The maglev bus stopped in front of a military fortress, and Feng Mo and his companions stepped out, noticing a senior colonel standing at the entrance.
Although the man wore a military uniform, his gentle face and warm smile exuded a scholarly aura.
"You must be Viscount Feng Mo, and this is Wang Chongsheng, Mo Xue, and Yue Xiaomeng, correct? I'm Jiang Guanchao, your senior from the Command Department, Class of 213."
Class of 213? Already a senior colonel? Feng Mo's class was 232, making it only 19 years since Jiang's graduation. Rising through the ranks so quickly was unheard of.
Feng Mo instantly recognized Jiang Guanchao's significance and made a mental note to regard him with even more respect.
"Greetings, Senior! If I had known this was your territory, I'd have visited much sooner," Feng Mo said, taking a friendly tone. Having a connection through the academy brought a sense of relief to the group, as it was always easier to deal with a fellow alum.
"Come, juniors, let's have a meal together first. You must try the food here at the strategy department," Jiang Guanchao said, leading them to a private dining room where a table full of exquisite dishes awaited.
Without hesitation, Xiaomeng and Mo Xue picked up their chopsticks and began eating. The recent escort mission had left everyone longing for flavorful food.
Jiang Guanchao didn't seem to mind. He encouraged Feng Mo and Wang to join in and even shared the meal with them, chatting casually.
After enjoying the food, Jiang Guanchao wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and turned to Feng Mo. "No need for pleasantries, Junior. I'm sure you've guessed why I'm here. The military's negligence caused you a lot of trouble, and compensating you is only fair."
"Let me lay out what the military is willing to offer, and you can decide. First: The military will cover all your fleet's damages, and the mission rewards will be doubled. Second: We'll provide a travel allowance, which is negotiable. And lastly: Each of you will receive an energy crystal."
"Of course, this last reward doesn't apply to Commander Cui. I hope you understand. I'll give you a moment to discuss while I visit the restroom," Jiang added, excusing himself.
Note: 1 Starcoin = 100 Yunshan Coins
Jiang Guanchao's words were carefully chosen, but it was clear he didn't consider Cui Zhihua worth mentioning. Cui wasn't offended. He knew his place and was aware that, without Feng Mo, he wouldn't even be in this room.
Cui didn't recognize the value of the energy crystal, but Feng Mo did. In Chapter 12, it was explained that dark energy crystals are related to T5 starship technology. These crystals are vital for constructing T5-class engines. Embedded in a starship engine, a dark energy crystal could boost speed by at least 10 knots and prevent the engine from overheating when its speed limits were lifted.
The compensation was indeed generous, and only those with military connections knew the true value of such a crystal. Jiang's offer was more than fair.
When Jiang left, Wang Chongsheng's excitement was palpable. "Mo, we hit the jackpot! Double rewards mean ten thousand points, ten thousand military merits, and six hundred thousand Starcoins! Plus, they're offering a travel allowance. I'm going to flaunt this like crazy when we get home, no more begging for money!"
"Wang Chongsheng, calm down. Have some dignity," Mo Xue scolded, rolling her eyes at Wang's outburst.
Wang defended himself, "Not everyone's like you, rich and spoiled. You saw how cheap my dad was when you visited! He really is the stingiest man alive!"
Mo Xue seemed to remember the incident and reluctantly nodded. Feng Mo chuckled, realizing there was probably an amusing story behind it. After a bit of light-hearted teasing, they returned to the matter at hand.
"Senior Jiang really laid out a solid offer," Feng Mo said seriously. "That dark energy crystal alone is worth it. It's restricted military-grade material, not something money can buy."
"That's the whole point of compensation," Wang said, nodding. "If it were ordinary folks, the military might just hand out some cash. But with us? We're far from ordinary. They have to invest a bit. Still, let's ask for more on the travel allowance. The military has deep pockets."
Feng Mo agreed. Of the four of them, Xiaomeng only cared about big guns and starships, while Mo Xue, despite her friendly demeanor, was proud and distant, as seen in how she ignored Cui. Wang, on the other hand, seemed carefree but was sharp when it mattered.
And Feng Mo himself? Well, he was the leader, and he had to make the best decision.
A knock on the door signaled Jiang Guanchao's return, carrying a secure case. "We've made our decision," Feng Mo said. "We're fine with the first and third points. Thank you for the support, Senior. But we'd like to negotiate the second point."
Jiang instantly understood and proposed, "How about 300,000 Starcoins?"
Feng Mo smiled but shook his head without saying a word.
"Fine, 500,000 Starcoins. That's a fair offer, right?"
Feng Mo still shook his head, raising his right hand and showing one finger, then tapping his left fist three times.
"A million?!" Jiang exclaimed, nearly losing his composure. "That's outrageous! The doubled mission rewards alone convert to 260 million Yunshan Coins. Adding another ten million Yunshan Coins? The military would bleed money!"
"I don't have the authority to approve that," Jiang added. "The cap they gave me is one million Starcoins."
"Deal!" Feng Mo agreed quickly.
Jiang's heart sank. He knew he had offered too much. But he composed himself quickly. It wasn't his personal money on the line, after all.
"Alright then, juniors. I trust you'll keep this matter discreet. Your rewards and compensation will be in your accounts within ten minutes. The dark energy crystals are here. I need to report back, so I'll leave you to it."
"Thank you, Senior. We'll stay here a bit longer."
"No problem. I've arranged for you to have this room as long as you need," Jiang replied, leaving the box and taking his leave.
Ten minutes later, Feng Mo chec
ked his account. The mission rewards and compensation had been deposited.