North Wind Star Domain · A Star System Stargate
This star system was also one of those invaded by the Zerg.
Near the Stargate, there was a Starport. At this moment, a large number of Interstellar Transport Ships were waiting both inside and outside the Starport.
Because the Stargate route reservations were completely full, Interstellar Transport Ships that had not yet been scheduled could only wait here for their turn.
In a luxurious restaurant within the Starport, several local noble magnates had gathered.
Although the atmosphere outside was extremely tense, they were still indulging in extravagance here, holding fine wine in their hands and embracing beautiful women.
"I never thought our star system would be attacked by the Interstellar Zerg. What terrible luck!" a wealthy merchant complained. "Because of this incident, about eighty percent of my business has been affected, costing me hundreds of thousands of Star Coins in losses!"
"Let's not talk about that. We have Interstellar Transport Ships and can still escape. Those lowly commoners without Interstellar Transport Ships can only huddle on the planets and wait to die. We're still relatively lucky," another noble said calmly.
"Speaking of this, I can't help but envy Brother Gao. His family is in the Interstellar Trade business, and he owns an Interstellar Transport Ship Fleet with dozens of Interstellar Transport Ships, most of which are T2 Interstellar Transport Ships.
I heard Brother Gao has made a fortune from this disaster.
A single ship ticket has been inflated to hundreds or even thousands of Star Coins.
With that, one Interstellar Transport Ship can easily earn millions in profit per trip!" someone said, looking at the Gao-surnamed merchant beside him, who wore a smug expression.
Those around him flattered him profusely. Although they inwardly despised such behavior, they knew they would have done the same in his position.
"Not at all… not at all. It's just a fortunate coincidence," the Gao-surnamed wealthy merchant said with a light laugh.
"But… Brother Gao, you have so many Interstellar Transport Ships, yet each one is only loaded to 30% capacity… Isn't that a bit wasteful?" a young noble offspring said, his conscience not entirely extinguished. "Brother Gao could lower the ticket prices appropriately. That way, you could take more civilians.
Not only would you save lives, but you'd also make money. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"
"How much is saving lives worth?" the Gao-surnamed wealthy merchant said disdainfully. "As the saying goes, rarity increases value. If I took in a large number of passengers, wouldn't my ticket prices depreciate?"
Hearing this, everyone understood that this guy was profiteering from the "national disaster."
They inwardly despised him, but on the surface, no one wanted to openly confront him.
Beep beep beep beep
Just then, the Gao-surnamed wealthy merchant's Handheld Terminal flashed with a communication alert. He opened it, and a video window appeared.
On the other end was the Captain of one of the Interstellar Transport Ships in his fleet.
"Boss! Something terrible has happened! We've been hijacked by three Starships. They're demanding we hand over the Starships and cooperate with their actions, or they'll destroy our Interstellar Transport Ship!"
The Gao-surnamed wealthy merchant frowned. "Who dares to be so lawless as to publicly hijack a Starship? What's their background?"
"They're three T3 Interstellar Battlecruisers… They call themselves the Fierce Dragon Fleet," the Captain replied.
"The Fierce Dragon Fleet? Never heard of it. Tell them! I have connections with a one-star brigadier general of the Empire.
Don't think that just because of the current situation, you can ignore the laws of the Stellar Glory Empire and do whatever you want!" the Gao-surnamed wealthy merchant threatened without any courtesy.
At that moment, three T3 interstellar warships appeared outside the starport, and almost everyone noticed them immediately.
They were simply too conspicuous among the fleet of interstellar transport ships.
Moreover, these three interstellar warships themselves were highly eye-catching.
Shortly after, all the interstellar transport ships and people inside the starport received an announcement.
"We are the Fierce Dragon Fleet, ordered to forcibly requisition interstellar transport ships.
All interstellar transport ships that have received our message are now required to proceed to our designated positions and follow our orders.
Any refusal to comply will result in consequences."
Following this, one interstellar transport ship after another, both inside and outside the starport, received specific pop-up commands, requiring them to navigate to designated areas within ten minutes and await further orders.
At first, the captains of these interstellar transport ships were all taken aback, unable to comprehend what was happening.
Meanwhile, the Gao-surnamed wealthy merchant received communication requests from dozens of captains in quick succession.
Nearly half of the interstellar transport ships outside belonged to his fleet!
"Boss, the Fierce Dragon Fleet is demanding the forcible requisition of our interstellar transport ships," each captain said, their words almost identical. They dared not make decisions on their own and could only seek their boss's instructions.
"Requisition my foot! What kind of fleet is this Fierce Dragon Fleet? What gives them the right to requisition our interstellar transport ships? Tell them to get lost!" the Gao-surnamed wealthy merchant retorted bluntly.
"The Fierce Dragon Fleet? Could it be the Fierce Dragon Fleet of the Zhao family from the Fierce Dragon Star System, whose leader was just promoted to viscount?" someone exclaimed in surprise.
"That person is Governor Chu He's grandson-in-law! And also the grandson-in-law of the Governor of the North Wind! His status is extraordinary!" someone else recalled this connection.
At this point, many began to eagerly await the spectacle of how the Gao-surnamed wealthy merchant would handle this situation.
After all, they were all envious of the fortune he was making from the nation's crisis.
Upon hearing this news, the Gao-surnamed wealthy merchant's mind raced.
The grandson-in-law of the Governor of the North Wind? The grandson-in-law of Governor Chu He?
These two identities were indeed remarkable.
But even if one relied on borrowed prestige, there had to be limits. To forcibly requisition all his interstellar transport ships like this was simply too much.
And let's not forget, this involved his windfall worth nearly ten million Star Coins!
If he allowed these few stellar battlecruisers of the Fierce Dragon Fleet to requisition his ships now, wouldn't it be like letting a cooked duck fly away?
The Gao-surnamed wealthy merchant's expression shifted between dark and uncertain for a long while. Finally, he took the initiative to contact the interstellar warship that had issued the announcement earlier. Upon learning his identity, the other party agreed to the communication.
On the other end appeared a female captain dressed in a military uniform.
"Hello, I am the owner of the Gao Clan Interstellar Trade Fleet. I have long heard of the heroic deeds of the viscount of the Fierce Dragon Fleet.
This time, as the Fierce Dragon Fleet comes to provide support, it is only right for us to offer assistance.
However, all my interstellar transport ships are fully loaded with cargo and evacuees... Still... I will try to allocate three T2 interstellar transport ships to support the viscount."
Three ships?
Here, the Gao-surnamed merchant had a full seventy to eighty interstellar transport ships, yet he was only willing to offer three.
The female Captain glanced at him and said calmly, "The cargo capacity on these interstellar transport ships of yours is less than 40%, and 30% of that is filled with various noble goods, collectibles, and the like.
I will allow you ten minutes for the personnel on these interstellar transport ships to evacuate to the Starport via shuttles."
Upon hearing this, the Gao-surnamed merchant's expression darkened. He had already given her face, yet she was being so unreasonable!
"Captain, although I am merely a merchant, if your side insists on such forceful seizure, I will report you to the Stellar Glory Empire, and you won't get away with it unscathed.
After all, I, Gao, haven't been out here all these years for nothing."
The Gao-surnamed merchant's words were clearly a threat: I have connections higher up.
The female Captain replied indifferently, "Our commander's exact words were: Those who disobey the requisition order may be directly destroyed by artillery strike! If you don't believe it, you can try."
An uproar ensued!
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