Chapter 1 What's Imminent

So, now the most pressing issue facing Fang Senyan was how to get his commodore rank converted to rear admiral!

But just as he was eagerly trying to take on the task of being promoted to rear admiral, he discovered a cruel reality: promoting to rear admiral actually required the approval of the Empire's General Staff Headquarters. Every rear admiral was regarded as an incredibly valuable asset to the Empire. Therefore, before becoming an "asset," one had to undergo arduous trials, and for Contractors to be promoted to rear admiral was even more difficult.

Testing a rear admiral's capabilities couldn't be done through small-scale skirmishes; it had to be on the grand stage of interstellar battlefields! Amidst the terrifying barrage of energy cannons from thousands of interstellar warships!

In these vast, epic battlefields, individual strength was insignificant! Conversely, a general with outstanding command tactics, even without the strength to truss a chicken, could achieve extraordinary feats!!!

Fang Senyan seemed excellent in planning and scheming, but that was limited to conflicts and minor skirmishes involving a few or a dozen people. This didn't mean he was highly skilled at the tactical and strategic level. These were two completely different levels of competition, like a captain skilled in jungle warfare never reaching the level of a Mountbatten.

More importantly, the Empire would never arbitrarily grant control of expensive interstellar warship formations to Contractors, no matter how talented they were.

Therefore, Fang Senyan could only silently wait for a suitable opportunity and mission to appear, which was the last thing he wanted.

Fortunately, with the Space's intervention, Fang Senyan finally had something to look forward to: this wait couldn't exceed three worlds. If it did, he would automatically be promoted, which was a reasonable compromise.

The rest was a matter of course. As the saying goes, some are happy while others are sad. Naturally, the Asian family was disappointed, while King Pombaru was elated. He achieved his desired goal, and Fang Senyan gained access to the wormhole.

However, a very bad news arrived: the Iron Blood Clan had quietly reappeared. This time, they implemented a technology that the Empire was still researching and developing: the distortion breakpoint technology!

Simply put, it temporarily created a fracture in space, directly causing the wormhole to become unusable! It was expected to take at least five days for the wormhole to recover...

Upon hearing this news, Fang Senyan took a deep breath and felt the urge to curse, but he knew that cursing wouldn't help, so he suppressed his anger.

Just then, Old Charlie proactively approached Fang Senyan:

"Master, I've noticed something."

Fang Senyan knew that Old Charlie was a very cautious person who wouldn't come to him unless something was important or he was confident. So, he said seriously:

"Speak."

Old Charlie said:

"I've noticed that Base Seven of the Alps has deviated from its position on the star map by nearly fourteen degrees since the last time we were here. In simpler terms, due to the Empire's previous Gyration Plan, the current position of Base Seven of the Alps is even closer to the Upsilon star than the Little Eagle forward base was at the time, by a full 400,000 kilometers!"

"What did you say?" Fang Senyan was suddenly shocked. To be honest, although he was an expert in navigation, he was very ignorant of the vastness of the starfield because it was too immense! When Old Charlie reminded him, he immediately fell into deep thought and couldn't help saying:

"Are you suggesting that I go to the Upsilon star again to make a killing?"

Old Charlie said:

"Why not? Firstly, Master, your strength has greatly improved again. Secondly, having been there once, you are familiar with the route and don't need to waste extra time. Finally, the Empire has researched the various recorded monsters on the Upsilon star and developed special killing weapons specifically for them. Therefore, dealing with these things shouldn't be too difficult. The Iron Blood Clan won't come again. Five days is enough time anyway, since you are idle."

Fang Senyan pondered for a while and said:

"What you said makes sense, but what am I going to do on the Upsilon star at the risk of my life? Pyrite bars are useless to me!"

Old Charlie said seriously:

"However, the Empire's determination to mine pyrite is now very clear. The price of pyrite will likely reach its peak in the next few months. Pyrite bars are useless to you, but they are very useful to King Pombaru and Lieutenant General Meng Ge! King Pombaru has a lot of influence in the Empire's General Staff Headquarters and Big Ben Research Institute. You are not only investing in the present but also in the future."

While Old Charlie was saying this, Fang Senyan suddenly thought of something unrelated to their topic. The last time he went to the Upsilon star, he met the skull man Tom. In the final moments of his life, his entire body was almost completely controlled by that cancerous organ, which told him through Tom's mouth:

"You must, you must go to the Big Ben Research Institute. Inside! There, there is, there is your, your..."

Although this thing died before it could finish speaking, Fang Senyan suddenly felt a very strong curiosity that didn't seem to subside even now. The six words "Big Ben Research Institute" were clearly imprinted in his heart and branded there.

These things flashed through Fang Senyan's mind! Suddenly, he took a deep breath and said to Old Charlie:

"You're right, let's go find Archer."

Three hours later, a spacecraft at least five times larger than the Wasp thruster was ready. After two Gyration Plans, the loss of the asteroid belt was also enormous. Based on the data, the AI calculated that Fang Senyan could pilot this modified special spacecraft to the Upsilon star and safely return.

Fang Senyan expressionlessly pressed the start button, then grasped the control stick. A dazzling blue flame spewed out from the rear of the spacecraft's thruster, instantly flying into the asteroid belt!!

Four days later, the battered Frog spacecraft was sandwiched between three escorting warships and slowly landed at Base Seven of the Alps. Of the eleven powerful warriors who went with the ship, only five returned alive.

However, the wealth brought back by the spacecraft was so astonishing that even the financial officer sent by King Pombaru was trembling! No one knew exactly how much there was, but perhaps one thing could explain the situation:

Seven days later, the price of pyrite on both the black market and the open market had fallen by 33%! Only then did the decline stop! This was as absurd as China Petroleum suddenly selling 97-octane gasoline for only five yuan per liter in the real world.

After resting for eighteen hours, Fang Senyan set off on another Amazon-class galactic warship modified by Archer. This was a small spacecraft about fifty meters long, but its surface was painted with pansy patterns. Its hull looked like a low-slung, flat sports car. From the side, it looked like a stylized flying bird, very beautiful and ready to take flight.

This thing was no small matter. It was King Pombaru's exclusive ship! This showed King Pombaru's great appreciation for Fang Senyan. Just relying on the pansy logo, it could rampage unhindered within the Empire. Its sturdiness was even more unnecessary to mention. More importantly, this spacecraft eliminated all control systems and was directly controlled by thought, which saved a lot of trouble and misoperation.

As for the matter of being promoted to rear admiral, Fang Senyan received a clear and definite answer from King Pombaru: he would know the outcome upon his return. Perhaps he would be directly promoted, or perhaps he would still have to go through a mission. This was a further step than resolving it within the previous three worlds.

As for the matter of the Big Ben Research Institute, Fang Senyan kept it to himself. It was obviously not good to alert the enemy prematurely. In Fang Senyan's own view, it would be best if the Big Ben Research Institute took the initiative to invite him to visit, which would be a match made in heaven.

Along the way, Fang Senyan followed the instructions of his C-number Nightmare Space, plus he used the royal family's mark to act like a bully, so he quickly arrived at the designated starfield. Every night at 11:15, the Starship Troopers world would attempt to invade this prime material plane. Although it would be quickly repelled, the two planes would indeed overlap at that moment, creating intense conflicts.

When Fang Senyan arrived, it was exactly 11:15 under the precise control of the computer. However, there were no intense conflicts or dangers in the airspace in front of him, unlike what he had imagined. It was no different from the other planes in the universe. Looking closely, there was only a hazy white layer, as if it was constantly illuminated by an incandescent lamp.

But it wasn't until Fang Senyan rushed in rashly that he realized the great danger it contained!

Writing this, I suddenly have a headache. I really can't continue. I'll make up the next chapter when I wake up. I'm so sorry. Welcome to your support is my biggest motivation