MG - Chapter 372: Eden Takes the Blame (Patreon)

“We need an explanation. Why was today’s race attacked with missiles?”

“Yeah! Was this something the organizers caused?”

“Even if we signed life-or-death agreements before the race, this is way too much, isn’t it?”

Outside Panlong Mountain, all racers and spectators had already been evacuated to a plaza.

The entire mountain was under lockdown, with no tourists or racers allowed to enter or leave.

The Mecha Girls from the Logistics Department and Armed Forces Department were still clearing the battlefield. They had to thoroughly inspect every corner of Panlong Mountain to make sure every Hunter had been eliminated.

Eden stood on the podium at the center of the plaza, with the provincial race organizers behind her.

Patrick Wang wore a troubled expression, and Shi Qian, the representative sent by the Techmasters’ Alliance, looked equally grim.

An attack on a provincial race was a major incident.

It was bound to attract worldwide attention.

If the situation was handled poorly, it could damage the organizers’ reputation and even affect the development of the entire racing industry.

At a time like this, Eden stepping forward of her own accord also helped take some of the pressure off them.

“Spectators, racers, I am deeply saddened by the sudden terrorist attack on this provincial race, especially since many racers and spectators lost their lives as a result,” Eden said solemnly.

She knew that what everyone needed right now was to see that the matter would be dealt with properly, not for someone to use their official position to muddy the waters.

“For the losses suffered by the various clubs, Mecha Island, the Human Federation, and the Techmasters’ Alliance will provide compensation.

“Injured Mecha Girls, racers, and spectators will receive the highest level of medical treatment available, completely free of charge.

“As for those who lost their lives in the attack, compensation will also be paid. Based on the value of the Mecha Girls and racers involved, the compensation amount will be tripled.”

After Eden said this, most people’s expressions eased considerably.

As long as the authorities were willing to take responsibility, that was enough.

What everyone feared most was hearing that this had merely been an unexpected attack, that the attackers had already been eliminated, and that the matter would simply end there.

For most small and medium-sized clubs, the compensation Eden proposed was already enough to train a new driver and Mecha Girl, perhaps even several of them.

Only the Demon King Club, which had suffered devastating losses, still looked grim.

Trien was truly dead.

Even if Ice Soul recovered, she would never be able to return to the battlefield. She would most likely be taken away by Mecha Island.

So what good was all that compensation?

Money could not buy another driver as outstanding as Trien.

Nor could it ever buy them another Ice Soul.

But painful as it was, Eden had already offered so many concessions that everyone else had accepted the arrangement.

Even though the Demon King Club was ranked number one in the world, it could hardly step forward and object.

After all, the Demon King Club’s Techmasters were also members of the Techmasters’ Alliance.

They could hardly have one hand fighting the other.

Eden first shouldered responsibility for the attack in the name of Mecha Island, then naturally brought the Human Federation and Techmasters’ Alliance into it as well.

With that one move, people at every level had little left to complain about.

On the surface, it looked as though Eden had offended quite a few people.

In reality, she had offended no one.

“Governor Eden, was this really just a terrorist attack?” one racer asked as he stepped forward. “Those weren’t ordinary missiles that bombarded the Panlong Mountain Circuit, were they?”

Eden glanced at him.

Not many racers had encountered Hunters on Panlong Mountain.

The ones who had were all racers with top-tier Mecha Girls.

Keeping them quiet would be easy.

Eden did not even need to say anything herself. Their clubs would make sure they kept their mouths shut or give them some other explanation to use.

So Eden simply nodded.

“I’m sure most of you are at least somewhat aware that anti-Techmaster and anti-Mecha Island organizations exist in our world. They believe Techmasters and Mecha Girls should not exist.

“In recent years, as the status of Techmasters has continued to rise, these reactionary organizations have also grown larger and larger. Once an organization grows large enough, all kinds of people become involved. Scientists, wealthy individuals, arms dealers. Their capabilities should not be underestimated.

“According to the information currently available to me, these reactionary organizations were responsible for the bombing of Panlong Mountain.”

Inwardly, Eden silently apologized to those reactionary organizations.

Someone had to take the blame, and it could only be them.

Ever since those reactionary organizations had appeared, they had been relentlessly suppressed by the Techmasters’ Alliance and had barely been given room to breathe.

Most of the time, they only dared operate underground.

The gap between ordinary people and Techmasters was not limited to authority and wealth.

Their combat capabilities were worlds apart as well.

Even sniper rifles and explosives might not be enough to kill a Techmaster protected by a Mecha Girl.

How could those organizations possibly have the ability to bombard Panlong Mountain?

In truth, Mecha Island had little direct conflict with them.

Their main conflict was with the Techmasters’ Alliance.

It was only because of the Techmasters’ Alliance that those organizations had also come to resent Mecha Island, the place that produced Mecha Girls.

After all, it was precisely because Mecha Girls existed that every assassination attempt they had ever made against Techmasters had failed.

Derek Su stood below the podium, looking up at Eden and nodding slightly to himself.

The Governor of Mecha Island was shrewd and politically savvy, unlike the other governor, who handled everything in a blunt and straightforward manner.

“Ahem...”

Beside him, Stella suddenly covered her mouth and coughed twice.

Derek Su immediately took her hand, concern showing in his eyes.

From Imperial Scale, Derek Su had already learned that his two Core Contract Mecha Girls had gone through considerable danger.

Even thinking about it now left him shaken.

Stella in particular had been grazed by a spatial collapse bomb and later jumped off a cliff, nearly falling to her death.

After treatment, she appeared fine on the surface, though she was still somewhat weak.

“Master, I... I’m fine.”

Stella touched her chest.

A moment earlier, she had suddenly felt a tightness there.

She had intended to tell Derek Su that she felt uncomfortable, but just as she was about to speak, the feeling vanished completely.

So she merely smiled softly.

“If anything feels wrong, tell me.”

Derek Su gently rubbed Stella’s head.

“Mhm~”

Stella leaned close to Derek Su’s ear and whispered, “Master, make sure you properly make it up to beautiful busty girl when we get back. During treatment earlier, I saw that her foot had been completely shattered... It must have hurt so much.”

Derek Su instinctively looked toward Imperial Scale.

Noticing his gaze, Imperial Scale blinked, as if asking whether something was wrong.

With how calm she looked, there was no sign at all that she had endured such terrible pain earlier.

As expected of Imperial Scale.

She was always the most reassuring one.

Derek Su sighed inwardly.

...

After Eden had calmed everyone down, the discussion returned to the most important issue.

How would the results of the Panlong Mountain race be decided?

“After discussing the matter with the organizers, we have decided that although Panlong Mountain was attacked by reactionary organizations, the race results will not be invalidated.”

The moment the racers heard that the results would stand, another wave of commotion spread below the podium.

Some looked delighted.

Others looked grim and indignant.

They probably felt the race should simply be held again, with the injured racers excluded, which would give them a better chance at a higher placement.

Eden paid no attention to what they thought and continued.

“First, the only racer to complete the entire course was Derek Su, together with his Mecha Girls, Stella and Purple Lightning.

“Whether judged by completion time or average speed, they are the undisputed champions.

“Does anyone object?”