The Mech Touch novel Chapter 1582

Chapter 1582 Owing A Deb

Ever since Ves received the Mech Designer System, he became astounded by how much it was capable of. It could materialize objects out of nothing, integrate a lot of knowledge in his mind, transport his consciousness back into the past and more.

Yet one question always haunted him in the back of his mind.

Where did the System obtain all of the resources and energy to accomplish these reality-bending feats?

Someone as paranoid as Ves never took the System for granted. The more wonders it showed off, the more suspicious he became at the price he needed to pay.

"Nothing comes for free. Not even the System is exempt from this rule."

Now, the truth came out.

Whether the System had always intended to end its so-called 'introductory period' once one of his designs earned him 1,000,000 DP or not, Ves would have exhausted its generosity at some point or another.

The System finally had enough of his easy earnings and his lavish spending. It turned out that the bills he racked up in using the System had never been forgiven. The System only deferred his debt to the future.

Once Ves finished venting his latest bout of anger, he stopped bashing his System comm against the toilet bowl and began to process what he learned.

"Earning a lot of DP won't be as easy as before. Many offerings have also become more expensive."

It was impossible for him to retain the same level of benefits at his current stage. Only when he advanced to Senior or Master and became incredibly good at designing mechs would he be able to reach the same level of prosperity as before.

Ves always considered Design Points to be a fantasy currency. The System never explained what it represented and why it rose in response to his achievements. It turned out that the sales volume of his products wasn't as important as he thought.

At the very least, the System cared much more about creating new mech designs than profiting off existing ones.

The result was that Ves could no longer rely on designing a single extremely successful mech like the Desolate Soldier and sit back for a decade while the DP kept rolling in as more and more copies got sold.

"This also puts an end to profiting from selling virtual mechs." He muttered.

Selling virtual mechs had always been a source of great DP income to Ves. Even though the System capped its income to 250,000 DP for up-to-date mech designs, that was still a hefty bonus!

The drastic changes in the System's remuneration schemes essentially meant that Ves would have to keep designing mechs regardless of the commercial success he enjoyed.

Such an abrupt transition did not seem entirely unfounded.

Low-ranking mech designers predominantly obsessed over earning money to fund their careers. Regardless of their abilities, as long as they weren't able to earn any money, they could forget about progressing further!

High-ranking mech designers no longer shared those concerns. Any casual mech they designed was bound to sell. While Journeymen and Seniors still cared about their earnings, they cared even more about their progression.

The System's changes directly reflected this change in priorities. Incentivizing Ves to keep designing mechs was an indirect way of encouraging him to remain on the correct path.

"This also means that I shouldn't waste too much time on designing variants."

Designing variants may enhance his sales and business success, but did not yield that much design experience and DP to him. Only when he designed original mechs did he feel as if he gained the most in terms of progressing his design philosophy.

Now, it had also turned into his primary source of DP income if he interpreted the System correctly.

"Designing lots of mechs has been my intention anyway." He grumbled. "Were you worried that I would stop being so diligent just because I wanted to wait until the next mech generation has commenced?"

Ves could have designed more original mechs in the same amount of time if he focused his full efforts in doing so. However, he did not regret the way he spent his time in the past few years.

He experienced so much and learned a lot from his various adventures and experiences.

For example, Ves would have never developed such an enormous repertoire of spiritual techniques if he didn't get inspired by various circumstances.

"Well, whatever. What's done is done. I can only accept this new reality."

The main problem that underpinned his relationship with the System was that he held no leverage at all. He was completely at the mercy of the whims of the System. _{freewebnσvel.cѳm}

Perhaps the only reason the System hadn't taken complete advantage of him was because of the deterrent of his mother.

"She definitely holds some leverage over it or tampered with it somehow." He guessed.

Aside from this, what stood out to him was that the System kept reminding him of his long-stalled Supply Missions.

To be honest, Ves had nearly forgotten about them entirely. For the System to remind him of their existence meant that it really wanted to absorb those exceptionally rare exotics!

"It seems like I can't derive too much benefit from you unless I sate your hunger, is that what you're trying to tell me, System?"

Ves owed a debt to the System, simple as that. As a fair, honest and principled mech designer, he did not entirely object to the notion of paying back what he owed.

"It's just that you're demanding a lot. I still haven't heard anything about the materials you've mentioned in your Supply Missions, let alone get anywhere close to getting them into my possession!"

To be honest, he hadn't tried very hard in searching for them. He hadn't even approached Gloriana to help him in tracking down the required materials.

He was deeply afraid that if the Five Scrolls Compact got a hold of this list, they would instantly figure out that he held their long-lost Metal Scroll or something!

"Maybe too much caution is not a good thing." He crossed his arms and adjusted his posture on his toilet. "I don't know what other surprises the System will spring on me if I keep stalling those Supply Missions."

One final detail about the changes came to mind. Perhaps it had listened to his thoughts and ramblings, because his approved user status had given him the right to allow others to access the System.

How exactly, he didn't know. Would they have to approach Ves every time they wanted to access its interface? Would they receive their own System comms?

Whatever the case, the introduction of Access Management meant that the System tacitly approved of his intention of allowing others to benefit from the System. The only caveat was that he would have to pay for all of their DP spending.