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After Winning The Esports Championship I’m Going To Pilot A Mecha: Chapter 136
136. “What do you want the world to be like?
The rare heavy rain seemed endless, the sound of the downpour filling the ears. The entire world appeared to have been cleansed, thick moisture lingering in the air. The research institute ahead was shrouded in a hazy curtain of rain, as if trapped in a murky fog that obscured clear vision.
At the entrance of the institute, two figures slowly approached under a black umbrella, their features indiscernible. The guards promptly opened the gate for them with respectful expressions.
Once inside, the doors of the institute closed behind them.
…
On a nearby high-rise building, a dark gray mech was clinging to the side, its feline-like hind legs tightly adhering to the smooth glass wall. It emitted no aura, its dark gray armor reflecting no light, seamlessly blending into the surroundings. Unless one deliberately looked up, its presence would go unnoticed. Even a cursory glance would find this silent and ghost-like mech difficult to detect.
The screen before Ji Mingzhu recorded the two figures entering the research institute. He watched intently, his expression thoughtful.
Though their faces were obscured, the figure and attire of one person left an impression on Ji Mingzhu.
The slender and tall figure, shoulder-length hair visible under the black umbrella… Who else but Miao Feiyan?
Ji Mingzhu had just encountered him in the black market, leaving a strong impression. It didn’t take long for him to recognize him.
But why would Miao Feiyan be here?
Ji Mingzhu recalled Miao Feiyan’s “advice” to him earlier, feeling that it must have been meaningful.
Miao Feiyan had urged him to leave Jiusheng City quickly, mentioning that it was advice from an acquaintance.
Who could this acquaintance be?
Ji Mingzhu tilted his head, pondering. He then established communication with Yao Guang, swiftly connecting to him within the cockpit.
“Have you arrived at the research institute?” Ji Mingzhu asked. “Is there anything unusual? Are there still members of the Netherworld Organization present?”
“We’ve shaken them off.”
Yao Guang’s voice echoed in the empty underground passage, “Wild Wolf knows this underground passage well. We’ve quickly lost the Netherworld Organization’s pursuit. They shouldn’t be able to find our location for a while. Right now…”
Yao Guang glanced at the holographic map on the light brain, “The map shows we’re less than a kilometer away from the research institute. We’ll be there soon.”
“Alright, I’ve reached the location of the research institute. Update me when you arrive,” Ji Mingzhu instructed. “Be careful.”
He had a vague sense that something wasn’t quite right.
How did Wild Wolf know about the underground passage leading directly to the research institute? Why hadn’t he mentioned it earlier when they first met?
Perhaps, as Wild Wolf claimed, he had held back information. But now, with their urgent situation, they were like grasshoppers on a string, forced to disclose all information honestly. That explanation seemed reasonable; after all, as a member of the Wild Raiders, strong vigilance was expected. Yet Ji Mingzhu still felt there was more that Wild Wolf wasn’t telling him.
However, Wild Wolf was just an ordinary person, and with Tian Ji present, Ji Mingzhu wasn’t overly concerned about any potential danger to Yao Guang and the others from Wild Wolf’s hidden motives. He had instructed Axiu to keep tracking Yao Guang’s location, ready to swiftly pilot the mech for support in case of any unexpected situations. Therefore, he wasn’t overly worried.
Thinking this through, Ji Mingzhu looked at the figures of the two people inside the research institute and activated his mech.
The dark gray Void Rift mech powered up again, lightly leaping into action. Its form soared like a swallow from the high-rise, simultaneously activating the anti-reconnaissance system to shield all scanning signals within the research institute. At the same time, Axiu attempted to access the institute’s systems, briefly blocking digital signals without alerting anyone or triggering any alarms. Quietly, the Void Rift entered the airspace above the research institute.
…
“Did you see him?”
Hearing the voice in front of him, Miao Feiyan raised his head in surprise, realizing the question was directed at him. He nodded, “Yes, I saw him.”
Beside him, someone held an umbrella, raindrops trickling down the black canopy. His tone was casual, “How did it feel?”
“He… is very strong.”
Miao Feiyan pondered for a moment before saying, “His operational details, precision, and reaction speed… are all top-notch. Moreover, I feel like he hasn’t even exerted his full strength yet. When facing my mech blade, he handled it steadily, as if my Marshal’s Secondary Spiral Blade Technique didn’t pose any pressure on him.”
He had heard of Ji Mingzhu’s name long before meeting him in person, but Miao Feiyan hadn’t really paid much attention to it.
As a Titan pilot himself, Miao Feiyan was quite confident in his own abilities. Besides, Ji Mingzhu was still young. How strong could he really be?
But it wasn’t until he actually met him and fought against him that Miao Feiyan realized.
One person’s talent could truly be strong to such an extent.
This left Miao Feiyan feeling somewhat frustrated. He had always believed that hard work outweighed talent. He had undergone long training sessions, battling in the simulation training grounds while others rested, mastering techniques and skills through thousands of repetitions. This had elevated him to the level of a Titan pilot, reaching the pinnacle of piloting. Yet this encounter had taught him a clear lesson: what he considered skills that required countless repetitions to master were merely things others could effortlessly imitate with a single glance.
“Don’t be too disheartened.”
The person beside him noticed Miao Feiyan’s melancholy and said, “The world isn’t fair to begin with, whether it’s talent, class, or race… We always have to accept the existence of these disparities. The opportunity to change the world often lies with these very people.”
The two arrived at the front of a building. The guards nodded in acknowledgement as they approached, then went inside to report, leaving only the two umbrella-holding figures in the square in front of the building.
“You agree, don’t you?”
The person turned around, lifted their gaze, and looked upwards. “Mingzhu?”
Miao Feiyan was startled and took a step back, looking up.
On top of the building above their heads, a dark gray mech was silently lurking there, making no sound. The faint hum of its power core was masked by the rain. Cold raindrops slid off its exterior armor, like a statue quietly lying in wait above. The cold gaze of the mech’s head was fixed on their position.
“Ji Mingzhu?”
Miao Feiyan recognized this mech. As the ace player in the underground mech battles of the black market, Miao Feiyan had learned from Boss Bei that Ji Mingzhu was the buyer of this Void Rupture mech, the same one he had fought against. Now, with this Void Rift appearing here, the name of the person inside the cockpit naturally came to mind.
*Click.*
There was a slight sound from above as the cockpit of the mech slowly opened. A figure emerged, sliding down along the cables beside the cockpit, landing gently on the ground.
The rain was falling heavily, soaking Ji Mingzhu’s clothes and hair. He looked at the two people in front of him, holding black umbrellas, and nodded towards one of them.
“Red Guard Commander.”
Ji Mingzhu greeted, “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Under the umbrella was a middle-aged man, dignified in appearance, with sharp eyebrows that reached into his temples. This face was familiar to most people.
He was none other than the strongest Titan pilot recognized by everyone several years ago, the Guardian God of Satellite City, currently serving as the Red Guard Commander of the Calamity Control Bureau, Zuo Quanzong.
Ji Mingzhu glanced at Miao Feiyan beside him.
He should have thought of it earlier… Miao Feiyan’s identity as a former Titan pilot in Shangjing City. In Jiusheng City, Ji Mingzhu didn’t know many people, and the only connection he had with Miao Feiyan was likely through the Calamity Control Bureau in Shangjing City.
“I didn’t expect you to come to Jiusheng City either.”
Zuo Quanzong smiled and said, “But it looks like you’ve encountered some trouble.”
Zuo Quanzong had always held an appreciative attitude towards Ji Mingzhu.
Whether it was Ji Mingzhu’s talent and strength in the field of piloting, or his character, Zuo Quanzong had long seen Ji Mingzhu as a successor. Even after Ji Mingzhu’s identity was exposed later on, Zuo Quanzong never thought of giving up on him. When Ji Mingzhu was surrounded by several Titan pilots, Zuo Quanzong even had Li Li pilot a mech to create an escape opportunity for him.
Ji Mingzhu equally respected the person before him. Without hiding anything, he nodded, “Yes, I’ve encountered a bit of trouble.”
“Come inside.”
Zuo Quanzong nodded and looked at the young man who was soaked in rain. He moved the umbrella forward, sheltering Ji Mingzhu from the rain. “It’s not convenient to talk outside. Follow me.”
Ji Mingzhu hesitated for a moment, then obediently followed Zuo Quanzong into the building in front of them.
…
“Up ahead is the research institute.”
Inside the underground passage, Wild Wolf led them to a secluded spot that looked like an abandoned underground elevator. It was quiet around them, with only faint light providing some illumination.
Yao Guang glanced at the holographic map. Indeed, the map showed that they had entered the range of the research institute.
“What is this place?”
Yao Guang asked, “Would a place like this research institute have such vulnerabilities?”
“I heard about it from a researcher before.”
Wild Wolf said, “This research institute was originally a complex structure, formerly an energy industry factory at its inception. After establishing the research institute, most areas were renovated, but this place was overlooked due to its hidden location. Moreover, it wasn’t marked on the original design blueprints.”
Pausing for a moment, Wild Wolf continued, “From this abandoned elevator shaft, you can go up to the abandoned parts handling room inside the research institute… Let’s go.”
With that said, Wild Wolf walked in first.
Tian Ji and Yao Guang exchanged a glance and followed.
However, as soon as they entered, Wild Wolf suddenly darted out from another end.
Clang!
Tian Ji was startled and instinctively drew his gun, but the next moment, several iron grilles dropped from above, trapping the two inside.
Bang!
Tian Ji fired his gun, but Wild Wolf ducked his head and the bullets missed. He smiled at Tian Ji and Yao Guang, “Sorry about this, both of you.”
Hiss…
“You…”
Yao Guang was stunned and suddenly furious. Before he could speak, Wild Wolf seemed to press a button, releasing a large amount of gas from above that quickly filled the entire space.
“I know that enhanced individuals have stronger physical qualities than ordinary people, and even higher resistance to anesthetic gases.”
Wild Wolf’s voice echoed, “So this is a specially designed anesthetic gas that directly affects the nerves. Even enhanced individuals can’t hold out for more than a few seconds…”
In a haze of consciousness, Tian Ji and Yao Guang saw Wild Wolf’s expression change from nervousness to a mocking calm.
“Is it done?”
Another voice suddenly came, and Yao Guang vaguely felt that this voice was very familiar. He tried hard to open his eyes and saw another figure appearing beside Wild Wolf in the thick smoke, but it was only a blurry outline, impossible to make out clearly. Before he could ponder who this person was, his consciousness descended into chaos.
…
“Is this the research institute you established, Red Guard Commander?”
Ji Mingzhu followed Zuo Quanzong into the building and surveyed the surroundings.
The interior of this building was completely different from what Ji Mingzhu had imagined. It looked like an ordinary warehouse, with scattered mech parts around and the smell of machine oil in the air.
“Well, sort of.”
Zuo Quanzong nodded, “The person responsible for establishing this research institute was the Thunder Division Minister of the Calamity Control Bureau in Jiusheng City, and also my former student. After its completion, the management of this institute was transferred to me.”
“So, researching L-class mechs is also part of your plan?” Ji Mingzhu asked.
Facing Ji Mingzhu’s question, Zuo Quanzong paused briefly, looking at him with surprise, “You are quite well-informed… Yes, maintaining and repairing Titans was just a cover. The true purpose of this institute is actually to replicate Titans.”
“Sky City maintains strict control over Titans, and only Jiusheng City, under special circumstances, has the opportunity for us to access the core technology of Titans.”
Zuo Quanzong continued, “However, the complexity of Titans far exceeds imagination. With our current technology, it’s difficult to replicate true Titans. In other words, limited by the level of materials, while the external armor and internal structural technology of Titans are not complex, their core does not belong to technological artifacts. We have spent several years and still cannot find the source of this core material.”
It’s because its core is the body of the Mother Aberration…
Ji Mingzhu thought to himself.
“Nevertheless, even so, we have found a new direction based on the structure of Titans.”
Zuo Quanzong went on, “On the basis of S-class mechs, we have conducted comprehensive performance upgrades, using biological materials extracted from Titans to create new L-class mechs. Although there is still a long way to go compared to true Titans, if we can achieve mass production, humanity will no longer need to rely on Sky City. We can have our own capabilities to combat the Aberrations.”
Ji Mingzhu remembered his conversation with the Red Guard Commander when he first joined the Calamity Control Bureau in Shangjing City.
Inside the Calamity Control Bureau in Shangjing City, the situation was actually not unified. Various factions were intertwined. Apart from the spies of the Netherworld Organization, the senior officials of the Calamity Control Bureau also had their own ideas. Some people believed in Sky City, thinking that the Calamity Control Bureau was established to serve the rule of Sky City and were unwilling to change the status quo. However, there were also people like Zuo Quanzong, who, although serving Sky City, were secretly accumulating their own power, truly striving for the fate and future of humanity.
Clearly, the L-class mech was one of Zuo Quanzong’s attempts. If what he said was true and humanity could have its own mech technology, perhaps they could truly fight for their fate without being controlled by Sky City.
In that case, Miao Feiyan also stood with Zuo Quanzong.
When Ji Mingzhu joined the Calamity Control Bureau, Miao Feiyan had already left. Although it was said on the surface that Miao Feiyan was dismissed from the Calamity Control Bureau for dereliction of duty, given the style of the Calamity Control Bureau, where Miao Feiyan was a precious Titan pilot who could even sit on an equal footing with Changbei, how could he be directly dismissed just for this mistake? It seemed that there must have been Zuo Quanzong’s instructions behind this. In order to create the L-class mech, they needed an experienced pilot to assist, so Zuo Quanzong sent Miao Feiyan to Jiusheng City to become his “hidden pawn”.
“Jiusheng City is not peaceful anymore,” Zuo Quanzong said. “The Calamity Control Bureau in Jiusheng City has been completely infiltrated by the Netherworld Organization. All the ministers of the Calamity Control Bureau have defected to the Netherworld Organization’s camp, ready to assist them in opposing Sky City.”
Ji Mingzhu remained silent for a moment before asking, “Red Guard Commander, what is your opinion on the Netherworld Organization’s actions?”
From the perspective of the New Humanity faction, the actions of the Netherworld Organization seemed somewhat justifiable. To a certain extent, they represented the will of humanity, unwilling to be ruled by Sky City and choosing to resist. Especially after the secret of Sky City’s Immortals being artificial intelligences was exposed, support for the Netherworld Organization had grown significantly.
Shaking his head, Zuo Quanzong replied, “Overthrowing the rule, rebuilding human glory… It sounds idealistic. But idealistic things often represent falsehoods. Over these years, hasn’t the Calamity Control Bureau ever considered doing this? Of course we have, but the cost is too great. With our current capabilities, how can we confront Sky City? If war breaks out, how many people will die in each satellite city?”
Yes, the Netherworld Organization appeared to stand on the side of humanity, rallying everyone to join them in fighting against Sky City. But if it were that simple, others would have done it long ago. The suppression by Sky City was one thing, but more importantly, without Sky City and its Titans, how would the New Humanity faction fight against the Aberrations? When delicate balances were disrupted, it inevitably led to rivers of blood. Unless there was a complete victory or a complete erasure from this world, there would be no reason for the conflict to cease.
Zuo Quanzong sought to find another path through the L-class mechs. He could already see the hope of achieving victory while minimizing conflicts. Unfortunately, there were not many people on his side. Qi Ling had already drawn others onto a treacherous path, and they couldn’t turn back now.
“We’re here,” Zuo Quanzong said.
They passed through the warehouse and arrived at a hidden internal entrance. After passing through rigorous identity verification, they descended into the underground of the warehouse. The structure here resembled the mech bays of the Calamity Control Bureau, with numerous mechs scattered around. However, these mechs were all prototypes in the process of being manufactured. Countless cables and components protruded from the gaps of the mechs, evidently part of the experimentation process for L-class mechs.
In the center of the mech bay, two mechs lay quietly.
“L-class mechs.”
Zuo Quanzong’s gaze fell on them, his eyes showing a hint of regret.
“Pilot Ji Mingzhu.”
Zuo Quanzong turned back to look at Ji Mingzhu who’s expression was a bit shocked and said, “I hope you can answer my question truthfully.”
Zuo Quanzong deeply looked at the young man in front of him.
From the moment he first saw Ji Mingzhu, he knew this young man was not ordinary.
He resembled Zuo Quanzong himself in his youth—young, energetic, remarkably talented, and with a deep mind. In Ji Mingzhu, Zuo Quanzong saw a kind of hope. The difference was, when Zuo Quanzong was young, he didn’t have the power to change anything. Born in poverty, he could only steadily climb from the Zongbingyi Academy to the Calamity Control Bureau, then rely on his own abilities to rise, becoming a Titan pilot, and eventually the Red Guard Commander.
However, as time passed and his position grew higher, there were things he couldn’t change. The complex relationships between humans, Aberrations, and Immortals intertwined deeply, and the internal strife within the Calamity Control Bureau was far from peaceful. He had long lost the eagerness to change the world that he once had, becoming the smooth and polished figure he used to dislike the most.
“Ji Mingzhu…”
Zuo Quanzong sighed and asked, “What kind of world do you wish for?”
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