The Real Daughter Just Wants to Pilot Mechas - Chapter 131

“Then forget it.” Jiang Momo lay back down again.

Little Eight glanced at her in surprise, its fluffy tail sweeping lazily before turning back to continue watching the live stream, only to find the feed had changed.

Images from various live streams flickered rapidly across the screen.

The Siamese cat flicked its tail. [Momo, what are you looking for?]

“Live footage of the area around the Presidential Palace,” Jiang Momo answered casually. “I suddenly realized everything gets streamed now. A big event like this has to be as well.”

As she spoke, a large crowd appeared on the screen.

“I knew it!” Jiang Momo paused the feed and quickly spotted Xiang Jiuming in the corner, raising his arms and shouting. Around him, the crowd he rallied was also chanting short slogans.

But this time, the angle of criticism had shifted to the excessive harshness of the punishment; sentencing private S-grade mecha manufacturers to death, wasting scientific talent, and so on.

[It’s a shame. Although Federation citizens have the right to protest, this particular demonstration likely won’t accomplish anything.]

The Siamese cat shook its head and opened a smaller tab to keep watching the simulation combat live stream.

“True, but the fact they even found this angle is already impressive,” Jiang Momo said.

When the news broke about the expulsion of the interstellar pirates, people surged to the streets again, surrounding the Presidential Palace and demanding an explanation on why the interstellar pirates were able to break past the star system’s borders and linger in the Central Star System for so long. No one was talking about knowledge monopolies anymore.

The event ended with the sensational debut of a new legendary mecha. Everyone’s attention turned to its overwhelming dominance. With the research institute’s director stepping out to explain, most people came to accept the argument that high-grade mechas were banned in society because of their extreme danger.

Jiang Momo sighed and muttered, “What do they mean extreme danger? As if B-grade and A-grade mechas don’t have killing capabilities. Higher-grade mechas don’t even add area-of-effect damage.”

If potential lethality is the reason to ban higher-grade mechas, then all mechas should be banned.

She didn’t say that last part aloud. She could understand why the Federation concentrated high-grade mechas in the military, as it ensured the Federation Army maintained an overwhelming armed force. But with the threat of alien beasts and interstellar pirates, the citizens, especially the upper class, needed some means of self-defense. That’s why weaker mechas were allowed on the market.

“The most important thing is…” Jiang Momo exhaled a long breath. “He was only trying to build one.”

She thought of the expelled researchers in her research lab and the state of their mental health. The research institute’s ecosystem had serious issues and the root cause was the monopoly.

While she was lost in thought, her light brain lit up. Li Yu had messaged her again.

[Military Research Institute Maintenance Department, Level 6 Technician Li Yu]: Momo, how are you? Did you get to see that group of expelled researchers these last couple of days? I want to check on him. His family’s asking me.

Jiang Momo stared at the message, hesitating. Just days ago, she had confidently told Li Yu she’d seen them, but in the end, she hadn’t found the person. Now she wasn’t sure what to say.

[Jiang Momo]: I did see a group of expelled researchers yesterday, but they might not be the only group. I asked and none of them were named Tang You.

Li Yu’s end kept showing ‘typing…’ as if he was struggling with what to say.

[Military Research Institute Maintenance Department, Level 6 Technician Li Yu]: I can apply for a video call slot this afternoon. Just five minutes. Could you maybe open the camera when you’re near them? I just need to see if he’s there.

[Military Research Institute Maintenance Department, Level 6 Technician Li Yu]: If you’re willing, I can pay you.

[Jiang Momo]: I don’t want money.

[Military Research Institute Maintenance Department, Level 6 Technician Li Yu]: Then what do you want? You can ask for anything. This light brain is privately owned, so there’s no monitoring from the research institute.

[Jiang Momo]: Sneak me some footage of the researchers’ ‘daily life.’ The stuff you’ve complained about before.

[Military Research Institute Maintenance Department, Level 6 Technician Li Yu]: Then you’ll have to wait until my two-week vacation. I need time to destroy the evidence after sending it.

[Military Research Institute Maintenance Department, Level 6 Technician Li Yu]: Okay, someone’s coming. I have to log off. See you at 19:30 tonight.

Li Yu’s avatar instantly went dark.

She exited the chat and noticed Ling Yelin had also messaged her while she was chatting with Li Yu.

Jiang Momo opened the message, puzzled. “Why are all these people popping up at once?”

[010]: Momo, the research institute has been asking me about the Golden Crow ore again. I remember we agreed last time. When are we trading?

[Jiang Momo]: Huh? When did we agree?

[010]: So you don’t have any Golden Crow ore left?

[Jiang Momo]: …Well, I still have a little bit.

[010]: The research institute is offering a high price. Oh, and their vice director contacted me. They want to sign you as an instructor at the research institute. Are you interested?

[Jiang Momo]: I can give you a bit of the ore. As for the second part, I’m going to pretend I didn’t see it.

[010]: Got it. I’ll have Wu Yue pick it up from the academy.

“The research institute’s got their eye on me now.” Jiang Momo lowered her hand and leaned back against the headboard, exhaling deeply.

[They still don’t know the legendary mecha was your creation.] The Siamese cat circled in place.

“Good.” Jiang Momo felt a little relieved.

Little Eight had never made a wrong call. She trusted its judgment completely. Still, the importance of the super S-grade mecha shouldn’t be enough for the research institute to send so many people to ‘hunt’ her down. It had already been a while since she built it.

There had to be another reason.

With that thought, Jiang Momo clapped her hands and said firmly, “There must be something else.”

There was still time before her first class, the Introduction to Mecha Manufacturing. Jiang Momo took a thumb-sized piece of Golden Crow ore from her spatial compression storage box and gave it to Wu Yue who arrived in a rush. Then Jiang Momo hurried to her office and sure enough, Ge Qing was there.

“Momo? You’re just in time,” Ge Qing said, setting down a kettle and turning around. “I was just wondering who I should hand off my plants to. After thinking about it, I realized no one else is trustworthy. I’ll have to trouble you with them.”

“No problem.” Jiang Momo agreed immediately. She walked to the window and gently touched the vibrant leaves, then asked casually, “Professor Ge, why didn’t you want to join the research institute back then?”

Ge Qing paused in surprise. “Because I was full of ambition. I wanted to change how the Federation public learns to build mechas.”

Jiang Momo asked, “Wasn’t it because of the oppressive hierarchy in their internal environment?”

“Of course not. According to their classification, anyone who can build an S-grade mecha is immediately promoted to a Level 6 technician, unrestricted. They are the top tier in the research institute. You can walk sideways in there.” Ge Qing blinked, sounding wistful. “I heard they offered the same deal to Shi Qin. But that kid is just like I was, stubborn. He refused no matter what.”

“So… there aren’t actually that many people in the research institute who can build S-grade mechas?” Jiang Momo ventured a guess.

“I can’t say for sure, but it’s probably not that few. They recruit tons of people every year,” Ge Qing said, waving his hand.