Chapter 468: A Pilot with no Mech
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Ye Chong eventually regained himself, though not really in his prime at the moment. There was a drought happening in his throat, an earthquake in his head. His focus was everywhere that he could only let off a bitter laugh.
How did I get to the field? What had just happened? Oh my Fal galaxy, is this the execution?
He somehow knew something but he could not recall.
"Number 231, Number 231, please proceed to the mech practical test area."
Number 231, that's me. But...
Ye Chong was confused as he looked at the strange and frightful gazes from the surrounding. He felt respect but it was a different kind of respect, not the one he got when he was with the Sangs, there was... something else?
"Mu, what just happened?" asked Ye Chong.
"Oh nothing," said Shang briefly. "You passed the test."
"Mhm," muttered Ye Chong as he forsook the question. Passing the test was part of his expectation, if that was the case, nothing should be wrong. Well, if Ye Chong could not pass the test, something must be wrong.
But then...
Ugh! For Fal's sake, my head is pounding again!
"Shang, my head," said Ye Chong firmly.
"It's typical. You just need a short rest. The pain would fade away a moment later. No aftereffect. Hahaha, Ye, relax~ It's not like you'll be on the wheelchair after this. No permanent damage I promise. Mhm, I indeed had improvised the training course. So, you are fine, just give your body some time..."
It did not sound all fine from Shang's tone. Ye Chong knew this partner notorious of the abominable conduct of his. He began wondering of what reason in Fal he even nodded to this training course in the first place. He missed Mu, at least Mu was constructively helpful, unlike somebody.
Nevertheless, despite the despicable tone, Shang was apparently speaking the truth, as Ye Chong could feel the pain lifting, although his focus was scattered as before, at least the cloud of agony was parting away in his head. He had always been highly confident of his will and tolerance towards pain, but such kind of headache was something too much to be part of the training. It was simply too dangerous,Ye Chong literally lost control of his body the moment he went out of focus.
So, he must never be back to that condition anymore.
And Ye Chong was pretty certain that Shang the genius did not foresee such horrible consequence of his "impeccable" training, or Shang would never allow Ye Chong to try it at the beginning.
Dragged the steps which felt boulders, Ye Chong could hear his mind giggling pitifully. It was as if his legs were made out of tentacles, he could not feel his thighs.
The bit of warmup did act like a form of basic recovery to his strength, which was relieving. Seriously he would not want to encounter anything at the moment, he would be passive at the situation if something happened.
The mech practical test area and the combat test area were in two different venues. Under the escort of the staff, he made his way to the mech test area. He can hear the passionate clinking of two machines brawling the moment he stepped into the zone.
It felt like not Brahm's day today, he thought he had met a weakling, during which he took the encounter roughly and did not watch his language. Who knows he was then assigned to escort Number 231, the "weakling" he presumed, to the mech brawling zone. The dried tears over his face... he felt he would need to make a dive to a black hole at the moment, so he could just vanish for good. He was just an ordinary working staff after all and he had just messed with the wrong person.
Please, god, hear me out. Save me from this barbarian!
The way to the next area was torturing to him as he guided Ye Chong. He imagined his every step being the last on the way.
It felt heavenly the moment they arrived by the gate. "Thank you, sir, good bye!" And Ye Chong could no longer find Brahm in the next second.
"Ye, can you still fight?" asked Shang in concern.
"Uhh..." Ye Chong could feel his body recovering, he tried lifting his limbs, "No problem. I guess." Well, what defined as "problem" to Ye Chong was probably the problem of self-security, which technically translated as whether Ye Chong could guard himself from attacks. But he was still far from what he usually was. The fainting effect was something he still shunned.
He was not in his prime but he would not want to miss the only opportunity to make a fortune. He would kill for a piece of gold or two right now, as he had nothing in his purse, unless he decided to live the following days with nutrition capsules which tasted like dirt, or he would need real cash for real edibles. To leave Gray Valley, he also needed some information, what kept the broker talking was also the pile of real cold cash.
He gazed into the area as he observed the mech of the examiner, which was a traditional humanoid unit that wielded a sword and shield, nothing particularly strange, although he must admit that the examiner was a good pilot. The mech moved steadily as waving forcibly upon its opponent, threatening it certainly looked. The opposing pilot was tasting every slash and dash the examiner made, with no chance to fight back.
The tight chain of attacks was truly a puzzlement, especially when the examiner did not seem to be holding back even under a winning fight, at all.
He had experience, a strong mentality.
Judged Ye Chong in his mind.
There would be a handful of counters to take such type of pilot out. It should be cake-walk except Ye Chong was half-drunk at the moment. He was not sure how far he could fight on the field. Technically no miracle would happen when you fought a pilot like the examiner, he was not the kind who would make silly mistakes and giveaways. It was justifiable as Ye Chong observed no opening on the mech's defense.
At the spectators' area, the youngsters were watching the fight excitingly as their loud conversation was able to reach Ye Chong.
"That slash. Such an examiner. The opponent could not even fight back. Man, only if he's our instructor, we would not need to recruit these clowns, I mean, look at these people who came for the audition, not even 10 out of the hundreds could have a chance fighting the examiner." Said the black-haired boy.
"Him as our instructor? In your dreams! The examiner had just returned from the frontline, he kills the red-tailed beasts like slicing salmons. Did you know? He had killed over 10 of those horrors. So, don't even think about him instructing us. I had heard rumors that it took the authority countless attempts to even get him to the field. Rather than making such stupid daydream, why don't you think about the right class to attend later?"
The black-haired boy was aware of his sleep-talk so he just proceeded with the next topic, "So Xi Qing, which instructor's class are you joining?"
Xi Qing was a young man with golden hair and a rather mature feature for his age, though his expression seemed to retain the youth's naivety, "Number 79 seems alright, I mean, his attacks are pretty outstanding. The only problem is whether if he would teach us seriously. Number 140... hmm, seems fine as well. White, how about you?"
The black-haired boy scratched his head, "I dunno. I still find the examiner the best."
"White, please." Shook Xi Qing, "Please have your attention back onto the participants, or you would be getting nothing in the end." Apparently, his advice had fallen upon deaf ears, White was having his eyes glued on the examiner still.
The Research Consortium had invested a lot in conducting the training class this time. Almost every city with fine infrastructure would have a training class itself, to which the consortium had provided bountiful rewards, like an advanced mech model for example. Anyone who could pass the training as well as the final examination would be rewarded handsomely.
The consortium had made consecutive efforts in promoting the class. They had slogans like, "Protect Yourself, Your Family, the Gray Valley" and produced heroic imagery of those pilots from the frontline, which had attracted enough attentions from the youngsters who wanted to join the tower defense of Gray Valley. Well the Research Consortium was influential to an extent indeed.
Among the youngsters, some did strive for protection, some however wanted the rewards and the pride. They were hitting the same path anyway - they would be giving their future to the war field.
"Yes? You don't have a mech?" The staff was perplexed by Ye Chong's statement.
"Mhm," muttered Ye Chong expressionlessly. He must be the pilot with no mech, since any mech of his collection was clearly a thing that would hoard attention. No Han Jia, the wings were large enough to be on the news. Skeleton Mechs? The whole galaxy would know by then. Shang? Hah. He never appeared in Ye Chong's mind, not even once. He did have Valiance but that mech clearly defined itself from the outside with He Yue designs.
Hmm. It looks like he had to do something else.
Ye Chong was planning to leave.
I mean, a pilot with no mech? Even I myself find this ridiculous.