Chapter 1074: 585: Spend All the Granted Points

Chapter 1074: Chapter 585: Spend All the Granted Points

The Alliance provided Blood Shark not only with blood taxes.

There was also a sum of grey taxes; Gu Hang would not forget.

Generosity, when needed, should be offered generously.

Blood Shark had rescued three of their battle cruisers, exerted significant efforts during the Battle of Bowang, and even participated in boarding ships for captures… These achievements were all remembered by Gu Hang.

What does Blood Shark want?

Consumables?

Things like ammunition, medical supplies, equipment, starship repairs, and parts… Give them, it’s just small expenses.

Equipment?

Blood Shark wasn’t particularly interested in Alliance’s vehicles—they had plenty of good stuff scavenged from the dark outer zones, as well as elite gear traded with other sects of Mechanics. However, quantity was an issue, and the Alliance’s production could fill this gap with a considerable number of equipment, greatly enhancing the operational strength of Blood Shark’s subordinate armies and auxiliary forces. From exoskeletons to feedback-type power armor; from armored vehicles to sentinel mechas… Previously, Blood Shark’s auxiliary forces were nothing but cannon fodder. How could they have dreamed of such treatment? With these improved equipment, even if they are to die as cannon fodder, they can hold out longer.

Still, there were some cutting-edge pieces of gear from the Alliance that Blood Shark needed. Ironclad Terminator Armor, grand power armor—they were excellent pieces. Some of their equipment was exceptionally powerful; their battle group even possessed two Underworld-tier Terminators, which were nearly the most advanced Terminator Armor available and quite rare across the Empire.

However, due to limited numbers, Blood Shark primarily used the more common Sky Eagle Type power armor and Resolute Terminator units.

Now, with Alliance supplying, getting an upgrade batch would definitely make them happy.

Additionally, there were the exquisite phase weapons. According to Blood Shark’s style, they could be made into war axes or polearms—either option was viable.

Phase weapons were not yet mass-produced by Alliance and relied solely on black box manufacturing, resulting in relatively limited numbers—even Phoenix hadn’t been outfitted with much of these. Consequently, these weapons were priced exorbitantly.

And rightly so—they were worth every penny.

For a battle group like Blood Shark, adept at close combat, such top-tier weapons could prove even more vital than power armor upgrades. A few phase axes would be well worth the high price they demanded.

Among the equipment, however, the most valuable was not these.

It was starships.

What Blood Shark wanted most was, of course, that combat transport ship.

But their accolades and sacrifices were not sufficient to exchange for the combat transport ship originally belonging to Fury Flame Battle Group from the Alliance. After all, during the Battle of Bowang, the most instrumental role was played by Gu Hang himself, followed by the Phoenix Battle Group. Blood Shark helped to some extent but didn’t achieve as much as Alliance’s own Glory Guards or Battle Nuns.

In the arena of starship naval battles, Alliance Navy was more impactful compared to Blood Shark Fleet. Truthfully, Blood Shark initially didn’t consider fighting against the formidable Alfonso Fleet in the Bowang star system as a wise choice. Naturally, Youwin wouldn’t hand his entire fleet to the Alliance’s command to risk their lives together. Only after Alfonso II, the most powerful War Ark, was destroyed did they put aside their hesitation and engage seriously.

Even themselves, Blood Shark couldn’t claim their contributions justified receiving the best ship.

However, they did rescue three Alliance battle cruisers and sacrificed two hundred of their own during the sustained combat.

The Alliance was willing to construct one Holy Chalice-class Battleship Cruiser and three Interstellar Warrior Strike Cruisers for them.

Ordinary ships don’t interest Blood Shark—they only wanted ships fast enough to match their agile operations.

Combining excellent blood taxes, Alliance-provided grey taxes, and enhanced fleet strength, overall, Blood Shark was quite satisfied with the rewards from fighting alongside the Alliance in this war.

These were far superior to the rewards from business dealings or missions taken up in past battle group histories with certain sects of Mechanics.

Gu Hang’s promise of “better than standard prices” had been proven true.

Blood Shark was willing to continue fighting alongside the Alliance in this war, obeying the orders of Gu Hang, the Southern Line’s imperial commander.

Of course, their independence remained high; the relationship between both sides was more akin to allies. While Youwin would follow Gu Hang’s orders, how to execute them and to what extent would be his call.

Gu Hang had no objections to this.

It was as it should be.

This did not affect the Alliance’s provision of blood taxes and grey taxes.

These were rightful dues.

Moreover… what’s yours is mine; why draw such fine distinctions?

…

Gu Hang cultivated 1800 Interstellar Warrior recruits, 300 of which were given to Blood Shark, not only replenishing their losses but also providing surplus to slightly bolster their force. Another 500 were allocated to Phoenix, restoring their manpower to 1000. Although nearly a hundred were valiant warriors waiting in life-sustaining pods for revival, their numbers still reached the upper limit of a battle group’s standard strength.

Where did the remaining thousand go?

Gu Hang established a “Shadow Battle Group.”

They were entirely cultivated using Phoenix’s genetic seeds; their level of training and Gu Hang’s expenditure of Gift Points matched that of Phoenix. However, Gu Hang didn’t intend to let too many people know of their existence.

As the name implies, they were a shadow.

Gu Hang designed their role to firstly enable quicker replenishment for Phoenix.

Under normal circumstances, even with the expedited means afforded by consuming Gift Points, a youth implanted with genetic seeds would still require several months for their internal superhuman organs to fully develop.