"Could the Galactic Republic's finances not support that kind of production capacity? It's hard to imagine merchants like Kuat Drive Yards making such a decision. It would mean that the expanded capacity, the additional production lines, engineers, and technical workers would all count as extra costs—and no one would be paying for them." Ling Liang frowned.
"What about the financial markets?" Tang Xiao turned to glance at a holographic projection nearby.
It was none other than San Hill, the current co-chairman of the InterGalactic Banking Clan. Compared to before, the Muun chairman now carried a hint of ruthlessness. He held a black cat in his arms and wore several menacing-looking ornaments, his gaze exceptionally sharp.
Ever since the InterGalactic Banking Clan had split into the Human faction led by Scipio and the Muun faction led by Makito, the struggle between them had been no less brutal than the fighting on the front lines.
Whether suppressing unstable elements within their own ranks or waging financial warfare against Scipio, it had all been incomparably cruel.
To say nothing else, in just the past half year, San Hill had personally plotted more than a thousand assassination attempts. Over time, his temperament had naturally changed as well.
"The 50 trillion credit bonds previously issued by the Galactic Republic through Rush Clovis have still not been sorted out. Given Kuat Drive Yards' standing, they would never accept such bonds. And aside from those credit bonds, the Galactic Republic simply has no money left to continue paying military expenses," San Hill said. "So I believe that for Kuat Drive Yards to expand production capacity this time, the Galactic Republic must have provided collateral."
"This expanded production capacity will almost certainly be used against us," Qi Jian said. "Can we estimate roughly how many warships there are?"