Mecha Chapter 281: Remodeling

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: GaeaTiamat

 

Luo XiaoLou got up early the next morning and prepared breakfast, an idea he’d had since yesterday when he discovered that their room came with a kitchenette.

After he boiled the vegetable and meat foam porridge, Luo XiaoLou turned off the fire. When he looked up, he found Yuan Xi, whose hair was still dripping, was leaning against the door and looking at him with a heat in his eyes that was hard to ignore.

Amidst the diffuse aroma, Luo XiaoLou smiled. “It’ll be ready soon.” The two of them hadn’t eaten their own food for a long time. Now they had a rare opportunity, so Luo XiaoLou intended to relive the humdrum days and let Yuan Xi relax in the meantime. Although Yuan Xi never expressed it, it was easy to realize that he preferred to eat the food Luo XiaoLou cooked.

The color of Yuan Xi’s eyes deepened, and he let out a sigh. He stared at Luo XiaoLou for a while before he finally pulled his gaze away. If this continued he doubted that today’s tactical training could still be carried out. The way Luo XiaoLou always seduced him at any time was very difficult.

Yuan Xi adjusted his breathing. He tried to focus on the golden doughnuts on his plate, as he entered the kitchen with an aloof expression. He looked like he didn’t want to help at all, but was in a hurry.

Luo XiaoLou stifled his laughter, and handed items to Yuan Xi. After Yuan Xi left, Luo XiaoLou opened the oven in the corner and took out a fruit butter cake. A quarter of it was cut off to fill the plate, and the rest was put into the food storage box by Luo XiaoLou.

When Luo XiaoLou sat down at the table, Yuan Xi’s eyes fell on the plate in Luo XiaoLou’s hand and lit up.

Luo XiaoLou didn’t move, just said, “Eat up. Don’t you have to hurry?” He finally placed the cake by his side to make it clear that he intended to eat it.

Yuan Xi pursed his lips and looked at him. He didn’t say anything, and quietly began to eat. The simple breakfast made him feel warm and hungry.

After he put down his napkin, Yuan Xi looked up, “…I’m done eating. I have tactical training today and will be very busy, so I won’t be back at noon. If you have anything to do, just explain to the people at the door and try not to run around.”

As he looked at Yuan Xi, who was ready to leave, Luo XiaoLou’s eyes curved. He pushed the plate with the cake over to him and said, “I was going to eat it after the meal, but now it looks like I can’t eat anymore.”

Yuan Xi was a little moved and a little annoyed. Luo XiaoLou must have done it on purpose, but he still sat down and picked up the fork.

With a cold face, Yuan Xi went back to their room to get his dark blue jacket. But before he left, he walked over to Luo XiaoLou who hadn’t finished eating his breakfast. The kiss was not over until Luo XiaoLou could hardly breathe.

After Yuan Xi left, Luo XiaoLou could still recall the sweet and creamy taste of cake in his mouth.

After he picked up his things, the communication device on Luo XiaoLou’s wrist vibrated. He thought it was Zhuang Yi or yesterday’s student from Orwell College, but when he clicked on it, he found it was Ling Xu. It was only one sentence: I want to ask you a favor.

Luo XiaoLou saw that it was still early, so he asked Ling Xu to come to the room next to his own. It was originally a materials storage room, but it was now empty, and where he had planned to help a few people modify their mecha.

Ling Xu arrived quickly. After he entered, he looked at Luo XiaoLou and said first, “Did you get into trouble when you were away for so long?”

Luo XiaoLou didn’t want any more people to know about the existence of the Protura in his body. That wouldn’t help, just one more person who would follow the panic.

When he saw Luo XiaoLou shake his head, Ling Xu hesitated for a moment and said, “If you have a problem, just say it. Your identity is sensitive, but several big families have been helped by us. The Luo family and Ling family won’t say anything, plus with Yuan Xi’s gesture, there won’t be any more problems.”

The Luo family and the Ling family? He thought of Luo ShaoTian and the person in front of him. Luo XiaoLou smiled, “Thank you.”

In Ling Xu’s eyes something quickly flashed. He said, “You don’t need to say thank you, it’s deserved.”

“Nothing is deserved. By the way, what do you need my help with?” Luo XiaoLou changed the subject. Of course he couldn’t identify with the feelings of his body’s previous owner towards Ling Xu, so Ling Xu didn’t need to make up anything to him at all.

Ling Xu had a rare, slightly embarrassed look on his face. Only after a few seconds did he say, “It’s about Shen Yuan. You know he’s with the Kane Group group.”

Luo XiaoLou looked at Ling Xu in disbelief, “Of course. As far as I know, he’s doing a great job.” Why would Ling Xu notice Shen Yuan?

Ling Xu looked even stranger, but quickly said, “Of course. I didn’t say he wasn’t good, he’s always been very good. I…I meant to say that his Spiritual Power is damaged, and I don’t want him to sink. I’ll find a way to heal him, but until then, I’d like you to help me talk him through it. Also, don’t give up on yourself, or disregard your own safety.”

Luo XiaoLou looked at Ling Xu in shock. “Wait. Shen Yuan’s Spiritual Power was injured? No one has talked to me about it yet. My master and Teacher Di Jia don’t have a solution?”

Ling Xu shook his head, as his eyes dimmed, and he said, “I asked them about it. At that time, in order to save someone, his Spiritual Power was over-consumed. There is almost no possibility of healing.”

Luo XiaoLou froze. For a mecha maker, if there was no Spiritual Power, then their work and dreams had no direction forward. He quickly thought of Shen Yuan’s smile yesterday, which was no different from before. He simply hadn’t seen that he was under great emotional pressure.

With a sigh, Luo XiaoLou said, “I know. Don’t worry. Shen Yuan is my friend. I will do my best to help.”

Ling Xu nodded, “It’s best to keep him with you in the meantime.” After giving Luo XiaoLou a few more words of advice, Ling Xu got up and left.

Luo XiaoLou turned around the material room a few times, and his eyes suddenly lit up when he saw the instrument brought over from the exotic beasts. He returned to the room and took 125, who was busy working, on the computer, “Honey, I need to ask for your help with something.”

125 looked blankly at Luo XiaoLou’s nearby face, unable to connect the little baby that was about to break out of its shell with the person in front of him. He was full of the excitement and anticipation of new life. Some things can not be retracted…

When he saw 125’s look of having seen a ghost, Luo XiaoLou asked in surprise, “What are you looking at?”

“Of course it’s a guide to hatching and raising new life–” 125 noticed Luo XiaoLou’s face wasn’t quite right, and got busy. “What did you say you wanted my help with? Now you know you can’t leave me at all?” At the end of the sentence, yesterday’s sullenness rose again, and he gave him a look of, you go, ah, you go hug Cloudy Sky.

Luo XiaoLou tried hard to throw the word hatching out of his mind before he asked, “Do you still have the source fruit you gave Master Yu last time?”

“What are you going to do?” 125 stared defensively at Luo XiaoLou, with an even grimmer look than before.

Luo XiaoLou coughed, trying to look less like a bad master who hit his pet. “It’s like this. Shen Yuan’s Spiritual Power is damaged. It’s very serious. If it can’t be healed, he may not be able to work as a mecha maker in the future.”

“Well.” 125 touched his stomach.

…So was it there or not? Luo XiaoLou couldn’t help but want to take out all the super energy boxes he’d made to bribe 125, but first 125 handed him a box. Luo XiaoLou took it. A look at the contents and the corners of his mouth curled up. Inside were three source fruits, and they were still smoking with a trace of white gas. They seemed to be just ripe and picked. This was a rare generosity for 125, who attached great importance to his private belongings.

Luo XiaoLou bent down, and kissed 125 on the cheek, with a smile on his face, “Honey, thank you. This will help a lot.”

After a moment where he stiffened and blushed, 125 shouted at Luo XiaoLou’s departing back, “Don’t you realize you simply can’t stay away from me? I dare say I’m more suitable for you than Cloudy Sky! What do you think?”

Luo Xiao Lou had prepared most of the materials, when the display light on the door came on. When he saw the people on the screen, Luo XiaoLou opened the door.

Among them were Zhuang Yi, who came along with two other young men. They still looked like students. The two stared at Luo XiaoLou with eagerness and admiration in their eyes.

Luo XiaoLou stepped aside to let the people into the room, then smiled and said to the last person, “Shen Yuan, stay and help later. It’s too urgent. I want to finish it as soon as possible.”

Shen Yuan hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “I’ll do my best.”

When they got inside, before Zhuang Yi could say anything, the two young men were already whispering in surprise. The instruments here were almost the most top of the line they had ever seen! And some of them they couldn’t even name.

Both of them were mecha makers, so of course they understood the value of these instruments better than anyone else, and just then, their eyes were glowing. They wanted to touch the instruments around them but didn’t dare to.

Only when Zhuang Yi reminded them did they come back to their senses.One of the young men introduced himself respectfully to Luo XiaoLou. “Greetings, Your Highness, Prince Consort. I am Lin Jie, Roland’s mecha maker, and this is Buck, Forsyth’s mecha maker. I would like to thank you very much for your willingness to help Roland and Forsyth transform their mecha.”

The tall and simple Buck touched his head, and said after Lin Jie, “If there is anything we can do, just give us a direct order. The two of us can still help.”

Luo XiaoLou and the two said hello. First he briefly reviewed the three people’s mecha, then touched the table’s microcomputer. There was a slight rattling, and several large storage boxes rose up from under the floor.

“Shen Yuan, you take those two and help me with the material.”

Shen Yuan nodded and opened the storage boxes, which were full of organized raw materials.

Lin Jie and Buck were surprised when Luo XiaoLou actually started asking them to handle the materials without any other questions. Could he be so sure that these materials would definitely be used? But when they saw the advanced materials inside, they held back the words that came to their mouths.

At the same time in their hearts they shouted, Good use! Better use them all! These high-grade materials that appeared in the auction were scrambled, there are actually several large boxes here!

Lin Jie and Buck swallowed and decided that the materials they brought over wouldn’t be displayed at all, while they grabbed and started to handle these materials.

Luo XiaoLou called Zhuang Yi aside. First he asked for the modification requirements, then for Zhuang Yi’s recent training data, and finally told Zhuang Yi he could go to the training.

As he looked at Luo XiaoLou, who had started to analyze the data on the computer, Zhuang Yi regretted that his mecha maker wasn’t there, otherwise this would be an excellent learning opportunity.

There were only four people left in the large materials room, with Luo XiaoLou quickly simulating and adjusting the construction of a model of Zhuang Yi’s mecha, while Shen Yuan worked on the materials.

After ten minutes, Luo XiaoLou’s hands stopped making changes. Shen Yuan looked up at the model mecha projected in the air, and suppressed his excitement.

Luo XiaoLou’s transformation speed had increased again, compared to before he left the military. It meant that he now had a deeper understanding of the structure of mecha. His intention was to be Luo XiaoLou’s assistant in the future, and his master had suggested the same thing, so it seemed that he had made the right choice. Even if he couldn’t make mecha himself in the future, he could still witness the birth of many great mecha.

After he made a few more minor changes, Luo XiaoLou set aside Zhuang Yi’s mecha model, and called Lin Jie over.

Surprised that Luo XiaoLou had called him so quickly, the introverted young man fondly put down the advanced instruments he had just become familiar with, and walked quickly to Luo XiaoLou’s side.

“This is the model construction diagram of Roland’s mecha. Next to it are marked the materials used for each part.” When they talked about the mecha transformation, Lin Jie’s face got serious quickly, as he input Roland’s mecha data.

For Luo XiaoLou, the mecha construction diagram didn’t look much, but a sweep with his Spiritual Power was clear, then he carefully looked at Roland’s recent training diagram.

“Are you saying that Roland has recently felt that the mecha’s speed couldn’t keep up with his controls?” Luo XiaoLou asked as he began to virtually modify the mecha’s construction on the computer.

“Yes. Roland has complained about it three or four times, starting six months ago.  Huh, wouldn’t this modification lower the defenses?” Lin Jie was intensely shocked. Luo XiaoLou read the information, almost without any time for consideration, and began to change things up. For the defense reduction, he had to admit that change was almost perfect. He couldn’t find a more suitable modification.

“It is true that it will reduce defense some, but if you use the B5 type strengthener with the Holy Vermilion Vine, the speed and defense won’t be compromised.” Luo XiaoLou said.

Lin Jie was startled, then his face turned red. “Holy, Holy Vermilion Vine?! That kind of legendary material?”

Luo XiaoLou made a sound, then looked up and blinked at him. “I don’t have much of this kind of material here, so I have to keep it a secret. Otherwise everyone else will come for it, and it will be a problem if you can’t get it.”

Luo XiaoLou was actually willing to give them the Holy Vermilion Vine, when he knew that they were from competing schools. Lin Jie was so surprised that he could barely speak. And in this way, the transformation plan designed by Luo XiaoLou had no problem at all.

Luo XiaoLou called Buck over, but Lin Jie refused to leave the room. He felt even more excited about learning about the transformation process and techniques, than the advanced materials.

Half an hour later, Lin Jie and Buck dizzily left the computer. Three mecha model construction drawings had appeared in the air with all the changes marked out. They just needed to make the parts and modify them.

Luo XiaoLou looked at the processed materials on the desktop and said to Shen Yuan, “Please, may I trouble you Shen Yuan.”

Lin Jie and Buck’s faces reddened, but they didn’t regret the move they just made.

By the evening, Lin Jie and Buck were so tired that they sat on the sofa. They felt that their last trace of physical strength and Spiritual Power had been squeezed clean. Even so, they still couldn’t tear their eyes away. Luo XiaoLou was not only fast enough to shock the two, they were even more surprised to find that Luo XiaoLou had used almost all of the materials he had selected earlier.

In other words, after seeing the three mecha, they already had a rough estimate in their heart.

Shen Yuan also sat quietly at the table. He noticed that Luo XiaoLou had been letting him handle various materials, but never let him do anything that required Spiritual Power. He seemed to already know his situation.

Luo XiaoLou finished testing the last mecha, put the three mecha with their new looks away, then threw the two space buttons to Lin Jie and Buck. As for the last one, if Zhuang Yi didn’t come, he could ask the people left behind by Yuan Xi to help make the trip.

Lin Jie and Buck were anxious to bring their mecha back to Roland and Forsyth. They had just opened the door, when they saw Yuan Xi was hurrying over.

The two men got busy dodging to the side. Yuan Xi pulled Luo XiaoLou aside, whispered a few words in his ear, and then asked, “Can you do it?”

Luo XiaoLou thought about it. “It should be possible. I’ll find a few people to try.”

When Lin Jie and Buck saw that Yuan Xi didn’t avoid them, they listened openly. Then their eyes lit up, and they quickly said, “You’ve just modified Roland and Forsyth’s mecha today, and you’re more familiar with them, so why not experiment on those two mecha?” An experiment that could add that kind of function to a mecha, unless they were foolish, they would strive for it.

When he saw the two with expectant eyes, Luo XiaoLou nodded. “Good. Then I’ll have to trouble you guys to come back tomorrow.”

“No trouble, no trouble.”

After the two people left, Yuan Xi intended to pull Luo XiaoLou back, but Luo XiaoLou broke away, took out a transparent box from the storage box he had with him, and walked towards Shen Yuan who was intending to leave.

“Shen Yuan, if you’re okay tonight, come back with me.”

Shen Yuan couldn’t stop staring at the box in Luo XiaoLou’s hand. The scent inside there was very familiar to him. The potion that Luo XiaoLou gave him last time to guide him to a breakthrough also smelled like this. Moreover, he could clearly feel the energy of this thing was much more dense than those potions.

“I know that your Spiritual Power is severely damaged, so I want to try to see if it can be repaired, but the hope may only be ten percent,” Luo XiaoLou estimated a bit and spoke conservatively.

Shen Yuan’s face, which had been gentle and calm, finally moved. He hadn’t dared to hold on to any hope since he had come back and checked his body. Now, if his Spiritual Power had a chance to recover, he could still make mecha.

“…Okay, I’ll go with you.” Shen Yuan’s voice carried a faint tremor.

Yuan Xi looked at Shen Yuan. It was rare for him not to oppose Luo XiaoLou bringing an outsider back to their rooms, but the room has a separate guest room, which was also key.

When Yuan Xi came out of the bathroom, Shen Yuan was gone, and Luo XiaoLou was serving dinner outside.

When he looked at the chicken stew with potatoes and braised pork ribs on the table, Yuan Xi was in a good mood, and couldn’t help but ask, “Where is Shen Yuan?”

Luo XiaoLou helplessly glanced at the end of the corridor. “He was in a hurry, and took the source fruit after using a serving of food provided by the ship. I’m worried that his Spiritual Power is unstable, and I plan to keep him with us tonight.”

Yuan Xi nodded, took the rice handed over by Luo XiaoLou, and began to eat.

As Luo XiaoLou began to clear the table, Yuan Xi familiarly opened the food storage box and took out the cake inside.

Luo XiaoLou cried and laughed. He was so busy today that forgot about it. Otherwise, he would have brought it out for Yuan Xi as dessert.

Yuan Xi held the cake in one hand, forked a piece with the other and brought it to Luo XiaoLou’s mouth.

Luo XiaoLou smiled and ate it, but before he could swallow it, Yuan Xi followed with a kiss, and he was caught by the continuous sucking. The tip of his tongue, which was sucked on, soon became tingly, and the sweet taste of the cake lingered in his mouth.

In the end, Yuan Xi contentedly licked the cream from the corner of Luo XiaoLou’s mouth, and said to Luo XiaoLou as he blushed, “Hurry up. I’ll wait for you in the bedroom.” Since he made a sweet treat to please him, he must want it, and he will definitely satisfy Luo XiaoLou.

In the corner of the corridor, 125 was looking at this side. Oh, oh, oh. They have not made out in front of him for a long time. He really can not resist. It will soon be —

125 looked as the ground moved away, and as the wall backed up. He began to struggle. “Let go, you stupid dog!”

Cloudy Sky grabbed 125’s collar, and walked towards 125’s small room.

 

Luo XiaoLou, with two dark circles under his eyes, crawled out with difficulty early in the morning. Yuan Xi had almost tossed and turned him all night! He was worried about Shen Yuan, who had taken the source fruit, and could not even take a short nap.

When he gently pushed open the door of the guest room, Shen Yuan heard the movement and opened his eyes.

With ecstasy in his gaze, Shen Yuan sat up, embraced Luo XiaoLou and whispered, “The Spiritual Power in my body is half repaired.”

Luo XiaoLou patted him, and sighed in relief. “Just endure through this night again.” The process of taking the Source Fruit was not something that normal people could endure.

Shen Yuan let go of him and looked at Luo XiaoLou for half a day before he said, “Luo XiaoLou, after my Spiritual Power went wrong this time, Teacher Di Jia and Master Yan transferred my file to Kain’s advisor which means I can leave whenever I want. I think I’ll come to you in the future.”

Luo XiaoLou froze, then smiled and said, “Shen Yuan. When this war is over, I happen to want to open a mecha custom store, and I was worried about who to approach as a suitable partner, but here you are, begging for it.”

Shen Yuan raised his eyebrows, and looked at Luo XiaoLou for a moment, before he said, “Good.”

The next day, Luo XiaoLou, Shen Yuan, Lin Jie, and Buck continued to modify the three mecha. This time, Luo XiaoLou also wouldn’t let Shen Yuan help. While his Spiritual Power was half restored, it was still in an unstable state.

By the evening of the next day, Luo XiaoLou was relieved to have finally gotten Yuan Xi’s requirements met. Lin Jie and Buck were full of surprises, so that there was still one day left for Roland and the others to grind it out. With this kind of function, there was always a little more certainty for a breakthrough the day after.

Luo XiaoLou also modified Tian Li’s and Yates’ mecha, and added that extra functionality. Yuan Xi had asked for a minimum of three mecha. Now with five, plus Cloudy Sky, it was no problem to form a squad.

On the third day, Yuan Xi took the vast majority of mecha fighters through a final tactical exercise.

Inside the ship, people looked out in awe as the battle formation soared up, and their confidence grew by one point.

At dawn on the fourth day, they finally reached the area occupied by the octopus people.

The five ships traveled silently, and chose their route to stay as close to any planets as possible to reduce the possibility of encountering large numbers of octopus people.

Yuan Xi frowned as he looked ahead, and suddenly raised his hand, “All ships, stop moving forward.”

The pilots of the five spaceships immediately executed the order, and came to an emergency stop.

People who had been on edge began to whisper. They wondered what had happened. But it looked like they hadn’t been discovered by the octopus people.

Just then, a white line lit up in the pitch-black universe not far from them.

 

When people saw the image on the big screen, disbelief and horror appeared on their faces.