Chapter 49

Chapter 49

The black blindfold appeared to be made of some specialized material. Jiang Se weighed it in her hand; it was thick and completely light-proof, perfectly preventing any possibility of cheating.

As the two approached, the Mecha Pilots sitting in a circle all turned to look. Seeing an unfamiliar face, they began teasing:

"I thought they'd summon someone impressive, but they called over a little girl!"

"She looks so young, probably a freshman, right?"

"A Mecha Department freshman joining this event? Tsk, was she tricked into coming?"

A woman with loose, natural curls said lazily, "Assembling a mecha arm isn't child's play. Those metal parts are sharp—one wrong move and you could end up with a nasty gash!"

"Little girl, take our advice and go play somewhere else!"

...

Under their gazes—curious, pitying, or amused—Jiang Se flexed her wrists, her joints emitting a crisp crack.

"First of all, I'm not a little girl. I have a name—Jiang Se, a freshman in the Mecha Department this year."

Jiang Se slowly stepped up to the table, placed both hands behind her back, and while smiling at the crowd, began assembling the mecha arm behind her.

Though she couldn't see anything, her speed was astonishing. Parts bloomed like flowers in her palms, and gradually, the outline of a mecha arm took shape behind her.

Jiang Se withdrew her hands, gently flexed her fingers, and tilted her head with a smile. "Well?"

*Clap clap clap!* The room fell silent for a moment before erupting in applause.

"Remarkable! A Mecha Department freshman with such skill—the Alliance University team might have a chance this year!"

"Absolutely. Finally, a Mecha Pilot with 3S-level mental strength. Maybe Alliance University can really compete with Central University this time."

"Central University always takes first place in the Exercise Tournament every year. Even the Central Military District looks down on everyone else. Tsk, it's so annoying!"

"Right? The smug faces of those old-timers in Central University's Mecha Department make me sick every time I see them!"

...

As they spoke, the Mecha Pilots rose from their seats and gathered around the table.

After everyone tied on the black blindfolds, a cold mechanical voice announced: "The competition begins!"

This unconventional mecha assembly contest officially kicked off.

Blindfolded and assembling with hands behind her back felt similar, and since the mecha models on the table were identical, Jiang Se worked with ease.

Just as she thought the competition lacked challenge, Jiang Se paused when picking up a screw.

The feel of this screw was off—someone had secretly swapped hers. Jiang Se frowned slightly.

Different mecha models required specific screws; using the wrong one could cause the entire mecha arm to malfunction.

At that moment, Jiang Se understood the competition's ultimate purpose: not only to assemble quickly but also to sabotage others!

With this realization, Jiang Se felt as if she had unlocked a new level. She found her missing screw among the parts of the guy diligently sabotaging her on her left, then stealthily replaced his mecha bearing with one of her spare models.

Her movements were fluid and seamless. If not for the thick black blindfold covering her eyes, one might suspect she had a third eye.

The mecha assembly competition finally concluded amid the pilots' scheming and strategizing.

After finishing, Jiang Se removed her blindfold.

She inspected her mecha arm: good, it seemed properly assembled, with all the correct parts used.

She glanced at the mecha arm of the guy beside her, who belatedly realized his bearing had been swapped by Jiang Se. Instead of getting angry, he gave her a thumbs-up: "Well done! You’ve grasped the essence of this competition—it’s not about how well you assemble, but how much you can mess with others!"

"Young one, the new generation is truly formidable!"

This was one of many times today Jiang Se had been called "formidable," so often that she began to wonder if this world was just one big "don’t underestimate the youth" trope.

Jiang Se examined the mecha arms of several other Mecha Pilots. Aside from two that were flawlessly assembled, the rest had various issues—using someone else’s screws or bearings.

One mecha arm, upon rough inspection, even had parts from three different mecha models!

Jiang Se: ???

Is this some kind of Franken-mecha? How terrifying!

By now, Jiang Se gradually realized this competition was more about entertainment than skill.

After assembling their mecha arms, everyone began admiring each other’s work.

The long table gradually turned into a massive exhibition site.

As the youngest and least experienced, Jiang Se’s mecha arm was swarmed by a group of Mecha Pilots.

They had intended to offer some advice as seniors guiding a junior, but after circling her mecha arm, they found her assembly remarkably mature, with a steadiness that belied her age.

At the very least, the bearings and screws were all correct—a rare feat in this chaotic competition.

"Tsk, the youth these days are truly amazing. The new generation surpasses the old!"

"Indeed. Even if those old-timers from Central University’s Mecha Department came, they probably couldn’t find fault with this mecha arm!"

"Gotta say, this mecha arm is really well-assembled. At a glance, you’d never guess it was done by a freshman!"

...

"Jiang Se, I look forward to your performance in tomorrow’s Mecha Championship. Don’t let us down!" The curly-haired female Mecha Pilot looked up at Jiang Se with a smile.

At that moment, she had no idea her offhand remark would bring so much shock to her and her colleagues in tomorrow’s competition.

Mecha Pilot Sister: I hoped she’d turn the tide in critical moments, support the collapsing fortress, and amaze everyone with perfect mecha modifications to save her teammates—not charge in with a sniper rifle and brawl with a group of Mech Pilots!