13 Chapter 13 Talent Protection Act_1

"Brother Jiang is the kind that prefers keeping a low profile, huh."

Xie Minglei was somewhat surprised.

He had thought that Jiang Chen, as a young man, would prefer showing off his talents in public.

So, he was actually a dark horse who likes to feign weakness and bide his time?

"I understand the brother's desire to keep a low profile."

"Unfortunately, that's not something we can decide."

"According to people's guesses, whether it's the Age-Old Shadow, Abyss Rune, or monsters, they are all created by a mysterious supreme will and are part of the abyss game…"

"As the chosen ones, we can only passively endure all of this."

"If one cannot withstand it, the only outcome is eternal descent into the abyss."

Jiang Chen rubbed his forehead.

He actually liked showing off in front of others.

But more than that, he preferred being the main carry in the late game during gameplay, silently farming away until he emerged with godlike gear and began reaping like mowing the grass.

Dancing in the opposing fountain—that's what truly felt great.

Yet, the game's setting of keeping traces within the abyss shattered Jiang Chen's fantasy.

Everyone knew he was the main carry for the late game; it was no longer possible to farm quietly without drawing attention.

But...

It didn't matter.

As a top-tier main carry, Jiang Chen's thinking wasn't rigid.

If he couldn't farm discretely alone, why not just find some teammates?

Let teammates take the early game pressure while he quickly builds up his strength, leading his team to victory in the mid-to-late game; that's also a viable growth strategy.

As for where to find teammates...

"Senior Xie, it's not that I want to keep a low profile, but I'm worried about my personal safety,"

"What's the use of having an SSS-class rating? I'm still just a rookie mecha pilot."

"If I encounter some people with ulterior motives, I would have no power to resist."

"A genius who can't grow is not a genius at all."

"Moreover, I have family members. If this were in a novel, it would be a classic Achilles' heel…"

Jiang Chen spoke all at once, looking seriously at Xie Minglei.

"Senior Xie, if I join the alliance, could you arrange for someone to protect my family and me?"

The Mecha Pilots Alliance is a powerful force established by various official governments.

But it is not the only mecha pilots' force on Planet Blue Star.

In fact, some mecha pilots had risen before the establishment of the alliance.

They were reluctant to join the alliance and be regulated but instead recruited their own teammates to build their own power base.

Because their strength was not much less than that of the alliance,

the alliance could only acknowledge their existence.

This is also why Xie Minglei has always claimed to be a mecha pilot from the alliance.

As for Jiang Chen...

He had a favorable impression of the alliance to begin with.

After all, the official's role is to maintain social stability and calm, and even with some omissions, the system itself is healthy and standardized.

The alliance built upon this foundation has even more complete rules and regulations, with everyone performing their duties.

Like when abyss monsters invaded the real world.

It is often the alliance's mecha pilots who arrive first at the scene to save and calm the public and rebuild the destroyed areas.

As for other unofficial mecha pilot organizations...

For top mecha pilots, freedom is indeed freedom.

But whether they're regular or not is a different matter.

Moreover, such private super organizations based on strength, even if they copy the rules well, are ultimately ruled by the top mecha pilots.

The culture and atmosphere of the organization are entirely based on the character of the leaders, which can be quite extreme.

The bright ones may be exceedingly bright, but the dark ones can be even darker.

Therefore, if Jiang Chen wants to join a force to seek shelter and time for development, the alliance is undoubtedly the most suitable.

He trusts the alliance more.

"Of course!"

Xie Minglei nodded readily.

Jiang Chen's concern was very normal.

After all, as Planet Blue Star's ninth SSS-class rookie, his talent strength and potential are beyond doubt.

All mecha pilot forces would extend olive branches to him once they knew his situation.

The problem is, there are some ruthless mecha pilot forces on Planet Blue Star.

Intimidation, temptation, elimination when unable to acquire...

Such things are all too common.

Xie Minglei rushed over in a hurry, not just to establish a good relationship with this genius,

but also to recruit Jiang Chen for the alliance and ensure his safety.

At this moment, he spoke openly.

"That's exactly what I came here for."

"As long as you're willing to join the alliance," Xie Minglei said, "according to the New Talent Protection Act, there will be a dedicated mecha ensuring your safety in the present world."

"Not only that, your family and relatives will also be properly arranged for and protected."

As he spoke, Xie Minglei suddenly paused.

He looked toward the space beside him before continuing.

"In fact, the protection already started before you even thought about joining the alliance."

It already started?

Jiang Chen looked where Xie Minglei was gazing, and his eyes fixed on the spot.

He saw the air shimmer slightly, and a woman in a bright yellow long dress appeared beside him, smiling as she extended her hand.

"Hello, star of tomorrow, my name is Ruan Mingyu, and I'm a 7th Rank mecha pilot of the alliance."

"I'm here to take charge of your safety in the present world."

Invisibility ability?

Was it an optical camouflage module, or some kind of magic supercharged module?

But, this mecha pilot seemingly wasn't wearing a mecha, so how was she accessing mecha abilities?

Moreover…

The strongest mecha pilot on Planet Blue Star had reached the 8th Rank.

A 7th Rank mecha pilot was just one step below the strongest level, an eminent figure beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Such a high-level powerhouse was going to stay by his side all the time for protection?

Jiang Chen's thoughts raced as he shook hands with the 7th Rank mecha pilot, voicing his confusion.

"Senior Ruan will rely on invisibility to stay by my side and protect me all the time?"

"Won't this affect your own life?"

Ruan Mingyu's smile grew more intense.

The next moment, her figure rapidly faded away.

What stood in her place was a humanoid mecha of a gleaming white hue.

A voice came from the helmet.

"I'm not actually here, but rather communicating with you through the holographic projection feature of the mecha."

"The one responsible for your protection is not me personally, but my mecha: Bai Ying."

"She is a 7th Rank mecha with high-level intelligence capable of autonomous action, specializing in concealment and tracking, scanning over large areas, and providing mid-to-long range support."

"Even if I venture into the abyss for exploration, she won't disappear; she'll continue to ensure your safety."

Ruan Mingyu's voice subsided.

The white mecha extended its hand again while another female voice spoke out.

"Greetings, Lord Jiang Chen, my name is Bai Ying, and I'm here to ensure your safety."

"…"

Loading a mecha with high-level intelligence modules and using it as a summoned entity?

These high rank mecha pilots sure have fancy ways of operating.

Jiang Chen breathed a sigh of relief, shook hands with Bai Ying again, and then inquired.

"So, what's the price?"

There's no such thing as a free lunch.

Jiang Chen trusted the alliance because of its standardized system and fair distribution.

Even top mecha pilots had to uphold and comply with the alliance's rules instead of arbitrarily changing them.

Thus, a 7th Rank mecha guarding him, occupying the resources of the alliance, couldn't possibly be free of charge.

Jiang Chen knew this and was willing to pay the price.

"Contribution."

Xie Minglei understood Jiang Chen's meaning and began to explain.

"Although the alliance is established by various countries, it's essentially not owned by any single nation but is a trading platform for mecha pilots that is jointly monitored by countries."

"The alliance doesn't force mecha pilots to carry out specific tasks, instead utilizing a currency called [contribution] to motivate the subjective initiative of mecha pilots."

"For example, handling abyssal monsters, rescuing civilians, guiding awakened ones—you can earn a certain amount of contribution."

"Senior Ruan provides you with protection and can also receive contribution from the alliance."

"Correspondingly, you and your family, if you wish to receive protection from the alliance, also have to pay an equivalent amount of contribution."

"Of course, according to the New Talent Protection Act, you can incur a contribution debt and will be subsidized when settling up."

After concluding his explanation, Xie Minglei waited for Jiang Chen to digest the information and then said with a smile,

"Brother Jiang, you really don't have to worry about the contribution issue."

"As a genius mecha pilot with an SSS-class evaluation, earning contribution will be extremely easy for you."

The Bai Ying mecha also nodded in agreement.

Jiang Chen pondered for a moment.

"Senior Xie, why do you keep emphasizing the SSS-class evaluation?"

"Even if the basic trial's evaluation has proven my potential, indicating that I could possess tremendous combat ability if I grow…"

"What does that have to do with earning contribution?"

Xie Minglei shook his head and said,

"Brother Jiang, it's normal that you don't understand what an SSS-class evaluation truly signifies."

"Let me put it this way."

"During your settlement, did you receive a Supercharge Module?"