The taxation system was harsh: for a habitable planet, 20% of all annual net profits needed to be paid to the empire, while resource planets were taxed at 10% of their annual net profits. If taxes were not paid for ten consecutive years, the empire would revoke the naming rights of the planets and star system, withdraw stargate usage permissions, and send a special auditing department to have a "chat."
Do not underestimate this auditing department; they are equipped with T4 fleets and, in critical situations, can even call upon a T5 fleet. There's no winning against them—better to just pay your taxes.
Once all the paperwork was finalized, a final red message appeared on the holographic screen:
"Congratulations to Viscount Feng Mo for expanding the empire's territory by securing fourteen planets in the Storm Star System. Awarded: 49,000 military credits."
A habitable planet earned him 10,000 military credits, while the thirteen resource planets added 39,000. Combined with Feng Mo's 10,000-plus credits from his half-year frontline service, he had already accumulated more than half the military credits needed to advance from Viscount to Earl.
"Applying under the title of Viscount to install a T4 Stargate on Storm Planet."
Stargates are strategic assets that the federation and empires strictly control. They're like a fortress gate, and no family would hand over the keys to just anyone.
"Application received. Verification pending."
Constructing a stargate is no quick task. Building a T4 Stargate typically takes three years, while a T3 Stargate takes a year. As for a T5 Stargate, there is only one in the entire federation, located in the central region and jointly managed by the Tianqi and Huiguang Empires.
The highest Feng Mo could apply for was a T4 Stargate, which required approval from the Imperial Council. But he was confident it would pass once discussed. Feng Mo was no longer a student; it was time to reconnect the Feng family's extensive network of influence.
Feng Mo had recently spoken to Old Wang. The Wang family had divided their shares in the Starship Trading Company into six parts, with the Wang family holding one share, though officially it remained under their control.
Feng Mo had agreed to this, and one of those shares went to Uncle Gu, a highly esteemed Imperial Lieutenant General in his sixties, known as a rising star of the future. Personal favors may run out, but alliances based on shared interests endure.
While Feng Mo was registering the planets, things were bustling back in the Storm Star System. Huaqin had become a de facto ambassador for Feng Mo, frequently visiting the Elven race to promote his interests.
As a fellow elf, Huaqin was very popular among her kin, but the Bisi Tribe was much harder to approach. Only the half-beast Mello Sisters, with their fiery temperaments, managed to make some inroads.
Feng Mo had recently instructed Ai Er to spread some enticing rumors: a T4 Stargate would soon be established in the Storm Star System, and several resource planets there were rich in materials needed for T4 starship construction.
Previously, it was mentioned that the U1 to U5 star systems had already been claimed by space explorers, with over 80% occupied. Now, it was time for them to set their sights on the Storm Star System.
This influx of explorers and adventurers would inevitably lead to conflict. These people were no pushovers; some even commanded T3 fleets. Some adventurers roamed farther star systems in search of opportunities, while others set themselves up as local rulers in uncharted territories.
What drew them was the rumors Feng Mo had spread. In truth, only Planet P459 in the Storm Star System had materials for T4 starship construction. But by spreading tales of multiple planets, Feng Mo sowed chaos, creating opportunities to benefit from the disorder without directly clashing with either the elves or the Bisi Tribe.
Even Feng Mo had been surprised to learn about the presence of these rare resources. The Storm Star System was quite small compared to Yunshan Empire's five major systems, with Cloud Sky System being the smallest among the medium-sized star systems.
The Storm Star System was even smaller and would likely be classified as a small star system by the empire's assessors. Having even one T4 resource planet in such a tiny star system was already a huge deal in the federation. And Feng Mo's rumor claimed there were multiple such planets.
To give a clearer picture: the Cloud Sky System has only three T4 resource planets, one of which once belonged to the Feng family. Feng Mo's parents had practically given it away to an old friend, fearing that it would be too dangerous to leave to a young heir like him.
This "half-sale, half-gift" exchange earned the Feng family much-needed support and brought many hidden benefits, ensuring Feng Mo's survival. One statistic illustrates how rare T4 planets are: Feng Mo controls five resource planets in the Cloud Sky System, all T2 grade. In the Storm Star System, he commands thirteen planets, with only one at T3 grade and the rest at T2.
Leaving the Star Network Space, Feng Mo issued orders to Laika and Laixi:
"Have Unit One and Unit Two take turns patrolling the star system. Purchase thirteen T2 defense systems from the Yunshan Trading Company and have them installed within seven days. Remind the military division to stay vigilant; the Storm Star System is unstable, so gather as much intel as possible."
The Storm Star System soon became an adventurer's paradise. Yunshan Trading Company's Cloud Starport was making a fortune. The influx of adventurer fleets led to inevitable skirmishes—some fought over newly discovered resource planets, while others plotted mischief against the Elves.
Planet P459, in particular, became a hotbed of activity. Adventurers gathered there daily to spy on the planet from a distance, unwilling to provoke the Bisi Tribe's defensive fleet but still hoping for an opportunity.
The constant surveillance tested the Bisi Tribe's patience, and even the peace-loving Elves grew agitated. They repeatedly proposed to Feng Mo that they form an alliance to repel the intruders. But Feng Mo remained noncommittal, keeping his true intentions hidden.
The storm was brewing.
Meanwhile, the Storm, Tianqi, and Huiguang Empires buzzed with news about a starship company named Stormcloud Starship Trading. The company had merged two popular T2 models, the Zebra and Bear-class starships, and launched three more hits: the T2 Crocodile-class Battleship, T2 Hawkeye Industrial Ship, and T2 Fire Ant Carrier.
Starship reviewers showcased these models in live streams, highlighting how they outperformed typical T2 ships by at least 20%, yet sold for the same price. The public snapped them up, making each model a bestseller.
Stormcloud's success drove massive profits, allowing the three women—Chu Yun Jian, Yue Xiaomeng, and their ally—to expand production and cut costs. A flood of starcoins filled Feng Mo's accounts. Within six months, he paid off the million-starcoin debt and still had tens of thousands left.
Feng Mo held only a 30% stake in the company, meaning Stormcloud's five ships had earned over 3.3 million starcoins, equivalent to over 300 million Yunshan coins, in half a year. This staggering profit rocked the upper echelons, where many powerful factions bitterly regretted not partnering with the starship design prodigy.
Now, they could only watch as the Chu and Yue families raked in wealth. Sleepless n
ights lay ahead for those who had missed this golden opportunity.