10: Thanks to the Weiyang Covenant for sponsoring the archive collection

(Two chapters combined)

Somewhere in the asteroid belt, over a dozen warships were drifting in space.

Looking closely, one could see that several warships were incomplete:

A warship on the edge was slowly disintegrating, scattering countless fine fragments,

and another had a large hole in its side, with no lights visible anywhere on the vessel.

“Damn it,”

“Who did we provoke recently?”

White Shark watched with complex emotions as one of the two destroyed warships in the fleet—the G-2C Frigate—had two “hull numbers” sprayed on its side:

One was the internal team number 10, and the other, “100,” was that guy’s identification marker.

White Shark's lips moved slightly.

Didn't they say scourges live for a thousand years?

How did he leave earlier than him?

“Sigh,”

In the end, the words he wanted to say turned into a long sigh. He refocused his gaze forward and ordered:

“Ships 11 and 12, push forward and confirm the result of the battle,”

“All other ships maintain weapon orientation and hold position on alert.”

Just ten minutes ago,

a mysterious orange-yellow Starship headed straight for their relay station, brazenly entering their alert perimeter.

To ensure the safety of the relay station, he immediately chose to lead the team out to intercept.

Who knew the enemy seemed to have anticipated his arrival, opening fire the moment they approached.

A barrage of cannon fire flew over, instantly turning one of his Frigates, modified from an LY-10 cargo Starship, into an irregular metallic ribbon mixed with organic fragments.

Under urgent circumstances, he quickly changed the interception command to destruction.

What terrified him was that, facing the concentrated fire of 13 warships, the opponent neither retreated nor evaded, but stayed put and returned fire.

Truly a lunatic.

Fortunately, the armor of that mysterious warship seemed similar to theirs, and it went silent after one round of concentrated fire.

“Target confirmed destroyed.”

“Repeat,”

“Target confirmed destroyed.”

The two G-2C “Wild Wolf” Frigates sent to confirm the results reported via the communication channel after close observation.

Hearing “confirmed destroyed,” White Shark’s taut nerves finally relaxed slightly.

“Good,”

“Continue to maintain alert status,”

“Contact the outpost and tell them to strengthen their defenses.”

“I recall there were five Frigates that arrived at the Starport today?”

“Ask them if they are willing to accept employment.”

After issuing a long string of commands, White Shark suddenly seemed to recall something and quietly spoke to the adjutant beside him,

“Deploy a landing craft,”

“Go check if there are any survivors on Ship 10.”

...“Fortunately, there was no one on that engineering ship.”

After reviewing the combat log sent by night lamp, Xi Hai felt like he had looked at it but gained nothing.

It was instantly destroyed, having been hit before it could even complete the collection of hostile fleet data.

Currently, all that could be confirmed was the location and time the mining ship was attacked; they didn't even know the enemy's configuration or the number of ships.

But this location is very close to the base I just built, isn't it?

Xi Hai looked at the Star map showing a non-warp journey of about ten minutes.

It was less than a tenth of an astronomical unit.

(Note: Astronomical Unit “AU”)

(1 AU ≈ 150 million km)

(AU refers to the average distance between the Earth and the Sun, the standard unit for measuring distances between celestial bodies within the solar system. Bounded by Neptune's orbit, the solar system diameter is about 60 AU; the main asteroid belt is about 1.8 AU wide.)

Attacking my mining vehicle this close to me?

That's a bit humorous.

Xi Hai was briefly enraged, but the empty Starport quickly calmed him down.

He only had three wealthy vessels capable of fighting right now. How was he supposed to get revenge?

The fact that the opponent could instantly destroy his X-8 proved they could pose a threat to the setting system's vessels.

If he charged recklessly, he might just end up being a delivery boy.

But running away was even less likely, especially since the base was already established.

Xi Hai checked the base construction progress.

The joint production line was ready, and the Frigate production equipment was complete.

Although the X8 engineering ship's mining efficiency wasn't high, 20 (scratch that), 19 working together meant the hourly resource income was still very considerable.

Furthermore, their location was in a region dense with resource asteroids.

The resources, which had been completely squandered building the base and mining ships, were rising at a visible rate.

At the very least, building a Frigate fleet wouldn't be a problem. If he lost the fight, he could run then.

Thinking this, Xi Hai opened the construction interface on the control console.

Hmm? Why is there still only the FG-300 General Purpose model?

“night lamp...”

“I remember the blueprints given at the start were more than just this, right?”

“Wei Yang Covenant Standard Blueprint Archive Collection * 1, has been stored in the warehouse after night lamp completed the update.”

Xi Hai quickly opened night lamp’s panel. Sure enough, there was a “Research” button in the bottom right corner, just like in the game.

When he opened it, he saw two archive boxes placed on the right-hand track.

Below them was the archive box sales area, which, like in the game, was divided into Norma Transport, Antonios Consortium, Jupiter Industry, and Never Ending Integrated. The first one cost 150 proxima centauri coin daily, and subsequent ones cost 300 each.

There was also the guaranteed drop box, still the perpetually unchanged 15 white points.

(Guaranteed Drop Box: A setting mechanism where if you open a box and don't get a blueprint, you receive a white point. Accumulating fifteen points allows you to exchange them for a box guaranteed to contain a blueprint.)

The first box on the track was the Never Ending funded one he just mentioned.

“Oh, it’s the first-generation funded box.”

After opening it, Xi Hai faced a series of unfolding tech trees and scrolled through them.

Since the revision, it was rare to see all the funded blueprints (initial blueprints), from Frigates to cruisers, stuffed into the same box.

It was convenient, saving him the trouble of opening them one by one.

This was the type he liked; he selected automatic research immediately.

“Congratulations on obtaining:”

“FG300 Armored Frigate”

“FG300 Recon Frigate”

“AC721 Heavy Carrier destroyers”

“AC721 Heavy Amphibious Assault Ship”

“CV-II003 Light Escort Boat”

“KCCP2.0 Light Attack cruiser”

“KCCP2.0 Light Aircraft Carrier cruiser”

“CAS066 General Purpose cruiser”

“A number of Frigate, destroyers, escort boat, and cruiser count values”

Xi Hai was dazzled.

Having played setting for years, he hadn't seen a single box containing so many blueprints in a long time.

Wait, there's also an encrypted technical archive next to it.

“ruby-Class Heavy Railgun Frigate”

“??????”

He got a blueprint from the very first box?

A good omen. Xi Hai checked his balance of 300 proxima centauri coin.

He decided to open another one!

One minute later, looking at the single extra white point, Xi Hai exited the research interface.

Sure enough, one couldn't trust any gacha behavior related to likely a game, even in another world.

He shook his head and ordered night lamp,

“System, build 10 ruby-Class and 12 FG300 within the base!”

“Full construction underway.”

He then performed the same operation on the base console.

After making arrangements, he leaned back, pondering.

Although the warships built offline didn't have cloned crew, they must have basic AI, right?

For simple commands, at least the space line-up shooting effect from the game should be achievable.

A not-so-perfect plan gradually formed in his mind.

However, it depends on whether the opponent cooperates...“I have already negotiated with them; they will cooperate with the alert duties for the next few days.”

White Shark’s adjutant, Gunt, held a few sheets of paper and spoke to the frowning Commander,

“These are their employment terms.”

“Also, they specifically requested that the contents of their cargo holds be deposited in the relay station, guarded by personnel.”

“Just put them there, Gunt.”

White Shark casually pointed to the table beside him.

They had just towed the mysterious warship back to the outpost. There were no corpses on board, not even organic matter.

It was equipped with mining drones and a large cargo hold.

Clearly, they had just been playing cat and mouse with an unmanned mining ship,

and they had managed to destroy one and damage another in a single exchange.

Unmanned means this mining ship carried AI—but the Order Alliance explicitly prohibited AI research!

The sequence of events slowly became clear in White Shark’s mind.

Certain corporations were secretly developing AI behind the Order side's back, conducting clandestine experiments in the asteroid belt.

To eliminate potential witnesses, they equipped the mining ships with warship fire systems.

It was just that this experimental mining ship had accidentally strayed into their alert zone and engaged them.

But regardless, the incident had occurred, and White Shark was more concerned with the next steps.

The technology of the mining machines recovered from this mining ship was highly advanced; its core might be a creation from two or three thousand years ago.

Although the exact value required assessment by a professional evaluation body, it was certainly worth the effort.

As for the fallen personnel, they chose their own path, so he should respect their fate.

Furthermore, a certain fellow surprisingly survived—

“BANG!!!”

“Dead Salted Fish, I heard someone cursed me to death?”

The door was violently kicked open, and a pink hair figure emerged from behind it.

Upon hearing the visitor's voice, Gunt quickly found an excuse to leave.

The massive control tower was suddenly left with just himself—

Wait, now there were two, because that pink hair walked in.

“Firstly, I must state that I have always agreed with the saying ‘scourges live for a thousand years,’ so whoever cursed you to death, it couldn't possibly be me.”

“Also, you still owe me a meal.”

“Therefore, Baili Ying, you must know that logically and emotionally, I am the one who wishes you to be alive the most.”

Facing the arrogant and slightly foolish figure, White Shark did not lose his composure and politely retorted.

Listening to White Shark’s mockery, Baili Ying turned her head away and grumbled softly,

“Hmph, I'll still live longer than you.”

After thinking for a moment, she felt that wasn't appropriate, so she added,

“Of course, you’ll definitely live to be a hundred, too.”

White Shark chuckled upon hearing this, leaned his ear closer, and asked

“What?”

“Why are you speaking like a mosquito buzzing?”

“Didn't catch that, say it again?”

Seeing White Shark’s shameless behavior, Baili Ying stomped her foot and shouted loudly,

“Ugly people live long! I wish you, this man-machine, a long life!”

“Oh~~~”

White Shark leaned back.

“Who was it just now who said they would definitely live longer than me?”

“Screw you! Get lost!”

Looking at Baili Ying, who had turned red like a mitten crab, White Shark put away his playful mood.

“Let's not talk about that.”

“How is your situation now?”

Baili Ying also calmed down.

“What else? I’m alive.”

“You didn’t tell my sister about what happened to me this time, did you?”

White Shark spread his hands and said:

“I didn’t have time to tell her before you came back to life.”

“Awesome.”

“Alright, enough talk. We've been through life-and-death situations together, so trust me to handle things.”

“I won’t actively interfere with your sister’s studies.”

“Only after fully confirming that you have become a puddle of lifeless organic matter will I contact your sister.”

“I feel like you’re insulting me.”

“But thanks anyway.”

The two looked at each other in silence.

“That’s rare.”

“You, of all people, saying thank you.”

“Does this mean your 20-year-old mind is finally starting to mature?”

“Honestly, if you hadn't insisted you came out first, I would have thought Baili He was the older sister between the two of you.”

“Get out!”

Baili Ying was provoked again.

“Forget it, I'm the bigger person, I won't argue with you.”

“I see you've been busy all day,”

“Now, go rest,”

“Don't fall asleep on the warship tomorrow and crash into my ship!”

She then looked at the dispatch headset on White Shark's head and said:

“The control tower is mine. I happened to have learned operations and dispatch before,”

“Let me practice.”

White Shark was confused,

“Why would a pilot like you learn dispatch?”

“When?”

Baili Ying rolled her eyes,

“None of your business.”

...In the end, a certain pink hair spent a safe (scratch that) chaotic night in the control tower.

Fortunately, not many ships were active at night.