After this so-called welcoming and victory celebration began, it had been the Azure Governor and Chairman Feng who were chatting with Student Zhao Chen, discussing only trivial matters.

That Marshal Huang Zhixiong, on the other hand, paid no attention to Student Zhao Chen, his gaze scanning over the female guests at the banquet, with the majority of his time focused on the three people—Su Lan and the others—beside Student Zhao Chen.

During this time, quite a few banquet attendees came up to offer toasts to Student Zhao Chen, but Student Zhao Chen declined each one on the grounds that students should not drink, returning the gesture with tea instead of wine.

Soon, three rounds of tea had passed.

The Azure Governor looked at Teacher Qin with a smile: "Teacher Qin, we have some private matters to discuss with Student Zhao Chen. I wonder if you could take these two female students and step aside for a moment."

The expression on Teacher Qin's face was somewhat flustered; she was capable when it came to teaching and educating, or commanding a Starship in battle.

But in an occasion like this, she was like a young girl fresh out of the gate, having no idea how to handle the situation.

"Governor, Teacher Qin and these two are my confidantes. If there is anything to say, you can say it directly; there is no need for them to step aside." As Student Zhao Chen said this, he leaned back on the sofa, his arms wrapping directly around the fair necks of Su Lan and Teacher Qin, resting on their fragrant shoulders.

Teacher Qin's body stiffened, and she looked at Student Zhao Chen with panic in her eyes.

Having been a teacher for so many years, much like her father the Dean, she was devoted to research and teaching, and basically had never had any intimate contact with a male.

Su Lan, on the other hand, had a calm expression, drinking her juice and remaining silent throughout.

Beside them, Xue Xiaoxiao was pouting, feeling somewhat unhappy.

Why was this guy only holding Su Lan and Teacher Qin?

Where was she inferior to Su Lan and Teacher Qin?

Xue Xiaoxiao glanced at a certain area of Su Lan and Teacher Qin, then lowered her head to look at herself, her mood worsening.

She picked up a papaya drink on the table that claimed to have a certain special effect and gulped down several mouthfuls.

Xiaoxiao, don't be discouraged; you are still young, you are still developing!

"Oh... I didn't expect Student Zhao Chen to like beauties older than himself. As it happens, I have a niece in her thirties; if Student Zhao Chen is interested, I can introduce you two." The Azure Governor spoke without any hesitation.

Is this a honey trap right from the start?

"If Student Zhao Chen is not interested in humans, our Hurricane Conglomerate has also acquired a batch of female slaves from other interstellar civilizations during this period, which can be given to Student Zhao Chen as a gift." Chairman Feng said with a smile.

Oh ho, now it's sugar-coated bullets.

"Young people should have lofty ambitions, traversing the interstellar seas, exploring the vast stars! One must not linger in the pleasures of the flesh! Student Zhao Chen thanks you both here." Student Zhao Chen put on a very upright appearance, but his hands holding Teacher Qin and Su Lan did not let go in the slightest.

Xue Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes from the side.

Teacher Qin's cheeks turned slightly red.

Pleasures of the flesh?

What did that mean? Why didn't she understand, yet felt that something was very wrong?

Su Lan squinted at Student Zhao Chen beside her, drinking her juice without saying a word.

"Good, good, good! Young people should have this kind of lofty ambition!" The Azure Governor clapped and cheered.

He looked at Student Zhao Chen with a smile: "Since these confidantes of Student Zhao Chen are not outsiders, let's be frank."

"Actually, we are very interested in Student Zhao Chen's excellent Starship manufacturing and research technology, especially your two Starship models, the T3 Blizzard and the T2 Black Rhino."

"Chairman Feng here is very keen to cooperate with Student Zhao Chen, so he asked me to act as the intermediary."

"As long as Student Zhao Chen is willing, you can have thirty percent of the profits!"

Chairman Feng interjected: "We are also willing to provide Student Zhao Chen with the best Starship research institutes and resource equipment free of charge, to satisfy Student Zhao Chen's future Starship research."

"If... Student Zhao Chen has ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) a team behind you, we are also willing to hire them at three times the salary and benefits of the Starlight Empire!"

These old foxes are cunning enough; thirty percent?

What a joke, Governor Chu at least gave him a technology licensing fee of thirty times the production cost for the T3 Interstellar Warship. If sold on the market, the selling price would be about forty to fifty times the production cost.

That basically amounts to a seven-three split, with Student Zhao Chen taking seven and Governor Chu taking three.

Vision!

Vision!

You two old foxes, compared to Governor Chu, your vision is too small.

"Starship technology? Perhaps you all have misunderstood; those Starships of mine were not researched and manufactured by me. It was during an interstellar journey when I encountered distress and made an emergency landing on a planet."

"Just when I thought I was going to die, by a stroke of luck, I stumbled upon a big shot's Starship construction base."

"That big shot saw that we were fated, and gifted me these Interstellar Warships." Student Zhao Chen wore an expression of innocence, as if he were telling the truth.

Interstellar distress? Met a mysterious big shot? Fated to meet? Gifted you Interstellar Warships?

The papaya milk in Xue Xiaoxiao's mouth sprayed out all at once, covering her entire face.

What kind of old web novel cliché is this?

"Sorry... sorry..." Xue Xiaoxiao immediately took a tissue to wipe the papaya milk off her face, but she was still struggling to hold back her laughter.

"Then, I wonder if Student Zhao Chen can tell me where this big shot's Starship construction base is? I am willing to go and pay a visit!" The Azure Governor stared at Student Zhao Chen with a smile, but there was a chill in his eyes.

He certainly didn't believe this kid's nonsense.

"That might not be possible. Not long ago, that big shot said he was going to take his fleet to travel the cosmos, so he cannot be met for the time being."

"What a pity, what a pity." Student Zhao Chen looked regretful.

"Student Zhao Chen, you really know how to joke. We have investigated your life. Before you went to North Star Academy to study, you had never left the Owl Dragon Star System. How could there be any talk of encountering distress or meeting a big shot!"

"Moreover, the T3 Blizzard and the T2 Black Rhino, these two Starship models, have never appeared in any other interstellar forces."

"Could this big shot really be so mysterious that his own Interstellar Warships haven't left any trace behind?" The Azure Governor took a sip of wine, squinting at Student Zhao Chen.

Student Zhao Chen said with an innocent face: "But everything I said is the truth!"

Thud!

Marshal Huang Zhixiong crushed the wine glass in his hand, the wine dripping onto the floor, and he said with a gloomy face: "You brat, don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!"

"The Hurricane Conglomerate is willing to cooperate with you; that is your good fortune."

"Otherwise, let alone this thirty percent profit, you, a mere little Baron, wouldn't even get one percent."

"As long as you honestly cooperate with us, the three of us can guarantee you wealth and prosperity, and can even arrange a prosperous Star System for you in the Azure Star Region, so you don't have to stay in that godforsaken Owl Dragon Star System."

The smile on Student Zhao Chen's face did not fade: "As the saying goes, a son does not despise his mother for being ugly, and a dog does not despise its home for being poor. No matter how barren the Owl Dragon Star System is, it is the foundation left by our Zhao family ancestors; I am still willing to stay in my own little patch of land and be a carefree lord, which is more happy and free."

"As for your wealth and prosperity, Student Zhao Chen has no fortune to enjoy it."

At this moment, the atmosphere where these people were located began to become strange.