright.
"N-n-n-no... no need."
But the next second, Zhao Chen sprang up from the captain's chair and appeared behind Charlotte.
Charlotte had seen the commander's action speed, comparable to that of a Modified Warrior, before.
Then she felt the back of her neck being grabbed.
In an instant, Charlotte's entire body felt as if struck by lightning, going completely numb.
"Sit when I tell you to sit," Zhao Chen said, returning to the captain's chair and placing Charlotte sideways on his lap.
At that moment, Charlotte's entire body tensed up. She felt as if her little heart was about to leap out of her chest.
Her tail didn't know where to go—standing straight up one moment, swaying left and right the next, then going completely limp and drooping.