"Master, your old friend Wang Chongsheng is at the door, knocking. Should I open it?" came a mechanical voice.
"Open the door, Little Y!" Feng Mo called out as he walked toward the entrance.
The door slid open, revealing Wang Chongsheng, who was following behind an elegant, poised middle-aged woman. She had a refined and dignified presence, dressed in a simple but elegant long dress that accentuated her graceful figure. In her hand, she carried a red leather-wrapped gift box. Her mere presence exuded a noble aura that commanded respect.
"You must be Mr. Feng Mo. I'm Chongsheng's aunt, Zhang Yue. You can just call me Zhang Yue," she greeted in a warm, melodic voice. "Chongsheng always speaks of your intelligence and talents. It's an honor to finally meet you. I brought a small gift to mark the occasion; I hope you will accept it."
Feng Mo quickly took the gift, expressing his gratitude. "Thank you, Aunt Zhang. Chongsheng often praises your grace and elegance. He and I are like brothers, so there's no need for formality. Please, make yourself at home, and if it's alright, I'll call you Aunt Zhang."
He led them into the living room. Once they were seated, Feng Mo asked a smart robot to prepare some tea. Getting straight to the point, he said, "Aunt Zhang, I believe you know about my family's struggles. Times have been tough, and with graduation approaching, I need funds to establish a fleet. So, I'm selling a T2 starship design I created."
Zhang Yue nodded, and Feng Mo continued, "The main selling point of this T2 starship is its durability—something that appeals greatly to civilians. As you know, starship technology evolves rapidly, and even wealthy families are starting to use T2 starships for everyday purposes, making this design's ruggedness particularly valuable."
"But enough talking. I'll send you the specs and blueprint now, so your research team can review them," Feng Mo said, transmitting the data via his smart terminal. He kept the core technical details back, intending to share them only after the contract was signed.
Zhang Yue made a call to her research team. "Please review this starship design and give me a reliable report in an hour," she instructed before ending the call.
Thanks to Wang Chongsheng's humor, the wait wasn't awkward. Zhang Yue even watched the starship duel video, commenting insightfully on Vice-Captain Elpan tactical maneuvers. Feng Mo was impressed; Zhang Yue was clearly a savvy and knowledgeable noblewoman, not just a figurehead.
An hour later, the call from her research team came right on schedule.
"Madam Zhang, the T2 starship design is impressive, even without the core details. This 'Zebra-class' interstellar destroyer is highly cost-effective. Its standout feature is its durability, and it performs well too. It could definitely become a bestseller," the lead researcher, an elderly man in a lab coat, reported excitedly.
Zhang Yue hung up the call and looked at Feng Mo with an approving smile. "I'll take this design. What price are you asking?"
Feng Mo took a moment to think. "Starship design prices are quite standard. They're usually based on the projected sales of 1,000 units. A T2 interstellar destroyer sells for around four to five million each. Using an average of 4.5 million, the total sales would be 4.5 billion. The company's profit is eighteen percent of that, and five percent of that profit goes to the designer, which comes to about 40.5 million."
Feng Mo paused strategically, and Zhang Yue filled the silence. "Let's round it up. I'll give you fifty million Cloud Mountain credits. This way, the design rights for the Zebra-class destroyer will belong to me. How does that sound?"
Feng Mo admired her sharp negotiation skills. He had been aiming to raise the price, and she had expertly countered.
"Thank you so much, Aunt Zhang! This money will make a huge difference. I won't be formal about it, then. Let's sign the contract," he replied.
He took the contract printed by a smart robot and handed it over. They signed three copies: one for Feng Mo, one for Zhang Yue, and one for the Intellectual Property Office to record the transaction.
Once the paperwork was complete, Feng Mo transferred the full blueprint data to Zhang Yue. She then sent him the fifty million credits, sealing the deal.
After some more conversation, Zhang Yue and Wang Chongsheng took their leave. Feng Mo escorted them to the door, thanking them once more.
Closing the door, Feng Mo felt a wave of relief. With this money, he could upgrade the defenses of his territory significantly. Since his parents' disappearance when he was eight, the fleet and defense systems had not been updated. His domain, once an earl's territory, now a viscount's, still relied on outdated T1 and T2 starships.
The academy had announced that real-combat internships would begin on October 1st, so Feng Mo knew he needed to make preparations and return home. But before that, he had to resolve things with Jiang Wei. Hopefully, Jiang Wei's family wouldn't make him wait too long.
---
September 5th, 9:00 AM
Feng Mo received a message from the academy director, asking him to come to the main building's office. The Jiang Wei matter had been resolved surprisingly quickly, a sign of Jiang Wei's influence in his family.
Feng Mo put on his academy combat uniform and headed to office 907. Knocking on the door, he heard, "Come in."
Entering, he saw two groups in the office. On the left sat Director Liu and the class advisors for both Feng Mo and Jiang Wei. On the right sat Jiang Wei, along with a middle-aged man in a meticulously tailored suit, who had the look of a dignified butler.
"Director Liu, Mr. Xing, Professor Zhang," Feng Mo greeted each teacher respectfully before sitting down on the left side.
Director Liu smiled warmly at him. "Let me introduce Feng Mo, a fourth-year cadet in the Command Department and a certified junior starship engineer. He designed and built a T3 interstellar battleship on his own over the break. He is one o
f our brightest students and a true asset to the academy."