The Real Daughter Just Wants to Pilot Mechas - Chapter 151

“This system’s developer must not be the research institute,” the President said lightly, hand pausing mid-air. “You do know we’re currently trying to ‘overthrow’ the research institute, don’t you?”

“If it can’t be the research institute, I have another version.” Jiang Momo curled her lips into a faint smile. “The system was originally developed by technician Qin Chu and me under the researcher institute’s directive. The copyright and attribution were clearly assigned to the two of us but after the system made real money through commercialization, the higher-ups at the research institute went back on their word and reclaimed the technician’s share of the copyright.”

The President took a satisfied sip of tea. “I like this story.”

It was a true event, although judging from the tone of his voice, the President clearly believed she was embellishing or fabricating parts of it. But Jiang Momo didn’t bother to correct him. It wasn’t important.

“I’ve delivered the item. I won’t interrupt your meal any longer.” Jiang Momo stood up.

“Alright.” The President waved her off.

As Jiang Momo stepped out the door, she brushed past someone who looked like a secretary. Turning back, she caught a glimpse through the not-yet-fully-closed door where the President was handing the hard drive to the secretary and speaking to him seriously.

***

The President moved quickly, or rather, his secretary was highly efficient. In less than three hours, Jiang Momo saw the results.

At the time, she was curled up on the small couch in her dormitory’s living room, watching a livestream with Little Eight who was glued to its favorite streamer.

Onscreen, the streamer was still piloting a low-level legendary mecha, mowing down alien beasts like they were nothing. Bullet comments scrolled rapidly across the screen.

[This guy’s way too committed. Most streamers have gone offline today.]

[There’s hardly anyone left watching live broadcasts…]

[By the way, are legendary mechas in real life actually this powerful? Watching this guy in the game is like watching someone chop vegetables. If that’s really the case, maybe we don’t have to worry too much?]

Does anyone have a source for emigration ship tickets? I’ll pay the top price!]

Jiang Momo wasn’t particularly interested in the gameplay and she only glanced at the comments now and then.

Suddenly, just as the streamer was chasing down an alien beast, the entire mecha froze in place. The alien beast lunged and took the mecha out in a suicide move.

[What just happened? Simulation pods shouldn’t lag like this anymore, right?]

[Come on, you almost got the 100-win streak and it breaks down now? This has to be staged.]

[What the hell, no wonder there was a betting pool. I bet everything on the 100-win streak. So you can rig it like this? Refund!]

The chat was in chaos when suddenly the streamer looked up, eyes shining, and projected a message onto the camera.

“I just got a message from the military! They invited me to take part in a live combat test with mid- and high-level legendary mechas. And they said I’m allowed to stream it!”

Jiang Momo narrowed her eyes and read the message carefully.

[Comrade Jia Zhi, greetings. We are honored to inform you that you have been selected by the Military Department to undergo live testing with mid- and high-level legendary mechas. Due to the nature of your profession, you are granted special permission to stream the event. Please report to First Military District’s base before midnight tonight.]

After showing the message, Jia Zhi cheerfully blew a kiss to the camera, his silver-white hair swaying. “That last match doesn’t count for the betting pool. I’m ending the stream to pack up and head to base now. I’ll keep broadcasting there, so be sure to support me!”

The stream shut off and Little Eight swished its tail in frustration.

[He’s so close to the base, probably just minutes away, why cut the stream so soon?!]

Jiang Momo chuckled and made a motion as if patting Little Eight’s round head from a distance, then messaged Lu Feng.

[Jiang Momo]: Are current military uniforms very different from those during the Alien Beast War a hundred years ago?

Little Eight rarely paid attention to her messages to others, so Jiang Momo calmly glanced at its muttering back. Little Eight had mentioned once that it liked watching the streamer because he reminded it of its former pilot. She was planning a small surprise for it.

Lu Feng replied quickly.

[Lu Feng]: Not very different. Why?

[Lu Feng]: Actually, I was just about to contact you. The President probably saw our report and he’s moving straight to field testing. I’ll come get you in a bit. You’re joining too.

Jiang Momo agreed and chatted with him for a while, suggesting a small idea. Although Lu Feng seemed confused about her purpose, he agreed without hesitation.

***

Jiang Momo thought she’d be the first to arrive but as Lu Feng’s spaceship flew past the base gates, she saw someone already waiting under a tree.

“Why’s he here so early?” Jiang Momo leaned toward the window.

Lu Feng looked as well. “You know him?”

“Not really. He’s a combat simulation streamer I’ve been watching lately. He’s decent,” Jiang Momo said, drawing her gaze back inside.

Lu Feng seemed surprised. “You watch livestream? I thought you wouldn’t be into entertainment stuff.”

Jiang Momo looked at him, puzzled. “So in your eyes, I’m just some tech maniac who spends every day buried in mecha parts?”

“Not entirely,” Lu Feng mumbled, awkwardly looking away.

Jiang Momo: “???”

Jia Zhi was sitting under the tree, still far too excited. After receiving the message, he had barely packed before rushing over, only to find that no matter how he tried to talk to the soldier on guard duty, they didn’t even spare him a glance.

He’d been waiting awkwardly for over half an hour but the excitement in his chest hadn’t faded in the slightest. His mind was completely occupied with dreams of trending on social media.

“After this, I’ll definitely secure the number one spot in the gaming community,” Jia Zhi muttered to himself, clenching his fist. Bored, he opened the trending feed, only to feel the sky falling on him. “No way, they invited everyone at my level from the gaming scene? There are even regular people?!”

Staring in disbelief, Jia Zhi suddenly noticed the base gate had opened at some point. Two tall, well-built figures were walking toward him. He looked left and right, then instinctively stepped to the side.

“Are you here for the live combat test?” a steady male voice spoke directly above him.

“Yes, that’s me. Hello, may I ask your name?” Jia Zhi looked up.

“I’m Lu Feng, Lieutenant General of the First Military District,” the man replied, standing straight as a blade. “Come in with us.”

Jia Zhi was stunned to be personally received by a lieutenant general. Sure, he’d held the rank of lieutenant general, general, and even marshal in various games, but that didn’t stop him from knowing how high-ranking a real one was. Dazed, he followed behind the two without protest and didn’t mind at all that they didn’t talk to him.

The sound of conversation drifted from in front of him.

“Quite a few people are participating this time. I just checked inventory and if we give everyone a uniform, we might not have enough,” Lu Feng turned to the person walking beside him, Jiang Momo, and said apologetically.

He had agreed so readily back then. After all, it was the first time Jiang Momo had ever asked him for anything but now that it was actually happening, it was proving a little unrealistic.

“One is actually enough.”

Just as Jiang Momo said that, Little Eight suddenly popped up in front of her, its big cat eyes watery and staring directly at her.

Little Eight usually knew its place and rarely showed up openly on military grounds. Jiang Momo instantly sensed something was wrong. “What is it?”

[Momo.]

Little Eight stared at her without blinking.

[Actually, the uniforms from a hundred years ago and today’s are very different. And besides, my pilot has been dead for a long time. No matter how much he looks like him, he’s not him.] As it spoke, two big teardrops rolled from its eyes.

Jiang Momo realized it had guessed the situation from their conversation and was startled by its perceptiveness. But the sight of its tears left her stunned. She turned her head slightly and mouthed silently, “Why are you crying? Didn’t you say before…”

Hadn’t Little Eight always insisted it didn’t have an emotional module?

[I lied.]

Little Eight sobbed quietly for a bit before quickly vanishing, only to pop back up again to give a firm warning.

[I don’t want to see him wearing a military uniform! I really don’t!]

In truth, before Little Eight had found Jiang Momo, it had already given up on continuing to exist and was planning to self-destruct. But the responsibility of saving a life kept it going for several more years. It had originally planned to help Jiang Momo escape safely, then erase its own consciousness and leave behind only the AI.

However, as soon as it reached the Jiang family, it was so furious that it couldn’t bring itself to leave. It stayed longer, planning to wait until Jiang Momo’s life had settled. But now, it suddenly realized that maybe from the moment it picked her up, it had already started getting attached and was no longer able to let go.

E/N: No, Little Eight, that’s too sad. T^T