The Real Daughter Just Wants to Pilot Mechas - Chapter 132

Ge Qing’s explanation didn’t erase Jiang Momo’s suspicions. She had already doubted it back when she met with Li Yu previously.

His movements when repairing S-grade mechas were extremely slow and laborious, yet he showed no hint of shame, as if he was used to it. He even boasted that he would be qualified for a management position in six months.

In other words, either his skill level represented the average of S-class manufacturers at the research institute, or his promotion was entirely unrelated to technical ability. Either possibility pointed to the same conclusion: the research institute probably didn’t have enough manpower to support such a large-scale production and repair of S-grade mechas.

It would explain why the military had to wait so long and there were set quotas for repairs. It’s not that the research institute was stalling on purpose or trying to raise the bar, but they simply couldn’t meet the demand.

Everyone was desperately chasing promotion thresholds. After all, moving up meant you could bully those below you. In such an environment, no one really wanted to learn how to build or repair mechas. The knowledge and skills were being passed on less and less, until the supply-demand balance collapsed.

Ge Qing stared at Jiang Momo’s face, noticing her sudden silence and asked cautiously, “What is it? Is the research institute trying to recruit you?”

Jiang Momo shook her head. “Their target might not be me.”

She had been handpicked by Ge Qing and was also Shi Qin’s mecha manufacturing instructor. That made her the natural link between the two. After several rounds of negotiations, the research institute found that both men were equally stubborn and impenetrable, so they decided to start with her.

As for why they didn’t just force her to join, it was because she hadn’t ‘done anything wrong.’ She had no ‘weak spots.’ She had never ‘illegally’ built an S-grade mecha, only repaired them, and that too was with full military authorization. The S-grade mechas she worked on were protected under military law.

As for super S-grade mechas, the two that currently existed were in the research institute’s hands, along with the extremely rare materials needed to make them. Even if she managed to build one herself later, they could just buy it off her. It was much easier than dragging her in against her will.

Of course, if she was willing to join voluntarily, that would be ideal. Hence the recent probing questions.

Ge Qing quickly understood what Jiang Momo meant and fell silent for a long time before suddenly asking, “Is the situation that serious now?”

Jiang Momo parted her lips slightly.

If all her speculations proved true, then yes, the situation was dire both inside and out.

In the end, she said nothing and only shook her head gently. “I’m not sure.”

“If the Federation really needs me, I’ll join the research institute,” Ge Qing suddenly said.

“That’s not necessary. Don’t overthink it.” Jiang Momo patted his shoulder, trying to dismiss the idea.

Ge Qing lowered his gaze. When he looked up again, he was wearing his usual smiling expression, as if the conversation had never happened. “Don’t you have a class this morning? If you don’t go now, you’ll be late.”

That reminded Jiang Momo of her schedule. She glanced at the time, hurriedly said goodbye, and dashed off toward the classroom.

***

After class, Jiang Momo headed straight for the First Military District base.

She was supposed to have a practical class that afternoon but when she saw that Xiang Jiuming and the others were still protesting outside the Presidential Palace, she canceled the lesson and decided to check on her research instead.

In the underground lab, the atmosphere was suffocatingly tense. Twenty researchers shuffled quietly among the equipment like nervous quails and even the two interstellar pirates looked like they were about to be executed. The silence was unnatural.

“Another failed experiment?” Jiang Momo said calmly.

All the researchers visibly flinched.

Black Tiger picked up a prepared box and walked up to Jiang Momo. “We don’t know what went wrong. We followed the previous data exactly but the results are full of impurities.”

“What about its effects?” Jiang Momo took the core from the box and examined it carefully. After confirming there was nothing unusual, she asked.

“It works on humans and alien beasts, but it can’t be used as an energy source,” Black Tiger answered cautiously. “A successful energy core should absorb human energy, compress and convert it, and then release it efficiently, but this one doesn’t do that.”

“It only takes energy but doesn’t give anything back?” Jiang Momo asked.

Black Tiger nodded. “Exactly. And once it absorbs a certain amount of energy, it starts to break down on its own. We suspect the issue lies in the materials.”

“I’ll look into that,” Jiang Momo said as she returned the core to the box. “No need to worry. These things don’t come easy. This kind of setback was within our early expectations.”

Black Tiger lowered his gaze. “When the next group of researchers arrives, could you inform them of this?”

Jiang Momo’s first thought was ‘So there’s another batch coming! Lu Feng’s really on it!’

Her second thought was…

“Why don’t you tell them yourselves? Isn’t it better for the experienced to guide the new ones?” she asked, arms crossed.

Black Tiger jerked his head up. “You mean… we’re not being replaced?”

“Replaced?” Jiang Momo’s mind stalled. Now she understood the heavy atmosphere. “Who told you that you were being replaced?”

Black Tiger glanced back at the others and then looked at her again. “They said if we couldn’t succeed within three days, we’d be sent to the border planets as cannon fodder.”

Jiang Momo frowned and turned to the other researchers. “I’ve been wondering, why would you think your lives were in danger? Wouldn’t your families raise a public outcry if you went missing? The research institute barely has any bad press.”

The researchers all kept their heads down, saying nothing.

Jiang Momo couldn’t get any more out of them, so she simply declared, “I promise you this; as long as I’m here, no one will be replaced.”

All of them looked up in unison, their eyes filled with emotions she couldn’t quite read; gratitude, perhaps, or sadness.

Feeling awkward under their gazes, Jiang Momo scratched her cheek with her index finger. “It looks like we won’t be mass-producing anything for a long time. So I’m announcing a new policy. Everyone will be divided into four teams. Each team will take a six-hour shift. Your main task will be analyzing leftover research data.

“If any group successfully recreates a complete energy core, that group gets a one-month break. All other groups will get a week off, rotating. Just make sure five people are in the lab at all times.”

Someone in the crowd gasped softly. “A whole month off… I could go see my mom.”

His voice was barely audible but the collective inhaling sounds that followed gave the silent room a bit of life.

Jiang Momo scanned the crowd and saw a familiar spark of fighting spirit in their eyes. She nodded in satisfaction.

At least it would keep morale up for a while and efficiency should improve.

“You can divide yourselves into shifts now. Make sure there are five people per time slot.” She clapped her hands.

Black Tiger blinked in disbelief. “We divide ourselves?”

“Of course.” Jiang Momo nodded. “You’ve spent more time with each other than I have. You’ll know who fits where better. Discuss it amongst yourselves.”

They were researchers, not prisoners. There was no need for strict micromanagement. As for the other two…

“You two are a team. You’re on the midnight to 6 AM shift,” Jiang Momo said, pointing at Black Tiger and Scarface.

She had thought the schedules would be sorted quickly, but when Li Yu’s video call came through, they still hadn’t finalized the shifts.

The screen lit up unexpectedly. Jiang Momo accepted the call and Li Yu’s image appeared.

The moment he showed up, before he could even say hello, his eyes locked onto the researchers still deep in discussion.

“That one! The one with his back to us!” Li Yu said excitedly.

Jiang Momo frowned. “I asked earlier and no one admitted to being called Tang You. I’ll turn on the speaker, you call him yourself.”

She enabled the external audio.

“Tang You!” Li Yu’s voice rang out but none of the researchers reacted.

Jiang Momo looked at the screen. “Are you sure you’re not mistaken?”

“There’s no way I’m mistaken. Can you take me around to see his face?” Li Yu asked.

Jiang Momo refused. “There’s military intel ahead, I can’t risk exposure.”

She was standing at the research lab’s edge, so nothing sensitive was visible yet. But even a slight shift could change that.

Li Yu wasn’t sure of Jiang Momo’s authority there and didn’t want to cause her trouble. He just kept calling Tang You’s name again and again. Then, after a pause, he called out a string of identification numbers.

The researcher Li Yu pointed out flinched and turned around.

The moment their eyes met, Li Yu’s call hit its time limit and the screen went black.