The Mech Touch novel Chapter 1032

"I’d like to be sole lead designer for our design project." Ves firmly declared. "I want to design a mech that for the most part conforms to my vision. However, I would also like to take advantage of your assistance in solving some of the more nitty-gritty design problems and help in optimizing my design so that it can reach its greatest potential. In effect, I would like for you to play the role as a contributing designer to the project."

"Good choice, though you will need to have the skills to back up your ambition. However, I like your confidence." Professor Ventag evaluated. "How much contribution do you expect from my end?"

"Hmm..." Ves tried to imagine how much would be acceptable without severely impacting the cohesion of his design’s X-Factor. "How about a seventy-five to twenty-five percent split? I will be responsible for the majority of the design choices, but I will leave you with the smaller and more difficult ones."

Professor Ventag smiled ruefully at Ves. "You’re not leaving me with much autonomy. Do you know that this is a rather disrespectful way to treat a Senior?"

"This is the best way for my company and I to gain something from the experience. I hope I can rely on your assistance in this form." Ves replied boldly.

He knew that this was an exceptional circumstance and where the usual rules didn’t apply. Ves would be a fool to forgo greater benefits in favor of making a better impression of the professor.

Fortunately, Ventag was in a generous mood. "I will indulge just this once, Ves. Just be aware that this is an exceptional privilege and a unique opportunity for you. Not just any Apprentice as a Senior at their disposal who can refine their work and polish it into a greater design than they are ever capable of producing themselves. I’m actually rather intrigued whether your bold gamble will succeed."

The Senior did not exaggerate when he described the collaborative design project as a gamble. It depended heavily on whether Ves could set an inspiring vision and make the correct design choices during the design process.

In a collaborative project where Professor Ventag would only be responsible for twenty-five percent of the design work, he would not be able to steer the design too strongly in a different direction.

If the Senior received a good base for a mech design, then he would be able to elevate it into an excellent end product.

On the other hand, if Professor Ventag received a trashy design from Ves, then no matter how hard he worked the end product would never be able to be more than junk.

Even with these perils, Ves still maintained confidence in himself. His various advantages and experiences were no less than most Journeyman Mech Designers!

He believed he could already design a mech that surpassed the Crystal Lord in design excellence by himself! Drawing upon the bountiful expertise of a Senior Mech Designer to increase the performance of the joint design while retaining all of the major traits set by Ves would only result in a mech that embodied the strengths of both designers!

Ves already envisioned if the joint project led to success. He’d be credited with designing a mech that exhibited most of the technical excellence from the work of a Senior while carrying the spark of life that only a unique mech designer like Ves could bestow on his mechs!

Such a great mech was worthy to represent the LMC and NORA Consolidated!

Of course, it wouldn’t be easy to reach such a height. Ves’ mood sunk back from the clouds as he started to consider the practical decisions associated with the joint project.

"So you accept my proposition?" Professor Ventag reiterated.

"Let me consider for a few more minutes."

Even though it wasn’t an entirely good idea for Ves to accept the offer and thereby throw his lot with the DCTI and the Tovar Family, he simply couldn’t resist any longer.

If there was one activity a mech designer loved the most, it was designing a new mech! Right now, Ves not only received the opportunity to do so, but also take advantage of the expertise, resources, experience, backing and reputation of a genuine Senior!

Ves was well aware that Professor Ventag held ulterior motives when he threw out this piece of bait. Yet the professor crafted this bait specifically to attract someone like Ves. He swallowed the bait knowing that he’d be reeled in by the fisherman.

This was because he believed that if he swallowed this bait, he would very likely be able to transform from a tiny goldfish into a majestic carp!

A major collaborative design project like this that resulted in a mech design for the market had very major implications! It might even be a bestseller in the best-case scenario! Achieving such a wide impact would very likely push him over the threshold that always held him back from advancing to Journeyman!

As an Apprentice who had been stuck at this rank for only a couple of years, he already felt the numerous limitations associated with this status.

The Mech Corps, the Bright Republic, the Komodo Star Sector, the frontier, the mech market, the mech industry, the MTA, the CFA, Senator Tovar, Professor Velten, Professor Enoch, Professor Ventag, the Skull Architect and everyone else all treated Apprentices like kids!

As soon as he advanced to Journeyman, Ves would be able to experience a sea of change in the way those people and organizations treated him. He would finally be able to join the ranks of adults within the profession and be able to take part in very consequential decisions.

When Ves imagined the power, wealth and influence wielded by Kadar and Neyvis of the KNG, he always aspired to reach the same height.

Even though Ves was pretty sure that he’d be able to advance within five years if nothing hugely adverse happened to him, advancing earlier rather than later immediately improved his circumstances.