Zhao Chen's purpose for exchanging these three starships was actually quite simple. With his current capabilities, constructing the system-rewarded T3 starship was impossible.
However, by using the T3 Blizzard-class Light Interstellar Battlecruiser's technical blueprints as a foundation and modifying these three starships, he might be able to assemble a simplified version of the T3 Blizzard-class!
After countless calculations in Zhao Chen's mind, which now possessed 'Top-tier Starship Engineer' skills, he confirmed this plan had an 80% success rate.
"Using the T2 Devil Crocodile-class Medium Interstellar Battleship's hull, then incorporating performance modules from the T2 Hyena and T2 Gray Wolf..." Zhao Chen muttered excitedly, his eyes gleaming with madness.
Once the assembly plan was set, Zhao Chen immediately got to work.
He approached the control panel and personally operated mechanical arms to begin cutting the three starships.
This was Zhao Chen's first time modifying a starship, yet the moment he started, it felt as if he'd done this countless times before. His movements were smooth and precise.
Even the academy's most senior starship engineers would marvel at this young man's craftsmanship and technical skills if they saw him now.
Such flawless execution would be impossible without decades of hands-on experience and top-tier knowledge.
Disassembling three starships alone was an enormous workload.
Hiring mechanics or engineers for assistance would've been helpful.
But Zhao Chen couldn't do that.
First, he had no academy credits left - all had been spent on spare parts.
Second, this process couldn't be revealed to outsiders. Combining three different starships into a new one while incorporating core T3 Blizzard-class technology... if anyone noticed and word got out, the consequences would be unpredictable.
So Zhao Chen had to handle everything himself.
He estimated it would take about twenty-some days.
For the next three weeks, Zhao Chen skipped nearly all classes. Since it was near semester's end with most exams finished, and his credits already qualified him for fourth year, his absence didn't matter much.
However, news of Zhao Chen challenging Zhang Haoran had spread throughout third year. Many students came to his classroom hoping to see this infamous fallen baron, only to leave disappointed.
Beep beep beep—
Red lights flashed at the starship hangar entrance as the access request chime sounded.
Zhao Chen ignored it at first, but the persistent chime continued for ten full minutes.
Unable to bear it any longer, he dragged his exhausted body to the entrance and opened the door.
"Zhao Chen, have you gone mad?"
Before the door fully opened, an angry female voice rang out, followed by a slender pale leg stepping through.
Zhao Wan'er immediately began scolding Zhao Chen, but he barely registered her words as he leaned against the doorframe.
"Wan'er... are you done yet? If so, I need sleep. Ahh..." Zhao Chen yawned, half-closing his eyes.
This graceful woman with snow-white skin was Zhao Chen's younger sister, Zhao Wan'er.
She was also a fourth-year student at North Star Starship Academy, advancing to fifth year next year.
Why was the older brother in third year while the younger sister was in fourth?
Because Zhao Wan'er was a genius who completed three years' coursework in one year, surpassing her brother to become a fourth-year student.
With her outstanding looks, she'd always been one of the academy's top beauties.
Now wearing a white military-style uniform, and considering she only came looking for him after over half a month...
She must have been occupied with fourth-year final exams involving starship piloting for combat assessments, only just returning to campus.
Upon hearing the news, she'd come straight to him.
Zhao Wan'er took in Zhao Chen's dark eye circles, messy hair, and faint body odor.
Behind him near the hangar entrance lay a makeshift bed, beside it a box of instant nutrient meals with discarded packaging scattered about, emitting a spoiled smell.
Several sets of dirty academy uniforms were also strewn across the floor.
This clearly showed what Zhao Chen's life had been like these past weeks.
"You think you can rest now? Do you realize what trouble you've caused? Challenging Zhang Haoran to a starship duel over some girl, with the loser leaving the academy as the wager... Have you lost your mind?" Zhao Wan'er grabbed Zhao Chen's ear in frustration.
Normally this would hurt, but drowsiness overwhelmed Zhao Chen as he collapsed onto Zhao Wan'er.
"You—"
Thud.
Zhao Wan'er fell back onto the floor with Zhao Chen resting against her like a child.
"This idiot!" Resigned, Zhao Wan'er dragged Zhao Chen inside the starship hangar.
But when she looked up at the massive starship docking area spanning several football fields, she froze.
A starship stood there.
Its hull appeared aged, not new, with uneven sections and even signs of past artillery strikes.
Scattered components of various sizes covered the surrounding workstations.
Yet despite this, Zhao Wan'er could sense a hidden ferocity emanating from this vessel.
Most importantly, the starship felt strangely familiar, though she couldn't recall any matching model from her starship encyclopedia studies.
"Wan'er..."
A voice snapped her back to reality.
Zhao Chen had woken up, now sitting cross-legged on the floor. Though he'd only slept about ten minutes, he looked much better.
"You... what is this?" Zhao Wan'er pointed at the unfamiliar starship.
"My starship," Zhao Chen answered instinctively.
"Don't lie to me! I heard from Li Wei that you exchanged your academy credits for three old starships, not..." Her voice trailed off as she turned back to stare at the vessel in disbelief, suddenly realizing why it seemed familiar.
"Wan'er, you're usually so smart. Haven't you figured it out yet?" Zhao Chen smirked teasingly