The Real Daughter Just Wants to Pilot Mechas - Chapter 177

“The problem with inaccurate scan data can’t be fixed in the short term.” Jiang Momo frowned, looking at the President. “Our research institute doesn’t have personnel stationed on the battlefield. Please ask the military to send us back some counter-data so we can redo our forecasts.”

Vice Director Liu nodded repeatedly. “Yes, yes! Once we get back, we’ll immediately dispatch data collection personnel to the front!”

“Your research institute is short-staffed right now, so there’s no need for deployments,” the President said, glancing at Jiang Momo’s tightly furrowed brow, and then turned to Vice Director Liu. “I’ll have the military provide you with real-time data feedback.”

“Should we make the real data public?” Jiang Momo suddenly asked.

“It depends on the situation,” the President replied vaguely. “You decide yourselves.”

Given the current situation, public or not, it could cause mass panic. As the highest decision-maker, he couldn’t afford to make an absolute statement. Otherwise, the blame would land entirely on him.

“Understood.” Jiang Momo nodded. “If there’s nothing else, we’ll return now.”

Vice Director Liu glanced sideways at Jiang Momo who was standing just half a step ahead of her. Admiration flashed through her eyes. Director Jiang’s calm, unyielding attitude in front of the President was just so cool!

“There is something,” the President added, hands in his pockets, his tone slightly tentative. “The military urgently needs a large number of mecha manufacturers and repair technicians. Could you help mobilize those independent teams outside your research institute? We’re aiming to have all the repair personnel in place by the end of this week at the latest.”

Vice Director Liu’s eyes darted around.

Since the cross-grade mecha manufacturing ban was lifted, tons of mecha production teams have sprung up across the Central Star System. Rumor had it they could rapidly repair and manufacture S-grade and even legendary mechas. It had caused a huge stir, although none had participated in certification exams, so even their research institute couldn’t verify if the rumors were true.

She had thought it was all nonsense. After all, even their own affiliated teams couldn’t match those wild claims. But if the President was asking now… could it be real?

Still, why ask Director Jiang to mobilize them? Those rogue groups clearly wouldn’t respect the research institute, would they?

“Alright,” Jiang Momo agreed and then turned to leave.

Vice Director Liu quickly followed. “I’m coming too, I’m coming too!”

“Don’t we still have a lot to do back at the institute?” Jiang Momo asked, looking at her.

“I can be your bodyguard! Rumor says those manufacturing teams have hundreds of people. They even formed some sort of mecha manufacturer guild. It’s clear they don’t respect the research institute and are preparing to challenge the Mecha Manufacturing Association directly!” Vice Director Liu trotted beside her on quick legs.

Jiang Momo paused. “Where did you hear all this?”

“The whole Federation knows! They’re not exactly keeping a low profile,” Vice Director Liu replied. “Oh, but you won’t find anything on the Star Network. Which is why I say, they must be up to something…”

“But none of the leaked information mentions their core members?” Jiang Momo was intrigued.

Even if they kept things quiet, someone as well-known as Shi Qin should’ve tipped them off. Following the breadcrumbs, they should’ve figured out her ties to the core members, right?

“That’s the scary part. Their organization develops in strict layers. Outsiders can only reach level three members and below. These folks are spread across the whole Federation. The intel is mostly spread by word of mouth, so you can learn a bit just by grabbing someone and asking. But whether it’s true or not, who knows?

Vice Director Liu said, lowering her voice like she was sharing state secrets, “And apparently, their higher-ups are terrifying. All unaffiliated freelancers, each one more ruthless than the last. Their brainwashing skills are insane. Even a cripple would be coaxed into walking two steps. Terrifying, I tell you.”

Jiang Momo automatically ignored the last part and muttered quietly, “So why is there nothing about them on the Star Network? There’s nothing that can’t be made public, right?”

Was it because Shi Qin had once suffered a blow in the mecha manufacturing industry and now they were being overly cautious?

“Of course it’s because I had our people block all related info!” Vice Director Liu said proudly. “A civilian organization with such broad influence? If we don’t suppress them, how are we supposed to retain authority over manufacturers and technicians?”

Their power over manufacturers and technicians relied on the official registration through the Mecha Manufacturing Association. If that guild thing ever rose to dominance, who would still listen to the association then?

Jiang Momo gave her a long, deep look.

That single glance made Vice Director Liu break into a cold sweat. She scratched her face, mind racing to figure out what she had just said wrong. But no matter how she replayed it, she couldn’t figure it out.

***

Soon, the shared air shuttle hovered above a massive building, circling as it looked for a place to land.

“Yes, that’s where their guild is based!” Vice Director Liu leaned against the window, seriously explaining to Jiang Momo, “But usually, there are only a few staffers inside. Last time I disguised myself to sneak in and stir things up, I couldn’t even find the leader.”

Jiang Momo reclined against her seat and closed her eyes to rest. “It’s fine. I’ve already notified the entire guild to attend the meeting.”

“Mm?” Vice Director Liu froze, sat back down across from Jiang Momo, and leaned forward slightly. “Director, it’s not that I’m doubting you, but I really didn’t expect you had influence here too? When did you infiltrate this place?”

Based on her tone, she actually managed to make it into the upper ranks with such a recognizable face? Unreal!

“From the beginning,” Jiang Momo replied lazily, eyes still closed.

“The beginning of the guild’s founding?” Vice Director Liu was in disbelief. “Weren’t we working overtime until the early hours together back then?”

She herself had been so exhausted each night she collapsed into bed. And Jiang Momo had the energy to infiltrate the enemy camp? What kind of mental fortitude was that?

Seeing Jiang Momo ignoring her, Vice Director Liu started blabbering about how she once tried to sneak in and gather intel, only to fail.

Jiang Momo silently shut her ears to keep out the noise.

“Director! A huge crowd’s coming out of the guild!” Mid-rant, Vice Director Liu glanced down and saw a massive, densely packed crowd pouring out of the guild building, easily over ten thousand people.

The crowd quickly formed a circle and cleared a space at the entrance. The air shuttle finally detected a suitable landing spot and began descending.

“Isn’t this basically walking into a trap? We’re surrounded the moment we land!” As Vice Director Liu watched nervously, the air shuttle doors opened.

Jiang Momo stood and walked out. Then, seeing the people standing in front of her, she froze completely.

A huge crowd surrounded her but that was not the point. What stood out was that every single one of them wore the same uniform in all black with a palm-sized word ‘Mo’ embroidered over the left chest.

“Teacher Momo!”

“What’s going on?” Jiang Momo looked at Shi Qin, Xiang Jiuming, and the eight other students quickly walking up to her. She lowered her gaze to the word on their chests.

Xiang Jiuming beamed, “Teacher Momo, long time no see! Check out our new battle uniforms, tada~”

In perfect unison, the group turned around, each of their backs proudly bearing a huge, gleaming character ‘Mo.’

Vice Director Liu clutched the doorframe, almost fainting. If she still couldn’t recognize Shi Qin standing front and center with clear leadership energy, she’d have to be a complete idiot! Just moments ago, she’d been rambling to Jiang Momo about her efforts to outsmart the guild, handing over potential blackmail materials to Jiang Momo! Who would’ve guessed their own boss was the founder of the opposing force?!

“Surprised?!” Xiang Jiuming grinned, looking for praise. “I spent all night coming up with this design!”

“And the ‘Mo’ character means?” Jiang Momo asked hesitantly.

Xiang Jiuming grinned wide enough to show his perfect white teeth. “We’re all your students, right? At first, we wanted to call ourselves the Jiang Faction, but with the whole Jiang family incident lately being unlucky, we went with the Mo Faction instead.”

Jiang Momo rubbed her temples. “That’s not what I was asking.”

Shi Qin explained, “Xiang Jiuming figured the guild would eventually bring in more and more people from different backgrounds. To differentiate us, he suggested forming an official faction of your students, with distinct uniforms. That way, when we go out on jobs, people can instantly recognize us and won’t tarnish your reputation by pretending to be associated with you.”

“Exactly, exactly! It’s clear at a glance, right?” Xiang Jiuming added proudly. “Right now, due to time constraints, we’ve only recruited officially registered B-grade and above mecha manufacturers. There are still tons of C- and D-grade people. It’s going to get more diverse and complicated.”

“So right now, in the guild, how many aren’t part of the Mo Faction?” Jiang Momo asked.

“None!” Xiang Jiuming raised his chin proudly. “We’ve recruited almost every B-grade and above mecha manufacturer outside the research institute. Anyone without talent for S-grade mecha was placed into the legendary mecha manufacturing group. Everyone is thrilled and has no objections. Right now, everyone in the guild is your student.”

Xiang Jiuming lifted both arms high, his whole expression shouting, ‘Look, Teacher Momo! This is the empire we built for you!’

“Greetings, Teacher Momo!” he said loudly.

“Greetings, Teacher Momo!” the voices rang out from all directions, loud enough to make one’s eardrums ache.

Jiang Momo rubbed her ears.

“How… how did you even pull this off?” Vice Director Liu’s lips trembled. She hadn’t realized she was so shocked she spoke aloud.

“I didn’t even notice you brought a guest, Teacher Momo. Oh, it’s simple,” Xiang Jiuming replied breezily. “We just provide technical knowledge and a platform. After repairs, we collect a service fee proportionally. It’s way more freedom than the Military Research Institute.

“We also handle regular training, repair task assignments, and even merged with the Mecha Maintenance Center. We signed long-term collaboration agreements with the military and educational commissions with the academy. We provide annual benefits too and those who are B-grade and above get full top-tier social insurance. But the real draw is the unlimited on-site mecha training, open to all grades.”

Vice Director Liu fell silent.

Xiang Jiuming gazed eagerly at Jiang Momo, eyes sparkling like a puppy waiting for praise. If he had a tail, it would be wagging furiously.

Shi Qin stood upright and serious, but if anyone looked closely, they could see the tightly pressed lips and tense fingers pinching the side seams of his pants, clearly trying to contain his anticipation.

“You’re all amazing. You’ve done more in this short time than I could’ve hoped for,” Jiang Momo said softly and only the students standing closest could hear her. Assuming their higher-ups were quietly discussing strategy, the others kept their eyes down and stood respectfully.

Seeing the growing excitement in her students’ eyes, Jiang Momo continued without holding back, “You never stop surprising me. The best thing that’s happened since I arrived on the Capital Star is meeting students as excellent as you…”

After a generous round of praise, Jiang Momo paused to catch her breath. “By the way, the Federation just notified us that they want us on the battlefield this week. Will you be ready?”

“Of course! We’ve been waiting for the call!” Xiang Jiuming’s eyes lit up. He turned to the crowd. “Alright, everyone! Time to get to work!”

A roar of enthusiasm erupted around them.

Vice Director Liu shivered. Those people were terrifying. Even starting work got them so fired up! They had to be brainwashed!

E/N: Anyone paid by work would act the same.