It had been a long time since she had exercised like this. Although not yet exhilarating, it was a welcome relief from the stress of her recent cramming.

Chapter Fifty-Two

The three top mech designers of the Design Institute had sent their designs to Ghost Capital Star for three full days, yet they received no response from Baisha.

The three designers looked at each other and told Baisha they had initial design ideas but needed time to create the drafts.

"How long will the designs take?" Baisha asked with excitement.

This time, to secure an order from the royal family, they had drastically shortened their design period and had showcased their best skills in the designs... Frankly, they were quite eager to hear back from Baisha.

During lunchtime on a workday, the three top mech designers sat together at a table for the first time in a while. They shared a meal and exchanged ideas.

"Why hasn't the young princess replied to us yet? It's been three days, and if you count the night she left TianShu Star, it's almost four days now—enough time for her to scrutinize those designs thoroughly, right?" Zhu Sheng sighed, poking at his steak with a fork somewhat listlessly. "Could it be that the royal family doesn't think much of our Empire's Mech Design Research Institute and has turned to civilian mech designers instead?"

Clive Davies glared at his two colleagues from the Imperial Mech Design Institute, apparently displeased with their competitive attitude. Zhu Sheng and Tai Shi Rong exchanged challenging glances, maintaining a nonchalant demeanor.

Baisha, having drawn mech designs herself, understood their "designs" would be conceptual drafts, not detailed drawings of every part. She nodded, "Alright, I'll wait for your good news then."

Director Wang Chongming smiled as he escorted Baisha out of the test drive room.

Zhu Sheng looked distressed.

They had exchanged contact information with Baisha, including Director Wang Chongming, Clive Davies, Tai Shi Rong, and Zhu Sheng. None of the designers or the Director had heard back from Baisha.

The designers felt selecting the best mech design shouldn't take three days. For this royal order, they had drastically shortened their usual design period and highlighted their best skills in the drafts. Frankly, they were eager to hear back from Baisha.

Having worked together for many years, they were well-acquainted with each other's work, having seen dozens of each other's complete mech designs.

Tai Shi Rong: "We're still in competition, isn't it inappropriate to do this?"

Zhu Sheng narrowed his eyes: "Let's start with the basics. Which weight class did you choose for your mech? I went with light..."

Tai Shi Rong: "Light."

Clive Davies: "Medium."

Zhu Sheng and Tai Shi Rong turned their gaze to Clive Davies in unison.

"Really? Her Highness clearly favors agility and speed, and you chose a medium mech?"

"It's just one design direction," Clive Davies replied, wiping his fingertips with a napkin, smiling, "Her Highness's combat style isn't fully formed yet, but her fighting spirit is strong. To balance the mech's defense and armor-piercing capabilities, I had to increase the overall load, which led me to choose a medium mech – though it's not much heavier than a light mech."

In other words, Clive Davies had discerned the latent battle fervor in Her Highness's blood. He maximized the mech's defense to make it sturdy and durable, while also enhancing its destructive power, all to ensure Her Highness could enjoy exhilarating battles.

Tai Shi Rong/Zhu Sheng: "..."

In their rush to complete the assignment, they had overlooked one aspect: insight into the mech user's personality and preferences.

Baisha had only recently returned to the empire, and the Emperor was very protective, leaving little information available. Essentially, this was their blind spot.

Undoubtedly, among the three, Clive Davies had the most accurate assessment and control over the mech pilot's needs. This was a kind of intuitive talent he possessed.

Since he believed Her Highness would prefer this warrior-like style, the light mechs designed by the other two might seem less appealing.

As they pondered over how to modify their designs, their holographic computers simultaneously beeped, displaying the same message:

"If you don't mind, may I make some modifications to this draft?"

The three designers looked at each other, taken aback.

"Why did Her Highness send the same message to all three of us?" Zhu Sheng murmured, "Did she get someone to modify all three concept drawings?"

Zhu Sheng's most likely guess was that Her Highness wanted all three mechs and hence sought other mech designers for some modifications.

Frankly, this was somewhat impolite. Even among top-tier designers, critique usually comes in verbal form rather than directly modifying someone else's design. Firstly, they are not from the same studio to have such an intimate working relationship, and secondly, it's about respecting the other's design.

Modifying the drafts of three top-tier mech designers within three days—

Zhu Sheng found it almost laughable.

Her Highness probably didn't grasp the essence of mech design. Though they were only drafts, the whole concept of each mech was complete - armor, systems, boosters, joints, weapons... Every aspect, from material to functionality, was meticulously planned and tested.

When top-tier mech designers are involved, perfection is a given. Even a minor change in a single component might disrupt this "perfection", much like altering one string on an instrument could make an entire symphony sound off.

Setting aside who would dare modify a top-tier design, how could Her Highness be so sure the modifications would be better?

"So, what's your take? Are we still competing for this contract?" Zhu Sheng asked half-heartedly.

Clive Davies didn't react much, Tai Shi Rong frowned slightly, but quickly responded.

"My answer was 'I don't mind'," Tai Shi Rong said. "I'm curious to see what this modified design will look like."

About three seconds later, a reply came.

"Thank you for understanding :D"

"It's not really a modification... I've merged the works of several top-tier mech designers. I believe combining each of your strengths will result in a more perfect mech."

Tai Shi Rong was momentarily stunned; Zhu Sheng and Clive Davies were speechless upon reading the message.

What did it mean to merge their works?

And, the design was altered by Her Highness herself?

The situation was becoming increasingly absurd. Fortunately, the modified design was sent immediately afterward. Tai Shi Rong didn't hesitate to open it as soon as the file was downloaded.

A meticulously drawn mech design appeared before them.

It was a silver mech, pushing the limits of light-weight design, with golden coatings at the joints and auxiliary mechanisms. The armor was stylish and noble, reflecting Zhu Sheng's familiar design style.

The mech held a thrusting spear in its hands, equipped with a stance controller in its palm, further enhancing the armor-piercing power of the spear.

The most striking feature was the six wings on the mech's back – the top two wings, when closed, resembled majestic steel feathers, and when transformed, they became radially arranged cannon launchers with a vast coverage area. The middle two wings were photon flight wings. The last two wings were essential fire propulsion devices for the mech.

"The transformation mechanism of these six wings is incredibly flexible," Clive Davies said in amazement. "The designer's mechanical engineering expertise is remarkable. And the engine's burst efficiency, the ultimate optimization of the energy system..."

Tai Shi Rong placed her mech design next to theirs: "This energy optimization system is my work."

“……”

This was the most terrifying aspect of the mech.

It flawlessly integrated Clive Davies's design concept with Zhu Sheng's armor artistry, creating a new style. The mech's performance outdid their designs without any obvious flaws, and seamlessly incorporated Tai Shi Rong's energy optimization system! This wasn't mere "copying" or "borrowing" – the designer had mastered the essence of Tai Shi Rong's technology and applied it to a mech with a completely different energy operation mode!

Mech designers knew that mech energy came from purified "source crystals," powerful and unique, but not as stable as traditional firepower weapons. Therefore, designing the internal energy flow of a mech was a task requiring great caution.

And this design, in that respect, was simply perfect!

"How long would it take for the three of us to design a mech like this together?" Zhu Sheng inhaled sharply, subconsciously touching his chin.

"Definitely not in three days," Tai Shi Rong shook her head. "Not just because of the complexity of the design, but also because none of us could convince the others."

A mech design reflects the personal will of the designer.

Baisha's approach of "core fusion" represented a talent that was, in a sense, frighteningly strong.

Moreover, they noticed that the design approach of this mech didn't seem to align with the Empire's style.

"Her Highness spent many years in the Federation; could this be a Federation mech design style?" Clive Davies asked his colleagues.

Both Zhu Sheng and Tai Shi Rong replied that they had never heard of such a style.

"Whoever in the Federation could have such skill would at least be well-known... Who did Her Highness learn this from? Surely she didn't develop it all by herself?"

“……”

"I think we should send a message to the Director," Clive Davies suggested, blinking, "Have we actually completed this task, or have we botched it?"

However, this mech design was already largely formed. Though initially impressive, many details still appeared rough to the three top-tier mech designers, itching to make immediate modifications.

Tai Shi Rong, with a flick of her finger, sent a message: "A truly stunning design! Completely feasible. But the details still need refinement. If you're willing, I can collaborate with you on the final adjustments."

Three sentences instantly bridged the gap between Tai Shi Rong and Baisha.

The response came quickly: "Okay. When are you available? I can make a trip to Tianshu Star."

Tai Shi Rong: "Anytime at your convenience."

Tai Shi Rong, feeling refreshed and exhilarated, arranged a meeting time with Baisha. Once everything was settled, she proudly looked at her two colleagues, who were intently watching her.

"I won this time," Tai Shi Rong said with a smile, "No one else gets to compete with me for this."

……

After spending three days perfecting her mech design, Baisha was genuinely excited to receive recognition from a top-tier designer.

Moreover, the offer to help refine her design was appealing, as she still had much to learn about Imperial mechs. Realistically, perfecting a mech design on her own was impractical. Baisha believed Tai Shi Rong's guidance would be enlightening.

Relieved of a major concern, Baisha shut down her holographic computer, sighing contentedly.

Baisha's achievement was a pleasant surprise for the three top-tier mech designers, but when Director Wang Chongming relayed the news to Emperor Cecil Ronin, his reaction was closer to pure shock.

"You actually designed a mech yourself?" Cecil Ronin visited Baisha's palace and asked directly.

Baisha nodded: "Didn't I mention this to you earlier?"

Cecil Ronin: "..." He had thought it was just a whimsical comment from Baisha.

After all the twists and turns, it turned out Baisha wasn’t joking; she truly had the makings of a mech designer.

Cecil Ronin pondered over the complex design Baisha had created.

Baisha asked, "What's the matter, Uncle?"

"I'm considering which department to enroll you in," Cecil Ronin said, slightly raising his eyebrows. "The Tianquan Military Academy has a combat department, focusing on both individual mech combat and fleet command strategies. To the Federation, this is akin to a dual major. Add the mech designer program you're interested in—"

"That would be a triple major."

Baisha asked without hesitation, "Is it very difficult to pursue three majors?"

"The actual learning isn't much different, just more courses and a delay in graduation," Cecil Ronin considered, "You don't need battlefield experience like others, so dedicating time to three majors is feasible."

Baisha: "..." Right, the long lifespan of the Imperial citizens meant they could afford such delays. Besides, if her goal was to ascend the throne, even an extra decade or two of learning wouldn’t be excessive.

Cecil Ronin's deep blue eyes met Baisha's, and she found their expressions strikingly similar, as if she were looking into a magical mirror.

"Has anyone in our ancestors ever pursued a triple major?" Baisha asked.

Cecil Ronin shook his head: "Mech designers are a 'rare species' in our Ronin family; most royal members study combat."

This included Cecil Ronin and his sister, Xipeis Ronin.

Xipeis wasn’t ignorant about mechs but only had the skills of a junior mech repair technician, nowhere near Baisha's level.

Baisha: "Uncle, I plan to visit Tianshu Star tomorrow to discuss something with Tai Shi Rong from the Imperial Mech Design Institute."

Cecil Ronin: "Good, take Uriel and your guard squad with you."

After a brief silence, Cecil Ronin added: "If you're going to triple major, I'll need to add a few courses to your schedule."

Baisha: "?"

"Tianquan Military Academy has an assessment test for freshmen," Cecil Ronin looked at her, "You wouldn't want to be barred from mech designer courses due to a lack of fundamentals, right?"

A triple major would mean higher academic expectations for Baisha; otherwise, the school would recommend the standard learning pace: four years in combat, followed by another four in mech design.

Even then, Baisha would still be quite young, but before reaching full maturity at twenty, age progression in the Empire was similar to the Federation's – Baisha, at eighteen, among fourteen-year-old freshmen. A four-year age gap was enough to make Baisha stand out among the new mech design students... an intimidating prospect. The same awkwardness would arise if she started with mech design and then moved to combat.

Pursuing a triple major was imperative.

Having experienced intensive tutoring, Baisha wasn't intimidated by the prospect of more lessons.

"If it's more lessons, so be it," she said, "Better to endure hardship now than to be unprepared later."

Thursday.

Baisha arrived at Tai Shi Rong's personal design studio as scheduled.

Tai Shi Rong, dressed in a formal research attire, had her brown hair straightened. She wore silver paperclip tassel earrings, looking extremely professional and efficient when she smiled.

"Come in, Your Highness, please take a seat."

Tai Shi Rong pulled out a chair for Baisha and summoned a charmingly clumsy service robot. The robot, carrying a tray, hurriedly appeared beside them, placing snacks and tea on the guest table.

Baisha sat down as instructed, and Tai Shi Rong joined her. They skipped small talk and directly opened the design software to discuss the details.

While Baisha and Tai Shi Rong were deeply engrossed in their conversation, Uriel sat quietly on a sofa a few steps away, attentively listening to their discussion.

The round service robot, noticing Uriel couldn’t reach the food on the table, approached him and asked in a gentle mechanical voice, “Esteemed guest, do you require any food?”

Uriel replied kindly, “I don’t need anything, thank you.”

The robot: “Your companion has food, but you do not. This violates Hospitality Rule Thirty-Seven.”

Uriel: “...I do not need to eat.”

The robot, displaying a question mark above its head: “Humans require food to replenish energy.”

“I am like you, a product of mechanics,” Uriel explained calmly, “I don’t derive energy from food.”

The robot hesitated for a moment, then nodded: “Understood.”

It whirred away on its wheels, returning minutes later with a tray bearing two cans of machine oil.

“You and I are alike. Your energy source is the same as mine,” the robot said generously, pushing the tray towards Uriel, “Please, enjoy.”

Uriel: “...”

Watching this scene, Baisha couldn’t help but laugh: “This robot doesn't seem very smart, does it?”

"You'll get used to it," Tai Shi Rong sighed, sipping her tea, "Since the Silver Empire was destroyed by the 'Silver Core,' the Ares Empire enacted strict laws to limit the development of artificial intelligence and prevent the emergence of personalized robots. Most robots sold on the market are called 'AI,' but they're somewhat dim-witted. The Federation, however, has lifted these restrictions in the last hundred years, making significant research progress, even equipping mechas with intelligent chips."

Bai Sha suddenly remembered Holman, her teacher from the Federation, and his mecha intelligence "Gwenyth."

Saying goodbye to them felt like it happened in a past life.

Tai Shi Rong continued, "In fact, the Federation's intelligent mechas are a good research direction. Compared to mecha parts, I'm better at designing internal systems. If mecha intelligence develops, even my research can reach new heights... Of course, it's just a thought. I don't mean to criticize the Empire's decisions."

Tai Shi Rong smiled and winked at Bai Sha.

Bai Sha expressed her understanding.

"Imperials live relatively long, but compared to other species in the universe, maybe it's not that significant. For instance, starworms can mutate indefinitely if unhindered. They step out of life's cycle, causing catastrophic damage to many planets," Tai Shi Rong explained, "I've always believed that despite the lifespan differences between the Empire and the Federation, Imperials can't afford to be complacent. The technological explosion of the Silver Age taught us enough. We need to understand not only our enemies but ourselves too."

Recognizing oneself is the key to discerning hidden dangers.

However, Imperials aren't fools. Though lacking mecha AI, they have 'mecha autopilot' technology.

But compared to autopilot, they still trust human piloting skills more.

Bai Sha and Tai Shi Rong's conversation returned to the design plans. After agreeing on the necessary modifications, Tai Shi Rong officially took over the design. Once all the details were revised and reviewed by Bai Sha to understand every inch of the mecha, production could officially begin.

"This mecha... is rated as 3S level. Once it's officially completed, it will be interesting to see what rating the research institute assigns it."

Mecha honor ratings are classified as: "Excellent Mecha," "Elite Mecha," "Outstanding Mecha," "Heirloom Mecha," and "Legendary Mecha."

The honor rating of a mecha doesn't necessarily correlate with its level. Even an S-level mecha could be rated as an "Heirloom Mecha" based on its design. However, "Legendary Mechas" are generally 3S-level mechas.

Tai Shi Rong said, "If it can be rated as an 'Heirloom Mecha,' you'll become famous, Princess."