Chapter 18: The Silver Halberd Fleet Wants More Mechas

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

The rising sun slid slowly across the eastern sky like a wheel, climbing over the sharp ridges of the mountains. The morning glow dyed the ridges blood-red, while a cold mist still hovered above the vast plains. A black motorcycle roared across the highway that cut through the wilderness, kicking up a trail of dust behind it.

Lu Yao, astride the motorcycle, glanced at the clock glowing on the windscreen. His lips pressed together as he twisted the throttle. The rough rumble of the engine was pierced by a long, icy growl of ignition. Pale blue light shot out like pillars from the rear of the bike, lifting the machine from the ground and propelling it skyward.

His helmet snapped into place, the tinted visor dropping to reveal only the sharp lines of his lower face. The wind howled, tearing at his long hair until it whipped violently around him. A flick of the throttle activated a pale-blue energy shield that wrapped the bike, blocking out the gales and sand.

Lu Yao lowered his lean waist, leather jacket pulled tight over his frame, and pressed the accelerator down to the limit. The bike surged forward, heading for the research base.

That morning, Torque had gotten into another fight with the snow leopard, sending fur flying everywhere. Lu Yao had needed time to separate the two cats, and by the time he left home, he had to push the bike harder just to avoid being late.

The special-grade engine and force field—equipment usually reserved for mechas and starships—had been mounted onto this flying motorcycle. It sliced through the mountain ranges at high speed, racing toward its destination.

The First Research Base sprawled across the plains, silver-gray buildings stretching so far that even from above, it was impossible to see the end in one glance. The massive hemispherical electromagnetic shield covering the base detected Lu Yao’s identity, opened a passage wide enough for his bike, and unlocked the entrance to the underground garage.

In a blur of speed, the black motorcycle darted inside, skidding into a perfect tailspin before settling into its parking space.

Lu Yao pulled off his helmet, swung off the bike, and stepped into the elevator. By the time he strode into the office wing, his tall boots and fitted trousers had already drawn glances, the faint chill of morning dew still clinging to his leather jacket.

As he walked, he peeled off his gloves. Employees greeted him respectfully along the hallway, and Lu Yao returned their nods with quiet acknowledgment.

Through the corridor’s floor-to-ceiling windows, the full scope of the research base stretched out before him. The colossal space, towering over fifty meters high, held rows of massive mechas, their metallic frames gleaming under harsh white floodlights. Sparks rained as technicians cut into metal, and overhead walkways wove between the giants, filled with hurried footsteps of staff rushing about.

His office sat at the top of the central tower, the perfect vantage point for overseeing the entire facility. After changing into the base’s cold gray uniform, Lu Yao began reviewing emails and progress reports piled on his desk.

Right on schedule, Mo Feng knocked on his door. Together, they headed toward the conference room for the final all-staff meeting before the assembly test. Mo Feng led the way. The base’s artificial intelligence, Deus, detected them and opened the doors.

Though the meeting had not yet officially begun, more than thirty senior staff inside were already in heated discussion. Or rather—heated argument.

“You really can’t make a stronger fiber? I’m worried about the FL series mecha knee joints,” the head of the structural engineering lab bellowed across the table.

The materials tech director shot back, “We’ve already revised the formula fifteen times. What else do you want?”

The metals division chimed in as well. “We’ve made eighteen revisions ourselves, and they’re still telling us to keep changing. Damn.”

Someone noticed Mo Feng step inside, but few cared; the back-and-forth only escalated. Then the sharp click of Lu Yao’s boots touched the floor. The sound silenced the room at once.

Every head turned toward the chief engineer they had not seen in weeks. One by one, mouths closed, eyes tracking Lu Yao as he crossed the room with Mo Feng and took his seat at the head of the long table.

“Continue,” Lu Yao said, his ice-blue gaze sweeping over the familiar faces. With that, he lowered his head and flipped open the agenda folder handed to him by the meeting assistant.

Silence thickened the air. Only the cautious, uneven rhythm of breathing disturbed it. Lu Yao looked up. “Resume the discussion. Director Mo said that during my absence this past month, you’ve developed quite a few new ideas. Since we’re all gathered today, speak up. Now, you have thirty minutes.”

His voice cut like steel, cold and commanding, devoid of warmth but never unpleasant. The calm, immovable pressure he carried left everyone stiff with tension, quick to obey.

The room filled once more with conversation. As the debate built, people noticed Lu Yao kept his head bent over his documents, seemingly unconcerned with their words. Slowly, their courage grew; voices rose louder.

The fiercest clashes came from the technical divisions. Meanwhile, the product operations director, uninterested in the brainstorming, edged his chair closer until he sat at Lu Yao’s side. “Chief Engineer Lu.”

Lu Yao lifted his gaze. “What is it?”

“It’s about the mecha allocation quotas. I’d like to ask for your opinion.”

“Ask me?” Lu Yao arched a brow and glanced at Mo Feng. Normally, he didn’t involve himself in such matters.

“Yes,” the operations director admitted, sounding a little guilty. “The quartermaster from the Silver Halberd Fleet came again asking for new mecha.”

“I recall the regulations limit allocation numbers. Did you run into some unexpected issue?”

“They heard the base was about to release a new model, so now they all want the latest version—and in large numbers.”

Mo Feng frowned. “Didn’t we just repair a batch of their mecha? Why are they demanding more?”

“The Silver Halberd Fleet fights constantly, and it’s always against alien beasts. Their mecha losses are among the highest year-round. This time, though, the damage was overwhelming. The new allocation won’t cover the gap. That’s why they’ve had our technicians patch up lightly damaged units and send them back into service.”

In the past, if the Silver Halberd Fleet wanted something, the operations director might have approved it immediately. After all, their fleet General, Zhou Yunchen, was the lawful mate of the director’s own superior.

Normally, the quartermaster wouldn’t push for excess numbers either. He only hoped to get deliveries faster, and preferably the stronger models. The allocation regulations weren’t overly strict, so there was room to maneuver. The director hadn’t minded helping the Silver Halberd Fleet secure a larger share and rushing the factory’s progress.

But now, with the mandatory marriage term just ended, Lu Yao had almost leapt at the chance to divorce Zhou Yunchen. Media speculation was everywhere, buzzing with theories that their marriage had been deeply unhappy.

That left the operations director uncertain about Lu Yao’s stance. Should he also begin “freezing out” the Silver Halberd Fleet? After much deliberation, he realized he couldn’t make the call himself. He had no choice but to bring the matter to Lu Yao.

“They want all new models?” Lu Yao asked.

“That’s right.” The operations director saw him frown slightly, as if weighing something.

“Once FL03 goes into mass production, which fleets are in line for allocations?”

“Besides the Silver Halberd Fleet, General Li’s Azure Dragon Exploration Corps and General Dott’s Rhine Fleet.”

The Azure Dragon Corps and Rhine Fleet were part of the Exploration Army, tasked with probing the unknown reaches of the stars. In this vast, empty universe, the Exploration Army rarely faced enemies. Their only real opponents were cosmic radiation, gravitational anomalies, and the harsh extremes of uninhabited planets. From a practical standpoint, they needed highly adaptable mecha, not raw firepower.

Yet within the mecha pilot community, alphas—whose blood ran hot with a natural taste for battle—always made up the majority. On every survey the base sent out, they shouted for heavier, more powerful combat units. So the base always reserved some heavy assault mecha for the Exploration Army. No one had expected the Silver Halberd Fleet to try to monopolize the newest assault models.

Lu Yao thought for a moment, then suddenly asked, “Hasn’t the alien beast emergence rate at the Alien Void spiked again recently?”

Mo Feng nodded. “Yes. The Academy’s research team already reported it to the higher-ups. Another major battle may be imminent.”

“Mm.” Lu Yao turned back to the operations director. “Give the Silver Halberd Fleet however many FL03 units they want. But add a clause requiring them to let us collect combat data from the mecha. That will help with future iterations. If they don’t agree, cut their share.”

“Yes, Chief Engineer.”

After half an hour of debate, everyone had reconciled their differences and consolidated their agreements. Lu Yao listened to the reports, redistributed assignments, and set deadlines. Within a week, the integrated process department and final assembly team would have a prototype ready for field trials and final testing.

When the meeting ended, Lu Yao and Mo Feng left together. Normally, lab directors swarmed Mo Feng asking for funding. But with Lu Yao present, they all hung back, following at a distance, moving at a tortoise’s pace.

“Someone proposed a promotional collaboration with the base. Would you be interested?” Mo Feng asked as they walked.

“You handle it. Why ask me?” Their division of labor was crystal clear: all technical matters fell to Lu Yao, while Mo Feng oversaw finances and personnel. “Because they need your cooperation.”

Lu Yao gave him a questioning look.

“The military wants to shoot a documentary.”

Author’s Note:

Lu Yao—a cool guy!

Even though Zhou Yunchen didn’t turn into a seductive concubine over three years, the snow leopard still has the potential to become a future Daji~

 

 

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