Counterfeit Hero

”It’s not that I’m agitated, but this matter is greatly related to us!” Barbarossa said earnestly, ”As soon as I heard Hake mention this, I immediately got in touch with Klaus. Now, the entire Free Port is in an uproar. This is something that has never happened in the many years of Free Port’s history!”

”How big is it?” Chekov, who was lying on Fatty’s desk flipping through ship blueprints, raised his head in confusion and said, ”Isn’t it just a private mech faction getting robbed? How is that a big deal?”

”If you understand the status of these mech factions in Free Port, you’ll know how significant this event is!” Barbarossa paced back and forth in the office, ”No one has ever dared to target a traditional mech faction. This time, Demon’s Eye dares to act openly, and Tai Sect dares to use the Sect Federation to suppress the victim Phantom Stream. This already indicates that the situation on Mars is starting to have issues.”

”What’s going on exactly?” Seeing Barbarossa’s seriousness, Fatty finally sobered up, ”Be more specific. What the hell is Tai Sect?”

”To put it this way, for a long time, mech factions in the Free World have enjoyed supreme status.” Barbarossa sat down on the sofa, ”People of the Free World cannot stand traditional education. From the moment we’re born, we live in a world where the weak are prey to the strong. Criminals and fugitives from various countries flock to this safe haven. Every day, it’s either you hit others, or others hit you. To secure a basic space for survival, besides joining some power group, the most important thing is to become a part of a mech faction!”

”This is a world of mechs!” Barbarossa spread his hands, ”Without basic mech skills, you can’t move an inch here. We are taught to pilot mechs from birth. In enterprises, there are Assembly Mechs, Repair Mechs, Transport Mechs, daily Competitive Mechs, Combat Mechs, Transport Mechs, and the Combat Mecha Groups of major forces. Almost all aspects of life revolve around mechs.”

Everyone nodded. With today’s technological development, manpower can no longer handle many tasks. Not only in the Free World but in the entire human society, mechs are essential. Mechs are like reinforced shells for humans, helping complete tasks that are impossible with just our bodies.

”Imagine, in a world where military weapons are strictly controlled, and energy cannons are unattainable, how exalted the status of mech factions is.” Barbarossa clasped his hands tightly, ”The skills accumulated by these mech factions over thousands of years are the most precious assets of the Free World. We rely on them not only in daily life but also in our interactions with other countries. They are the only thing the Free World can offer to the entire human society!”

”In the Free World, the Private Mecha industry has already formed a massive industrial chain.” Barbarossa took a sip of water and continued, ”Design, manufacturing, repair, modification, and peripheral parts, mecha culture, advertising, gambling, and exhibitions, all of these stem from mech factions. Most mechs are developed according to these factions’ mechanical technology, and our skills come from these factions, especially pirates, mercenaries, and security groups. Mech knights who haven’t received training from a mech faction are vastly different in capability compared to those who have undergone systematic learning in a faction. This difference is combat effectiveness.”

”So, in other words...” Chekov said in shock, ”Your mech factions are similar to our military academies?”

”Exactly!” Barbarossa replied, ”Graduates from your military academies occupy many positions in the army. Many generals are alumni, and many lower-ranking officers form alliances based on this connection; you should understand this well. Now, imagine an army attacking a military academy. Think about the impact of that! Moreover, the status of mech factions in the Free World is far higher than that of military academies.”

”Why did Demon’s Eye do this?” Fatty, who had been silent, asked.

”That’s the key point!” Barbarossa glanced at Fatty, ”The leader of Demon’s Eye, Steelman, is himself a member of Tai Sect. Now, Tai Sect, ranked third in Mars Free Port, has likely already pledged allegiance to the Western Alliance...”

After briefly explaining the situation of Tai Sect, Barbarossa continued, ”A faction like Tai Sect would never be content to stay beneath Absolute Kill and Mountain Breaker. Especially in the past two to three years, their expansion has been terrifying, to say the least, before and after the war broke out. They adhere strictly to the principle of ’Whoever follows them prospers, whoever opposes them perishes.’ Anyone who stands in their way is either eliminated or eventually absorbed.”

”The current situation in Free Port is very delicate.” Barbarossa frowned, raised his cup to his lips, and then, unconsciously, put it down again, ”Everyone knows that with the outbreak of war, the Free World will eventually be reshuffled. The role of mech factions has significantly diminished with the influx of embargoed weapons and resources. Everyone has their own schemes. Tai Sect’s timing, combined with their alliance with Demon’s Eye supported by the Western Alliance, indicates that there is undoubtedly a comprehensive plan by the Western Alliance behind them. This is also why Absolute Kill and Mountain Breaker didn’t join the Sect Federation to directly confront Tai Sect!”