There's hardly anyone familiar around.

Moreover, to put it frankly, Chen Ming's previous relationships with others were just normal colleague dealings, not really close.

Now, the people he's met only for a few hours on the Cow Herder are even less worth mentioning.

The company has given them orders, and naturally, it will take care of their affairs afterward, so Chen Ming doesn't need to worry needlessly.

If Chen Ming finds success in the future and feels guilty, he can find a way to compensate them, but right now, Chen Ming has to focus on protecting himself.

So instead of contemplating these issues, it would be better to consider whether there are any ways to utilize these captives.

But as for how exactly to use these captives, Chen Ming hasn't figured it out yet.

There is a simplest and roughest method, throwing them to Dusk.

They would naturally take these escape pods and negotiate with the human government's military to exchange for something.

Dusk would certainly give Chen Ming some benefits, too.

But Chen Ming feels that's not quite right.

It feels like wasting the captives' value for nothing.

Moreover, Chen Ming actually has some other thoughts regarding Cheng Xinghe.

The military fleet's previously displayed combat power, far exceeding the paper strength, has left a lingering impression on Chen Ming.

Chen Ming had never thought before that a fleet could execute such fine, exquisite operations that were deadly for him.

Solely relying on the command skills, they could obliterate the advantages that Chen Ming had, completely nullifying them.

This gives Chen Ming the feeling that:

If the company's command could be swapped with Cheng Xinghe, even reducing the company's fleet strength by a third, combined with Chen Ming's abilities, they could still manage to defeat the army.

And just so, Chen Ming is now planning to organize a fleet of his own.

If Cheng Xinghe could command the fleet, if Chen Ming could persuade Cheng Xinghe to join his fleet.

It would certainly have a terrifying effect.

Although Chen Ming thinks this probability is small, one should always have dreams.

Furthermore, the commander's current circumstances also keep Chen Ming's thoughts lingering.

Cheng Xinghe has lost his ship, lost his fleet, captured by Chen Ming, all alone, possibly at one of the most vulnerable points in his life.

Even if he can't be made to join Chen Ming's fleet as a commander.

Chen Ming could try to exchange his freedom for teaching Chen Ming, or teaching Gamma AB and others some command techniques.

Chen Ming wants flexible and adaptable battle tactics, not rigid theoretical knowledge.

He believes Cheng Xinghe can accomplish this.

Even if only this much can ultimately be realized, for Chen Ming, it holds considerable value.

Getting Cheng Xinghe, the commander, settled also means getting the rest of the military sorted out.

The remaining sixty-two people, even if different from Cheng Xinghe, have considerable value too.

Chen Ming patted the escape pod, feeling a bit impatient within.

However, he understands things shouldn't be done like this; what he just thought must be delayed.

He doesn't even have a shred of a fleet now, waking Cheng Xinghe gains him nothing.

Definitely something for later.

It's just uncertain whether the military will come looking during this period.

Chen Ming isn't too worried about that, as Dusk is still out there acting as a shield, a risk Chen Ming needs to bear for Dusk's sake.

After removing all the outer casings he previously placed on the escape pods, Chen Ming took some time to record each person's military identification.

Meanwhile, he also pasted papers on the outside of each pod denoting identities, for future reference.

After settling this, there was still plenty of time left in the day, which Chen Ming intended to spend on studying.

Upon completing the official tasks assigned by Dusk the next day, Chen Ming would probe Dusk for some other things.

Chen Ming and Dusk currently share an awkward collaborative relationship.

Thus, if Chen Ming proposes some reasonable requests, Dusk couldn't entirely refuse without justification.

Meanwhile, at the company headquarters.

A considerable amount of time has passed since Chen Ming was taken by Dusk.

Chen Ming left the Space Station at around three in the morning, experiencing many events until reaching the Dusk Colony.

The time had reached morning of that day, roughly around the time of the last meeting, though a bit earlier.

Today, a day later, after being continuously busy for over twenty hours, the board members gathered in the meeting room once again.

As the meeting began, everyone's eyes turned to the director handling military affairs.

And this director spread his hands saying, "Well, as you all already know, the military's problem has already exploded over there, and the Gamma-2 Star Zone has been completely taken over by the Fourteenth Legion."

"Did the Fourteenth Legion really come here? And personally take over?"

"Seems like the person they themselves got killed had a bit of significance."

"Or perhaps they're being protective; should this be considered good news for us?"

The director responsible for military affairs looked at the last board member who raised the question and said, "But—"

"They immediately issued a bounty on Chen Ming, accusing him of colluding with Dusk and betraying the Empire. The previous ninety million bounty was raised again to two hundred million."

"I specifically asked their interim person in charge, who seems to have been temporarily pulled in from those without issues in the local military by the Fourteenth Legion; they're unfamiliar with many things."

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