C13 Mecha Modification

George and Chen Zhuya's dinner invitations were naturally declined.

Once it was clear that everything had been a misunderstanding, everyone dispersed.

Regarding the performance evaluation of the Aegis, Chen Zhuya of course needed to inquire about the pilot's experience. She couldn't simply rely on Gu Xian's account.

However, considering how George and the others had been bested by Gu Xian, their distress was palpable.

Once someone broke the ice, complaining that their crushing defeat was due to unfamiliarity with the Aegis, spirits were lifted, and new excuses emerged.

Despite the Aegis's commendable performance, they blamed their loss not on the opponent's strength but on the mecha's weaknesses.

As the discussion progressed, their confidence soared, and they even pinpointed a few supposed flaws.

"If my armor were just a bit thicker, say a meter, I could go toe-to-toe with him. Could he really beat me then? Not even an alloy knife could penetrate such defense!"

"Exactly, and the joints are just too fragile. If they were made with T-shaped alloy, would I lose my combat capabilities so easily?"

"The Primordial is just rubbish. Forget everything else, just give me a laser gun. One shot, and I'd show him what's what!"

A meter-thick armor layer? That's something you'd find on Silver Level defensive mechas, sacrificing agility and speed, certainly not meant for standard police mecha designs.

T-shaped alloy? That's prohibitively expensive, which is why it's only used in the joints of mechas, and Chen Zhuya had only seen it in the Gold Level mechas by Deep Blue.

A laser gun? Why not wish for a starship's main cannon while you're at it? The Aegis's engine could only manage a single shot at full power.

These so-called flaws weren't actually flaws; they were simply beyond the reach of Bronze Level mechas.

Chen Zhuya scoffed, dismissed their complaints, yet meticulously recorded everything.

She was quite the cunning woman.

"User feedback indicates that the Aegis has weak defenses and lackluster offensive capabilities, with particularly poor protection at the joints. This assessment did not cover the Aegis's speed, but according to user statements, its current performance is woefully inadequate. Even a slight increase in speed would be futile; further testing is unnecessary. My evaluation rates the Aegis's design at a Level C. Evaluator: Chen Zhuya."

Chen Zhuya couldn't help but revel in the thought of Ning Xian's livid expression, her delight growing by the minute.

"Oh, this Gu Xian kid, the more I see him, the cuter and more fascinating he becomes."

Gu Xian was oblivious to the events unfolding with Chen Zhuya. At that moment, he stood before Vian's desk, absorbing the critique.

"Comrade Gu Xian, honesty is paramount! Do you realize the gravity of not disclosing your past to me? Had I been aware, could we have avoided today's misunderstanding? The pioneer being damaged is one thing, but if something had happened to you here, the loss would have been immeasurable!

"In plain English, your actions are 'unbelievable.' Do you grasp the weight of that word? Unbelievable, truly unbelievable, do you get it?"

Gu Xian remained silent, seeing things from Vian's perspective, he too felt Vian was justified.

"Let's not dwell on other matters. We're all in this together, and I've got your back. You carry on as usual, and I'll ensure you get your full pay, to the last cent. But there's one thing you need to agree to." Vian gestured towards Old Black, "Old Black here will bear witness, so no one can accuse me of playing favorites."

Old Black gave a nod of agreement.

"What's the condition?" Gu Xian inquired.

"The cost of replacing the mech parts is on you. It's only fair since the damage was due to personal reasons. If I covered for you, it might not sit well with the rest. It's challenging to lead with so many watching. I hope you understand."

"No problem," Gu Xian agreed with a nod.

"Good. The aging of the parts for the fusion glow, main engine, and transmission system, when tallied up, isn't a huge sum—just 120,000 yuan. That's manageable for you, right?"

Gu Xian's eyes bulged. He hadn't even received his paycheck, and now he was suddenly saddled with a 120,000 yuan debt?

"Is there a chance for reimbursement from the Security Department?" he asked.

Vian scratched his head, "I'm not sure about that. You'll have to check with George."

Gu Xian abandoned the idea. Rather than joining the Security Department and killing in the open, he felt that 120,000 yuan was a more palatable option.

As Gu Xian left the office, Ludwig dashed to the door, craning his neck to watch him walk away before slamming the door with a resounding "bang."

Vian, unable to contain his nervous sweat, shivered as he asked, "Is he gone?"

"He's long gone," Ludwig confirmed, commending Vian for his bravery.

"I was scared out of my wits. The pressure was too much," Vian said, mopping his brow and glaring at Ludwig. "Come over here and give me a hand!"

"What for?" Ludwig asked, puzzled.

"My legs are like jelly. Hurry!"

...

Back in the dorm, Gu Xian found Chen had already taken his shower.

The morning had flown by amidst the commotion.

Today's battle had rocked the steel tower, especially for the engineering mecha above, who several times feared the building might collapse.

Chen seemed in high spirits, perhaps buoyed by their narrow escape.

Yet, he seemed unaware that Gu Xian was the day's hero. After a brief greeting, Chen returned to his clay sculpting.

Chen had already packed several of his earlier sculptures in foam paper and boxed them up. Gu Xian took a quick look, guessing they were ready to be shipped.

Sitting on his bed, Gu Xian furrowed his brow in thought.

Not being a Security Department employee, getting reimbursed wouldn't be straightforward. He'd likely have to accept George's terms and join the Security Department.

But that wasn't what he wanted. Twelve hundred thousand yuan... Maybe he should just let it go. If push came to shove, he could always take on a couple more projects. Such incidents couldn't keep happening, could they? After all, he had resolved to live as an ordinary person.

With that thought, the issue seemed trivial to Gu Xian.

His mood lifted slightly, and he suddenly remembered the grayish-white crystal he had discarded.

His survival owed much to the relentless duels at the training camp, which had honed his mastery of the Blazers.

Perhaps this training camp was unlike any he had encountered before?

Maybe it was worth a shot?

Gu Xian hesitated briefly before crawling under the bed. After rummaging around, he grasped the grayish-white crystal and emerged.

That sense of connection, as if to his very flesh and blood, returned.

He closed his eyes and summoned the training camp.

Through the grayish-white haze, the familiar landscape unfolded before him once more.

An endless array of mech armors, resembling a colossal bookshelf, stretched to the horizon, a testament to the grandeur of a civilization's tip of the iceberg.

These mechs stood like ancient giants, destined to remain steadfast through the passage of time.

They were the embers of civilization, its guardians, now long perished.

"Number 2, hello," Gu Xian heard a familiar voice, distinctly non-electronic.

Surprised, he turned to see a youth roughly his age.

The young man sported a black ponytail and was clad in an outfit reminiscent of traditional Han clothing, strikingly handsome. With phoenix eyes and a warm smile, his red lips parted to reveal two charming little canines.

"I'm Little Ghost," the youth introduced himself.

A flash of recognition struck Gu Xian; the pilot of the blue and white mech that had plunged into the darkness during the final battle was known as Little Ghost.

"Indeed," Little Ghost confirmed, his playful canines accentuating his mischievous grin.

"You're still alive?" Gu Xian couldn't believe it.

"I've long since passed. What remains are merely fragments of my DNA and some residual images. If you believe I'm alive, then in a sense, I am. If you reckon I'm dead, then I am dead. The intricacies of this are beyond my explanation—I'm no scientist, after all."

Little Ghost continued, "But that's beside the point. From now on, I'll be taking over from the black hole to guide you."

"The black hole?"

"That's the AI system managing the base. You must have encountered her already."

"The one with the synthesized voice?"

"Exactly."

"Why is it named 'black hole'?"

"Because a black hole is the origin of everything," Little Ghost replied with a resigned tone. "Are you sure you want to keep discussing such matters with a layman like me?"

"I'm sorry," Gu Xian said, a touch of embarrassment in his voice.

The blue and white mech materialized before him once more, and with it, a deep sense of respect for Little Ghost prompted his courteous demeanor.

"I heard you're hesitant to reboot the training camp?" Little Ghost inquired.

"I've had a change of heart," Gu Xian responded. "I'm willing to give it a try."

Little Ghost was momentarily disconcerted. "Then why did the black hole rouse me?"

Gu Xian nonchalantly rubbed his nose.

"Well, it's done now, so let's just roll with it," Little Ghost stammered, his words breaking off three times as his tiger teeth flashed a grin. "The black hole has some improvement suggestions based on the last mech you brought in."

"Pioneer-12?"

"Is that its name?" With a wave of his hand, Little Ghost conjured the Pioneer before them.

"Yes, that's the name."

"Then it truly lives up to the name 'Pioneer.' It's quite basic," Little Ghost commented with a hint of humor. "I was born three thousand years prior, and I'd wager the mechs back then were about on par with this one."

Gu Xian had no reply.

"So, is this the current standard for your mechs?"

"There are some that are a bit more impressive."

"Hmm, still a hassle. Tell you what, can you bring to mind one of those impressive mechs you mentioned? I'd like to see it for myself."

"Just by remembering it, it can be materialized?"

"That's right," confirmed Little Ghost.

And so, Gu Xian focused on recalling the most formidable mech he'd encountered — Princess Eliza's Ice Queen, a diamond-level colossus.

The Ice Queen took the Pioneer's place, materializing before them.

Gu Xian opened his eyes.

"Is this it?" Little Ghost probed.

"This is it."

"The materials are decent, but the technology..." Little Ghost chuckled, shaking his head.

He pointed to the middle shelf. "Judging by materials alone, she's at this tier, but if we factor in the technology..." His finger drifted downward, pausing at the bottom shelf before moving up slightly, "I'd say it's roughly at this level."

He concluded, "Whether it's the Pioneer or this mech, they're both operating on a similar technical level, without a transformative leap in their technological evolution. Given that, many of the modifications Black Hole suggested might not be applicable."

He flicked through the air as if paging through an invisible book, his finger tapping at the empty space before him. "Can't use this, can't use this, and definitely can't use this. Hmm, nope, this won't work either."

After what seemed like an eternity, his eyes suddenly sparkled with realization. "Got it!"

With a flourish, he conjured a sheet of paper. "Your pioneer weapon is seriously subpar. Here's a modification scheme that doesn't need any additional materials. You just need to tweak the internal energy transposition structure. Wanna give it a shot?"

"Weapon?"

"That one." The imp gestured towards the Molten Light C-2 laser cutter.