The Real Daughter Just Wants to Pilot Mechas - Chapter 165

Watching Little Eight quickly disappear before her, Jiang Momo sat down at her desk, leaned back in the soft office chair, and looked up. “By the way, I heard we can predict alien beast landings. What’s the principle behind it?”

Vice Director Liu froze for a second, the smile on her face stiffening. “You even know about that?”

Jiang Momo found that odd. It was one of the first things Lu Feng told her and she always thought it wasn’t classified.

Vice Director Liu’s stiff expression only lasted half a second before returning to normal. She quickly explained, “We have a device that can detect spatial energy fluctuations. The closer the distance, the more precise the data, and the shorter the interval between detections.”

Jiang Momo thought for a moment. “So if the landing is on the Capital Star, detection might only occur after it appears?”

Vice Director Liu tried to deny it but as soon as she saw Jiang Momo’s calm, penetrating gaze, her eyes flickered slightly and she nodded. “Theoretically, yes.”

Jiang Momo stared at her. “And in practice?”

“It’s the same,” Vice Director Liu said, staring back for a while. She reevaluated Jiang Momo mentally before cautiously continuing, “In truth, as long as it happens within the Central Star System, it’s not considered long-distance. So for a long time, we thought alien beast appearances here had no warning signs. Only recently, as the numbers surged, did we start detecting them in advance.

“It’s very scary. In past years, the Capital Star never saw more than ten alien beasts in total. We don’t know what’s going on now,” she said while watching Jiang Momo’s expression, her mind spinning. “So, Director Jiang, is the military force really holding up? The alien beasts’ numbers are rising even on the border planets. Relocation alone isn’t enough anymore. We need time to build artificial planets and at this rate, we’re falling behind.”

Jiang Momo frowned. “Don’t you have war forecasting data?”

Vice Director Liu replied, “We didn’t secure a legendary mecha before, so we lacked the foundational data.”

“…Huh?” Jiang Momo said.

Vice Director Liu’s voice dropped. “The military guards against us like we’re thieves.”

Jiang Momo said, “As they should.”

Given how the research institute used to monopolize everything, you can’t blame them for being cautious.

“Hmm?” Vice Director Liu looked up sharply, suddenly remembering Jiang Momo’s current position. She added, “That proposal’s already in Congress. We can’t withdraw it now.”

Jiang Momo waved it off. “That’s fine.”

Yan Chang had asked her not to sabotage it; she’d keep her promise.

Vice Director Liu’s brain was a mess. A giant question mark hovered over her head. Was Jiang Momo’s stance always so flexible? The saying really is true: where you stand determines how you think.

“We can’t get the actual legendary mecha for now, but I’ll find a way to get you the data,” Jiang Momo said slowly, noticing the hopeful gleam in Vice Director Liu’s eyes. “Any signs of the next alien beast landing on the Capital Star?”

Vice Director Liu shook her head. “None.”

“Based on recent landing frequency, it should be soon.” Jiang Momo leaned back in her chair and looked up at her.

Vice Director Liu’s brow furrowed. “Going by current trends, either the incoming number is too small to detect yet or the number is so large the interval has lengthened. The farther a spatial-type alien beast transmits, the more time it needs to gather power.”

“Then do you know where the main body of the spatial-type alien beast is?” Jiang Momo leaned forward slightly, sensing Vice Director Liu was now divulging classified information.

Vice Director Liu shook her head. “It’s a kind of ‘legend’ in the scientific community. No one has actually seen it. No one even knows what star system the alien beasts originate from.”

“This kind of fighting solves symptoms but not the root problem.” Jiang Momo covered her face.

“According to hidden data preserved in the research institute, there used to be weapons that could target spatial-type alien beasts during the Alien Beast War. But after the Great Reform, those were lost to history along with ancient scripts. We don’t have that tech anymore. If only we had spaceships from that era.”

Vice Director Liu’s eyes darkened slightly as she stared at Jiang Momo. “Director Jiang, it’s said you grew up alone on a desolate planet but know ancient script and speak Federation standard language. Do you have any leads on those Alien Beast War-era weapons?”

Jiang Momo’s pupils trembled slightly. She firmly shook her head. “No.”

As she finished speaking, Little Eight appeared before her, tail flicking proudly as if about to speak. Jiang Momo’s heart skipped a beat and she instinctively shut down the translucent light brain interface only she could see.

The chubby Siamese cat vanished.

Jiang Momo snapped back to reality, turned to Vice Director Liu, and smiled as she met her gaze. “I just started this job. Let’s call a full staff meeting. I need to get to know everyone.”

Vice Director Liu straightened from her slightly leaned posture, face serious. “I’ll go gather the people now. I’ll pick you up in half an hour.”

After Vice Director Liu left, Little Eight cautiously peeked out. Its previous enthusiasm was replaced with deep concern after reviewing the surveillance footage from the office. It propped its head on a paw, face serious.

[Vice Director Liu was on a video call with the President at the very end. Sorry, Momo. I shouldn’t have left just now.]