But when it comes to major hull repairs, and the reconstruction of some destroyed weapon systems, that definitely couldn't be fixed with minor tweaks and maintenance—it had to be returned to the factory.
In this task, Gu Hang had also promised to help. There might be some requirements for materials and metallic components, which Rage Owl Star could supply.
It's too early to say about anything else, but as for the alloy steel industry, Revival City had already matured, so there would be no problem developing building materials, or even processing metals into appropriate parts as needed.
Yelisia also expressed to Gu Hang that such support would not be free. The raw materials and components supplied by Rage Owl Star would be converted into costs, forming a bill to be sent to the Imperial Navy, which would confirm it and forward it to the Military Affairs Department. This would complete the requisition procedures and Tax Currency would be paid to the Governor of Rage Owl Star.
Initially, Gu Hang didn't care much about it. Basic processed parts and raw materials, after all, how much could they be worth?
However, he later felt fortunate that he hadn't acted like a big spender. The Quintet, undergoing maintenance in the orbit of Rage Owl Star for one and a half months, had consumed nearly half a month of production capacity of Revival City's alloy steel processing plant, and the final bill was three thousand Tax Currency.
If that had been given for free, it would have really hurt.
And in another month, an escort ship detached from the Tianma Fleet would arrive in the orbit of Rage Owl Star to take over the Quintet's duties.
Initially, Gu Hang was quite dissatisfied with this. A cruiser was replaced by an escort ship, how could he be happy about that?
However, a conversation with Yelisia changed his mind.
The logic was simple: if a true cruiser had arrived, its captain would likely be at least a brigadier, holding the same rank as Yelisia, and with much more seniority, she would hardly be able to command them, at most she could only offer some advice. That would make it difficult to coordinate with Gu Hang's operations on the planet's surface.
With an escort ship instead, the likelihood was that its captain would be merely a colonel or even just a lieutenant colonel, which would truly allow her to take charge and ease the coordination with Gu Hang's actions.
Gu Hang admitted her point made sense.
Furthermore, Wang Jiarong's Beautiful Lady, along with an escort ship, would stay in the Rage Owl Star System for three months.
Gu Hang also had some doubts about this.
His personal trading demands weren't really that big. He had no special need for bulk commodities. What he truly wanted to buy were several synthetic starch production lines to expand his existing food processing industry in his territory and alleviate food pressure; in addition, there were the high-end goods demanded by the Phoenix Battle Group.
Beyond that, a plethora of minerals, weaponry, consumer goods... these were things Gu Hang didn't covet. He even spotted a Knight Titan on the product list provided by Wang Jiarong! (Note 1)
This machine nearly fulfilled Gu Hang's romantic notion of mechas from watching some sci-fi works in his previous life.
With a height of ten meters, humanoid form, equipped with plasma cannons, missile launchers, and even a rotary cannon that could fire 105mm kinetic rounds as if they were machine gun bullets. For defense, it boasted alloy ceramic armor infused with orichalcum, a powerful Shield Generator, and, crucially, was very agile. Standard artillery would find it hard to lock on and hit.
Such a device could serve as a super firepower platform at range, and up close, lead an infantry charge. A super weapon.
Gu Hang certainly coveted it, but then asked for the price...
Ten million Tax Currency? And that's the cost price without profit?
Forget it. For now, it was something he simply couldn't afford.
Besides these high-end goods, for bulk commodities like minerals and food, he also didn't need to purchase in large quantities at the moment.
Among the items he needed at present, a few transport flights could deliver them to him; why the need to dock for three months?
When he asked this question, Wang Jiarong laughed awkwardly, saying that after transporting Gu Hang's goods, she still had to carry some items for Blackbird Heavy Industries, some to be brought down to the planet, and others to be loaded onto starships.
Gu Hang then narrowed his eyes.
"Well done, wasn't it agreed to come and support your cousin?"
"It looks like you, little sister, have probably discussed things clearly with Blackbird Heavy Industries, or rather, with the Fatches Family behind them."
"Such a big deal, my cousin's needs could be transported within half a week, a week at most; Blackbird Heavy Industries' trade, that takes three months, right?"
"You're really being cozy with the Fatches Family in repairing relations."
Gu Hang was being sarcastically unkind, and Wang Jiarong felt quite embarrassed.
She immediately clarified that this was a decision made by the Gu Family collectively, and it wasn't just decided by your mother alone.
Her emphasis at the end was, "Anyway, it's to support you, and incidentally to do business with Fatches."
Gu Hang replied with a sneer, "Got it the wrong way around, haven't you? Doing business with Fatches is the key, supporting me is just by the way. Oh, no, that's not right. It should be by the way of by the way, after all, this Governor is not dead yet, and interstellar trade needs the Governor's nod, so this deal can't bypass me."
Wang Jiarong didn't speak further.
Of course, Gu Hang wasn't really angry.
There was no reason to be.
It was actually quite normal.