The Mech Touch novel Chapter 1056

The obligation to pay a visit to the MTA’s headquarters in the star sector once Ves advanced to Journeyman unsettled him after his meeting with Professor Ventag.

Unless he wanted to cut ties and run off into the frontier to become a fugitive pirate designer like the Skull Architect, he had little choice but to pay tribute to the MTA in this way.

It was yet another concern that Ves had little choice but to comply if he wanted to maintain his elevating status within civilized space. As the professor already mentioned, advancing to Journeyman would permanently mark him as an individual of note in the galaxy.

No longer would he be considered a forgettable individual in the uncounted masses of the rest of humanity. A Journeyman Mech Designer stood on the same footing as an expert pilot such as Venerable Foster, Venerable Xie and Venerable O’Callahan in terms of social status.

Ves huffed. "In practice, expert pilots enjoy all the glory and adoration of the public."

Most mech designers were fine with that. Their profession didn’t lend them too well to public spectacles. Compared to a straightforward mech duel between mech pilots, a design duel between mech designers was an absolute bore to watch to most laymen.

The increasingly vain part of Ves hated the popularity disparity between the two professions, but the rational part of him cautioned him that there was little use obsessing over this matter. For better or worse, expert pilots enjoyed all the limelight in the Bright Republic.

Perhaps as compensation for their relative lack of attention, Journeyman Mech Designers usually grew insanely wealthy. Practically every Journeyman who entered the private sector became a billionaire within a couple of years.

Even the Journeymen who opted to work for the public sector or the military received a lot of benefits in the form of access to exclusive knowledge or other accommodations.

"Journeyman Mech Designers have it good." Ves remarked with hungry eyes. He couldn’t wait to become one himself! "I’ll finally get rid of my pitiful Apprentice status and become a real adult in the mech industry!" _{freёwebnovel.com}

Naturally, the increased power and ability of Journeyman Mech Designers also meant he received new commitments. They couldn’t just run off and do whatever they wanted.

With power came responsibility, that was one of the messages that Professor Ventag tried to convey to Ves earlier. As the main galactic regulatory organization for mechs, mech pilots and mech designers, the MTA would make sure that Ves wielded his power responsibly instead of going astray that caused the Skull Architect to flee from the Friday Coalition.

His advancement to Journeyman also led to another major change. His relationship with Master Olson changed substantially as well at that moment. He would finally become a mech designer worthy of her notice.

"She did tell me that she expects me to assist her organization in some way." Ves remembered.

Every Master Mech Designer led a vast organization and influence network of subordinate mech designers and associated companies. As a young and relatively recently-advanced Master, Carmin Olson’s influence network was not as large or mature as the influence network of the older and more established Masters.

To Master Olson, the assistance of every mech designer counted, particularly one who she invested in early like Ves. Even if their relationship was mostly transactional, Ves was fine with associating himself to a Master in this way.

Just like his recent association with Senator Tovar, he already benefited from staying under Master Olson’s umbrella. Occasionally working on her behalf would allow him to enjoy greater protection and access to exclusive goodies.

"One day, I’ll be in Master Olson’s position, and many mech designers will compete for my favor." Ves daydreamed with a silly smile.

Even before his advancement to Journeyman, his return to civilian life also gave him the opportunity to reconnect to the System. His reunion to the mystical incarnation of the Metal Scroll was long overdue. Despite its contentious origins, right now Ves highly desired to make use of it to increase his chances of designing a successful super-medium space knight.

"Some of the suggestions made by Professor Ventag is rather hard to follow. It would be good for me if I am actually able to understand the essence of those difficult principles."

A few days quietly passed by as the escort fleet made its way back to the Bright Republic. Surprisingly, Professor Ventag paid him a visit in his quarters and deposited a data pad on his desk.

"Do you remember your earlier request? Ordinarily, Apprentice Mech Designers aren’t allowed to access the records of our esteemed expert pilots. However, I’ve pulled some strings and traded some favors to fulfill your wish. Through a lot of effort, I managed to receive permission to share a redacted record of a single space knight expert pilot from a friendly mech regiment. This is the best I can do for you. Is that enough for your needs?"

Ves picked up the data pad with a careful grip. He felt very grateful for Professor Ventag’s efforts on his behalf. "Thank you for fulfilling my request. I’m sure I can do a lot of good with this even if it contains only a single record. It must have been difficult to pry it loose from the Mech Corps."

"You have no idea." The professor chuckled. "Remember, I’m only doing this favor for you because of our friendship and to repay what you’ve done for us so far. Continue the good work."

Message received. "I’ll be sure to keep that in mind in the future."

"By the way, don’t take that data pad out or try to copy its contents elsewhere. You only have six hours to study Venerable Fontain’s record before the data pad automatically wipes its contents. The guards stationed outside your quarters will come and pick it up after you’re done with your perusals."

Ves hardly twitched when he heard that guards had been stationed just outside the hatch. "Got it. I’ll be sure to make the most of my time."

When Professor Ventag left, Ves eagerly turned on the data pad. He studied the contents and saw that it contained a number of documents and recordings. The highly secured data pad contained a random collection of descriptive documents, training footage, after-action reports, actual combat footage and even a brief exposition of the individual expert mechs piloted by the expert pilot in question!