The Real Daughter Just Wants to Pilot Mechas - Chapter 122

Over the next two days, Federation citizens held large-scale protests and sit-ins throughout the Central Star System and parts of the Border Star System. Seeing the situation, the Federation and military higher-ups were at a loss. Normally, they wouldn’t be too concerned about civilian demonstrations, as time would eventually diminish the impact and they could smooth things over with some vague statements.

But it was not possible now. With the alien beasts approaching and the citizens on planets predicted to be attacked by the alien beasts refusing to evacuate, thinking it was just an excuse to end the protests, the situation became critical.

The President, furious after listening to his subordinate’s report, smashed his cup on the table. “Bunch of incompetents! This time, the planet where the alien beasts will land is closer to the Capital Star than before, with a higher population density and greater economic value. We’ve known about the imminent attack for so long, so why wait until public outrage erupts to start evacuating? What have they been doing then? And that planet has a military garrison!”

The subordinate lowered his head, almost burying his chin in his chest.

The President, exasperated, put his hands on the desk and took a deep breath. He then waved his hand. “Leave.”

After the subordinate bowed and retreated, the President leaned back on the chair, tapping his fingers on the desk while thinking, before sending a message to a particular account.

Ten minutes later, a figure climbed through the window and sat on the tea table in front of the President. “What’s the issue?”

“I need a group of interstellar pirates to ‘mysteriously’ break into the Central Star System’s Planet S78.” The President handed over a file. “These are the border defense settings for the Central Star System for the next two hours. Make it flashy.”

The visitor didn’t take the file. Instead, he folded his hands on his knees. “If my people go to the Central Star System, will they be able to return?”

“Of course. Once the Central Star System’s military is too occupied to deal with the interstellar pirates, just withdraw after making a scene.” The President stood up, poured a cup of hot tea, and walked over to place it in front of the guest. “We’ve known each other for almost five years. Even if I haven’t found the person you’re looking for, you know I keep my word.”

All their previous cooperation went smoothly. Although he had never seen the interstellar pirates mentioned by the guest, they always perfectly accomplished every mission. If it wasn’t for the critical situation that just so happened at the early stage of the presidential election, he wouldn’t have wanted to be involved with them any deeper. It was no different from seeking the tiger’s skin.

The guest picked up the file from the tea table and skimped through it. He raised his gaze and agreed, “Alright, but with a few conditions.”

Two hours later in the cafeteria of the Central Mecha Academy, Jiang Momo and Yan Chang sat opposite each other, eating in silence. Suddenly, a loud scream broke the quiet.

“Ah! What’s going on? The interstellar pirates have invaded the Central Star System and are heading for Planet S78?! That’s not even on the outskirts! How did they get in? They’re even live-streaming their invasion! So brazen!” a student shouted, catching everyone’s attention.

Jiang Momo’s heart skipped a beat. She immediately opened the Star Network’s trending list and saw that [Interstellar Pirate Invasion] was the top topic.

She clicked in. The live stream was on, with comments disabled. The camera pointed out of the spaceship window, showing seven other ships flying in formation, each displaying a familiar interstellar pirate group’s insignia. The live stream title read [Planet S78, Here I Come], a blatant provocation.

Jiang Momo frowned as she recognized the emblem on the ships, full of doubts.

What was E Mingjun up to?

With the news spreading, students in the cafeteria hurriedly checked the trending list, discussing the situation in shock.

“What’s going on? According to the trending topic comments, the livestream has been going on for almost half an hour. Why hasn’t anyone stopped them?”

“I don’t know. The interstellar pirates have already entered the Central Star System and no one is doing anything about it? Where’s our military?”

“Comments say the military is evacuating civilians from Planet S78. Maybe they’re planning to trap the pirates there and catch them all at once?”

“Are the pirates that stupid? Are they overconfident or something? This is basically asking to die.”

“…Is it possible that the pirates have a weapon capable of destroying an entire planet?”

The discussions continued endlessly. Jiang Momo clicked her tongue unconsciously, finally realizing why she had been feeling like she’d forgotten something important the past two days.

The alien beasts were about to appear in the Central Star System and it would be a small-scale alien beast tide. However, due to the massive protests that had been stirred up earlier, it was highly likely that the military wouldn’t be able to evacuate civilians in time since the people would think it was just a government ploy to suppress the protests.

Jiang Momo recalled when she was with Yan Chang not long after arriving at the Capital Star, seeing E Mingjun entering the presidential palace, and it suddenly made sense.

“It’s no big deal,” Jiang Momo looked at Yan Chang, who was clearly anxious, and reassured him.

***

On the interstellar pirate ship, the third vice-captain sat upright in the control room, giving the outside crew an aura of profound mystery, but he was actually so tense that he was practically frozen, muttering under his breath, “Captain, we don’t even have a large-scale weapon, yet we dare to charge into the Central Star System like this? And with just a few people? Isn’t this pure suicide?”

“What’s there to worry about?” E Mingjun’s voice came through the control system. “I guarantee you’ll make it back safe and sound.”

The third vice-captain became even more nervous. “Captain, I know you’re wise and decisive, but I’m still curious, how did you get the layout of the Central Star System’s defenses?”

“The President told me.” E Mingjun’s voice rang again.

“The President?” The third vice-captain’s voice was trembling and a bad feeling crept in. Could it be that the captain planned to surrender to the President using them as leverage?

“Yes.” E Mingjun lay casually on his bed, unconcerned.

Originally, it was all deception. He’d made a preliminary deal with the President based on mutual interests. Honestly, if the President had made the request months earlier, E Mingjun would have had to come up with a way to fool the interstellar pirate group. Now, this situation actually fastened things up.

“Captain, be careful not to get tricked. The Federal officials are cunning.” The third vice-captain’s shaky voice came through the intercom.

“Don’t worry about that. Just focus on retreat timing. Make sure to reach Planet S78 between two hours and thirty minutes to two hours and thirty-five minutes. Then wait for my command.”

***

At the Central Mecha Academy’s cafeteria, Jiang Momo watched the interstellar pirate livestream and sent a message to Lu Feng.

[Jiang Momo]: Is the alien beast landing site Planet S78?

[Lu Feng]: Yes, we’re currently evacuating civilians.

[Jiang Momo]: Are you not planning to deal with the interstellar pirates?

[Lu Feng]: The higher-ups said they’re bringing in forces from the Border Star System to handle the pirates, so we’re prioritizing civilian evacuation and alien beast eradication.

[Jiang Momo]: Are they planning to disclose the alien beast incident in the Central Star System?

[Lu Feng]: Of course not. Why ask?

[Jiang Momo]: The interstellar pirates are streaming live. They might broadcast it.

[Lu Feng]: We have signal jammers. We’ll start our own broadcast after we drive the interstellar pirates away. It’s just a pity that you, as the creator, can’t be on site.

[Jiang Momo]: It’s no pity at all. I’ll be cheering you on from the Capital Star.

Jiang Momo put down her light brain and saw Yan Chang still frowning, which made her chuckle. “Lu Feng and the others are about to start broadcasting the battle against the alien beasts.”

“Using that mecha?” Yan Chang looked up suddenly and then realized something. “Wait, isn’t Lu Feng outside the Central Star System? Who’s stationed at S78?”

“No idea.” Jiang Momo shook her head, opening the military’s official website to wait.

***

Over two hours later, the third vice-captain and his crew reached the vicinity of Planet S78. Suddenly, a pirate responsible for monitoring the broadcast equipment rushed in. “Captain! The broadcast signal is gone!”

A buzzing filled the third vice-captain’s mind and one phrase surfaced, ‘Trapped like rats in a cage.’

“Do we keep going?” the crew member asked.

“Go, of course, we go.” The third vice-captain gritted his teeth. “The Captain said to follow orders, no retreat.”

The interstellar pirates on the ship hesitated but continued moving.

The ship sped up, quickly approaching Planet S78’s surface. Just as they were about to break through the artificial atmosphere, E Mingjun’s slow voice came through. “That’s enough. Retreat.”

The third vice-captain sighed in relief, immediately issuing the retreat order.

E Mingjun’s mood was complicated. The original agreement with the President was that as long as the interstellar pirate threat could prompt the civilians to evacuate quickly, the mission would be considered complete. However, he deliberately ignored the President’s repeated information checks to see if his subordinates were genuinely trustworthy.

And they were.

The realization weighed on him. Even when lacking weapons and personnel and at an absolute disadvantage, they still trusted him and followed his every instruction. That level of loyalty made his head spin. After all, in his mind, the interstellar pirates would ultimately all end up in prison by his hand.

E Mingjun lay on his bed, using his forearm to cover his eyes, his thoughts a tangled mess. Then his light brain suddenly chimed with a notification.

[Your priority follow, the [Military Channel] is live. Watch now?]

E Mingjun hesitated for a moment before clicking on the stream.

The screen flickered to life, showing vast numbers of alien beasts covering half the planet. The nearly thousand mechas encircled in the middle appeared weak.

The aerial view made the overwhelming odds apparent and viewers couldn’t help but feel anxious. The chat was filled with shocked messages.

[The military rarely does live broadcasts. In past videos, we never saw this kind of disparity. Isn’t this more like a medium-sized alien beast tide?]

[Oh my god, how are they going to fight that?!]

Among the rapidly scrolling comments, E Mingjun spotted the leading legendary mecha. It was impossible to miss. Like a blade slicing through the swarm, a wide berth opened everywhere it went and the alien beasts seemed to avoid it as if by instinct.

The comments poured in excitement.

[That leading mecha is amazing! Are the alien beasts actually afraid of it?]

[Whoever it touches dies! Of course they’re scared! Is this some kind of secret weapon? It’s too powerful]

[Wait, the situation is not right. It doesn’t differentiate between enemies and allies!]

[Stop fighting, brothers. I’ve observed carefully and the allied mechas that were affected recovered after they were dragged away. But the alien beasts died as soon as that mecha touched them!]

The battlefield in the broadcast displayed a one-sided beating. From the initial alien beast tide surrounding the military mechas, it changed to a single mecha chasing after the alien beasts like a herding dog. Wherever it went, a vast space was created. Even if it occasionally affected an ally, other mechas would rush in to drag the fallen mecha out and send them back to the warship.

Yan Chang watched the broadcast in shock, his jaw nearly dropping. “That… didn’t happen in the video you recorded, did it?”

Jiang Momo shook her head. “He won’t last long. It looks like he’s about to run out of mental power.”

She could see that Lu Feng was pushing his endurance for impact.