"I accept your challenge. Hurry up and fill out the application form at the school office, poor child. Hahaha..."
Amidst the unbridled laughter of Li Meng, the two strode away.
Watching the disdainful glances around him, the powerful and martial student trembled with anger, realizing he had failed in his attempt to snatch a chicken only to lose the rice. Not only had he failed to win the favor of Su Su, but he had also become the laughingstock. After all, challenging a janitor was hardly a prestigious affair...
...
While people were busy discussing the incident, the protagonist, Su Su, remained elegant and composed throughout, her gaze focused and undisturbed by the outside world.
Things often have two sides, and Su Su's inner calm was not as people imagined. After all, the matter concerned her. In fact, she had been paying close attention to the progress of the situation. However, she didn't expect it to end with two janitors coming out on top. This was somewhat unexpected.
As Su Su glanced at the two janitors, all she saw were their orange-clad backs...
After leaving the cafeteria, Liu Fei and Li Meng returned to the mecha laboratory.
Li Meng immediately immersed himself in the thrilling interstellar warfare simulation, commanding armies to victory in the vast expanse of virtual warfare. Instantly, Li Meng forgot about his earlier troubles.
In reality, Li Meng didn't dwell on what had just happened. As long as it wasn't a group fight, he dared to face any challenge from anyone. And even in the case of a group fight, he wasn't afraid, as long as Liu Fei was there!
However, Liu Fei soon pulled Li Meng back to reality.
"Why hasn't the micro-engine with the code 1317 been found?" Liu Fei asked urgently.
The brain was the soul of the mecha, and the engine was its heart. Liu Fei knew full well the decisive role advanced engines played in mechas.
Human energy is limited, and the knowledge contained in each discipline is vast. Some technological workers spend their entire lives and still cannot fully grasp it all. For this reason, most researchers choose to specialize in one field. The research and development of engines have been going on for thousands of years. It can be said that any modification to a classic engine, no matter how small, is extremely difficult.
Because he had been hanging around the mecha lab for a long time, Liu Fei had some understanding of engines. The micro-assist engine with the code 1317, in terms of shape and size, overturned Liu Fei's understanding of micro auxiliary engines.
The volume and power generated by an engine are directly proportional. In the case of generating the same power, miniaturizing the engine has always been the most difficult research task.
In the historical tide of human mechanical civilization, each reduction in the size of engines represented a major technological advancement.
When Liu Fei saw the micro auxiliary engine for the first time, he knew that it would bring unprecedented impact to mechas. After all, making a revolutionary breakthrough in the main engine of a mecha was extremely difficult. Therefore, many people's attention turned to micro auxiliary engines.
To put it simply, if everyone used the same model of main engine in mecha combat, and during the battle, one side's auxiliary engine could suddenly increase the speed of a component by twenty percent or more, then it was easy to imagine who would emerge victorious. It was like playing a game with cheats...
What made Liu Fei feel frustrated was that his cherished engine had disappeared. Even the main control brain couldn't find it. Liu Fei felt a bit overwhelmed. Since he discovered the micro auxiliary engine, he hadn't had much time to study it carefully. The lab's schedule was very strict, and only at noon did Liu Fei and Li Meng have the freedom to enter and leave the lab.
"1317... how would I know? Wasn't it you who placed it?" Li Meng muttered, but his eyes were fixed on the holographic screen, his hands dancing across the control panel.
"You keep going..."
"Okay."
Liu Fei waved his hand in frustration. He knew there would be no result after asking. Someone like Li Meng, who had no love for mechas, definitely wouldn't care about a tiny auxiliary engine.
Li Meng preferred battleships. He looked down on mechas because, in his eyes, piloting battleships and commanding fleets in the vastness of space was cool. Besides his fanatical pursuit of martial arts skills, Li Meng had much bigger ambitions than Liu Fei. His dream was to one day command a space fleet and roam freely in the interstellar void.
It was a painful noon. This further strengthened Liu Fei's determination to enter the Advanced Mecha University. Because, the reason was simple: if he were a student of the Advanced Mecha University, he would have access to the holographic scanning system. As long as he left behind holographic scanning data, he could study it slowly...
Liu Fei, although he could freely enter and leave both the brain lab and the mecha lab, in reality, he couldn't use high-end equipment. This was because the high-end equipment in the lab required permission, controlled by the school's main control brain, and Liu Fei's level was far from sufficient.
Just as Liu Fei regretted not leaving basic data on the micro auxiliary engine with a caliper, on the desk in the principal's office, the micro auxiliary engine that made Liu Fei anxious was quietly placed there, shimmering with a strange metallic light.
In the spacious principal's office sat a military officer in uniform, along with several teachers in uniform, including Professor Yun from the Brain Lab.
The atmosphere was very solemn, and everyone's expression was serious, especially the military officer in uniform, whose cold and stern expression was filled with the unique iron-blooded temperament of a soldier.
"If Marshal knew that our most renowned institution in the Zol Star System is so rubbish, I wonder if he would still invest huge sums of money here every year!" the military man spoke.
"General...," the principal wiped the sweat from his forehead, hesitantly said, "I think, such a conclusion..."
"Too early?" The military man snorted coldly, "The 'Core' engine has been sitting in the lab for thirty-six hours straight. Apart from one janitor checking it, it hasn't attracted any attention from the students. Are those the elite students of your esteemed school?"
"But... but..." The pressure emanating from the military man was heavy, and the principal felt his shirt soaked through, finding it difficult to breathe.
"There's no 'but'. The Seven Great Star Domains may seem to coexist peacefully, but in reality, there are tumultuous undercurrents. Aside from the power struggles between interstellar warlords, some underground forces are also stirring. Zol Star's position is complex, situated on the frontline of alien combat. Although the aliens have been suppressed to their own star, we must allocate a large number of troops to guard against their counterattack. Zol Star appears to be the most powerful military presence in the Seven Great Star Systems, but in reality, it's the most vulnerable. There's no room for 'buts' and excuses in this world. Over a hundred years ago, if it weren't for the soldiers building defensive lines with their flesh and blood, Zol Mecha University would have been destroyed long ago. Hmph, if Zol Star fell, there would probably be nothing left under the nest."
"General, there's something I've never understood. Why not blow up the Alien Star, eliminate the threat to Zol Star once and for all, and eradicate the aliens permanently?" The principal's face alternated between red, white, and then blue, weakly asked.
"Blow up the Alien Star?" The military man looked at the principal with a look of disbelief, "If we hadn't known each other for years, I would seriously doubt if you're the head of Zol Mecha University!"
"Cough...," the principal was ridiculed by the military man, his face flushed, lowering his head, his hands stirring vigorously, as if desperately trying to restrain his emotions.
"Mr. Principal, although space is vast, suitable planets for human habitation are extremely rare. After humanity broke through spatial limitations with technological civilization, human migration in space has a history of nearly a thousand years, going through the interstellar golden age of mass exploration. Currently, there are less than a thousand planets suitable for human habitation, and most of them have been terraformed at great cost. According to data, the Alien Star is comparable to Earth, the birthplace of human civilization, suitable for human habitation without any modification. Its rarity is enough to attract anyone's attention. And as Mr. Principal may know, during the era of interstellar migration, Zol Star was originally inhabited by a group of creatures resembling humans, known as the greatest alien threat to humanity. It took the first generation of residents over two hundred years to completely eradicate those fierce original inhabitants. If, according to Mr. Principal's logic, Zol Star had been blown to pieces centuries ago, there would be no Zol Mecha University..."
"Blowing up the Alien Star may indeed make Zol Star worry-free, but humanity would lose a suitable planet for habitation. Mr. Principal is naturally not afraid of leaving behind an eternal infamy, but as decision-makers of Zol Star, we must have reservations."
"..."
The principal opened his mouth but ultimately did not speak up to refute. He understood the logic behind the military man's words. It's just that the alien problem had plagued Zol Star for nearly two hundred years, and humanity simply couldn't completely eradicate the aliens. In terms of cost accounting, blowing up the Alien Star was actually the most optimized choice. After all, with the current technological capabilities of humanity, blowing up a planet was much simpler than exterminating a group of aliens.
In fact, there were many people like the principal who shared the same thoughts. The Alien Star was like a guillotine hanging over the Zol Star System. As long as the aliens remained, humans in the Zol Star System couldn't sleep peacefully.
However, people could only think about it. Anyone who openly advocated blowing up the Alien Star would immediately become an enemy of all humanity, especially those who hadn't been harassed by alien attacks.
"I have other matters to attend to. In any case, you have one year to solve the research problem of the micro auxiliary engine stability. Whether it's funds or equipment, you can contact me directly. Marshal will personally follow up on the progress of the research. As for your proposal to establish a research team among the students, it has been vetoed. The students of Zol Mecha University are all rubbish. Hmph!"
Bang!
With a violent slam of the door, the air in the principal's office trembled.
The office fell into a long silence. Both the principal and the teachers wore expressions of dismay. Undoubtedly, the military man's last words hurt the pride of everyone present here. After all, the students here were their students. Rejecting the students was akin to rejecting their efforts.
"Principal, from the holographic images, it seems that Liu Fei is very interested in the micro auxiliary engine. Should we...?" It was Professor Yun who broke the silence.
"Liu Fei?" The principal paused, vaguely remembering the name.
"The janitor responsible for cleaning the Brain Lab."
"Him... no, I don't want to let others see our Zol Mecha University's jokes. Tens of thousands of students can't even find a few talented individuals, and in the end, we have to rely on a janitor? Besides, what does he, a janitor, know?! I've also seen the holographic images. He just checked it briefly and didn't show any particular interest. Alright, let's end this matter here. You screen through the faculty and establish a research group, making sure to keep it confidential..."
"Yes, Principal."
...
The sky gradually darkened, and the sunlight turned orange. A fine mist of rain swept through the air, under the sunlight, resembling countless ribbons floating down.
Standing at the laboratory window, Liu Fei glanced at the sky. According to past experience, precious rainwater would fall three days later. Liu Fei knew it was water captured artificially from comets.
Zol Star was an extremely water-deficient planet, requiring huge investments each year to capture water resources from outer space. For some reason, most of the professors in the Brain Lab were absent today, and the students seemed particularly lax. With half an hour left before class ended, the entire lab had become empty.
It seemed like today's work could be finished ahead of time. Lost in thought, Liu Fei began working. First, he drove an intelligent cleaning vehicle to clear the dust off the glass. The nano-filter vacuum cleaner on the cleaning vehicle swiftly glided over the glass, while the cleaning nano-vibrated rapidly in the middle, leaving the surface immaculate.
After completing the vacuuming, he moved on to sweeping the floor. The floor-cleaning tool resembled an octopus with over a dozen flexible mechanical arms that could adjust angles freely. At the top of each arm was a powerful grease attachment, capable of easily dealing with any dirt...
"Hmm, someone's here..."
In a corner of the lab, a curly-haired beauty was diligently testing the optical sensor on a mecha model. Data on the holographic image scrolled down rapidly, indicating ongoing testing. It was Su Zijing, the top beauty of Zol Mecha University.
Watching her waist-length, cloud-like hair and graceful figure, Liu Fei hesitated for a moment, then drove the cleaning vehicle to another area to work. He didn't want to have any interaction with this woman. The incident with Li Meng at noon once again confirmed the truth of the old saying: "Women are trouble!"
Fifteen minutes later, Liu Fei stood behind Su Zijing. Having finished his tasks in all areas except where Su Zijing was working, he had completed all the work in the lab.
After standing for less than a minute, Liu Fei walked over. He didn't want to waste time here; his interest lay in the Mecha Lab. With today's time unexpectedly freed up by over an hour, coupled with the time spent on cleaning, he would have a significantly extended stay in the Mecha Lab. The thought of having plenty of time to study some mechas that interested him filled Liu Fei with an inexplicable excitement.
"Sorry!" Liu Fei stood about a meter behind Su Zijing.