After resting in his shuttle cabin for a while, Zhou Tianming began calculating his assets.
Siegel's life-saving funds + the fixed assets money that would gradually come in later.
There was also GARMR&D's compensation payment from Zhou Hanxiang's side, roughly amounting to several million.
After deducting legal fees and miscellaneous expenses, he'd have about 550 million USD at most.
Would this be enough to buy a small spacecraft?
Zhou Tianming frowned in contemplation. In his previous life, he hadn't even been interested in cars that most men loved, let alone spacecraft. He had no concept of these things.
Activating the computer integrated into the desk, a semi-transparent holographic screen unfolded.
After some online searching, Zhou Tianming found only a handful of manufacturers capable of building spacecraft.
One specialized in custom shuttles with all sorts of bizarre shapes - he even spotted Siegel's whale-shaped shuttle among their designs.
What he wanted was a combat-capable ship, so after a glance at the shuttles, he moved to the next company.
A familiar name caught his eye - Muruta Azrael Military Technology Co., Ltd.
Pursing his lips, Zhou Tianming clicked on their homepage with a critical eye to browse their products.
The sight immediately made him feel breathless, his heart constricting.
Small combat warships (50-100m): average price 1-2 billion USD (base model)
Clutching his chest, Zhou Tianming gasped before muttering darkly: "Damn rich people!"
Unable to bear looking further, he switched to the last major corporation - an East Asian company.
Upon entering - "Detected that you're under 18. The following content is unsuitable for minors."
"..."
Slumping back into his chair weakly, Zhou Tianming stared at the ceiling.
He had somewhat underestimated spacecraft prices.
His seemingly substantial funds turned out to be a drop in the bucket.
Should he ask Siegel for help?
After carefully considering this idea, Zhou Tianming ultimately dismissed it.
Would Siegel help if asked?
Zhou Tianming believed he would, but that would also mean their personal connection would end there.
Just as he assessed Siegel's value, Siegel would similarly evaluate his worth.
Constantly seeking help would only make others look down on him.
Zhou Tianming didn't want to become Siegel's subordinate - he needed an equal, mutually beneficial ally.
Having made his decision, he began planning how to acquire a spacecraft.
Just then, a video call notification popped up on the holographic display.
It was Siegel. He accepted the call.
On screen, Siegel looked at Zhou Tianming with concern, his expression relaxing upon seeing him unharmed: "You seem fine. That puts my mind at ease."
"Thank you for sending reinforcements. If they hadn't arrived so quickly, I might still be tangled up with the other side."
Siegel didn't smile upon hearing this, but sighed instead: "I'm sorry, this was our fault."
Zhou Tianming wasn't surprised. The enemies were clearly influential Coordinators—it would be strange if PLANT wasn't involved somehow.
"Patrick's praise of you reached those people's ears, so they set their sights on recruiting you for their own purposes."
Zhou Tianming didn't care how he'd come to their attention—what was leaked was leaked. What mattered was their identity.
With a smile, he casually asked in a seemingly indifferent tone: "Who are those people?"
Siegel remained silent as he looked at Zhou Tianming.
Zhou Tianming shrugged. "Uncle, it's fine if you don't say. With their way of doing things, we're bound to meet again eventually. When that time comes—"
Siegel sighed. "You... you're just as impulsive as Patrick."
"Wait, no! I'm nowhere near as bad as Uncle Patrick!"
Zhou Tianming hurriedly shook his head and waved his hands in denial—he wouldn't dare accept that accusation.
His reaction made Siegel pause, then wear a wry smile. "I get the feeling you're badmouthing Patrick in your heart."
"Heh." Zhou Tianming's lips twitched in an awkward smile.
Then Siegel straightened his expression and spoke seriously: "I know your background, and I won't treat you like an ordinary child. But I hope you won't act rashly."
"Don't worry. None of this would've happened if they hadn't come after me first."
Sighing again, Siegel slowly explained, "A few years ago, Patrick and I spontaneously formed a small group called the [Zodiac Alliance] to resist the Council of Nations' oppression against us Coordinators."
"As the organization grew, we became targets of the Council and had to scatter, operating underground in resistance."
"That's when things began to change. When we were out in the open, Patrick and I could fully control the [Zodiac Alliance]. But after going underground, for safety reasons, the various branches gradually lost contact and formed isolated cliques."
"The turning point was an attack on the Council. They succeeded in causing significant damage to the Council's facilities, after which the Council conceded to some demands."
Oh no. Two words flashed in Zhou Tianming's mind. Though not well-versed in politics, as someone from Hua, he wasn't completely ignorant.
This was planting a landmine.
Siegel continued: "Patrick and I spent years trying to negotiate a solution to the Coordinators' plight without any results. Yet they achieved it with a single attack that lasted mere minutes."
"They don't realize they're mortgaging the Coordinators' future. The repeated attacks finally pushed the Council beyond endurance, and they launched a counterattack. That purge nearly wiped out those branches."
"What followed was even harsher oppression and retaliation, driving more Coordinators to their side."
"Back then, Patrick actually suggested dealing with them quickly, but I... sigh... after all, they're Coordinators too..."
Zhou Tianming could only look at Siegel helplessly. On this matter, he sided with Patrick—keeping those people around would definitely lead to major trouble.
Siegel's next words confirmed Zhou Tianming's thoughts.
"They formed a religious organization called the [Holy Order], which on the surface no longer appeared radical or aggressive, but secretly propagated the ideology that Coordinators were superior and Naturals were an inferior race."
Well, a Coordinator version of [Blue Cosmos], Zhou Tianming thought wryly.
After Siegel finished speaking, he also fell silent, his expression somber as he shook his head and sighed repeatedly: "You must have sensed it too—how appealing this ideology is to oppressed Coordinators. The information about you was leaked by someone lurking around Patrick."
Zhou Tianming glanced at Siegel with pity, sympathizing with the complexity of the situation he had to face, yet inwardly marveling at the man's genuine capability.
Zhou Tianming wasn't sure if the [Holy Order] existed in the original story, but organizations with similar ideologies definitely did.
Judging by Patrick's later behavior, he likely either joined a [Holy Order]-like organization or took direct control of one, yet Siegel still managed to keep him in check.
It wasn't until the Junius 7 nuclear strike incident, when the war fully erupted, that Siegel gradually began to falter—such skill was truly remarkable.
After discussing a few other matters, the two ended their communication.
Zhou Tianming pondered the [Holy Order].
He wanted revenge but had no clear starting point.
Just like [Blue Cosmos], the higher-ups cared little for their subordinates. Even if one batch was eliminated, more would keep emerging endlessly.
With a sigh, he set the matter aside—further contemplation would only waste time.
Once his own strength grew, they would no longer be a threat. Then, he could join forces with Siegel to uproot them completely.
Suddenly, he thought of the future Clyne Faction.
People of different races, professions, and backgrounds—united under the same ideology, gathering around Lacus.
Wasn't that, in its own way, a form of religious belief?
"Truly worthy of the 'Lacus the Enchantress,'" he mused, then chuckled at the thought of her still chubby appearance at this time.
Next, Zhou Tianming calmed his mind and returned to contemplating his starship venture.
After much deliberation, the only feasible option was to acquire a second-hand ship.
A quick online search revealed—large military equipment was prohibited from secondary sales.
Every arms corporation had its own specialized retrieval procedures; starships simply weren't circulated on the market.
Damn it.
His only hope now lay with the Junk Dealers. He'd have to head to the Junk Guild and ask Zhou Hanxiang, who had arrived ahead of him, for updates.