The Real Daughter Just Wants to Pilot Mechas - Chapter 183

“How many days do we have left?” Jiang Momo thought for a long moment and chose to ask the question she cared about most.

“If things keep going this way, less than ten days,” Vice Director Liu replied with bloodshot eyes, gripping Jiang Momo’s hand tightly.

Jiang Momo felt the constant heat from Vice Director Liu’s palm and the fine layer of sweat on her skin. She voiced a thought that had been puzzling her, “If I understand correctly, if the Federation collapses, those who refused to enlist won’t survive either, right?”

“That’s true, but the current mental state of these young people… it’s complicated. You’ve probably been online too…” Vice Director Liu chose her words carefully.

Jiang Momo disagreed. “Although I often see people online looking forward to mutual destruction with the universe, I believe that according to the Federation’s legacy and ideals, there’s still a sense of patriotism among the people.”

Vice Director Liu was stunned for several seconds, then repeated the unfamiliar and slightly old-fashioned term Jiang had used, “Patriotism…? Our Federation has something like that?”

“It can have it,” Jiang Momo said softly.

Is she planning to guide public opinion?!

Vice Director Liu looked up sharply. “Through what channels?”

Jiang Momo raised a hand in a ‘wait a moment’ gesture, then turned her head toward the door and raised her voice, “Did you receive a draft notice?”

Vice Director Liu looked toward the doorway following Jiang Momo’s line of sight, puzzled.

The office door was pushed open from the outside and a tall figure stepped inside.

E Mingjun nodded slightly at the other person in the room as a greeting, closed the door, and then looked at Jiang Momo. “No.”

Hearing his answer, Jiang Momo scoffed instinctively. “Thought so.”

“And this is…?” Vice Director Liu’s eyes moved curiously between E Mingjun and Jiang Momo.

“President of the Central Mecha Academy’s Student Council, current record-holder for school-level mecha piloting, E Mingjun,” Jiang Momo introduced.

“You just said ‘thought so.’ What did you mean by that?” Vice Director Liu asked.

“I meant that, just as I suspected, the military’s high command doesn’t want to take a single risk. They have many criteria they could’ve used for conscription, but they deliberately didn’t. Back when I provided the military and the President with the backend access list, it only covered a small portion of the population. Seven minutes is a critical cutoff and it drastically increases survival rates. But if they followed that and the war was won, then the military would be held accountable for not drafting on time before the war started,” Jiang Momo explained, taking a deep breath.

“So they used an unreasonable selection range, dumped all the blame on the research institute, and let us take the fall? Only to end up sparking a public backlash that’s now stalling recruitment altogether?” Vice Director Liu suddenly noticed something off and seized on the detail. “Then where did they get this conscription list?”

Jiang Momo paused the rhythmic tapping of her index finger on her left wrist. “I’m not the only developer of this combat simulation system.”

Vice Director Liu immediately understood and quickly dialed the Military Department’s Equipment Management Office at the research institute. As expected, she got the news that Qin Chu had already resigned.

“She’s resigned.” Vice Director Liu hung up, looking shaken. “How did this happen…?”

“Maybe because back then, the research institute assigned Qin Chu and me to work on the project together and clearly stated that we would share the copyright and authorship. But when it started making money after commercialization, the higher-ups changed their minds and took back her portion of the copyright?” Jiang Momo said with some guilt. “So after the higher-ups were arrested, was her share of the rights ever returned?”

Vice Director Liu’s pupils trembled. “That happened?! I’ve never heard anything about that!”

Jiang Momo looked even guiltier, rubbing her forehead with one hand, brow furrowed. “I’ve been so busy… How did I forget something like this?”

“Feeling guilty won’t help us now. Let’s think about how to fix it,” E Mingjun said, placing a hand on Jiang Momo’s shoulder.

“Right! Fix it! We have to do something, we can’t let all the blame fall on us!” Vice Director Liu immediately jumped in but her voice lacked confidence. “But even if we explain things now, the people of the Federation probably won’t believe us. So, Director Jiang, how exactly are we supposed to inspire this ‘patriotism’ you talked about earlier?”

Jiang Momo looked up at her. “Our top priority now is making the people of the Federation aware of the urgency and severity of the war, and to ignite their will to defend the Federation.”

“But they don’t care about data at all!” Vice Director Liu said, flustered.

“That’s because data has no warmth. What the Federation needs now is a spiritual leader,” Jiang Momo said.

“And where are we going to find a spiritual leader?” Vice Director Liu reflexively asked.

Jiang Momo was pondering the same question, mentally sorting through candidates, when she noticed two pairs of eyes fixed intently on her. She looked up, confused. “Why are you both staring at me?”

Vice Director Liu’s eyes lit up. “You’re perfect; young, capable, charismatic. The only downside is that you can’t pilot a mecha and can’t fight on the front lines.”

And most importantly, she’s from our research institute! It would boost our reputation too!

“Who says she can’t pilot a mecha…?” E Mingjun blurted out and quickly shut up when Jiang Momo grabbed his arm.

Vice Director Liu didn’t catch the weight of what he said and kept talking to herself, “I know Director Jiang has strong mental power and could definitely pilot a mecha, but the alien beasts are too dangerous. We just need to create a rear-line hero figure.”

E Mingjun looked at Jiang Momo and silently mouthed, “None of that was shown in the previous live streams?”

Jiang Momo shook her head and answered aloud, “That’s not important. One idol’s power is too limited. What we need is a spiritual symbol, something that unites people during war. Ideally, it should come with contrast and impact.”

Vice Director Liu thought for a second or two. “That won’t work. Not long ago, the military dragged every convict from the prisons to the front lines and it was useless. Most of them can’t even pilot a mecha.”

“So we need people who can pilot mecha,” Jiang Momo looked at E Mingjun.

E Mingjun refused. “I won’t give them a chance to be heroes.”

He only wanted to throw those interstellar pirates into the battlefield to make use of them and, if possible, ease some of the burdens that Jiang Momo was carrying. It wasn’t about giving them a place in history.

“You contacted them for a few days aboard the spaceship. Did they all agree to fight?” Jiang Momo asked directly.

E Mingjun was silent. After the last incident at the port, those interstellar pirates had become much more cautious. Empty promises of benefits and glory weren’t enough to convince them anymore.

Vice Director Liu had no idea what the two were going on about but tried to keep up. “If you want people who can fight and have a negative public image, only those interstellar pirates in the Chaos Star System are available. But how do we even contact them?”

Right now, the able-bodied Federation citizens refuse to fight. But if a bunch of interstellar pirates gave up their positions and joined the military to protect the Federation, it could actually be a powerful narrative tool.

“If you want them to fly into the fire like moths, you’ve got to make sure they can see the fire first, don’t you think?” Jiang Momo pinched E Mingjun’s arm and tilted her chin to look at him.

E Mingjun looked down, met her deep black eyes, stayed quiet for a long time, and finally nodded slowly. “I get it.”

Jiang Momo rubbed the light brain on her wrist and then turned to Vice Director Liu. “Start stirring up the momentum.”

Vice Director Liu was stunned. “Stir up what? Are we really calling in the interstellar pirates?”

“Yes.” Jiang Momo nodded.

“But this isn’t even remotely confirmed! Will they come? The Chaos Star System hasn’t really been invaded by the alien beasts. They don’t have any urgent need to face the front lines,” Vice Director Liu spoke rapidly, clearly flustered.

“If we had to persuade them with words, we could use the idea of ‘if the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold.’ But we don’t need to go that far,” Jiang Momo said confidently. “They will come.”

Vice Director Liu still didn’t get it. She was just about to ask another question when she saw Jiang Momo already standing up to leave and quickly followed. “Director, where are you going?”

“To see the President. The military’s recruitment standards are flawed. In the combat simulation system, only those who last more than seven minutes can pilot mid- to high-level legendary mecha. We have to ensure the quality of recruits to increase survival rates. That mistake needs to be corrected immediately.” Jiang Momo waved without looking back and disappeared quickly.