At the very center of the Starport, a Dome Restaurant protruded outward.
This Dome Restaurant was the most luxurious Interstellar Restaurant in the Lantian Star System. It was rumored to have been specially built by the Lord of Blue Field to entertain dignitaries and nobles.
The Dome Restaurant was constructed entirely from a transparent glass material.
This material was military-grade for Starships!
Its strength was equivalent to Starship Hull Armor. It was typically used in small quantities for the Viewports on the bridge located on the surface of the Starship, as well as for small Viewports in some Cabins.
Although its strength matched that of Starship Hull Armor, its Construction Cost was dozens of times higher than armor of the same grade. Therefore, Starships generally used it sparingly.
Here, however, the entire restaurant was built using this military-grade glass material, giving a glimpse of its sheer opulence.
Moreover, situated at the central apex of the largest Starport in the Lantian Star System, it offered a panoramic view of the entire Starport and the primary star of the Lantian Star System overhead—a truly breathtaking sight!
At this moment, the banquet venue was already fully prepared, with an array of luxurious delicacies made from Natural Ingredients laid out in abundance.
But the moment Zhao Chen stepped inside, he sensed something was off.
Only a handful of Faculty and Students of the Two Academies were present, and most of them were from the Tianyao Noble Starship Military Academy—those who didn't get along with Zhao Chen.
Every pair of eyes fixed on him carried a gleam of schadenfreude.
It seemed this was a 'Hongmen Banquet' prepared specifically for Zhao Chen.
"Student Zhao Chen, this way, please." Governor Bilan smiled and invited Zhao Chen to a crescent-shaped booth at the very center of the banquet venue. This spot was noticeably elevated above the surroundings, furnished with comfortable sofas and attended by high-class maids.
Two individuals had been waiting here for some time.
One was dressed in formal attire, while the other wore a military uniform.
Zhao Chen glanced at the uniform—five stars.
A Five-Star Marshal of the Empire.
What kind of luck had he been having these past two days? One after another, a Star Sector Governor and a Five-Star Marshal kept appearing before him.
Upon seeing Zhao Chen, both men stood up and greeted him with smiles.
But to Zhao Chen, those smiles were no different from beasts baring their fangs. The smile of the Five-Star Marshal, in particular, looked especially stiff.
"Student Zhao Chen, allow me to introduce you. This is the Empire's Five-Star Marshal, Marshal Huang Zhixiong. He is a very young Five-Star Marshal in our Empire.
Not only did he become a Five-Star Marshal at the age of fifty, but like you, Student Zhao Chen, he is also a heroic youth!" Governor Bilan introduced the Five-Star Marshal.
A heroic youth?
Zhao Chen looked at the Five-Star Marshal in military uniform, whose belly protruded noticeably.
If not for the introduction, Zhao Chen would have thought he and Governor Bilan were brothers.
Before coming, Zhao Chen had done his homework.
Governor Bilan and Marshal Huang Zhixiong were essentially allies from the same faction—one a territorial lord, the other an Imperial Army Marshal. The two of them 'teaming up' was a match made in heaven.
However, Marshal Huang Zhixiong was the type who appeared strong on the outside but was hollow within. He had climbed to the rank of Marshal solely through his family's background and connections. Although he commanded several Legion-level Starfleets, his primary responsibility was the garrison duties in the Azure Star Domain.
Over the past fifty years, he had hardly fought any major battles, mostly engaging in minor tasks like apprehending Interstellar Pirates.
Just look at how the Zerg Disaster in the Water Lily Star System has escalated to this point, and you'll understand the capabilities of this Marshal.
It's completely different from Governor Chu, who has been fighting the Mechanical Race on the Frontline for years!
Marshal Huang Zhixiong didn't extend his hand, merely nodding at Zhao Chen, clearly looking down on this young man.
"This is the Chairman of the Hurricane Consortium, Chairman Feng Weihao," Governor Bilan introduced another middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses.
"Student Zhao Chen, I've long heard of your reputation!" Chairman Feng smiled, proactively shaking Zhao Chen's hand and warmly patting his shoulder. "Student Zhao Chen is the same age as my youngest son, but my useless son is far inferior to you.
If my youngest son could possess even a fraction of your excellence, I, as a father, wouldn't have to worry so much.
Thanks to Student Zhao Chen for rescuing my useless son during this Zerg incident, otherwise our Feng family would have been mourning the loss of a younger generation."
As he spoke, Chairman Feng even removed his glasses, as if wiping away tears.
"You flatter me, Chairman Feng," Zhao Chen replied.
But he mentally noted this old fox.
Compared to that so-called Five-Star Marshal, the Chairman of the Hurricane Consortium before him was far more dangerous.
Moreover, with current technological means, ordinary people have no need to wear glasses, yet this man still wore gold-rimmed ones. This indicated it was a habit or a prop to conceal the expression in his eyes.
Someone capable of building the Hurricane Consortium into what it is today was no small player.
And the place where the Hurricane Consortium rose to prominence was the Azure Star Domain.
Rumors circulated that the Hurricane Consortium, Governor Bilan, and that Five-Star Marshal formed an Iron Triangle relationship.
These three were like the heavens in the Azure Star Domain, controlling the military, political, and commercial spheres!
This time, all three appearing together was enough to show how much they valued the 'worth' Zhao Chen possessed.
"Please sit, Student Zhao Chen," Governor Bilan led Zhao Chen to sit on the sofa, where a senior maid immediately served delicious tea and snacks.
At that moment, one of the elevators from the Starport leading into this Dome Restaurant opened, and several graceful figures walked in. One voice caught Zhao Chen's attention.
"Really, they wouldn't let us come up! Why can they come, but we can't!"
The one complaining was none other than Xue Xiaoxiao.
Beside Xue Xiaoxiao were a stern-faced Su Lan and a visibly nervous Teacher Qin.
They actually managed to come up.
"Senior Su Lan, Teacher Qin," Zhao Chen waved to them. Su Lan and the others also saw Zhao Chen and quickly walked over.
Zhao Chen smiled at Governor Bilan. "My apologies, these three are good friends from my Academy. May I invite them to sit with me?"
Governor Bilan exchanged glances with the two other influential figures beside him.
"Since Student Zhao Chen requests it, how could we refuse? And indeed, sitting with us old folks can't compare to being with those beautiful young ladies.
Student Zhao Chen is quite fortunate in love," Governor Bilan couldn't resist teasing Zhao Chen.
Zhao Chen smiled without responding.
Just then, Su Lan and the others arrived.
Seeing the three people sitting before Zhao Chen, a flicker of surprise passed through Su Lan's eyes.
It seemed she also recognized their identities.
"Classmate Zhao Chen, the people downstairs are really too much. They actually wouldn't let us come up. I clearly saw quite a few students from Tianyao Noble Starship Military Academy come up, and they still said we didn't have invitations.
If Teacher Qin hadn't shown our North Star Starship Military Academy identification, we probably would have been left out in the cold downstairs." Su Xiaoxiao pouted, looking as if she had been wronged.
It was hard to tell whether she was being naive or deliberately saying this in front of the three big shots present.
Zhao Chen thought to himself: This is a Hongmen Banquet set up for me, so of course they wouldn't let outsiders come up. If Teacher Qin hadn't been so insistent, you probably wouldn't have had the chance to witness the upcoming show.
But since we're already here, let's all watch this good show together.