Free Web NovelChapter 1115: Their Rarity
Luca didn’t like any of it.
It felt as though his brother was being cornered into a situation where every available path carried consequences.
The golden-eyed cadet didn’t particularly care what people thought of their guild as an organization, or even of himself for that matter.
But his brother had been innocent in all of this. Getting implicated only because Luca dared to build all those other mechas.
More importantly, the whole thing felt unfair on a professional level.
Granted, the young Guide who had once slaved away without recognition used to believe that absolute secrecy was the safest option.
But after witnessing just how much effort everyone had poured into their craft, he could understand why being acknowledged for something genuinely earned mattered.
Why it motivated people to push themselves further.
So in a situation like this, couldn’t a mechanic be allowed to proudly demonstrate their abilities during a once-in-a-lifetime event?
Naturally, there were limits.
In general, none of them could reveal everything.
Some techniques, methods, and discoveries needed to remain protected because, while they bore no hostility toward others, it would be naïve to assume that sentiment was always mutual.
That much Luca understood now.
But forcing his brother to dim his own light?
That wasn’t why they had worked so hard.
It wasn’t why they had struggled to reach a position where they could finally protect themselves.
So the question remained.
What kind of mecha could satisfy two completely contradictory requirements?
Something impressive enough to silence doubters.
Yet safe enough that it wouldn’t hand the future away to people waiting for an opportunity to strike.
"Maybe a logistical mecha?" Kyle muttered while staring at the wall.
His brows furrowed.
"Luca built a support-class mecha for his own exam, so maybe that’s an option."
"Too beneficial."
Master Quinn rejected the idea almost immediately.
"The Marshal already demonstrated how valuable utility mechas can be on the battlefield."
The old mechanic shook his head.
"A logistical mecha would likely be as beneficial, and we should probably consider that in private. But for this farce?"
Even the past monarchs would turn in their graves in alarm.
The support-class mecha had already caused enough commotion. So if Ollie also produced something that could so distinctly broaden the range of wartime strategies, then it would simply increase the burden on their side.
The Imperial Crown Prince spoke up.
"If anything, the cockpit improvements could be incorporated into this mecha build, particularly those related to the pilot’s quality of life."
Xavier folded his arms.
"Not only were those ideas genuinely Ollie’s own, but they’re also the sort of improvements that only provide value if the leaders would care enough about their pilots to have them installed."
The Prince paused briefly.
"So even if we allowed others to see them, many would likely dismiss them outright, mistakenly assuming they’re nothing more than unnecessary expenses."
Luca visibly brightened at this.
Because, yes, those improvements were genuinely innovative and useful.
As both a pilot and a mechanic, Luca could appreciate that more than most.
Normally, the young penny-pincher wouldn’t have even considered upgrades like those, which only made him more grateful that his brother had thought of them.
Especially now that he himself had personally benefited from such improvements.
"Ah, but the reversed energy grid..." Master Quinn added with a groan.
Since the heir had taught them this method, all their subsequent mechas used this kind of technique, and it was so game-changing that he didn’t know how they were supposed to deal with that.
Of course, the Young Lord had shown that several times and to different groups of people, but with more discerning eyes looking, then they’d likely be able to deconstruct the principles behind it.
The old mechanic looked around the table.
"Even if that were the only thing revealed, it would still be groundbreaking."
That wasn’t an exaggeration.
The reversal of the energy grid alone was enough to shake centuries of accepted mecha manufacturing principles.
And they haven’t even gone on to talk about the other parts.
Now, when Luca took the test in public, he completed it so quickly—and manipulated so many spiritual tendrils at once—that most people couldn’t even follow what he was doing.
As a result, even those who wanted to replicate the technique, and many certainly tried, couldn’t properly recreate it.
Ollie, however, presented a different problem.
Not because he was slow by any means, but because he would inevitably be slower than the Young Lord.
Which meant he would also be much easier to observe.
And that, unfortunately, gave them far more things to worry about.
As such, discussions regarding specific techniques, components, and design choices quickly followed one after another.
Meanwhile, Luca quietly listened to all of it.
Then suddenly, he tilted his head.
"D-29." freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
The room fell silent.
The concerned little chipmunk looked thoughtful as he asked, "By any chance, is there a way to create an extremely unique and nearly non-replicable mecha?"
"..."
"..."
Everyone immediately stopped talking.
Even Master Quinn looked over.
For a moment, only silence remained as the little system considered the question.
Unexpectedly, however, it wasn’t D-29 who answered first.
"Little Master. Forgive my insolence, but I figured I must say something."
"Oh No! No need to apologize, you’re always welcome to say whatever you want, Sid!" Luca practically jolted.
The guardian mecha whirred in thanks as his voice carried its usual calm sincerity.
"Master... we are simply our materials and craftsmanship."
"...?"
Luca blinked in confusion.
"We are only as unique as our most common material," Sid continued patiently.
"And only as unique as our most common construction methods."
The guardian mecha paused.
Others could argue that such a perspective was far too materialistic and that sentient mechas like him ought to know better.
But Sid did know better.
As someone who had spent so long unable to be piloted because of how he was built, and as someone who would never have existed at all had his vessel not met the necessary standards, he felt more than qualified to say it plainly.
In the end, a mecha was only as good as the craftsmanship and materials behind it.
"So if you wish to create a truly unique mecha—"
That was as far as Sid got.
Because Luca suddenly stood.
"!!!"
Everyone startled.
"Luca?" Xavier immediately asked.
"What happened?"
The little mechanic blinked several times.
Then his eyes brightened.
"No, nothing."
A beat.
Then another.
"But I think I got it."
"?"
"???"
Everyone waited.
Unfortunately, the flustered dungeon owner appeared to be processing the idea in real time.
His eyes occasionally unfocused before snapping back.
Finally, he spoke.
"A material so rare," he said slowly, "and a refinement technique so unusual that even if we handed them the blueprint..."
The little mechanic looked around.
"They still wouldn’t be able to reproduce it."
"What?!"
Master Quinn nearly jumped from his seat.
The old mechanic stared at him.
"But how would that even work?"
He spread his hands.
"At some point, rare is only as rare as the bottom of someone’s pockets!"
Kyle nodded.
"Exactly."
Because if something existed and people wanted it badly enough, eventually someone would spend enough money to acquire it.
That was generally how rare resources worked.
Surprisingly—
Ding!
A bright prompt suddenly appeared in the middle of the room.
"Host!"
D-29 sounded unusually proud.
Almost regal.
"Apologies for the delayed response!"
The little system puffed itself up.
"I have taken additional measures and performed more extensive research!"
"..."
"..."
That never boded well.
Still, everyone waited.
The system seemed particularly pleased with itself this time.
Even a small drumroll played.
Then, after building sufficient suspense, D-29 finally revealed its answer.
"Isn’t it simply a matter of using materials that don’t exist here?"
"?"
"What?"
"Materials not found anywhere here," D-29 repeated confidently.
"And for that, what better place to look than one of our newest services?"
The prompt flashed dramatically.
"Newest service?" Luca echoed.
"Correct!"
The little system sounded delighted.
Then another prompt appeared.
[RESOURCE EXCHANGE PROGRAM]
"Host!" D-29 declared proudly.
"What about checking the Resource Exchange Program?"
Granted, the little system wasn’t certain about being absolutely unique, but it definitely had pride in always being told that the Trove’s goods were simply what dreams were made of!
So how difficult would rare be, right?
