The Real Daughter Just Wants to Pilot Mechas - Chapter 98

At twelve noon the next day, Jiang Momo arrived at the gate of the Central Mecha Academy as agreed. The luxurious spaceship suspended in midair with Wu Yue aboard descended immediately.

It was Friday and there were quite a few people going in and out of the school gate. As soon as the spaceship landed, the surrounding students let out gasps of amazement.

Jiang Momo quickly darted up the steps and into the open spaceship door, avoiding the crowd rushing forward to take photos.

Wu Yue sat on the armrest of the sofa in the center of the spaceship, shaking a wine glass at Jiang Momo. Her long, straight black hair draped over her shoulders, her makeup was simple and elegant, and she wore a flowing white dress, inexplicably giving off the vibe of a graceful lily.

“Long time no see, Teacher Momo,” Wu Yue said, winking flirtatiously. Then she reached under the coffee table behind her and tossed Jiang Momo a bottle of chilled drink.

Jiang Momo caught it, walked over with the drink, and sat on the sofa opposite the two of them. She then looked at how closely they were sitting together.

The distance between the two was extremely small, less than five centimeters.

Ling Yelin sat on the sofa. Noticing Jiang Momo looking at him, he glanced at Wu Yue sitting on the armrest but didn’t find anything wrong. He raised his chin slightly and asked, “You don’t like this flavor of juice?”

“Not really,” Jiang Momo replied, unscrewing the cap and taking a sip. It was sweet. She looked at Wu Yue. “Thanks for the juice.”

“You’re welcome.” Wu Yue smiled.

Jiang Momo scratched her head. “So where are we headed?”

“We’re going to the Chaos Star System. Didn’t Ling Yelin tell you?” Wu Yue stood up and sat on the armrest next to Jiang Momo, resting one hand on the sofa back as she cheerfully explained, “We’re going to an industrial planet and a mining planet first to sign some contracts, then heading to my home planet to stay a couple of days before returning. That place is really interesting, with lots of underground entertainment industries.”

Ling Yelin looked intrigued. “Underground entertainment industries?”

“You haven’t been there before?” Jiang Momo was also curious.

Wu Yue waved her hand. “I didn’t bring him before. If he hadn’t insisted on inviting you this time, I wouldn’t have agreed. The Chaos Star System is very dangerous.”

Ling Yelin was clearly stunned. He thoughtfully examined Jiang Momo’s arms and legs, and then relaxed back into the sofa. “Momo’s combat ability is that strong? I remember suggesting hiring mercenaries and you wouldn’t agree.”

Wu Yue’s eyes shifted briefly. “Mercenaries have the combat power but I’m afraid they’ll turn on us.”

After saying this, she happened to meet Jiang Momo’s clear black eyes and instinctively looked away.

Jiang Momo noted the odd expression and jokingly asked, “So what kind of entertainment industries are we talking about?”

“Beast fights, hand-to-hand combat, mecha matches, that kind of stuff,” Wu Yue replied.

Jiang Momo blinked. “Aren’t those available in the Central Star System too?”

“The rules are different. In the Chaos Star System, they actually let people fight to the death,” Wu Yue said nonchalantly.

Ling Yelin looked queasy and set down his wine glass. “Let’s skip the hand-to-hand and mecha matches. We can check out the beast fights.”

Watching two wild beasts tear each other apart might be easier to stomach than watching people bleed all over.

Jiang Momo noticed a flash of distaste on Wu Yue’s face at the mention of beast fights but Wu Yue didn’t object. “Sure, we’ll go after the contracts are signed.”

***

The three of them visited the industrial planet and the mining planet where they ordered a large batch of specialty materials from the Chaos Star System. Then they headed toward Wu Yue’s home planet, as mentioned earlier.

On the way, Jiang Momo asked curiously, “Aren’t we taking the materials back with us?”

“No need.” Wu Yue waved her hand. “Boss Ling’s company’s cargo ship will handle the transport. That thing doesn’t have a spatial jump system and has to go through artificial wormholes, so it’ll be two days slower than us.”

Jiang Momo nodded.

Just then, Ling Yelin seemed to notice something and leaned toward the window for a while. He straightened up, lips pale. “There’s a fleet heading this way.”

Wu Yue glanced over and remained indifferent. “Oh, it’s fine. They’re just interstellar pirates.”

“Interstellar pirates?! Just?!” Ling Yelin was shocked.

Wu Yue gave him a sidelong glance. “What’s there to be afraid of? Nothing’s ever happened.”

She piloted the spaceship toward them. Soon, the opposing ship extended a boarding ramp and clamped onto Wu Yue’s ship. The door opened and seven interstellar pirates in mecha exoskeletons came aboard, guns at the ready.

Wu Yue was clearly startled for a moment, then quickly forced a smile and stepped forward, blocking Ling Yelin and Jiang Momo behind her. “You’re from the Fierce Tiger Interstellar Pirate Group? Long time no see. I’m an interstellar merchant. I’m here just to pick up some goods.”

As she spoke, she casually handed over a pre-prepared suitcase to the one standing behind the obviously highest-ranking pirate.

That pirate weighed the suitcase and said to the captain, “Vice-captain, around one million.”

The vice-captain reached to take it but the person beside him immediately tugged his sleeve and subtly pointed at Jiang Momo behind Wu Yue. “Vice-captain, we can’t take this money.”

Wu Yue instantly clenched her fists.

Not only did she not recognize the group but even the rules had changed? Was the bribe too low?

While the pirates were distracted, she quietly moved her right hand behind her back, using her thumb to press the ring on her middle finger, preparing to activate the spaceship’s combat system, only to see a strange and somewhat fawning smile appear on the pirate’s face.

“Oh my, you’re here too? I didn’t even notice just now.” That pirate walked right past Wu Yue toward Jiang Momo and placed the suitcase in her arms.

Jiang Momo was baffled by the pirate’s attitude. She looked down at the suitcase, then back at the pirate, and asked cautiously, “Do we know each other?”

Could it be that he happened to see her face during a past rescue? Was she that careless?

“What do you mean? We know each other now, don’t we? Let me introduce myself, I’m the current vice-captain of the Freedom Group,” the pirate said cheerfully.

“I mean, have you seen me before?” Jiang Momo quietly began gathering power.

“Our captain showed us your photo. Honestly, it was a tough angle to recognize. If our guy didn’t have sharp eyes and remind me, I wouldn’t have known,” the vice-captain said, scratching his head.

The photos their captain showed them were all obviously taken secretly. Even though the shots were close, not one was a full frontal. The captain had said she was a friend and told them to avoid her if they ever saw her.

As if they didn’t know better. Some ‘friend.’ She was clearly a sweetheart from the Central Star System! Of course they had to make a good impression if they ran into her.

Jiang Momo smiled, her eyes scanning the surroundings as her mind calculated exactly how much force and what moves she’d need to knock everyone out and make them forget it ever happened.

After forming a plan, she took a soft breath and prepared to act.

She silently thought that she would have to go to the Chaos Star System less often in the future.

Before she could raise her hand, something warm was placed in it.

Jiang Momo looked down to see an exquisite handgun.

“First time meeting you, I didn’t have anything properly prepared. I hope you like this. The Chaos Star System is dangerous, so you can use it for self-defense,” the vice-captain said sheepishly, letting out two dry laughs. “But there’s no need to worry. Our captain is currently unifying the interstellar pirate groups. Soon, the whole Chaos Star System will be under our control. Coming here in the future will feel like coming home, haha.”

“Unifying the entire Chaos Star System? Which pirate group is that strong?” Wu Yue whispered. “Didn’t it still look the same as last month?”

The vice captain shot her a cold glance but didn’t answer.

That glance was icy and indifferent, the typical interstellar pirate attitude, completely different from the one he’d shown Jiang Momo.

Jiang Momo was also curious, so she repeated Wu Yue’s question.

She’d fought many of the interstellar pirates before and they were all evenly matched. There were hardly any particularly powerful ones.

“It’s our Freedom Group. Ever since our captain formed it, he somehow got his hands on a super S-grade mecha. He cuts through ships like tofu. Even the interstellar pirates with more than ten lives on their hands didn’t stand a chance. The atmosphere in the Chaos Star System now is way better than before,” the vice captain said proudly.

He then sighed. “The only downside is, he learned some military-style management from somewhere. Now he’s super strict. Even earning extra side income has rules. We’re practically regular army now, haha.”

“How much can you take from this deal under your new rules?” Wu Yue asked.

The vice-captain rubbed his nose. “No more than one-tenth of your cargo’s value.”

Wu Yue did a quick calculation.

Well, guess we’ll save some money in the future.

“But well, since you’re friends with the madam—cough, with this lady, you don’t have to pay in the future. Come whenever you want.” The vice-captain finished speaking and then said to Jiang Momo, “Next time you see our captain, put in a good word for me. I’m the Third Vice-Captain.”

His name wasn’t easy to remember, so it was better to be called by his position.

The vice-captain smiled with squinted eyes.

Jiang Momo: …So who exactly is their captain?

“Got it.” Jiang Momo nodded without changing expression. “Where’s your headquarters?”

The vice-captain’s eyes lit up and he gave her a coordinate.

“This coordinate…” Jiang Momo found the string of numbers somewhat familiar and looked up at Wu Yue.

Wu Yue leaned in to look. “…Isn’t this my hometown?”