217: Getting something for nothing

Pierpoint, Mars orbit, Solar System.

A colossal holographic star map hung in the center of the Strategic Investment Department's conference room, blue lines outlining the Star Gate route between the Solar System and the Trisolaris System.

Topaz stood before the star map, her fingertip gently tapping, dragging a red marker to the Barnards Star System, nine light-years from the Solar System.

"Gentlemen," her voice was steady and powerful, "the operation of Star Gate One (Solar System - Trisolaris System) has entered a stable period. For the expansion needs of the Interstellar Peace Corporation, it is now time to initiate the Star Gate Two project."

She swiped her finger, and the star map zoomed in, revealing the detailed structure of the Barnards Star System. A red dwarf star was orbited by six planets, two of which were marked green.

"According to data transmitted by the probes," Topaz called up a holographic report, "Barnard One and Barnard Four both possess atmospheres and liquid water, with suitable surface temperatures, and mineral resource reserves far exceeding those of Blue Star."

She paused for a moment, allowing the data to fully display:

Barnard One: Surface temperature -50℃ to 30℃, water reserves 2 billion cubic kilometers, complete common ores.

Barnard Four: Surface temperature -70℃ to 40℃, water reserves 2.5 billion cubic kilometers, complete common ores, 100 million tons of gold reserves in the shallow crust.

Estimated development value: 150,000,000,000,000,000 credit points.

Jade sat at the conference table, arms crossed, her slender index finger tapping her chin: "If handled with conventional development methods, the initial investment would be approximately 7 trillion credit points, but the return on investment could reach 4000% within five years."

"Quite a bargain."

Topaz nodded: "The problem is, the Interstellar Peace Corporation's current funds are insufficient to immediately launch the project."

The conference room fell into a brief silence, and everyone's gaze slowly converged on the chairman seated at the head of the table.

Chen Hao, feeling awkward under the gaze of several directors, deliberately coughed a few times, intently observing the water glass in front of him.

Hmm, this water glass is really a water glass.

After a long while, Topaz couldn't help but speak: "I say, boss, they say people deliberately act busy when they're embarrassed, but you don't need to be fiddling with your cup right now, do you?"

"Ahem, well..." Chen Hao put down the cup and quickly leaned back in his chair: "How big is the funding gap?"

"3 trillion credit points." Bronya sat to the side, looking at the extravagant head of the household with dead fish eyes.

"Cough, cough, cough~" Chen Hao feigned seriousness, his mind frantically searching for countermeasures.

There was no other way; who knew that analyzing a genuine Pierpoint could be so ridiculously expensive? Although artificial planets are large, there's no need to price them by the kilogram, right?

A planetary core alone cost 2.5 trillion, and the remaining undeveloped technologies were just scraps. This money was truly frustrating to spend.

But what could he do? He had to have a happy home; always using the 'lite' version wasn't a solution.

After much deliberation, Chen Hao suddenly had an idea. He narrowed his eyes, a belly full of mischief beginning to churn: "Then let the merchants of the Eastern Federation pay for this."

...

Three days later, outside the Interstellar Peace Corporation's Eastern Federation Headquarters building in the Donglian Capital.

The morning sun shone on the building's glass curtain wall, reflecting dazzling light. The plaza in front of the building was already packed with various media and business figures.

"I heard the Interstellar Peace Corporation is announcing its financial report today?" a financial reporter whispered to a colleague.

"Yes, after so many years, it's the first time ever." The colleague clutched his voice recorder, "Hey, I heard a rumor that even people from the Ministry of Finance are here."

"Apparently, it's even the secretary of the top official."

The crowd suddenly stirred. Several black luxury hovercars slowly landed in front of the VIP aisle. The doors opened, and the Eastern Federation's top business magnates stepped out one after another.

Shipping giant Lin Shixiong, mining tycoon Chen Yansong, smart machine godfather Zhu Gui... everyone's face showed unconcealed anticipation and nervousness.

"Even Chen Yansong came?" the reporter exclaimed, "Doesn't he never attend these press conferences?"

"Nonsense," the colleague lowered his voice, "the Interstellar Peace Corporation suddenly said they were announcing their financial report; who wouldn't want to know how much money they actually made?"

Inside the press conference hall, the light from crystal chandeliers spilled onto the deep blue carpet, and hundreds of seats were already full.

The front rows were occupied by the Eastern Federation's most powerful business leaders, while the back rows held reporters from major media outlets. Everyone's gaze was fixed on the empty podium.

Suddenly, the lights in the hall dimmed. A beam of light shone on the stage, and Director Zhang, the president's assistant for the Interstellar Peace Corporation's Eastern Federation branch, slowly walked out.

He wore a well-tailored dark gray company uniform, a calm smile on his face.

"Good morning, everyone," his voice echoed through the hall via the amplification system, "thank you all for taking the time out of your busy schedules to attend today's press conference."

The venue instantly fell silent, with only the clicking of camera shutters remaining.

"Our General Manager Wang had an engagement today, so this task fell to me, his secretary. Please forgive any offense I may cause."

"Hahaha."

Seeing the good atmosphere, Director Zhang held up two fingers and continued the proceedings.

"Today, we will do two things. First, announce the Interstellar Peace Corporation Eastern Federation branch's financial report for the past year; second, announce a new project that will fundamentally change the Eastern Federation's commercial landscape."

As soon as he finished speaking, the giant holographic screen behind him lit up, and a massive number slowly appeared:

175,000,000,000,00 credit points.

The hall was dead silent.

The number remained on the screen for a full ten seconds; no one spoke, not even a breath was taken.

"This is the Interstellar Peace Corporation Eastern Federation branch's profit for the past year," Director Zhang's voice was calm and powerful, "Please note, it is profit, not revenue."

"If you have no concept of this number, let me put it this way: it is equivalent to 5% of the Eastern Federation's GDP for that year."

Boom—

The hall instantly erupted. The faces of the business magnates in the front row changed dramatically, while reporters in the back frantically typed on their terminals, afraid of missing any detail.

Lin Shixiong's hand trembled slightly as he stared intently at the number, his brain rapidly calculating. 5% of the Eastern Federation's GDP for that year was thousands of times the total of all his enterprises combined.

The key was, theirs was profit, his was revenue.

There was no comparison at all.

"You don't need to doubt the authenticity of this number." Director Zhang seemed to notice the doubt in some people's eyes and directly delivered the damage assessment, "In fact, according to the currently declassified information of the Interstellar Peace Corporation, after the Interstellar Peace Corporation was truly established and re-entered the Eastern Federation, the chairman and the high-level officials of the Eastern Federation reached a secret agreement."

"Within the Eastern Federation, the Interstellar Peace Corporation does not need to publish financial reports, and the taxes paid each year are handled by a dedicated team, with data not disclosed externally. In exchange, our taxes are a bit higher."

"But now, the agreement has expired, so we have to follow the rules."

"Of course, that's not the main point today." Director Zhang raised his hand to signal for quiet, "Next, I will announce data that is closely related to all of you."

The screen switched, and a new number appeared:

950,000,000,000 credit points.

"This is the profit related to interstellar freight services, limited to interstellar freight services within the Eastern Federation."

"Or rather, it is the profit generated by the Interstellar Peace Corporation within the Eastern Federation, relying on Star Gate One."

The hall fell silent again, but this time the silence carried an almost fanatical suppression.

Chen Yansong in the front row suddenly cursed under his breath: "Damn it..."

His voice was very soft, but it was exceptionally clear in the dead silent hall. Several business magnates who heard him nodded in unison, their expressions a mix of shock and greed.

Director Zhang looked at the crowd's reaction with satisfaction: "I know what you're all thinking, 'Such a big pie, why don't I get a share?'"

He smiled slightly: "Today, I want to tell you all that the opportunity has arrived."

The screen switched again, this time displaying a star map, with a line connecting the Solar System and the Barnards Star System.

"The Interstellar Peace Corporation is officially launching the 'Star Gate Two Project'," Director Zhang's voice suddenly rose, "This Star Gate will connect the Solar System and the Barnards Star System."

"And the Interstellar Peace Corporation's survey data for this star system can be partially disclosed to you today to open your eyes."

He swiped his finger, and the star map zoomed in, displaying the two green planets of the Barnards Star System:

"Barnard One and Barnard Four, two habitable planets, with overall resource reserves far exceeding Blue Star and Mars."

The atmosphere in the hall was instantly ignited. The business magnates in the front row leaned forward in unison, their eyes fixed on the screen.

"To better promote commercial development and the construction of interstellar shipping, the Interstellar Peace Corporation will open up exclusive usage rights for the Star Gate." Director Zhang's voice was full of temptation, "Companies that obtain usage rights will not only have a private channel without needing to queue, but will also enjoy an 80% reduction in toll fees for the first five years."

He paused, then added: "Of course, the number of spots is limited."