One hundred half-beasts sat cross-legged on the ground, holding their meal boxes and grabbing the food directly with their hands.
Although the artificial food was bland and tasteless, these half-beasts still ate ravenously.
Since they had fallen into slavery, they had basically never eaten their fill in the past. After all, slave traders were never merciful to their slaves.
"After finishing the meal, have them take a bath and change into new clothes; then they can board the ship to familiarize themselves with their future work positions," Zhao Chen said as he sat beside Charlotte, holding the same meal.
Charlotte had once been a fleet commander, so compared to the other half-beast soldiers, she paid more attention to her demeanor; she still chewed slowly and carefully when eating.
She looked at the food in Zhao Chen's hands and was a little surprised: "You eat this too?"
"What else? I'm not afraid to tell you, your current captain is very poor. The food I've stored now is only enough for us to eat for half a month.
As for whether we'll have food in the future, that depends on how well you all perform from now on," Zhao Chen said pitifully beside her.
Seeing that Zhao Chen had no airs about himself, Charlotte's attitude toward him improved greatly, but she stared at him with tired eyes: "Why do you only recruit female half-beasts?
Logically, when it comes to combat and fighting, everyone would prefer males.
I warn you, if you make any inappropriate moves toward them, our previous agreement will be void!
I will never allow them to sell their dignity and bodies just for freedom…"
Zhao Chen waved his hands repeatedly and said helplessly, "Rest assured on that point. I have no ill intentions toward them. It's just that for certain reasons, this time I only recruited female soldiers.
As for the reasons… I'm not in a position to explain right now."
On this point, Zhao Chen was also helpless. The system imposed restrictions after all.
"You don't have to tell me the reason, but if I find out you have sinister plans toward them… hmph…" Charlotte glared at Zhao Chen.
Honestly, seeing this white-haired half-beast's warning glare was somewhat adorable.
However, the wounds and scars on her body were definitely a bit of a mood killer.
"Those scars on your body… you did them yourself, right?" Zhao Chen casually said.
Charlotte didn't hide anything and nodded: "Yes. Back then, my rebel army was betrayed and completely wiped out.
Given the situation, if I hadn't done that and was recognized by those people, I would never have appeared here. They wouldn't have mercifully sold a rebel general as a slave."
Zhao Chen understood the reasoning. If Charlotte had been recognized by the enemy and captured, she would have suffered a terrible fate.
Even if she wasn't recognized, with her original appearance, the outcome wouldn't have been much better.
"I'm actually quite surprised you recognized me," Charlotte looked at Zhao Chen with curiosity.
Zhao Chen had recognized her at first sight, which directly proved that he came specifically for her.
"When I was studying at the academy, I researched some of your battles and saw some of your photos. When I saw your appearance on the slave list, I wasn't sure at first.
After all, the difference between the current you and the you back then is huge… The you back then… was like the dawn itself…
Until I tricked you once, I was only then sure you were General Charlotte," Zhao Chen said with a smile.
Actually, this was thanks to the memories of this body, which was that of a bookworm who loved to browse battle data of various races.
Charlotte rolled her eyes, realizing she had inadvertently exposed her identity.
"Actually, with today's medical technology, repairing these wounds and scars on your body is completely possible," Zhao Chen said. He had seen Charlotte's earlier images.
She was definitely a beauty in the making, even by human standards of aesthetics.
Placed in the academy, she could easily be considered a campus belle.
"No need. A warrior doesn't care about her appearance," Charlotte coldly refused the suggestion.
Seeing Charlotte so determined, Zhao Chen didn't press further; besides, there were no conditions to do so now.
After all, such medical repair technology was also very expensive.
After finishing their food, Zhao Chen said, "Let's go take a look at your future work station."
He pointed to the steel starship.
Charlotte did not refuse and followed Zhao Chen aboard the ship called Zero Blizzard.
"This starship is your assembly?" Charlotte walked along the corridor inside the ship.
Zhao Chen nodded: "That's right. I used modules from the T2 Hyena-class Medium Interstellar Destroyer, T2 Gray Wolf-class Light Interstellar Cruiser, and T2 Devil Crocodile-class Medium Interstellar Battleship to assemble this starship. I named it Zero Blizzard."
"I'm not very familiar with these three starships, but judging from the interior, they are older models with many outdated parts.
A starship like this doesn't look very promising in combat capability," Charlotte bluntly said.
"No no no, I believe soon you will take back your current impression.
You will come to love this starship," Zhao Chen said with a mysterious smile.
Charlotte didn't pay much attention. Since she was here, she would make the best of it. No matter what kind of starship this guy had, she had no other choice now.
At least so far, he hadn't shown any qualities that would make people dislike him.
Although she did have considerable doubts about him recruiting only female half-beasts.
Soon the two arrived at the bridge of Zero Blizzard. This was Charlotte's first time here, and Zhao Chen's second.
The last time was when he came with his younger sister Zhao Wan'er.
Charlotte looked around the bridge; the layout was very conventional with no highlights.
"Next, you will be responsible for arranging the positions of those half-beast crew members. I need them to form effective combat power in the shortest time," Zhao Chen requested.
Charlotte looked at Zhao Chen and made a demand: "If that's the case, I need to understand some of this starship's performance modules…"
Before Charlotte could finish, Zhao Chen handed a handheld terminal to her.
"I've already registered your information inside. You now have the highest authority on this starship besides me.
You can access the vast majority of this starship's data.
From now on, you are the deputy captain of this starship."
Charlotte looked at Zhao Chen in surprise. She took the handheld terminal and looked at him suspiciously: "You trust me that much? Aren't you worried I might betray you?"
Zhao Chen smiled faintly. Actually, as soon as Charlotte boarded this starship, he had already used the system skill 'Eye of Insight' on her.
Because Zhao Chen was the captain of this starship, he met the conditions for using 'Eye of Insight'.
Under the observation of 'Eye of Insight', Charlotte currently held no murderous or hostile intent toward Zhao Chen; as for loyalty, that couldn't be determined.
But that was enough. Zhao Chen did not expect Charlotte to be loyal to him in such a short time. As long as she was willing to work for him, that was sufficient.
However, Zhao Chen still had to put on a show. Sitting casually in the captain's chair, he said, "I trust the person I chose. My dear deputy captain, it's time for you to work."