The Real Daughter Just Wants to Pilot Mechas - Chapter 160

The StarNet has been especially lively recently, with the trending topics changing by the day. The protagonist was always someone new, until now. This time, the spotlight was on the President who had maintained a fairly decent reputation over the years. The attention skyrocketed and discussions poured in endlessly.

[I’ve been hearing about this plan for a while now, but it never really caught on. Wasn’t it something the former director used to slander the President? Why is it suddenly coming up again?]

[I’ve posted dozens of comments about this over the last few days and every single one got deleted, even the vague hints. Why is it suddenly being allowed now?!]

[This plan is probably real. I found out part of the Jiang family’s shares are under the President’s name. Their factories have had a high number of worker deaths in the past few years. Our insurance company blacklisted them entirely.]

[Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but the planets where the Jiang family set up those factories were all the ones that supported the opposing candidate in the last election. After the factories were built, people started moving away due to all kinds of problems. According to federal election law, planets with a resident population below a certain threshold lose their voting rights. That’s… pretty terrifying when you think about it.]

[The greedy Congress and research institute, the ruthless President, the corrupt Supreme Court… the Federation is doomed.]

Jiang Momo and Little Eight sat shoulder to shoulder on the sofa, reading through the endless theories and speculation. They gave likes to the ones that were particularly insightful.

“Damn, netizens really can dig up anything. They even found the Jiang family’s annual revenue.”

[Their stock’s basically hitting rock bottom after this,] Little Eight gloated.

It was petty like that and still hadn’t forgotten how unfairly Jiang Momo had been treated when she’d first arrived at the Capital Star. That was why it had gone all-in helping the internet users dig up dirt on the Jiang family, breaking down clues and feeding them directly to the most aggressive online sleuths. That was how the Jiang family became such a hot topic across StarNet.

Jiang Momo didn’t know exactly what Little Eight had done, but she could tell from its smug expression that it was proud of itself. She didn’t hold back in showering it with praise.

Little Eight puffed up under the compliments, its fluffy tail arching high in the air.

Sure, one probably shouldn’t take joy in others’ misfortunes but knowing and doing were two different things. Jiang Momo was in an extremely good mood as she watched the trending tags and decided to celebrate by cooking a feast.

She’d just finished roasting a whole lamb and was savoring a juicy cut, planning to keep tracking the situation in detail, when a popup suddenly appeared.

It was already getting dark. She blinked at the message on the screen.

[The Federation President is now live. Redirecting to broadcast.]

“Huh, didn’t it used to ask if you wanted to watch first? Now it just forces the redirect? Guess the President’s pulling rank.”

No sooner had she finished the quip than the screen shifted to the livestream.

The background clearly showed the grand Presidential Palace, but the President himself looked completely at odds with it. Dark stubble, heavy bags under his eyes, and a haggard face clashed against his neatly pressed formal attire.

The live stream chat was flooded with criticism.

The Federation’s citizens didn’t bother with polite façades and free speech was taken very seriously. Even in the President’s own stream, no one held back. If anything, they were harsher than ever.

The President skimmed the chat and visibly broke into a sweat. He started to raise his sleeve to wipe his brow, then froze and put his hand down, letting the sweat drip from his forehead into the corner of his eye.

He bowed deeply and said, voice heavy, “Good evening, everyone. I’m the president of the Federation. It’s unfortunate that I’ve had to address you like this so often lately. This speaks to the degree of chaos in our public discourse.”

[LOL. Now that he’s trending, it’s suddenly ‘chaotic public discourse.’]

A massive, glittery message, clearly from someone who’d sent a gift, flashed above his head. His expression darkened visibly.

The President took a deep breath and continued,

“This is the first time in nearly five years of my administration that I’ve appeared on the hot search like this, being slandered and misunderstood. It pains me. But I believe the truth will prevail and refuse to engage in cover-ups or deception. As you’ve seen, I made no attempt to suppress the trending tags. I don’t think any previous president has done as much in that regard. I believe in the people’s judgment. I believe you’ll see the truth in time.

“Originally, I hadn’t planned to say much. But there’s another threat lurking in the shadows. Please be aware that the proposal has not been withdrawn. It continues quietly in the background. In a few days, if it isn’t stopped, the monopoly bill will pass. That would be a devastating loss for all manufacturers of legendary mecha. Indeed, a loss for the entire Federation.”

Jiang Momo raised her glass of juice and nibbled on a lamb shank. “Oh? Now it’s about all the manufacturers? I thought the Federation was all about personal heroism.” She sighed. “He’s not completely wrong about the monopoly bill, but if he thinks these few lines will fool the public, he’s dreaming. The evidence is still pinned front and center on the StarNet.”

As expected, when she glanced at the chat, although most viewers had shifted focus to concerns about the bill, there were still some people relentlessly pursuing the issue of the Population Purge Plan. Giant firework-style comments with artistic fonts practically drowned out the President.

Little Eight licked its paw.

[Those persistent ones are the people whose previous posts got deleted. They know there was topic suppression, so they don’t buy what he’s selling.]

The President, of course, ignored the ones asking tough questions. He shifted to explaining the proposal, earnestly asking for public support once more before ending the stream.

E/N:

President: What doesn’t kill me makes me… stronger, stronger! Just me, myself, and I!!!