Mecha Chapter 86: Point Training Method

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Lhachril

 

That afternoon, Yue Shang left. Yuan Nuo did not want to go back with Yue Shang, so he followed them home to eat their dinner before leaving. While they ate, Yuan Nuo whispered in Yuan Xi’s ear for a long time, and the two brothers even gave Luo XiaoLou a glance while talking, making Luo XiaoLou feel creepy and speed up his eating.

When it was time to sleep at night, Luo XiaoLou rolled over several times and finally couldn’t resist asking, “You said Yue Shang is even better than you, but I can’t tell.”

Yuan Xi leaned closer and rubbed against the side of Luo XiaoLou’s neck and said, “Although you can’t see it, Yue Shang is really great, and he’s… good looking. We’re surrounded by people who are after him. My parents also like him a lot.”

Luo XiaoLou’s body tensed up when Yuan Xi’s hot breath sprayed over his ears as he spoke. But Yuan Xi’s words made him feel a little strange again. Is there any direct relationship between Yue Shang’s greatness and his looks and popularity?

You know, Yuan Xi had never complimented anyone’s looks. In fact Yuan Xi was more handsome and charming than anyone I’d ever met – wait! Luo XiaoLou dejectedly found his own thoughts running off in another strange and righteous direction.

Yuan Xi half raised his head, observed Luo XiaoLou’s frowning movements with new eyes, then covered his face with one hand and began trembling slightly.

Luo XiaoLou nearly jumped to his feet at the sound of Yuan Xi’s suppressed laughter, and stammered out, “W-What’s wrong? I-I’m just asking!”

“You’re jealous.” Yuan Xi laughed smugly as he said with certainty.

How could that be?! Besides, Yuan Xi had never been good at reading people’s minds!

“What Yuan Nuo said is really right.” Yuan Xi said with amusement as he looked at Luo XiaoLou’s blushing face, a hint of surprise hidden in his eyes.

Luo XiaoLou glared at the man who was laughing arrogantly, and finally dived angrily into the blanket.

Yuan Xi hugged the man and rubbed the back of Luo XiaoLou’s neck for a moment before whispering, “I don’t like him like that. We’re just friends.” As he said that, Yuan Xi’s long, strong fingers teased inside Luo XiaoLou’s shirt.

Luo XiaoLou turned back and glared at Yuan Xi, wanting to question what this had to do with him asking if Yue Shang was better, but when he opened his mouth, he actually asked, “What kind do you like then?” 

He wanted to strangle himself after asking, he must not be in the right state today!

“Well, I like…” Yuan Xi thought with some difficulty as he worked on it.

Gentle, loving, kind, hardworking, and can cook fish? Luo XiaoLou secretly counted his virtues himself, while blushing as Yuan Xi’s fingers moved downward. But he still tried to focus on his net win and wait for the answer from Yuan Xi, which was very important to him. But since it was a compliment to himself, he was too embarrassed to press.

“…Well, the… kind…who’s tiny…” said Yuan Xi.

Luo XiaoLou’s body stiffened. What kind of answer was that?! Is it because he couldn’t keep his hands off him when he was small?!

When they were done, Yuan Xi hugged Luo XiaoLou and said with an air of grace, “About me and Yue Shang, Yue Shang’s mecha is arguably the best in the Federation, plus he’s hard working enough. Occasionally I’ll lose to him.”

‘Occasionally’ meant that Yuan Xi and Yue Shang were winning and losing against each other.

And from what Yuan Xi said, Yue Shang could only win because his mecha was a big factor. Luo XiaoLou couldn’t help but think of Yue Shang’s black mecha. The defense was extremely high, but Cloudy Sky wasn’t bad either. The only advantage that mecha had was probably speed.

But Yuan Xi’s hand speed was already incredibly fast compared to Luo XiaoLou’s. Was Yue Shang’s hand speed even faster than Yuan Xi’s?

No, not at all, Luo XiaoLou thought back to when they had been in actual combat. They were advanced mecha warriors, but with the help of the Source of Consciousness, Luo XiaoLou was able to keep up with their movements. He could clearly see that Yue Shang was not as quick and nimble as Yuan Xi when changing the angle of his mecha, but even if Yue Shang was one step slower, he often caught up with him in the end.

It was not a matter of hand speed, it was purely a matter of mecha. Yue Shang’s mecha was more advanced than Yuan Xi’s, and the fact that Yuan Xi was able to win and lose with Yue Shang in this situation only meant that Yuan Xi was actually a bit better.

While Yuan Xi buried his head in his neck, Luo XiaoLou slowly drifted off to sleep, thinking before going to sleep that he would help Yuan Xi build the perfect mecha.

The next day, Monday morning, Tian Li took Luo XiaoLou’s after-school homework and checked it off before plopping down in his seat.

“The weekend was so happy, I played with my cousin for two days. By the way, I say, why can’t I see you now? Yates also said a few days ago that he wanted you to help overhaul the mecha,” said Tian Li as he stretched his lazy back.

Luo XiaoLou was confused, “Overhauling the mecha? Brother, you are also in the Mecha Manufacturing Department, he can just call you.” Daily overhaul would be best once or twice a month, and any mecha repair station or mecha maker could overhaul it.

Tian Li shrugged his shoulders and muttered, “Who knows with that guy. He had to wait for you to come. I think since he doesn’t have his own mecha maker, he might want to use you. Free service, ah.”

Luo XiaoLou laughed, “Looks like he doesn’t trust you. Don’t be sad. Aren’t you Mu Chen’s mecha maker? Just help him overhaul.”

Tian Li’s face became even more unnatural. He coughed and looked around, and finally managed to whisper, “I mean, he hasn’t asked for me since we signed the agreement. He doesn’t think I’m too useless, right?”

Luo XiaoLou was also stunned. If Mu Chen really thought that Tian Li was useless, he could have refrained from choosing a mecha maker first, just like Luo ShaoTian and Yates, and waited until he met the right person before choosing.

Luo XiaoLou thought about it and said, “You can take the initiative to overhaul Mu Chen’s once and see what happens.” After seeing Tian Li’s even more unnatural face, Luo XiaoLou couldn’t help but drip sweat and asked, “You wouldn’t really…”

Tian Li said urgently, “Who – who won’t anymore! That – forget it! You take some time to help me one day, and I’ll contact Mu Chen. Otherwise it’ll be too disgraceful if you’re not there.”

“That’s fine, you find a time in the afternoon or morning when you don’t have classes, but I have something after four in the afternoon.” Luo XiaoLou said.

Looking at Tian Li’s wide-eyed stare, Luo XiaoLou explained, “I really have something, so keep it a secret for me.”

Towards the end of the school day, Luo XiaoLou received a communication from Manager Gao. He took a look around, went to an empty place and clicked on the communicator.

Almost immediately, the overjoyed voice of Manager Gao was heard from inside, “Luo XiaoLou! Congratulations! Your progress in the last few days has really opened my eyes! Most of the energy boxes mailed over to me are fine products. You really have a strict teacher.”

Luo XiaoLou laughed a few times and said, “Isn’t this because I am trying to pay off my debt?”

Manager Gao laughed, “There’s no rush on that. If you need it, older brother can transfer the money from this time to you first. By the way, this time I’m calling you to tell you the good news. The fifteen energy boxes were originally custom-ordered, and the price was negotiated. But because of the large amount of energy, the customer took the initiative to increase it to six million.”

Luo XiaoLou’s heart was delighted. Fifteen energy boxes, 135,000 luo, this time it increased by more than seven hundred thousand. Excluding the consignment fee to Heavenly Winter, he could pay back Manager Gao five and a half million, reaching a quarter of what he owed!

Luo XiaoLou said in surprise, “That’s really great! Thanks to Manager Gao for making it work. The money won’t have to be transferred. I’m not comfortable with being in debt all the time.”

They ended the communication with a few more polite words, and Luo XiaoLou lamented that although his profession spent too much money, spending tens of millions on materials or equipment in advance, it seemed easy to make money. Even though Manager Gao knew that he could pay fifteen energy boxes at a time, he would never mention it, which also made Luo XiaoLou feel comfortable.

After four o’clock in the afternoon, Luo XiaoLou returned to the Radiance Club after putting on his mask.

This time, as Luo XiaoLou was choosing a training room, 125 suddenly said, “Pick the seventeen training room, there’s no one in there yet.”

Luo XiaoLou blindly selected Room Seventeen, and then discovered that it was a biathlon training room, where you could train basic movements outside and speed inside. Also, it just so happened to be the Point Training Method that Coach Rocky suggested.

After greeting Coach Rocky, Luo XiaoLou entered Room 17. During evenings and on weekends, when the club was most crowded, Luo XiaoLou wouldn’t have been able to get this kind of dual training room. Moreover, Luo XiaoLou, because of his own poor foundation, this type of training was rather specialized, so in order not to waste time, he would usually find a single training room.

125 jumped out on his own, and the strapping mecha stood quietly in front of Luo XiaoLou, a red beam sweeping his head over to the monitor. After a few seconds, 125 said, “I’ve just changed all the monitors inside and out. Right now you can be seen practicing your basic movements on the outside monitor, and the inside is unmanned; after an hour it will change to unmanned on the outside, and inside will be footage of your previous training speed.”

Luo XiaoLou asked in surprise, “What is this preparation for? I’m afraid that even if you staged it, my training level wouldn’t have any hope of improving significantly.”

125 said smugly, “Hey, don’t compare me to those AI hackers. I’m much better than them, I’m the-“

Luo XiaoLou raised his hand, “I understand! You’re the best mecha in all of the Federation.”

125 glared at Luo XiaoLou meaningfully and got down to business, “The reason I am controlling the monitors in both training rooms is because it hinders those who are always watching you, and secondly, I have designed a special training program for you that is not suitable to be seen by others.”

“A special training method?” Luo XiaoLou asked.

“Well, the speed training for the eighth group is too easy, but according to your current level, you won’t be able to get into the training room for the first few groups. So I’ve slightly increased the difficulty to improve your chances of winning. Come here and I’ll tell you the details.” 125 lifted Luo XiaoLou up and sent him straight into the cockpit.

Luo XiaoLou followed 125’s request to control the mecha to the back room – the speed training room.

Originally the training steps for the Eighth Group Speed Training Room were simple. The mecha warrior operated the mecha from the required starting point to the designated end point, and the end point would then be presented on the far wall, either overhead or on the ground.

If you reach the end point within the time limit, a metal plate will pop out of the wall to provide a place for the mecha to stop.

Failure to arrive within the allotted time would result in no metal plate appearing and the mecha would be considered disqualified.

125’s changes were different. Instead of just having two points, the start and the end, there were also bright spots in mid-air, and Luo XiaoLou’s mecha had to reach the bright spots before reaching the end point to gain the achievement.

“Try it first.” 125 suggested.

Luo XiaoLou looked at the location of the mid-air highlights, and after the system showed the start of the timer, the strapping blue mecha rose up into the sky with great aplomb, stepping on the mid-air highlights first, then reaching the end of the wall and landing solidly on the metal plate.

“Mn, there’s progress. Continue.”

Luo XiaoLou had joy on his face, feeling that this slightly increased difficulty of speed training was much better than a simple two point one, where the speed was trained along with angle changes and so on, and it didn’t seem to be that difficult.

After twenty minutes, however, Luo XiaoLou wouldn’t dare say it was easy. As many as three highlights had appeared in the air, and they were marked in order. Luo XiaoLou wiped his sweat, and operated the mecha to fly when the system prompted the timer to start.

The minute he hit three points, four points immediately appeared in the air. Luo XiaoLou suddenly felt the difficulty had greatly increased, and sometimes the position of two points actually required the mecha to make a 180 degree rotation.

After an hour, the four points were finally passed after they had changed order several times. Then there were five points, and Luo XiaoLou’s fingers began to ache as he watched the bright spots pop up in the air like endless gophers, the result of an hour of moving his fingers at high speed.

“Continue.”

Luo XiaoLou clenched his teeth and continued his devilish training.

It was hard work, but Luo XiaoLou had to admit that the training method was very effective.

After Monday, Luo XiaoLou spent an hour on the basics, an hour and a half on speed with the Point Training Method and half an hour on fitness.

Rocky, his trainer, frowned as he watched Luo XiaoLou’s training videos every day, and Luo XiaoLou followed his program to the letter. However, the second week was almost over and he hadn’t noticed any improvement, did Luo XiaoLou really have no talent at all?

Every time Luo XiaoLou walked out of the training room, sweating profusely. Rocky couldn’t say anything, but he just pat Luo XiaoLou on the shoulder and told him not to get frustrated.

In fact, not only was Luo XiaoLou not discouraged, he was pleasantly surprised that after one week, he had already reached eight points in the Point Training Method. What surprised him the most was that he was able to learn the essence of some of the most difficult movements by changing angles at high speed from one point to another.

Luo XiaoLou happily watched the video 125 had recorded of him training and exclaimed, “Did you see this move, how much like…ah, that seven hundred and twenty degree variable speed rotation in the air by Yuan Xi!”

Under 125’s shocked eyes, Luo XiaoLou had to add another half sentence, “Half way…”

125 shouted, “Come on, there’s at least… dozens of galaxies away from your move compared to Yuan Xi’s.”

What the hell kind of analogy is that?? 125 you’re actually a spy sent by that bastard Yuan Xi, right!?

Seeing the fosterer’s darkened face, 125 held back from telling the rest of the truth.

A week later, Coach Rocky finally relented and approached Luo XiaoLou to prepare for a few simple tests.