As for those technology teams being outsourced, although they are fewer in number, these individuals will play a more crucial role than fresh graduates. Years ago, the Source Star Fleet tried to rely on exporting high-end research capabilities to alleviate the financial crisis caused by the inability to develop planets, and at the same time, to quickly enhance the influence of Source Star humans within the Nanxiang Star Cluster. The plan was excellent, but it was ultimately blocked. Now, it seems the situation is suddenly opening up.

Because all the external forces rushing in to poach talent are firmly convinced that Ren Zhong is destined to die.

Only Viscount Wen Yuanbo of the Royal Family, who has some knowledge of Ren Zhong’s true strength and has acted alongside him, silently thought that the more aggressively these people were poaching today, the more headaches they would face in the future.

If Ren Zhong indeed fulfills his promise, makes a statement in battle, and firmly establishes his position, those foreign workers hired by various forces as bargains will become wedges for Source Star humans to penetrate the various powers of the Nanxiang Star Cluster, slowly prying open the comprehensive blockade of Nanxiang’s Earldom with gentle yet resolute strength.

To bring Wen Yuanbo on board, Ren Zhong slightly showcased the research capabilities of the Source Star Fleet during their communication. Wen Yuanbo was astounded, even able to foresee that once those packaged and hired research teams and graduates, who were slightly awkwardly positioned within the fleet, arrived at the hiring party’s territory, they would quickly adapt to work demands, rapidly accumulate knowledge, and then swiftly rise, becoming indispensable leaders in various fields of each force.

The forces poaching talent would find themselves both delighted and pained, discovering they had stumbled upon treasures, yet these "treasures" turned out to be hot potatoes. Originally intended as high-quality "stud horses," these forces became addicted to their scientific prowess, unable to abandon them.

They would feel troubled.

As long as Ren Zhong remains alive, personnel hired from the Source Star Fleet will always be noble Earl’s private property. Ren Zhong’s title and influence will guarantee the safety and position of these foreign workers, preventing the hiring parties from forcefully keeping the researchers.

Furthermore, if Ren Zhong’s armed fleet can silently annihilate the Storm Pirate Group, the demonstrated military power and potential would make everyone wary.

The stronger Ren Zhong’s armed forces appear, the greater the deterrence on various forces, ensuring heightened safety and status for the foreign workers.

However, every involvement of these foreign workers indirectly enhances the strength of Source Star civilization. Those workers have signed contracts with time limits and will eventually be recalled by the Source Star Fleet, bringing back knowledge, experience, connections, and wealth.

Alternatively, if they can extend their contracts and stay long-term with the hiring party, their presence also counts as Source Star humans’ expansion, echoing the "bridgeheads" established by early pioneers affiliated with the nine Viscounts.

Discarding them would be a pity, yet engaging with them is daunting; this dilemma is likely what poaching forces will face.

Ren Zhong, by maneuvering himself into a seemingly certain demise, has set a toxic yet irresistible bait for most forces in the Nanxiang Star Cluster.

Wen Yuanbo’s views largely align with Ren Zhong’s overarching plan.

In the online conference room of the armed merchant fleet, Ren Zhong analyzed the pros and cons, issuing a final general mobilization.

"This battle is of immense significance; only success is permissible, no failure allowed. We must efficiently and decisively annihilate the enemy! As in every past war, I will still charge ahead,"

Clad in a pure black fifth-generation improved Red Blade Armor, Ren Zhong stood in his own shuttle ship cockpit, speaking to the camera.

His image and voice synchronized in front of all 12 million members of the armed fleet.

Everyone knew that soon the humans of Source Star would reveal their deadly edge, causing the ill-intentioned in the Nanxiang Star Cluster to tremble in fear.

Nobody questioned whether it was too soon for the humans of Source Star, who arrived newly and have been part of the Empire Sequence for less than eight years without even completing a landing, to be going to war externally. Everyone, including Zheng Tian and Vincent Fanhuoyi, held just one thought: since Ren Zhong decided, they would execute.

Ren Zhong has never missed thus far, so even with our shortened preparation time, we already possess the power to fight and win.

If he believes it’s feasible, then it certainly is.

The atmosphere within the fleet instantaneously escalated into fervor; only Ren Zhong felt immense pressure.

He repeatedly verified and checked the battle plan submitted by the Operations Command Department.

Sometimes he closed his eyes in deep thought, attempting to mobilize his premonition abilities to glimpse the future.

Then occasionally, he would snap his eyes open, making various adjustments to the battle plan.

Every adjustment he made was synchronized through the command central information system to the Staff Department headed by Vincent Fanhuoyi, where a large team would use Sun Ai’s computational power for simulation verification, then quickly submit the results to Zheng Tian, who would integrate and synthesize all opinions before presenting them to Ren Zhong.

A massive flow of information circulated along this loop, becoming increasingly refined and precise. Occasionally, one or two details branched off, converting into more precise commands, such as enhancing the firepower of certain small squads, changing the pre-installed ammunition types of specific ships, adjusting personnel allocations of certain Special Attack Teams, and so on.

Three hours later, silently, eighty thousand Eye Ships equipped with stealth coatings and enhanced information flow scanning radar headed out, surpassing the 5,000 shuttle ships led by Ren Zhong, Ma Xiaoling, and Shi Lin, venturing into the vast cosmos, gradually dispersing.

Twelve days later, the eighty thousand Eye Ships had fully expanded, forming a giant pocket shape.

At this time, the front of this pocket was slowly closing in.

A Storm Pirate Group Fleet, consisting of a thousand assault ships, each 20 kilometers long and shaped like medicine bottles, was at the pocket’s center, with three Sons of the Storm feeling assured and ambitious.

Additionally, a total of five hundred shuttle ship squads scattered outside the pocket were discreetly creeping towards each reconnaissance ship dispatched by the Storm Pirate Group, utilizing the cosmic background for concealment, approaching at a very slow pace.

The majority of Source Star Armed Fleet captains continuously checked their watches.

Suddenly, the watches displayed the Empire Time, arriving at a predetermined number arranged by Ren Zhong.