"No need to thank me, they deserve it," Zhao Chen said.

Uncle Zheng Xiong shook his head. He said earnestly, "Before, when you held up five fingers, I thought it was only five times the remuneration.

I didn't expect that not only did you secure ten times the remuneration, but you also managed to get my brothers the treatment of Imperial Army martyrs!

I... I thank you, young man, on behalf of those brothers!"

The treatment for Imperial Army martyrs was not actually very high.

For ordinary martyrs, it only guaranteed that their direct relatives could receive a certain amount of artificial nutritional meals for the next twenty years, and the right to use an ordinary house for twenty years.

But for ordinary people, this was already quite good treatment.

Moreover, it's important to know that not every Imperial Army soldier who sacrificed their life received martyr's treatment.

It is rumored that less than one-tenth of the martyr applications from Imperial Army soldiers who sacrificed each year were approved, with the rest being rejected for various reasons, or simply given a one-time severance payment, and nothing more.

Therefore, Uncle Zheng Xiong truly did not expect Zhao Chen to be able to secure these martyr slots.

It's important to note that in this battle, Zhao Chen's and Shen Bing's fleets suffered no casualties.

In other words, this condition was specifically proposed by Zhao Chen for the fallen soldiers of Uncle Zheng Xiong's fleet.

"Young man, if you have any difficulties in the future, come find me. Although I, your uncle, don't have much ability, I can fight with my life!" Uncle Zheng Xiong said earnestly.

Zhao Chen exchanged a few polite words.

Afterward, Brigadier General Song did not show up, probably because he had achieved his goal and there was no need for him to appear again.

Shortly after, three electronic agreements were placed before Zhao Chen, Shen Bing, and Uncle Zheng Xiong.

The content merely acknowledged that the escort mission was voluntary and that they were aware of all the details.

At the same time, all the compensation funds had arrived.

First, for the remuneration part, the escort mission, which was originally 200,000 star coins, was now directly increased to 2 million star coins.

In addition, there was a bonus for destroying thirty-one Mechanical Race Starships. After receiving the bonus, the Starship wreckage was implicitly relinquished and would be handled by the Imperial Army.

The kill bonus totaled 1.8 million star coins, and with a triple bonus, it amounted to 5.4 million star coins.

Zhao Chen and the others divided the mission remuneration. Due to the betrayal of the woman in leather, her share was naturally gone.

Of the 2 million star coins, Zhao Chen took the largest share, sixty percent.

Uncle Zheng Xiong took thirty-five percent, and Shen Bing took five percent.

In fact, Zhao Chen made a concession in dividing the remuneration; otherwise, based solely on his fleet's performance in the battle, taking ninety percent would not have been an issue.

Both Shen Bing and Uncle Zheng Xiong asked Zhao Chen to take more, but Zhao Chen refused.

Because he still had the hunting bonus.

Aside from the three T2 Mechanical Race Interstellar Warships destroyed by Uncle Zheng Xiong, all other Mechanical Race Interstellar Warships were destroyed by Zhao Chen's fleet, and Zhao Chen directly took 5.3 million star coins in kill bonuses.

Thus, after the distribution, Zhao Chen alone received 6.5 million star coins.

Uncle Zheng Xiong received 800,000 star coins.

Shen Bing, on the other hand, received 100,000 star coins.

"Then we'll divide it like this," Zhao Chen said, looking at everyone. Shen Bing and Uncle Zheng Xiong naturally had no objections; they had both gained a great advantage!

Zhao Chen transferred this bonus to his account.

The amount of this bonus was quite substantial; even the Zerg mission Zhao Chen took at Arctic Fox Starport before did not yield this much.

Of course, this was the result of Zhao Chen offering ten times the remuneration and triple the kill bonus; otherwise, it would at most be one million star coins, and divided among three people, it would probably only be a few hundred thousand star coins.

Uncle Zheng Xiong scratched his head in embarrassment: "You still got the short end of the stick... You should have taken more."

"It's alright, we've all been through life and death together. Let's leave it at that," Zhao Chen said, patting Uncle Zheng Xiong's shoulder.

Zhao Chen chatted with Uncle Zheng Xiong about their respective plans.

Since the escort fleet mission was a facade, there was no need for Zhao Chen and the others to escort the Interstellar Transport Ship fleet back; their mission ended here.

Uncle Zheng Xiong stated that he would repair the damaged Starships here, receive the compensated Starships, and then distribute the severance pay to the families of the fallen crew members.

He estimated that he would need to stay at the Quicksand City Interstellar Fortress for more than half a month.

Shen Bing stated that she and her crew would also wait for the T2 Hyena to be repaired, which would take about three to five days.

Although Zhao Chen's Starship was also damaged, Zhao Chen only repaired it to a state that ensured warp navigation could function normally, then asked the Imperial Army's maintenance personnel to directly hand over the repair materials to him, which he would take back for repairs himself.

"Are you in such a hurry to leave?" Shen Bing asked, looking at Zhao Chen.

Zhao Chen nodded: "I have some other matters to attend to and must rush back as soon as possible."

At the Xiaolong Fleet's temporary station, the T2 Iron Hammer-class {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} Heavy Interstellar Industrial Ship was still constructing new ships, especially the T3 Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruiser. He had to rush back!

The journey, originally over a month, was delayed by nearly a week due to this incident.

"Then, young man, farewell for now. If anything comes up in the future, feel free to contact me," Uncle Zheng Xiong said warmly.

"Mhm."

...

In a cloud mansion several kilometers above the surface of a planet in the main Star System of the Chu River Star Region.

Chu Xuan was lying idly on a lounge chair, watching programs on various Imperial Network entertainment channels.

But none of them were interesting.

Watching these was not as exhilarating as commanding a fleet to gallop across the Star Region.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

Footsteps came at this moment, and Chu Xuan immediately closed her eyes and turned her body to the side.

An old man with a white beard walked in.

"Chu Xuan," the old man called out with a smile.

Chu Xuan didn't make a sound.

"Chu Xuan, I've brought your favorite dessert!" The old man took out a pastry box and placed it in front of Chu Xuan's nose.

Chu Xuan snorted and turned her head, continuing to pretend to sleep.

The old man placed the pastry box aside, then sat down and opened a holographic video screen, deliberately speaking in a loud voice: "Oh, I heard that a T2 Carrier Starship actually has Star Shield technology!"

"Hmph, who are you trying to fool? How could a T2 Starship have Star Shield technology? It's a shame you're a Five-Star Marshal," Chu Xuan said with a pout, her eyes still closed.

The old man's lips curled up, revealing a sly expression: "I heard this Aircraft Carrier Starship is called the T2 Queen Bee-class Heavy Carrier Starship.

I've never heard of this Aircraft Carrier Starship before..."

Before the old man could finish speaking, Chu Xuan immediately jumped up and stared at the video window in front of the old man.

She indeed saw that familiar T2 Carrier Starship.

And at the front of that T2 Carrier Starship, there really was a translucent energy shield, the 'Star Shield'!

"This T2 Carrier Starship actually has Star Shield technology!" Chu Xuan was dumbfounded; this truly overturned their common sense.