North Wind Star Sector, a certain Star System Star Gate.
And this Star System was also one of those invaded by the Interstellar Insectoids.
Near the Star Gate, there was a Starport, and at this moment, a large number of Interstellar Transport Ships were waiting both inside and outside the Starport.
Because the Star Gate’s flight schedule was already fully booked, Interstellar Transport Ships that hadn’t been assigned a turn could only wait here.
Inside a luxurious restaurant on the Starport, several noble gentry from the local Star System gathered.
Although the atmosphere outside was very tense, they were still indulging in luxury and debauchery, holding fine wine in their hands and beautiful women in their arms.
“I never thought our Star System would be attacked by the Interstellar Insectoids; how unlucky!” a rich merchant grumbled, “Because of this incident, basically 80% of my business has run into problems, losing hundreds of thousands of star coins!”
“Don’t talk about that. We have Interstellar Transport Ships and can escape, while those commoners without Interstellar Transport Ships can only hide on the planet and wait to die. We are all still considered lucky,” another noble said indifferently.
“Speaking of which, I can’t help but envy Brother Gao. Brother Gao’s family is in the interstellar trade business, and he even has his own Interstellar Transport Ship fleet, dozens of Interstellar Transport Ships, most of which are T2 Interstellar Transport Ships.
Relying on this disaster, I heard that Brother Gao made a fortune.
A single seat ticket was scalped for hundreds to thousands of star coins.
In this way, one Interstellar Transport Ship can earn millions in profit on a single trip!” Someone looked at the merchant surnamed Gao, who had a smug expression.
The others around him all flattered him. Although they despised such behavior in their hearts, if it were them, they would definitely do the same.
“Where... where, it’s just a coincidence,” the rich merchant surnamed Gao said with a light chuckle.
“However... Brother Gao, you own so many Interstellar Transport Ships, yet each one only carries 30% of the personnel... Wouldn’t that be a bit of a waste of transport capacity?”
A young noble scion, with some conscience remaining, said, “Brother Gao could appropriately lower the ticket prices, and that way, more commoners could be taken away.
Not only can you save people, but you can also make money; wouldn’t that be killing two birds with one stone?”
“How much is saving people worth?” the rich merchant surnamed Gao said disdainfully, “As the saying goes, rarity makes things precious. If I take in a large number of passengers, wouldn’t my ticket prices depreciate?”
Upon hearing this, everyone knew that this guy was exploiting the ‘national disaster’.
They despised him in their hearts, but on the surface, no one wanted to show their true feelings.
Beep, beep, beep, beep.
Just then, a communication alert flashed on the rich merchant surnamed Gao’s handheld terminal. After he opened it, a video window appeared.
On the other side was the Captain of one of his Interstellar Transport Ship fleets.
“Boss! This is bad, something big has happened! We’ve been robbed by three Interstellar Warship. They demand that we hand over the Interstellar Warship and cooperate with them, otherwise they will destroy our Interstellar Transport Ships!”
The rich merchant surnamed Gao frowned: “Who is so lawless as to dare to openly rob Interstellar Warship? What’s their background?”
“They are three T3 Interstellar Battlecruisers... They call themselves the Xiaolong Fleet,” the Captain replied.
“Xiaolong Fleet? I’ve never even heard that name. 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 disregard Starlight Empire law and do whatever you want!” the rich merchant surnamed Gao threatened unceremoniously.
Just then, the figures of three T3 Interstellar Warships appeared outside the Starport, and everyone noticed them almost immediately.
It was simply too conspicuous among a pile of Interstellar Transport Ships.
What’s more, these three Interstellar Warship themselves were very eye-catching.
Subsequently, all Interstellar Transport Ships and people inside the Starport received an announcement.
“We are the Xiaolong Fleet, ordered to forcefully requisition Interstellar Transport Ships.
Now, Interstellar Transport Ships that have received our message, please proceed to our designated location and obey our dispatch orders.
Any disobedience will be at your own risk.”
Subsequently, the Interstellar Transport Ships inside and outside the Starport all received a designated pop-up command, requiring them to sail to the designated area within ten minutes and obey the subsequent dispatch orders.
At first, the Captains of these Interstellar Transport Ships were all surprised, still not understanding what was going on.
As for the rich merchant surnamed Gao, he continuously received dozens of communication requests from Captains.
Because nearly half of the Interstellar Transport Ships outside belonged to his Interstellar Transport Ship fleet!
“Boss, this Xiaolong Fleet is demanding to forcefully requisition our Interstellar Transport Ships.” The words of each Captain were almost identical; they dared not act on their own initiative and could only ask for their boss’s instructions.
“Requisition my ass! What kind of thing is this Xiaolong Fleet? Why should they requisition our Interstellar Transport Ships? Tell them to get lost!” the rich merchant surnamed Gao said unceremoniously.
“Xiaolong Fleet? Could it be the Xiaolong Fleet of the Zhao family from the Owl Dragon Star System, who just became a Viscount!” someone exclaimed.
“That person is Governor-General Chu He’s grandson-in-law! North Wind Governor’s grandson-in-law! His status is extraordinary!” Someone else also remembered this connection.
At this point, many people began to wait to see the rich merchant surnamed Gao’s downfall.
After all, the rich merchant surnamed Gao’s profiteering from the national disaster made them all very envious.
The rich merchant surnamed Gao heard these messages, and his mind began to race.
North Wind Governor’s grandson-in-law? Governor-General Chu He’s grandson-in-law?
These two identities were indeed extraordinary.
However, there should be a limit to borrowing power. To forcibly requisition all of his Interstellar Transport Ships was simply too much.
And it was important to know that it was related to his windfall worth nearly ten million star coins!
If the few Interstellar Battlecruisers of this Xiaolong Fleet were to requisition them now, wouldn’t it be like a cooked duck flying away?
The rich merchant surnamed Gao’s expression changed uncertainly for a long time. Finally, he took the initiative to contact the interstellar warship that had just sent the announcement. After she learned his identity, she also agreed to the communication.
A Female Captain in a female military uniform appeared on the other side.
“Hello, I am the owner of the Gao Family Interstellar Trade Fleet. I have long heard of Viscount Xiaolong Fleet’s heroic deeds.
This time, the Xiaolong Fleet has come to support, and we should naturally assist.
However, my Interstellar Transport Ships are all fully loaded with cargo and evacuating people... But... I will still find a way to squeeze out three T2 Interstellar Transport Ships to support Viscount.”
Three?
Here, the merchant surnamed Gao had seventy to eighty Interstellar Transport Ships, yet he only offered three.
The Female Captain glanced at the other party. She said indifferently, “The carrying capacity on your Interstellar Transport Ships is less than 40%, and 30% of that is carrying various noble goods, collectibles, and the like.
I allow you ten minutes to have the personnel on these Interstellar Transport Ships evacuate to the Starport by shuttle.”
Upon hearing this, [N O V E L I G H T] the merchant surnamed Gao’s expression changed slightly. He had already given the other party face, yet she was so unappreciative!
“Captain, although I am just a merchant, if your side acts so coercively, when I report you to the Starlight Empire, you will not get off lightly.
After all, I, Gao, haven’t been mixing around for nothing these years.”
The merchant surnamed Gao’s words were clearly a threat: I also have connections.
The Female Captain said indifferently, “Our Commander’s original words: Those who do not obey the requisition order can be directly fired upon and destroyed! If you don’t believe it, you can try.”
A commotion!
