The Real Daughter Just Wants to Pilot Mechas - Chapter 173

When Jiang Momo returned to the estate Yan Chang had arranged for her, the table was already set and the food was steaming beside the swing where they had last met.

“Master! I knew you’d be back soon! Perfect timing, the dishes are still warm. Come on, come on!” Yan Chang greeted her enthusiastically, chopsticks in hand. “Oh, by the way, a package for you just came in. We accepted it on your behalf. It hasn’t been opened yet.”

As he spoke, he nudged E Mingjun with his elbow.

E Mingjun, who had clearly been zoning out, snapped back to reality and handed the package to Jiang Momo.

She casually opened it. A familiar textbook appeared before her eyes.

“Professor Ge Qing is pretty efficient. The latest version just dropped on the Star Network and he’s already sent a print copy,” she said, flipping straight to the final chapter. After confirming that the content matched the conclusions she had discussed with Ge Qing earlier, her mood lightened. She passed the book to E Mingjun with a touch of pride. “Do you want to read it? It’s pretty objective.”

Yan Chang leaned over. “It is objective. The Federation’s strongest mecha manufacturer.”

“Hm?” Jiang Momo hadn’t looked at the chapter titles before, but hearing Yan Chang’s comment, she quickly took the book back and frowned slightly. “That line… I suppose it’s objectively fair.”

She placed the book on the table. Yan Chang snatched it up and read with relish, delivering a stream of familiar flattery.

Jiang Momo straightened up, just a little proud.

Once Yan Chang had finished, he casually handed the book to E Mingjun, wiped his hands, and tore off a piece of lamb to place on Jiang Momo’s plate. Teasing, he said, “Looks like this dinner isn’t grand enough for a master of your stature.”

“It’s more than enough.” In a great mood, Jiang Momo popped the meat into her mouth and then raised her brow at E Mingjun beside her, only to see his face was dark as iron.

He looked at the book as if it were something filthy, his eyes full of disgust.

Jiang Momo felt a sudden pang in her chest. She waved a hand in front of his face. “What’s wrong? Is there something in there?”

She had prepared herself for E Mingjun not to flatter her, but she hadn’t expected the reaction.

After a pause, E Mingjun placed the book face-down on the table.

Jiang Momo immediately took it and realized he hadn’t been reading her section, but rather the one about the energy core research team.

“They listed both Scar Face and Black Tiger, two interstellar pirates, as core members of the research team. And they’re listed as the top two,” E Mingjun’s voice rang out.

Jiang Momo nodded as if it were perfectly natural. “They were indeed part of the research team. No dispute there. Their contributions to the energy core were exceptional.”

“But they were interstellar pirates. Dying quietly would be their greatest contribution to humanity.” E Mingjun’s head was slightly lowered, his clenched hand trembling with bulging veins.

Jiang Momo stared into his eyes and suddenly realized the seething hatred E Mingjun held for the interstellar pirates had always been hidden beneath his calm surface. He must be in real pain.

She placed her hand on his tense fist. “Everyone deserves a chance to change. Right now, their lives are more valuable than their deaths.”

“But they’re interstellar pirates…” E Mingjun repeated.

They were the root of his suffering. His torment is tied to the Jiang family, the President, the interstellar pirates, and the interstellar pirate hunter. Half of them were already dealt with and the interstellar pirate hunter was no longer a problem. He had planned to take the rest of the interstellar pirates down with him. Now seeing them portrayed positively in educational materials was a massive shock.

Jiang Momo pressed down on his hand more firmly. “There’s no room for forgiveness for any interstellar pirate? Then…” Then what about you? Are you including yourself among the unforgivable?

E Mingjun’s lips tightened. Jiang Momo could see the hint of self-destructive obsession in his dark eyes, something she never would’ve expected. He’d seemed more cheerful recently than when they first met.

“I will take responsibility for my choice,” E Mingjun said.

When he chose to return as the interstellar pirate group’s leader, it was a calculated decision. He needed power for revenge against the President and the Jiang family. He had nothing left to care about. The only person who mattered to him now was Jiang Momo and she was capable of surviving just fine on her own. So this time, he planned to wipe out the interstellar pirates completely. He’d already vetted them and none left were innocent.

Yan Chang glanced between the two of them, confused by the sudden heavy atmosphere. He eventually said, “Master, I think we should respect Tutor E’s decision. Some people just have a deep hatred for evil. They can’t tolerate filth. And right now, some people on the Star Network are questioning this textbook too. We can’t convince everyone, right?”

Jiang Momo sensed something was off. She turned to him. “What kind of deal did you make with E Mingjun? You’re planning to wipe out the interstellar pirates to push a new president?”

Yan Chang’s smile stiffened briefly before he laughed. “Master, sharp as ever!”

If he hadn’t bumped into E Mingjun and chatted alone with him for a bit, he’d never have realized there was such a shortcut to boosting reputation. And the best part was E Mingjun had the connections.

“What exactly are you planning? Kill them all? Leave no one alive?” Jiang Momo asked.

Yan Chang nodded. “Not a single one.”

That was E Mingjun’s condition.

“Then do you know that E—”

Jiang Momo cut herself off when E Mingjun gently grabbed her arm. She turned sharply to look at him and, seeing the plea in his eyes, swallowed the rest of her sentence.

“Know what?” Yan Chang looked between them, sensing something strange. The mood was weird and a wild thought entered his mind.

Scenes from the past flashed before his eyes. E Mingjun came from the Chaos Star System, was a top-tier mecha pilot, had been hunting the interstellar pirate hunter, knew the future routes of interstellar pirate group’s operations, and had once mentioned ‘his brothers’…

Yan Chang frowned. “You’re right, Master. This plan needs to be reconsidered carefully.”