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Ahh, sorry for the late update! I had so little time this week, so the updates will be 1 day late…
”CharacterQiao Zhiya: Half-elf, half-dwarf MC.
Chu Rong: Marshal ML.
Chu Yan: ML’s younger brother. Is the same age as MC, currently attending intermediate college.
Chu Huai: ML’s older brother, he’s in politics.
Xiang Kun: Chu Yan’s mortal enemy. Xiang Hui’s younger brother. Mecha manufacturing student.
Xiang Hui: A colonel. The Xiang family’s current heir. Xiang Kun’s older brother.
Yuan Xiu: Chu Yan’s bestfriend.
Yuan Lie: Yuan Xiu’s father, a Lieutenant General.
Liu Hongzi: One of Chu Yan’s enemy during the previous semester’s exam.
Ning Kongran: A fifth-grader at intermediate college. Ning family current heir.
Long Baorou: the President’s daughter.
A week later, Master Ren sent over Qiao Zhiya’s patent paper on the new processing method of mecha joints he proposed last year.
After getting the patent, Qiao Zhiya made several models of new mecha joint parts. Then he submitted the parts together with a copy of the patent to the school for his graduation project of the Mecha Manufacturing major.
He used this time to refit and make a housework robot for his graduation project of the Mechanical Design major.
After finishing both, there were only some theoretical exams left in his graduation assessment. He then could take the time to go to school to take the exam.
Time flew by in the busy study and research on mecha weapons. In a blink of an eye, the end of the semester was approaching. Chu Yan, who hadn’t been to the main house for a long time, suddenly ran over on a weekend. There, he went inside the laboratory and found Qiao Zhiya, who was disassembling some mecha parts.
“You can actually disassemble and assemble parts now?” Chu Yan was surprised. He walked around his operating table full of parts, picked up a scale model, and asked in wonder, “This is the part of the mecha leg, right? Why does it look different from what I know?”
“This was an attempt to modify the leg parts done many years ago by a mecha maintenance worker during the mecha reform. Because it was too impractical, it was quickly abandoned. When I learned about it, I found that it still has room for modification, so I figured it out myself.” Qiao Zhiya took the time to answer while still working on it. He quickly assembled a new part, then looked at Chu Yan with a happy expression. “Why are you here? You don’t have to go to class today?”
“Campus A is currently being prepared for our practical exams, so class has been suspended temporarily,” Chu Yan replied. He was very curious of Qiao Zhiya’s work, so he touched the finished part carefully. Then, he leaned down, leaning down shoulder-to-shoulder, and whispered in a mysterious tone. “Come on, I have something to tell you. Where is Erge? We have to avoid him temporarily…”
Qiao Zhiya was puzzled. He followed him obediently, although still worried. “Xiao Yan, have you gotten into trouble again? Or do you have no money to spend? Why do you want to avoid Chu Rong…”
“Shhhhhh,” Chu Yan shushed him, cold sweat dripping on his forehead. He glanced at the study next door after leaving the laboratory, and whispered in an even quieter voice, “No, I need your help with something.”
The two ran to the corner of the garden where there was no one, and Qiao Zhiya sat on the wicker chair. Looking at Chu Yan who seems to have grown a little taller, he asked, “What do you want me to do? Do you want to make a new mecha model weapon?”
“No,” Chu Yan paused with a strange look on his eyes. “My graduation practical is soon, and the school stipulates that each mecha fighter can invite an additional mecha master to accompany them. To ensure safety, these mecha masters can be anyone, be it students, professionals, or even parents. I want you to go with me, do you want to?”
Qiao Zhiya’s heart was moved with this offer, especially after the recent events. He lowered his voice, a mix of wariness and excitement. “You want me to go? But I only learned how to make parts, I may not be able to help you repair if things go south.”
“If you can do that, it’s enough for minor repairs and upkeep. While the practical exam is a bit more dangerous than the usual, there will be no serious damage to the mecha. After all, we’re only Intermediate College students, they won’t make it too hard for us.” Chu Yan reassured him again.
Then, he looked a bit antsy, as if he was doing something illegal. He looked around, took out his photon computer and searched for information on a mercenary forum, and said, “I invite you for another reason, and that is this. The planet I’m going to go to is D28, which has a fairly developed civilization. Recently, there’s been a rumor floating around about the possibility of a tenth-level rare material, the Star Sand on it. My family’s warship has been damaged for ten years and has been unable to be repaired. It lacks several tenth-level materials, and this is one of them.”
Tenth-level materials were things that Qiao Zhiya often heard about, mostly talked by mecha masters dreaming about acquiring one.
He immediately read the article on Chu Yan’s photon computer, and sure enough, he saw that there was a word about Star Sand on the forum page that Chu Yan pointed out. But after a closer look, he found that it was mostly ridiculed by the masses. Plus, the original poster was someone who had a bad reputation – many mercenaries had come forward denouncing him and calling him a fraud.
He frowned in worry. “Xiao Yan, this news seems unreliable.”
“Actually… I’ve already contacted this guide,” Chu Yan said, looking a bit guilty, eyes flicking left and right. He put away his photon computer, then smiled to reassure Qiao Zhiya. “Trust me! Although this guide has a bad reputation, he does have some skills. He is willing to reveal the news about Star Sand this time because his mother is ill and needs a lot of money for treatment. I helped him solve this problem, so he told me all the details, and promised not to tell anyone else. This post was deliberately guided by him, in order to make people not believe the news.”
“You have already contacted the guide? How much did you spend?” Qiao Zhiya was surprised at how reckless Chu Yan was, and was worried about him getting duped. Suddenly, he understood Chu Rong’s plight in raising such a rambunctious, bull-headed child like Chu Yan.
Chu Yan hesitated and said nothing.
An ominous premonition arose in Qiao Zhiya, and he asked tentatively, “Your savings…”
“Tenth-level materials are definitely more important than my savings!” Chu Yan interrupted him righteously, then became suddenly downcast. He scratched his hair in irritation, and defended his stance. “Qiao, I’m really not willful this time. The geographical environment of D28 is indeed very suitable for the birth of Star Sand. What the guide said is at least 70% true, and I think it’s true. ALso, I always feel that the recent situation in the Federation is a bit weird. The Four Great Families have been unable to repair the Chu family’s flagship even after this long. And if it keeps being broken, it’s clear that we’re at a massive disadvantage.”
Qiao Zhiya gleaned the important information, and he asked, “Family flagship? A warship? What’s going on? Even if a war is on the horizon, shouldn’t the military send out warships? Why is it like they’re relying on the Four Great Families?”
“Simple, because the flagship of these four families are simply better than the military-owned ones. They’re quite a relic now, but people still haven’t figured out how to make new ones. Otherwise, why would the Four Great Families have this level of prestige, unmatched by other noble families, to the point not even the President was willing to go against them?” Chu Yan hummed listlessly. He then looked at Qiao Zhiya, and started to become more desperate, “Qiao, I heard that you are very good at mining. You were the one who found the mutated red tin mine, and this time, please help me find the Star Sand. Please!”
Qiao Zhiya also began to hesitate, because it was related to the Chu family and Chu Rong. He very much wanted to go, but it was obvious that Chu Yan’s safety was more serious. Still very hesitant, he decided to bargain, “I think it’s better for you to mention this matter to Chu Rong first. Especially if you ever come into danger… I might not be able to protect you…”
His magic power was still limited. He was afraid that in the face of real danger, it wouldn’t be much of use.
‘He told me his condition!’ Chu Yan regained his energy, hurriedly approached him, and said with bright eyes, “I definitely will tell him, but not now. Qiao, I didn’t want to be reckless. I just worried that Erge wouldn’t let you come with me, so…”
He swished out an entourage application form and handed it over, then slapped an electronic pen and put it in front of him. “Come, sign. After that, we can tell Erge about this.”
“…”
“Qiao, you are the best…” Chu Yan employed his utmost best puppy-dog eyes.
Qiao Zhiya thought of his recent behavior of being more and more clingy to Chu Rong, and made up his mind. He took the pen and filled in his name on the form, and said, “You already promised that you’ll tell Chu Rong. Also, you are not allowed to sneak around!”
Chu Yan hurriedly swore an oath, then quickly scanned the form to the student client and submitted it to the school. He finalized the matter of taking Qiao Zhiya to practice together.
At dinner time, Chu Yan confessed about this matter at the dinner table. Qiao Zhiya was too nervous to eat, and didn’t dare to look at Chu Rong’s expression.
His own younger brother abducted his sweetheart, what expression could Chu Rong have? Of course it was… a blank face.
He put down his chopsticks, tapped his fingers on the table, looked at Chu Yan, and said, “You want to add something to your graduation experience, I have no objection.”
Chu Yan’s eyes lit up, and his heart blossomed in hope.
‘H-has Erge been so easy to talk to and reason to? Sure enough, love will make people warm—’
“However,” Chu Rong looked at Qiao Zhiya, whose ears pricked up. The Marshal’s brows twitched, and then looked at Chu Yan, suppressing his turbulent emotions from leaking out. He picked up his chopsticks again, trying to keep his tone steady, and finally said, “Before I can give you my full approval, I have to confirm your current strength. After dinner, go to the mecha battle arena, and I will spar with you.”
‘…Sparring?’
Chu Yan only felt goosebumps all over his body, and he lost his appetite in an instant.
Qiao Zhiya, however, thought he had already gained approval, making him relieved. He picked up a ladle, smiled flatteringly at Chu Rong, then scooped a bowl of soup for Chu Yan. He sing-songed, “Well, isn’t your Erge much more reasonable lately?”
He looked absolutely proud, as if he didn’t pick up any hint of malice from Chu Rong’s tone.
‘What are you proud of…’ Chu Yan sensed the spiritual power that was drifting in the cold on his back, and forced a smile back at Qiao Zhiya. He couldn’t pull his brother’s mask off, so he could only accept Qiao Zhiya’s soup and drank it in big gulps.
‘Fuck it! If it’s a sparring match, so be it! Treat it as practice, what are you afraid of! My strength has drastically increased!’
After a few hours of one-sided torture tutoring, Chu Yan finally got his approval. He signed a series of compromise treaties, and crawled back to the room with a look of pain.
Qiao Zhiya, who was ordered to go to bed on time, naturally did not see the confrontation between the two brothers. He only vaguely felt in his sleep that he seemed to be hugged hard and his nose was bitten. He frowned, and arched himself under the quilt uncomfortably. Then he was patted on the back quickly, and fell into a deep sleep again.