Chapter 1212: 1212
Ves smiled with pride as Calabast looked gobsmacked when he presented his design to her in her office .
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The unsettling jamming field disrupted the functioning of the projector systems in her office . Yet the noise and haziness surrounding the three-dimensional depiction of the Transcendent Messenger only enhanced its divine air!
The first iteration of the design resembled a giant holy paladin with an anachronistic weapon loadout . Its powerful one-handed ballistic carbine packed a significant punch while its heavy saber was robust enough to chop through any chest armor without breaking!
The weapon loadout was the least remarkable aspect about the hero mech . Its symbolic and inspirational aspects hogged the entire limelight .
From its matte white tabard to its aurlike particle emissions, the mech imparted a strong impression of a holy warrior who would fight to the ends of the galaxy to uphold the faith!
After a minute of silence, Calabast finally regained her wits . "I have to admit, when you claimed you could design a mech that can impress the Ylvainans, I didn't expect you would come up with something like this . It's amazing what you've been able to accomplish in only three months . "
"This is just the first iteration . It will only grow more perfect in the coming weeks as I'll test and perfect the design . If you think it already looks impressive so far, wait until you see the final product . It will definitely be remarkable as my famous Aurora Titan design by the time I've added the final touch!" Ves confidently grinned .
While Ves invested much of his attention to his current design project, Gavin made sure to keep him up to speed with what was happening back at home .
The LMC and NORA Consolidated were selling Aurora Titans like hotcakes . Just when the analysts expected that demand had reached its peak, more and more customers came along and placed orders for the notoriously expensive mechs .
The high price tag for its editions had turned from a discouragement into a mark of exclusivity! Although sales continued to be hampered by critical reviews that magnify the many shortcomings of the Aurora Titan design, the super-medium space knight still managed to sustain its trend several months after its introduction!
Even the Ylvainans heard a lot of buzz about the Aurora Titan . If not for their aversion to foreign mechs and strong skepticism towards the feasibility of super-medium mechs, the Protectorate might have imported more than a dozen copies during this time!
Calabast performed a lot of internal deliberations . "Initially, I wasn't too hopeful about our chances of overturning the stagnant Ylvainan mech industry . I've changed my mind now that I see your mech design . Even though it's still an unfinished design, I can already say that its already remarkable enough to jolt the entire Ylvainan mech community!"
All of the praise only made Ves more smug . "I told you I can do it . When it comes to mech design, there's hardly any challenge that I can't overcome!"
"Whoa there kid, hold your horses . Don't count your chickens before they hatch . Failure is still very much on the table . "
"Why do you keep calling me that? I'm almost thirty!" Ves whined .
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"Ever since you pulled off that stupid stunt, you'll always be a kid to me, I'll stop calling you that when you actually grow up . "
"You're not that much older than me, Calabast . "
"Even if I'm not old enough to be your mother, I might as well be . I can't count the number of times I've been forced to wipe your butt . "
"I don't mind if you keep doing that . "
"Get your head out of the gutter, kid! This is no time for jokes! Just because you're on track to design a great mech doesn't mean we're in the clear!"
That caused Ves to frown . "What do you mean by that?"
"Just think about it . Who doesn't want you to succeed?"
"The traditionalists . The hardliners . The conservatives . The Poxcos . "
Calabast nodded . "There is a lot of overlap between those groups you've mentioned . However, they are all united by their xenophobia and their dislike of foreign elements entering their sphere of influence . Now think of what we are doing . We are planning on opening up the Ylvainan mech market by showing that a foreigner like you can design a great Ylvainan mech . With how good your Transcendent Messenger design appears, our chances of success has risen considerably . Do you think the groups you've mentioned will let us go about our business?"
"Ah . " Ves realized . "Can they do anything, though? You're the Director of Strategic Mech Management . You've got the backing of the highest elders of the Curin Dynasty . There's nothing they can do to stop me from completing the commission . "
Calabast chuckled . "You're too naive, kid . With how much is at stake, do you truly believe the traditionalists can refrain themselves from playing dirty? This isn't the Bright Republic, Ves . While the mech designers of your state are accustomed to fair competition, the Ylvaine Protectorate is not as stellar in that regard . "
"This…"
While Ves always took this possibility into account, the months of inaction lulled him into complacency . Now that Ves came close to completing his design, the traditionalists probably wouldn't dismiss the threat of a foreigner who might very well be capable of out-Ylvaining the Ylvainan mech designers!
"It depends on whether the traditionalists and extremists are informed of how remarkable your design has become . " Calabast stated with a frown . "With how many Protectors of the Faith are surrounding you every day, you can bet the traditionalists have definitely been warned . I've been working hard to keep the security systems of your mech workshop secure, but it's hard to hide the quality of your design once you fabricate your prototypes . "
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To Calabast, it was easier for her to hide the design when it merely existed as virtual collection of files and documents .
It was a different story when it came to physical mechs . They were so large and imposing that it was nearly impossible to keep them out of sight from any snooping eyes .
Ves frowned . "I can't finish my design without gathering lots of data on how the prototypes perform in realspace tests . I need an extensive testing ground that can showcase both the ranged and melee capabilities of my prototypes . "
"Is it possible for you to skip this step?" She requested . "Testing grounds are often large spaces that are very difficult to secure entirely . Even the huge, enclosed facilities can't block every observation method . "
"No . Absolutely not . As a mech designer, I'll bear the blame for any major problems emerges as a result of insufficient realspace testing . I've already performed quite a bit of simulations but they will never be able to model the Transcendent Messenger accurately . "
She sighed . Calabast knew that Ves was very stubborn when it came to mech design . "Alright . I'll look for a suitable testing ground that's private and remote enough to minimize the chance of leaks . However, you'll have to take into account that any testing ground that meets my criteria will likely be far away from Krent . "
"No problem . I don't mind a longer excursion . "
They moved on to some matters . While their partnership hadn't gotten off to a good start, enough time had passed for them to become accustomed to each other .
At the very least, Ves made peace with the fact that Calabast would butt her head into his business every now and then . At the same time, Calabast became familiar with his traits and his priorities .
"Can I ask you something?"
"What is it, kid?"
"I've been thinking about what you said during our initial meeting . When I asked you what you want out of our partnership, you said you wanted to achieve greatness . "
"That's right . " She nodded . "That hasn't changed . "
"There are many ways for someone to achieve greatness . They can become the ultimate authority of a state . They can promote to an admiral in the CFA . They can advance until they become a god pilot of Star Designer . What I'm wondering is what kind of greatness you're pursuing . Where do your ambitions end?"
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Calabast chuckled . "It's still too soon to set my ambitions . However, I don't mind sharing one of my dreams . If you think what the fabled Metal Scroll represents, it's a ticket to climb to the very apex of human civilization . To you, your ultimate ambition is to become a Star Designer, right? I don't have an affinity in mech design nor do I have the aptitude to pilot mechs . "
"Most people in the galaxy aren't involved in the mech community . Just because you don't work with mechs doesn't mean you're invisible . "
"True . My dream is therefore a lot more fanciful than you think . With how large and all-encompassing human civilization has grown, I don't dare set this dream as my ambition . It's simply too difficult to fulfill even if I'm riding a Holy Son to the top . "
"Don't tease me, Calabast . Can you tell me your dream?"
The spy crossed her arms and smirked . "Do you really want to hear it? Very well . My dream is to become the galactic empress . "
" . . . What?"
"You heard that right . I want to become the ultimate ruler of the galaxy! I want to be the head of a sweeping empire that encompasses the entire known galaxy . Hundreds of thousands of light-years all fall within in my rule! Even the first-rate superstates and the Big Two have to bow their heads to me! The aliens that have surrendered to me will also submit to my rule!"
What a wild dream! Forget about uniting human space into a single galactic nation, Calabast wasn't content with that and wanted to subjugate every alien civilization as well!
"And I thought my ambition is hard to fulfill . " Ves muttered with wide eyes .
"Don't take it seriously . It's just a fantasy to keep me entertained in my dreams . I know that even Holy Sons aren't capable of uniting humanity and subjugating the entire galaxy . I don't even know if I really want to be the head of such a humongous galactic empire in the first place . It's much more practical for me to be the power behind the throne . "
"That fits much better with who you are . "
"You have no idea who I really am . " Calabast shook her head . "You only know me as an intelligence operative . While this is a large part of who I am, there is more to life than my job . "
Ves always had the notion that she possessed a sophisticated identity . If she was a Vesian, then she would certainly be a noble!
"When will I get to hear your background?"
"Not now . My actual identity is very complicated . It doesn't really matter, anyway . For now, my cover identity as Madame Cecily Curin is my new life . Unless the entire Protectorate is upended one day, I won't return to my old life . "
"So you've completely cut yourself from your past?"
"I wouldn't go that far . " Calabast sardonically . "I still make use of my connections . It's impossible for me to completely divorce myself from my past . Take it from me, Ves . No matter how far you run, you'll never be able to escape your roots . "
That sounded rather ominous . Ylvaine's spiritual fragment even pulsed in his mind . It seemed to think that Calabast was making a prediction .
Ves gently suppressed the nosy spiritual fragment . "Well, whatever is going on, I hope it doesn't affect me and my business . "
"That's difficult to say . My association with you is highly unusual . For what reason would I want to enter into a close business relationship with a random Brighter mech designer? I've already been deflecting a lot of investigations from my personal rivals . "
"Do I have to pay attention to my surroundings?" Ves asked .
"I'm already handling it . You should probably pay more attention to threats closer to home and on this planet . The Ylvainan traditionalists will definitely make a move at some point . "
That was rue . Ves began to frown as he thought of what the traditionalists might do in response to the threat he posed to their political agenda .
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