Sky-cracking Rider

People from Hanuman Airborne Group had barely left when Teacher Shen Fei, accompanied by Little Bird, came looking for them.

From a distance, she spotted the two groups that had just been confronting each other, took three steps as if they were two, and reached Chen Fei's side, handing over Xiao Jiu.

"It's all set up!"

Taking advantage of many people watching the flight show, Shen Fei and Xiao Jiu sneaked out some components from the warehouse, since owning a Space System Alchemy Storage Device was quite rare and could indeed lead to some disputes.

She continued, "Do you want me to settle this for you?"

It was no secret that an air service group was clashing with Jiu Defense Company. As the deputy secretary of a corporate group, she naturally heard about it, and with a slight interest, could understand it perfectly clear.

Setting aside the facts and naturally taking a stance, Teacher Shen undoubtedly supported Chen Xiao'er in hammering others.

What the hell was Hanuman Airborne Group, and how did they mingle into the scene? Just as Chen Fei had guessed, they were likely another case of nepotism. If one didn't have someone to lead them in or have strong interpersonal connections, entering this line of work would be virtually impossible.

Secretary Shen wasn't just offering comforting words, but speaking from a position of power. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire

With just one word, she could have Hanuman Airborne Group chased away from here, ensuring that they wouldn't even dare to think about complaining.

As one of the top ten sponsors of "The Abyss Coliseum," a behemoth like Northern Weapons Industry Group, acting as a financial backer, could instantly obliterate a small team like Hanuman Airborne Group with even a slight hint of disapproval, leaving nothing but dust behind.

There were plenty of people who wanted to curry favor with Northern Weapons Industry Group, willing to foster good relations, even if it was just the secretary beside the deputy general manager.

So, both publicly and privately, people at Jiu Defense Company were happy to see "Rookie" Chen Fei and Teacher Shen hit it off.

When it comes to relationships, no social faux pas!

"Thanks, no need, Squadron Leader Chekhov is quite free as well."

Chen Fei smirked, not placing the mere air service group to heart.

Big Bear could watch the flight show and still yawn incessantly. Hanuman Airborne Group's people picking a fight might just be what he wanted, for everything was boring anyway, so he might as well find something to do.

"Exactly, easy-peasy!"

Rarely do people seek to be hammered; under the utter boredom, Chekhov Big Bear was quite interested.

At any other time, he would probably not even bother to deal with it.

"Thanks! Teacher Shen, you are really nice, but we can handle it."

"Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios finished speaking, then pulled Big Bear Squadron Leader and gestured to the others.

"Let's go, let's discuss how to deal with that crappy air service group."

Unlike the clueless Big Bear, the short-haired girl was quite emotionally intelligent. After Shen Fei finished her international teaching stint and returned home to become a member of Northern Weapons Industry Group, the 911 Aircrew Base and Jiu Defense Company became even more unreachable, and the chances for young guy Chen Fei to interact with them became increasingly scarce; they might as well not disturb Teacher Shen and "Rookie" during their rare time together.

As if suddenly remembering something, Shen Fei quickly shouted at the backs of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron members, "Also, there's a high-fidelity, multi-degree-of-freedom flight simulator in area four, you guys can try it out first."

She knew the functions and facilities of each area of "The Abyss Coliseum" like the back of her hand, absolutely competent as a senior secretary of a large corporation.

"Got it! Teacher Shen, have a good time with 'Rookie,' we won't disturb you."

"Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios waved her hand without turning back.

Watching as the chief mechanic Xiao Ming and the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron members walked away, Chen Fei turned his gaze back and said, "Shen Fei, how is your father's 'Canglong' project doing? Has there been another crash?"

Teacher Shen's father, the deputy general manager of Northern Weapons Industry Group Shen Songling, was in charge of the advanced combat aircraft "Canglong," much like the Crystal Jet Chen Fei was currently tinkering with; both were combat aircrafts being tested and improved upon, and were more or less in the stage of crashing.

Aircrafts that don't crash during tuning aren't good aircrafts.

Heavy investments lead to substantial outputs, with a developmental cycle starting at ten years and profit cycles also measured in decades. Mature products could even last a hundred years—that's the business nature of the aerospace manufacturing industry, with no shortcuts or cunning strategies involved.

"It crashed once, and currently, it's still in the review stage. The next test flight, at the earliest, would be in three months."

Shen Fei seemed not too worried about the pressure her father was currently under.

As per the norm, if the "Canglong" project is lucky, it might crash another couple of times; with bad luck, maybe seven or eight times more.

Continuous improvements over two or three years could finally place it on the Air Force's reserve active list. Even if it couldn't become the main model, it would at least allow the corporate group's a generation to fully benefit from this project.

"That slow, I thought it had already crashed ten or eight times."

Familiar with the necessary process of crashing during test flights, Chen Fei was astonished by the slow progress of the "Canglong" project.

Compared to his own, the progress of his Crystal Jet in one day was equivalent to three months for the other, estimating another half a year of crashes before there wouldn't be much left to improve.

"How... could that be!"

Shen Fei involuntarily paused at such flippant comments about risking lives.

Joking aside, crashing during a test flight was very dangerous, and not every ejection attempt could be 100% successful.

If the Air Force carelessly sacrificed precious test pilots, they'd certainly take issue with the Northern Weapons Industry Group—and not just a vice president of the company, but the entire senior management would struggle to withstand such accountability.

"Isn't that possible?"

This time, it was Chen Fei's turn to be taken aback.

Everyone here is working on engines, but why are their thought processes not on the same plane?!

Teacher Shen heaved a sigh and said, "You're really speaking like an outsider!"

Chen Fei, who specialized in economics and became a pilot along the way, found aircraft design, manufacturing, flying, repairing, and combat to be entirely different realms. It was no surprise that he didn't understand the fighter jet development process.

"It seems like I saw a 'Canglong' at the Northern Weapons Industry Group's exhibition area."

Even though Old Shen kept things close to his chest, the concept model displayed in the exhibition area still revealed the "Canglong."

Presumably, the perennial rival of the Northern Weapons Industry Group, the National Defense Star Aerospace Company, had already obtained firsthand information about the "Canglong" project.

"It's just an empty shell, nothing inside, let alone flying. Are you interested?"

Shen Fei spread his hands.

Designed as a mainstream support fighter, the advanced "Canglong" was already on display, with its primary design parameters nearly half-public, boldly printed on the description plate of the concept machine.

Of course, some extreme performance specifications and unique aerial combat skills remained confidential, available only upon placing an order.

"Of course, I am! By the way, did the experts from the project team come too?"

Chen Fei nodded without hesitation, and it was a nod he had to give.

While he futilely tinkered with the Crystal Jet on his own, figures like Squadron Leader Chekhov and Big Brother Xiao were of no help. With "Adam," the unreliable second-in-command, every attempt ended in crashing—they were both literally and figuratively crashed out, the machine monstrously thrilling.

In comparison, the "Canglong" project was backed by a large group of experts, who strategized and labored together, much stronger than the hapless Chen Xiao'er.

A rare opportunity to seek advice, and perhaps stealthily learn something.

Considering Teacher Shen's influence, the experts from the Northern Weapons Industry Group would probably offer some advice to some extent.

"They're here! This time, the leader is Chief Designer Nangong."

Once Chen Fei had met the experts from the "Canglong" project team, there was no need for Shen Fei to keep secrets anymore.

"I'll go and print some stuff first."

Instead of heading directly to the Northern Weapons Industry Group's exhibition area, Chen Fei dragged Teacher Shen to the nearest business center, where he rented a printer and rapidly printed several A1 size drawings. He rolled them into a hard paper tube, and only then did they head over to the territory of the Northern Weapons Industry Group.

Curious, Teacher Shen looked at the "Big Stick" Chen Fei was holding—it was almost written on her face, "What did you just print?"

Although she managed to catch a slight glimpse of the documents, she still couldn't grasp their meaning; it was all quite confusing.

Her professional qualifications in secretarial, educational, and administrative work were more than adequate, but she was even less knowledgeable than the semi-professional Chen Fei concerning the technical aspects of aerospace.

"Secret blueprints!"

Chen Fei teased, earning a playful punch from Teacher Shen.

The exclusive exhibition area of the Northern Weapons Industry Group was not small, covering more than 20,000 square meters. It showcased nearly a thousand exhibits—from individual soldier gear to Magic Cube Warships, Combat Mobility Armor, and special vehicles to main combat aircraft and the National Treasure Artifact, the Crystal Jet. The products encompassed all manner of strategic and tactical equipment within the atmosphere, leaving no doubt about the technological prowess and corporate heritage.

Product diversification, despite requiring significant effort and sometimes being difficult to profit from, allowed for providing comprehensive package solutions to sovereign clients.

Being extensive in coverage also had its benefits, and a high degree of interconnectivity between various products nearly eliminated compatibility and standardization issues.

Before they could even approach the aviation aircraft exhibition area, Chen Fei and Shen Fei were stopped.

More precisely, it was Chen Fei who was approached.

"What are you doing here?"

Nangong Ruiyang blocked Chen Fei's path, his gaze involuntarily drifting behind Chen Xiao'er.

Not seeing that detestable Mobile Base Vehicle, he immediately sighed in relief.

"Me?" Chen Fei pointed at himself, smiled, and said, "I'm here to learn."

See, high emotional intelligence, good at speaking—not like a clod, saying something that could leave someone speechless.

Warily masking his intention to use a feather as a commanding arrow, Nangong Ruiyang, with a cold face, said, "This is a national defense site; we don't welcome irrelevant individuals."

"Nangong, what national defense site? Go away!"

Teacher Shen could easily see through the other's petty intentions—it must have been because Chen Fei had offended him, and this was clearly trouble-seeking.

An exhibition area on the Aphiliya Continent before signing any contracts hardly counts as a national defense site. If it's out on display, it's meant to be seen—a casual mention of secrecy wouldn't just keep people at a distance.