The Mech Touch novel Chapter 649

"Larkinson." The exotic purple-skinned and purple-haired visage of Mayra appeared on the projection. "I’ve received your submission. I’ve already passed it on to my mentor’s account. It should take some time for him to go over his mail."

"I understand." Ves nodded. "Did you look at my take on the Leiner Grey?"

Mayra smiled ruefully at him. "I did, and I have to say you are very courageous for sticking up for your principles. I’m sorry that I couldn’t warn you that my mentor doesn’t have the best intentions in mind when he threw this test at you. Many mech designers who approached him have never been the same after undergoing this test..."

Ves waved away her concerns. "I’m not like the others. You can already see from my work that I haven’t lost myself in temptation. I have always been aware that there are some risks involved with approaching a man with such a notorious moniker. I don’t bear any grudge for his tricks."

If Ves was any weaker or less firm in his will, then he would have been pissed. Since he came out of this ordeal without any damage, he simply laughed the whole matter off. It was pointless to develop any animosity over a mech designer who wielded a vast amount of power in the Faris Star Region.

"I can’t say how my mentor will respond to your design, but I think it speaks in your favor that you stood up for yourself. Too many mech designers who are new to the frontier think the only way to worm themselves into his circle is to act like sycophants. That’s never the frontier way. Nothing disgusts my mentor more than a mech designer that bends too easily when it comes to their own work."

"I see. Is that how you gained his approval?"

"I didn’t know anything back then when Lydia led me to my mentor." She shook her head. "So I stuck up for myself like always. I was rather stubborn back then, but that has served me well. He would have been disappointed in you if you copied his work without adding anything original. My mentor believes the only mech designers worth their salt are those pursue their own questions over any other obstacle in their way. "

That sounded swell until Ves realized that this was the same reason why the Skull Architect had been driven to the frontier. Reno Jimenez outright ignored the law and issued orders that led to the deaths of thousands of mech pilots and one irreplaceable expert pilot.

Sometimes, bending before a greater authority was a good idea.

"What was it like to study under him? Did he treat you well?"

"He was always more absorbed in his own research. I think he only took in students because he needed a firmer footing in the Faris Star Region." She replied. "That said, he treated us well enough, letting us read through his books and help him with the production of his mechs. He’s the smartest mech designer I’ve ever met, and he seems to know every field related to mech design."

"How did he guide your development?"

"Well, I made it clear that I’m only interested in designing swordsman mechs, and he accepted that. He assigned an entire catalog of books as reading materials and reviewed the practice designs I came up with. He’s not the sort of person who holds your hands. He expected me to work for my gains through my own hard work. Back then, I disappointed him a lot. I wasn’t as diligent in my studies and wasted the opportunity to ask for his advice."

"Was it dangerous to be in proximity to him?"

"Oh, he’s dangerous. Make no mistake about that." She immediately stated. "He’s decent towards his friends but ruthless towards his enemies. I don’t think he started off this way, but it’s the only kind of language that the people in the frontier understand. In your case, you don’t have to be too careful. My mentor doesn’t see any threat in a young mech designer like you. From what I saw from your submission, it possesses enough quality to meet his minimum sensibilities."

"He sounds like a decent teacher."

"It comes with the job." The Swordmaiden mech designer smiled. "While he doesn’t have the best reputation, he’s very passionate about mech design. His conviction gives him strength. He misses his old life back in the Vermeer Group. He likes to collaborate and exchange information with his peers. Ever since he was driven out of civilized space, he doesn’t have anyone who he can talk to on an equal level. Every other Senior Mech Designer in the frontier is a rival."

It sounded like the mech design industry in the frontier, if Ves could even call it that, was a lot more cutthroat than in civilized space. The market was smaller, infrastructure was poor but a lot of profit could still be made.

The natural tendency for mech designers would be to monopolize the markets from themselves. Without the MTA watching over their heads, they possessed plenty of incentives and none of the deterrents to resort to foul play.

"By the way, how is it going with Ketis? Has she been up to mischief yet?"

"Ehm, I’ll have to get back to that." He nervously laughed. "I handed over a similar test to Ketis in order to get an impression of her design style."

"Well, I did promise you to get what you wanted from the Skull Architect." Mayra scratched her purple cheek. "But don’t neglect her. Give her something to do. I would prefer it if you begin to educate her. Do you have a lesson plan in mind?"

"As you said, it depends on what I get in return. If I’m satisfied with what I’ve received, I don’t mind guiding Ketis more intensely. I’ll have to see her work before I can say what she needs to work on, but from what you said she needs to firm up her fundamentals and adopt the right mentality. The former can be done through cramming and tutoring, but the latter is something that can’t easily be changed."

Having an excessively high opinion of yourself was one of the biggest mistakes a mech designer could ever make. Too many mech designers grew self-centered to the point of becoming a narcissist. Though Ketis may not have reached this point, Ves figured she was close to crossing the line.

"Don’t be afraid to knock her on the head if she misbehaves." Mayra said, closing that particular topic.