Published: February 12, 2025
Ye Zhongming inquired about the costs, but Commander Cheng Liujin was not very clear either, only able to provide an approximate figure. After hearing this, Ye Zhongming nodded. If this was indeed the standard price, then he could really buy a large piece of land.
He asked Commander Cheng Liujin and Yashinan to pay attention to this matter. Then Ye Zhongming added, “I plan to collaborate with Jie Su to mine a resource planet.”
His voice wasn’t loud, but it sounded like thunder in the ears of the Star Eye Clan members.
They knew Ye Zhongming wouldn’t joke about such things, yet they still displayed incredulous expressions.
Mining a resource planet is exceedingly profitable. As long as one isn’t exceptionally unlucky and no accidents occur, one would usually earn a fortune.
However, the initial investment was also enormous, one that ordinary clans could not afford.
First, there’s the freight spaceship, and one cannot have just one.
Previously, Commander Cheng Liujin brought a vehicle to pick up Ye Zhongming; it was a manned craft of average size, which was considered a good thing among the Star Eye Clan. But compared to a cargo spaceship, it simply didn’t measure up.
In terms of power, it fell far behind.
Larger ships can carry more; both the size and weight of the cargo require a powerful energy source, which is extremely expensive. Additionally, due to high usage frequency, maintenance costs are also a significant expenditure.
Next is the fuel cost, which refers to Moon Age Gold.
The vehicle Commander Cheng Liujin used, even for a round trip over a not-so-distant distance, cost thousands of Moon Age Gold. So, for a cargo spaceship, which is dozens of times more powerful and hundreds of times larger, the energy consumption for each transport can be imagined.
That’s a figure that the Star Eye Clan might not even dare to conceive.
Finally, there are various machines, specialized talents, and relevant supporting facilities.
Each resource planet has different types of resources, so the required machinery naturally varies. Regardless of which type it is, the prices are generally steep. The variety is extensive, and they require numerous complete sets. Just the cost of acquiring this equipment is daunting.
As for specialized talent, it might not be a concern for large clans, since they already control resource planets and have these talents on hand. But where would the Star Eye Clan find such talent? They had not possessed a resource planet for many years; hiring? These talents are scarce and controlled by large clans. Learning? Not to mention how much time it would take, finding someone to teach is a problem, as there’s simply no one to instruct!
Large clans occupy resource planets and have their own talent cultivation systems. Other races, lacking resource planets, naturally don’t waste manpower and resources in this area. To learn, one must go to those large clans, but large clans will only teach their own.
This is an unsolvable issue; it’s a deadlock.
Furthermore, to mine resources, one needs a fixed spaceport, storage warehouses, refining factories, transportation between the Survivor Fortress and within, partners, sales networks, escort forces, financial talent, and circulating funds…
Not wanting to think about it is one thing, but once you do, it’s all problems.
Ye Zhongming listened to everyone’s chatter, especially Chief Logistics Officer Yashinan, who had spoken on this matter and provided very reasonable insights. Many of the questions had not occurred to the King of Cloud Summit before.
“Zhong Ming, before discussing these issues, which resource planet do you wish to mine?” Lord Xing asked.
Resource planets can be claimed by anyone, but due to the constant changes in the safe star field, the number of exploitable ones is actually quite limited, and they are all occupied by large clans. Given the current strength of the Star Eye Clan, even if they solved all the earlier problems, they still wouldn’t qualify to snatch food from others’ mouths.