Chapter 90#
Test#
Big Beard was very efficient. On the third day after Qu Jingshan reported the name, he arranged the test site, which was set in the base’s mecha training ground.
The training ground was built directly beneath the base, hollowed out from the mountain. The space inside was wide and tall, like a square iron box filled with pipes. Huge landing claws supported the main structure of the building, with heavy supports hidden within the mecha shell. On top of the three-story structure were various observation towers, antennas, sensor domes, and technical equipment. To outsiders, these devices seemed very cluttered.
At the very top of the building was the command center, which overlooked the entire training ground.
When Ning Feng and Yin Beichen arrived at the command center, Big Beard was already waiting there, surrounded by many mechanics who were busy preparing for the upcoming test.
Since the test pilot this time was a robot and needed to interface with the mecha’s control system, the data could be transmitted directly to the command center. Therefore, in addition to basic operating instructions, hardware testing was also required.
However, the test results surprised Ning Feng.
“Battery failed?” Yin Beichen frowned.
“Yes, sir.” Big Beard looked distressed.
Ning Feng’s equipment had been personally replaced by him. If it had been the old battery, there wouldn’t have been a problem, but with this one, lasting thirty minutes in operation would be considered good.
Thirty minutes—that would barely be enough to finish warming up.
“Where’s your battery?” Yin Beichen looked at Ning Feng.
“It’s broken.” Ning Feng spread his hands.
“Why didn’t you get a new one?”
“Where would I get that many honor points?”
“So what do we do now?” Big Beard grew anxious.
“Ah well, looks like I’m just not destined for this treasure.” Ning Feng sighed helplessly, a few chuckles escaping his chest. “How about you find someone else?”
Big Beard grew even more anxious. “It’s so last-minute—where are we supposed to find someone?”
“Then how about another day?”
“That’s even more impossible.”
Completing a test required a lot of preliminary scheduling, including personnel preparation and equipment arrangement. It wasn’t something you could just pull the mecha out, have it do a few moves, and be done. If the test didn’t go as planned today, who knew how long it would be rescheduled for.
He frowned and thought for a long time. “Can you maybe find someone to exchange a battery for you first?”
Ning Feng blinked. “Well… can you exchange one?”
“Me? This, this—”
A battery that met the requirements would cost at least several thousand honor points. Technicians like him usually did simple tasks and, unlike combat personnel who frequently went on missions, could save very few honor points. Unless…
Big Beard’s gaze shifted to Yin Beichen, and he gave a couple of awkward laughs.
“Sir, can you help out?”
Yin Beichen didn’t speak, but Ning Feng frowned first. He was about to say something when he was interrupted by a technician nearby.
“Test Unit Three, Dock Five!”
As soon as the words fell, the hatch in the center of the training ground rumbled loudly, then slowly slid open to both sides. A giant mecha was gradually pushed out from the warehouse.
Ning Feng followed the sound and his eyes lit up.
The mecha was entirely silver-white, with smooth, flowing lines and no hint of bulkiness. Its metallic shell, full of power, shimmered with a delicate high gloss. It hadn’t started yet, and the engine was only just warming up, but standing silently in the center of the field, it was as steady as a mountain. Yet he had no doubt that once it moved, it would be the sharpest blade on the battlefield.
At that moment, he seemed to see an old comrade—the mecha that had fought alongside him through life and death—
Blade.
Ning Feng pressed his lips together, his hands hanging at his sides trembling slightly with excitement, fingers curling.
Yin Beichen watched his expression, then turned his head to look at Big Beard. “Nice mecha. Are there any parameters to look at?”
“Yes, yes, yes.” Big Beard immediately brought a tablet and handed it to him. “Look, the optimizations Radish mentioned have already been added. Also, the armor shell has been reinforced with electroplated metal plates, very lightweight…”
Yin Beichen didn’t take it; he just listened quietly.
Ning Feng also discreetly moved closer, his eyes fixed on the nearly perfect values displayed. He had to admit, his heart itched a little, and so did his hands.
Yin Beichen nodded while listening, letting Big Beard explain for a long time before slowly glancing at Ning Feng.
“Do you want to try it?”
Ning Feng’s face was tense. “I don’t have honor points to buy a battery.”
“I can lend them to you.”
“Lend?”
“You heard it yesterday—without a mecha, you can’t participate in many missions. Whether you’re in the patrol team or not makes no difference.” Yin Beichen spoke unhurriedly. “Besides, you’ll have to replace your battery sooner or later. If you get a new mecha, you can join the patrol team on missions, and then you’ll earn more honor points.”
Ning Feng thought about it—it made sense.
Recently, he had been staying at the base all the time, unable to accumulate any honor points. Even Qiu Zhen now had more honor points than him. If this continued, he would eventually be kicked out of the team.
But then he reconsidered—this was Yin Beichen’s proposal. There might be a huge trap waiting for him.
It was also strange: even though he was the one testing the mecha, Yin Beichen insisted on coming along. At first, he was a bit worried about his physical condition, but Yin Beichen had put on a military uniform outside, hiding his weak hands. Except for walking a bit slowly, his back remained straight, and outsiders couldn’t tell he had been injured.
“So when will you be paying me back?” Ning Feng asked.
“Whenever you want.” Yin Beichen’s voice was cold.
Ning Feng first looked at Yin Beichen’s unreadable face, then glanced at the splendid parameters on the tablet, and finally looked down at the brand-new mecha below. He hesitated for a moment, then grinned.
“Then thanks, sir.”
**
In the end, Yin Beichen exchanged for the highest honor point battery, which had even better performance than Ning Feng’s previous one. Staring at a full thirty thousand honor points, Ning Feng felt a pang of pain and began calculating how many missions he would have to do.
The room was full of mechanics, and the new battery was swapped out in no time.
Soon, all the workers in the training ground evacuated. The spotlights on the high walls were turned off one by one, leaving only a single glaring white light. The vast space was left with just the mecha standing upright.
After Ning Feng finished listening to Big Beard’s instructions on precautions, he put on the specially made combat suit and, under the guidance of the workers, entered the cockpit.
Then, Ning Feng froze.
Beep! —
[Booting up.] [Starting system connection.] [Loading program…]
The flat, emotionless mechanical female voice sounded from above. Colorful signals flashed rapidly, and then the space suddenly brightened. The wide-angle screen in front flickered, and a clear image appeared. A holographic interface popped up at the bottom, displaying various parameters.
Familiar interface, familiar layout, familiar operating system… Everything was so familiar.
Ning Feng looked around, his fingertips touching the cold control panel, trembling slightly.
Blade, this was Blade.
He thought he would never be able to pilot it again in this lifetime, but…
Just then, the mechanical female voice sounded again.
[Please confirm pilot identity.]
Ning Feng was taken aback.
The mecha was still in the testing phase, not connected to the network, so the information here wouldn’t be leaked. After the test, all data except the necessary records would be deleted. That meant whatever he said now, no one would know.
Ning Feng opened his mouth, stood for a while, and then spoke with a hoarse voice.
“Ning Feng.”
Beep, beep!!
A sound of machine operation rang in his ears. The storage device buzzed for a long time before finally quieting down.
[Identity confirmed.] [Hello, Ning Feng.]
Hearing this, Ning Feng smiled.
“Hello, Blade.”
The next moment, the electronic eye on the mecha’s head suddenly lit up with a blue glow.
Ning Feng quickly calmed his thoughts, sat down in the pilot seat, and began to operate the controls swiftly like playing a piano.
[Data transmitted to main circuit board.] [Fixed connection cabin.] [Cockpit locked.] …
Amid a series of prompts, a row of green dots lit up on the panel. When the last green light turned on, all the dots suddenly disappeared, and a large face of Big Beard popped up in the lower right corner of the screen.
“Hey, Radish, are you ready?”
“I’ve been waiting for this.” Ning Feng grinned.
“Good.” Big Beard glanced at Yin Beichen. Seeing the latter nod slightly, he loudly gave the order.
“Deploy!”
With a clang, the cockpit shook violently. Ning Feng felt the mecha step firmly onto the ground, and an indescribable sense of solidity rose from his heart.
He let out a soft laugh. “Start the test.”
The test was scheduled over several days. This was the first test of the new mecha.
According to the predefined test items, only some simple maneuvers would be performed, such as running, jumping, walking, sitting, basic close combat, and obstacle clearance—nothing difficult.
Under Ning Feng’s operation, the giant mecha jumped and ran nimbly, weaving through various obstacles, looking incredibly light.
“Starting calibration.” “Pilot communication normal.” “Pressure chamber values normal.” …
Around him, the technicians rapidly reported. On the layered screens, data in various colors jumped continuously.
Watching the agile figure on the screen, Yin Beichen’s lips slightly parted into a faint smile.
But Big Beard, standing nearby, had an odd expression.
He stared at the data on the screen and the nimble movements of the mecha, feeling an indescribable familiarity.
Suddenly, he recalled the fight between Radish and Qu Jingshan not long ago. That match had been brilliant; he had watched it live and felt then that the opponent’s movements were somewhat familiar. In the end, this robot had beaten Qu Jingshan, and Qu’s attitude had been very strange.
Could it be that he was…
No way?
Before he could figure it out, the screen lit up with a green “Complete” sign—the test was over.
Big Beard scratched his head and started ordering the data to be exported. “Sir, today’s test went smoothly. The values are all within the calibration range.”
Yin Beichen nodded. “Mm, what’s the test item for tomorrow?”
Big Beard tapped on the tablet. “Gravity test and environmental test. If all goes well, we can proceed to the combat simulation test in two days.”
“Combat simulation?” Yin Beichen frowned slightly. “What content?”
“Mecha combat, artillery evasion, bug swarm suppression—”
“Suppression?” Yin Beichen’s brow furrowed even more. “Explain the process in detail.”
Big Beard was taken aback.
These were all standard items—every mecha had to undergo these tests. Why did the general look so tense? But despite his confusion, he handed over the tablet and began explaining seriously.
Meanwhile, Ning Feng, having completed the test, walked into the command room in a good mood. He raised his hand to greet the two, but then saw Yin Beichen’s weak hands—the same hands that couldn’t even hold a spoon without help—steadily take the tablet and flexibly gesture on it.
Ning Feng raised an eyebrow, narrowing his eyes dangerously.
“Oh ho?”