The Real Daughter Just Wants to Pilot Mechas - Chapter 118

This time, they managed to avoid danger in time. Yan Chang quickly regained his senses and looked at the towering mecha in the distance, still shaken. “Oh no, is the energy core really that powerful?”

“Stay here for a bit. E Mingjun and I will test it.” Jiang Momo released Yan Chang’s collar and, after confirming he could stand steadily, walked briskly towards E Mingjun.

“Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?” Jiang Momo patted E Mingjun’s shoulder.

E Mingjun shook his head. “No.”

“What’s your mental power rank? A-rank?” Jiang Momo thought of her own rank and asked curiously.

E Mingjun seemed a bit surprised. “SSS-rank. I’m a special recruit at the academy. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been eligible to enroll due to my background.”

“Got it.” Jiang Momo climbed into the cockpit and waved to E Mingjun. “Come up and give it a try.”

E Mingjun climbed in quickly.

Once inside, E Mingjun looked at the only sensor device and glanced at Jiang Momo. “You or me?”

“Have you piloted a B-grade mecha before?” Jiang Momo asked.

E Mingjun shook his head. “No.”

“I have,” Jiang Momo admitted. “But I couldn’t start it.”

“Let me try.” E Mingjun quickly put on the sensor gear.

Leaning against the cockpit wall, Jiang Momo heard the engine start. She straightened up, watching as the external view screen showed the mecha performing basic movements smoothly.

“Your mecha control is impressive,” Jiang Momo remarked.

E Mingjun removed the sensor helmet. “No, it’s just that this mecha is very easy to control. The energy core probably absorbed most of my mental power, allowing me to drive the B-grade mecha normally.”

Jiang Momo frowned. “According to the diary, when facing someone with high mental power, the energy core should enhance physical strength rather than drain mental power.”

“Maybe my mental power isn’t high enough,” E Mingjun joked, handing her the sensor helmet. “Your turn.”

Jiang Momo put on the helmet and E Mingjun helped attach the limb sensors. As she activated her mental power, she had no hope that she could pilot the B-grade mecha normally.

However, things went differently this time. The mecha started instantly as an energy surge poured in from the top of her head, flowed through her limbs, and was channeled into the mecha.

Perhaps because the B-grade mecha only had one connected energy pathway, the energy flowed very smoothly, making her feel as if she had merged with the mecha and every movement felt natural and fluid.

Jiang Momo felt warm and clear-headed, even her vision seemed to be far-reaching until she could see every detail of the world.

Immediately, Jiang Momo activated the thruster system on the mecha’s feet and flew toward the planet’s dark side.

E Mingjun quietly took out a small recording device as he watched the rapidly changing scenery on the external screen.

As they approached the boundary between the planet’s bright and dark sides, the alien beasts which previously were strolling leisurely sensed danger and tried to flee in the opposite direction.

However, their movements became sluggish the closer the mecha approached. Jiang Momo accelerated and tried to strike a fatal point, but the alien beast dodged for its life and only had its tail caught.

Normally, attacking the tail wouldn’t harm the alien beast and yet, as soon as the mecha touched it, the alien beast collapsed and died.

The other alien beasts sensed the danger was close and attempted to flee even harder but their movements were unnaturally slow.

Jiang Momo was shocked at the first alien beast’s sudden death but she had no time to think. Her instincts took over and she swiftly struck the remaining alien beasts. More than a dozen alien beasts fell one after another.

After scanning the area to confirm no life signs remained, Jiang Momo returned to the cave. Yan Chang was still there, looking in surprise at the mecha that returned so quickly.

As Jiang Momo and E Mingjun jumped down and retrieved the energy core, Yan Chang approached them with comforting words, “Momo, don’t feel discouraged. Making a legendary mecha successfully on the first try isn’t easy. As long as we master the theory, it’s only a matter of time.”

Jiang Momo smiled hearing Yan Chang’s words and quickly pulled her thoughts together. Her previously furrowed brows relaxed. “It’s already a success.”

Yan Chang froze. “Then… why did you come back so soon?”

“I just realized we should use an offline recorder to film the battle scenes. We’ll need it when we present the results to the outside world,” Jiang Momo explained.

E Mingjun quietly took out the recording device he had brought. “I recorded it.”

“Reliable.” Jiang Momo gave E Mingjun a firm pat on the shoulder, praising him.

Now it was Yan Chang’s turn to frown. “Show it to the public? Better not for now. We all know that when a groundbreaking product like this appears, the Federation will definitely step in to ‘protect’ the creator. But whether that means persecution, research, or real protection, we can’t take that gamble. You need a powerful backer.”

“A backer?” Jiang Momo asked.

“Yes, someone who can openly protect you under the Federation’s scrutiny.” Yan Chang raised his chin slightly, waiting for her to ask for help.

Jiang Momo looked at E Mingjun.

E Mingjun nodded. “I can…”

“I can go find Lu Feng. The military would definitely need something like this.” Jiang Momo clapped her hands and extended her left hand toward E Mingjun. “Can I borrow the recording?”

E Mingjun hesitated, swallowing his unspoken words, then quietly removed the memory card from the recording device and placed it in Jiang Momo’s hand. “You can directly read it by inserting it into the light brain. It only has that one video.”

Yan Chang leaned closer to Jiang Momo, pointing at himself. “Why go to so much trouble? Lu Feng’s background isn’t that strong.”

“Because even if I ask for his help, you will still help me too, right?” Jiang Momo looked at Yan Chang.

Yan Chang nodded. “Yes.”

“Also, if we release this ourselves, it won’t do much besides boosting my personal reputation. The side effects are too severe and people will find out eventually.” Jiang Momo looked a bit dejected.

“Side effects?” Yan Chang thought for a moment. “You mean the part where it instantly drains an ordinary person’s mental power?”

Jiang Momo nodded. “Other than Lu Feng’s direct squad, given my current connections, I can’t think of a situation where it can be used normally.”

To join Lu Feng’s direct squad, having SSS-rank mental power is just the basic requirement. They probably wouldn’t be affected much and could make the most of the legendary mecha.

“Also, the research lab for the energy core was handled by Lu Feng and his people. They should still have some leftover data, so they might be able to replicate and create a batch of new energy cores,” Jiang Momo mused.

Yan Chang looked incredulous. “So you’re planning to hand this huge credit over to Major General Lu? I disagree.”

“He wouldn’t take credit for my achievement.” Jiang Momo smiled.

***

“This is your achievement! I won’t take it!”

In the major general’s office of the First Military District, Lu Feng looked at the projected battle footage and firmly pushed the mecha space button back into Jiang Momo’s hands. “This mecha was developed by you. The entire First Military District and the military will support you. You don’t need to worry.”

“But…” Jiang Momo glanced at the space button in her hand.

“No buts!” Lu Feng pressed her hand back down. “Thank you for your contribution to military strength. With this mecha, we’ll greatly reduce casualties on the battlefield. Whatever you need, we’ll cooperate. We’ll take in all the mechas you make but I won’t take credit for your work.”

“Alright.” Jiang Momo raised her head. “If we need to mass-produce this, I’ll need all the data and equipment left behind from the interstellar pirate group’s lab you cleared in the Chaos Star System, as well as researchers with mental power significantly higher than normal SSS-rank.”

E/N: So… does Momo know her mental power rank or not? When? Did I read too far ahead I’ve forgotten?