Mecha Chapter 28: 125

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Sulo

 

A few minutes later, Di Jia’s eldest disciple Shen Yuan pushed the door open and walked in. Seeing that his master didn’t look too good, he quickly asked, “Master, what do you want from me?”

Di Jia pushed the things on the table towards Shen Yuan and said, “This is what Yang Ke is going to hand over to Master Yan. Go find out what the relationship between that Old Yang and Yang Ke is.”

Shen Yuan’s face also changed. The most taboo thing for mecha makers like them was to copy someone else’s conception and design scheme. Shen Yuan didn’t even have to leave Di Jia’s office, and ten minutes later, the truth was revealed.

“So that’s it, that Old Yang is actually Yang Ke’s father. Well, I never thought such a worker could have a son who attends Saint Miro Academy.” Di Jia stroked his chin and said.

Shen Yuan smiled coldly, “A father does not keep his word, and his son is simply doing such a despicable and shameless thing, I have nothing to say. Master, what do you think should be done about this?”

Di Jia walked around the office twice with his hands behind his back, “Yang Ke is Ling Xu’s man, and it’s logical that we should report this to Ling Xu. But as you can see, Ling Xu seems to be very prejudiced against Luo XiaoLou, while Yang Ke is different from the others as well. I don’t want to risk XiaoLou’s life.”

Shen Yuan was relieved, “Master, that’s what I mean too. XiaoLou has only taken the first step, we can’t afford to ruin it too early in the hands of those people.”

Di Jia’s stern gaze fell on the Grade 1 part on the table and finally said, “Inform everyone in the Mecha R&D Department that Luo XiaoLou’s three designs must not be leaked to Yang Ke, and inform everyone about Yang Ke. They will know what to do. I’ll transfer XiaoLou’s three designs to a confidential file that no one else can view unless they have special access.”

“What about Master Yan’s side?”

“There is no need to bring such things to the Master to stain his eyes, but I will report to Master Yan. After all, Master is the leader of the mecha division,” Di Jia said.

Yang Ke waited confidently until noon, when Di Jia knocked on the door and walked in with a familiar smile, “Yang Ke, your parts have been given to Master to go through, and what Master said —”

Yang Ke quickly stood up, he couldn’t wait to meet the master who was so impressed with him.

“What the Master said is that your design is wonderful, but it doesn’t match his vision, and he’ll introduce you to another master who has great knowledge and can guide you.” Di Jia said with a wry smile.

Yang Ke blanched and moved his lips, but finally said nothing.

No matter how hard he tried, it would be useless if his ideas didn’t match. Yang Ke knew that some masters did have such quirks. Gritting his teeth, he couldn’t degrade himself, Yang Ke lifted his eyes and said calmly, “Thank you, then, Master and Section Chief.”

Di Jia nodded and took Yang Ke to a gray-haired mecha maker, who was engrossed in research and had the experience and skills to guide him.

After Di Jia left, Yang Ke looked at the master, who was explaining to his assistant, and lowered his eyelids. When the time comes, he would find a mentor who could teach him.

Di Jia looked a little better. Perhaps because he hadn’t been able to enter Master Yan’s door, Yang Ke hadn’t asked to certify the improved design of that lowly part. If he had, it would have been more difficult. After all, Luo XiaoLou’s name was already on the back of those three designs.

But even though Yang Ke didn’t certify it, he noticed that people looked at him differently since that day. With the effort he gave and Ling Xu’s support, he would definitely not be inferior to these people.

And Master Yan, after Di Jia personally reported this matter, just showed a very sarcastic smile, then waved his hand and said, “You can just watch over his matter in the future. If anyone wants to trouble Luo XiaoLou, you can come to me directly.”

Di Jia showed a genuine smile, “Of course.”

Luo XiaoLou finally finished learning all the Grade 2 parts in the chip at 11:30 a.m. He rubbed his stiff back. It had been a horrible two weekends. But on the other hand, it was also too fulfilling.

Stretching his back, Luo XiaoLou got up and walked towards the room of part fragments, trying to see if he could distinguish them.

Mn, Grade 2 Part 10 basic parts fragments, Part 35 fragments… Pitfall! Luo XiaoLou complained to Old Man Yan as he sifted through the boxes, but suddenly his eyes were drawn to a black box. A scrap energy box?

Luo XiaoLou thought it was broken when he picked it up, but it turned out to be a brand new energy box. Luo XiaoLou didn’t have time to throw down the energy box when he saw the 5,000 Luo inside had dropped down to 0 at a visible speed.

What the hell is going on!? Luo XiaoLou wanted to lift the table in frustration, his vault were getting depleted, and this would cost another fourteen thousand!

Since discovering that he couldn’t touch energy boxes, Luo XiaoLou had a second unsolved mystery, and hadn’t found any similar incidents even after looking everywhere.

While Luo XiaoLou was silently vomiting blood, a screen suddenly rose in front of him, as well as a metallic, cold voice, “Energy reached the minimum standard to power on.”

Luo XiaoLou was dumbfounded, what is it?

That voice continued to ask, “Shall we turn on?”

“Turn on.” Had he accidentally touched a microcomputer — or, was he actually a human computer?! Shit, God don’t be such a dick! Is this the end of his good life?

“Master, hello.”

“Hello.” Luo XiaoLou returned dryly, then looked left and right with a last hope, and sure enough — the voice still sounded like it was coming from his body!

Then the voice ignored him, and after a dripping sound in Luo XiaoLou’s chest, the metallic voice continued, “Self scan: one hundred percent activated. Temporary boarding subject scan: genetic rank D, physical ability level 2, consciousness primary awakening, check complete.”

Luo XiaoLou couldn’t help it. Although he couldn’t understand what it meant by consciousness or anything, the ‘temporary boarding subject’ was clearly in reference to him, “Where are you?” Luo XiaoLou shuddered and asked.

“Hint: Your chest, space button.”

Luo XiaoLou was relieved, and his hands hastily pulled at his clothes where he found the green jade necklace shining. Luo XiaoLou suddenly remembered the scene when Yuan Xi had picked it up suspiciously to look at it. It seemed that Yuan Xi hadn’t been wrong about it, this guy really had a problem.

A talking stone, which Luo XiaoLou’s mother had given him, was an absolute treasure!

“What are you — a computer?” Luo XiaoLou asked joyfully.

“Depending on the scope of your understanding, I am an artificial intelligence. You can call me by my name — Alpha, or nickname 125.”

But, for an artificial intelligence, what are you doing with such a big name and nickname?

Luo XiaoLou shuddered and continued to ask, “What can you do then?”

“Right now there’s basically nothing I can do but power on. I hope you find more energy boxes soon and turn on the main brain for more functions.”

“More energy boxes, do you realize that you just used 140,000 Luo! More than that — if we count the boxes from before, you’ve used over 280,000…”

Luo XiaoLou immediately took out a small abacus and gave 125 an accounting.

The A.I. was silent, and after a long time, it said mechanically, “If you don’t replenish the energy in time, the main brain will soon shut down automatically.”

Although it was calm, Luo XiaoLou was still sensitive to the tone of the damn computer’s complaint, “Alright, let me ask you then, as a physically bizarre computer, what good does your existence do me?”

The A.I. simply continued to be silent.

“Do you have a space? Any superpowers?” Luo XiaoLou proudly believed robbing this computer, that used 140,000 Luo of energy, really made him feel a sense of success.

“There’s space, no superpowers.” The mechanical voice sounded.

Luo XiaoLou was shocked, he didn’t expect to get this kind of answer! The main character halo was starting to look wooden! “That’s great! Don’t worry, I’ll find a way to get you an energy box, after all, portable space and all that is really quite handsome.”

“But — but my space is full, you can’t keep putting stuff in it.” 125’s mechanical voice continued, but with an obvious lack of bottom line.

“Not even a cubic meter?”

“Space usage has reached one hundred percent.”

“…Good night, you can go back to sleep, I’m not going to search for a dime box of energy.” Luo XiaoLou, who had been hit hard, spoke weakly to 125. While the computer was a bit pathetic, the state of his vault was even more pathetic.

“Wait!” The A.I. suddenly said, “If you need it, I have the design drawings for various mecha parts here, including the energy box and the engine. And, if the functions are all activated —”

Luo XiaoLou was embarrassed, the A.I.s now were so humane, and even knew how to bribe. But, mecha parts design drawings? Luo XiaoLou suddenly smiled and thought of a birthday present for Yuan Xi.

Anyway, he had used one of Yuan Xi’s energy boxes, so if he could make one for him himself…

“Okay, how many energy cartridges do you need to maintain proper activation?” Luo XiaoLou asked.

Hearing that he could continue to get energy boxes, 125’s voice returned to its serious metallic quality, “Every month, you need one Grade 2 Energy Box to keep the main brain functioning normally, but before that, you need to do a repair, which will require about five Grade 3 Energy Boxes.”

Luo XiaoLou’s heart instantly lifted again, “One Grade 2 Energy box a month? You think you’re a mecha? Five Grade 3 energy boxes… you decisively go to bed, I’m too poor now.”

“You — you just promised, didn’t you?! And being a human, don’t you have the right to keep your word?!” The poor A.I. had given up on his self-respect and was ready to fight with Luo XiaoLou.

Luo XiaoLou was tough and unwilling to change his mind.

125 was silent for a moment, and continued with a hint of dejection, “I haven’t had time to tell you yet, I am indeed a mecha, and a mecha you can drive.”

“I’ll do it!” Luo XiaoLou excitedly held up the green jade stone on his chest, a mecha he could fly? That was his ultimate dream!

“Really — really?” The A.I. asked skeptically.

“Sure, I swear.” Luo XiaoLou swore as if he wasn’t the one who had just casually changed his mind, “But, my genes are D-Rank. Can I really drive you?”

“Sure. I’m not like the mechas you’ve seen. Besides, I know you don’t have any money, I’ll try to help you.” The loyal A.I. said good-naturedly.

Luo XiaoLou was so happy that he didn’t want to think about the costly energy boxes for now, as he held up the jade and looked left and right. This was pretty much the only benefit he had gotten since coming to the future society, the rest was all tests…

While he was enthralled, the A.I. spoke again, “Luo XiaoLou, after scanning, there are two Grade 3 Energy Boxes two meters directly in front of you, it is recommended to find them and absorb them.”

Luo XiaoLou’s eyes lit up and he touched the green stone in his bosom, “Tsk, what a treasure. It has many functions. However, those can’t be absorbed, or I won’t be able to afford it.”

The green stone dimmed with a visible speed, the entire stone emitting a faint sadness.

Luo XiaoLou was a little embarrassed, as an incapacitated master, he seemed a little poor, wait, “Why don’t you call me master?”

“You’re just a temporary one, and you don’t count as my master until you’re acknowledged by me.”

Luo XiaoLou was getting a little frustrated, but the good news was that it would let him drive the mecha whether he owned it or not.

“Also, please don’t mention my existence to anyone, or you’ll get yourself killed.” 125 said.

“…..” Do you have to say all this after I swore to you?

“So when can I drive you?” The level of surprise in Luo XiaoLou’s voice wasn’t so high anymore.

“A Grade 2 Energy Box can activate the main brain, but if you want to activate the mecha, you will still need a special energy box. I will give you the design and you will be able to pilot me after you build it. But in your current condition, the probability of being able to complete this energy box is 0.0001%”

“Okay, 125, you win. Why don’t you just tell me I can never drive you?” Luo XiaoLou said angrily.

 

The author has something to say: 

 

The stone of XiaoLou is finally out, and many people guessed correctly ……OML