The Mech Touch novel Chapter 3346

Chapter 3346: Imperial Ambitions

This was a strange reunion.

Everytime his consciousness traveled back to the past with the help of the System, he did what he was supposed to do in order to experience what it was like to pilot a mech before returning to the present.

Of course, battles where mech pilots needed to risk their lives rarely revolved around trivial matters. Many of the mech pilots that the System randomly picked out to host his consciousness became involved in greater events.

Whether it was breaking out of a pocket space or sparking a slave revolt, a mech pilot only fought best when they committed their entire lives for a cause that was greater than themselves.

This was how expert pilots were born, and it did not miss his notice that a noticeably high proportion of Mastery hosts broke through or became exceptional in another way.

Assuming the System had the power to choose the destination of a Mastery experience, it was more effective to select a mech pilot with the potential for greatness. It was only when they threw everything they had for a cause they believed in that their piloting approach maximized all of their potential, allowing Ves to observe first-hand how a given mech type should ideally be piloted.

That was all Ves cared about, really. He never forgot that learning a Mastery was supposed to benefit him. He never put much thought about what his hosts gained out of these brief time jaunts. After all, the events happened so far away from his present location and so far back in time that it was impossible for his 'past' deeds to come back and affect his present circumstances.

At least, that was what he had always assumed.

It appeared he had to correct this presumptuous conclusion. Now that he came face to face with a familiar Mastery host of the past, Ves regretted that he had acted with so little regard for the ripple effects he created in the timeline!

It was worse when Ves actively traveled to a region where his 'past' self once intervened. This vastly increased the probability of sparking a highly undesirable confrontation and reuniting with an 'old friend'.

In other words, Ves brought this upon himself.

The Iron Emperor was the fourth individual who could make Ves feel as if he was nearly completely exposed.

Calabast and Sigrund were the first ones to pierce through his veil of secrecy. Both of them subsequently blackmailed him with the information they gained.

After that came Master Willix whose authority and vision were far too great for Ves to resist against. It was fortunate that she only grasped one of his lesser secrets and not his greatest one that would instantly bring the entire MTA down on his head!

Now, a disgustingly clever, wise and observant version of Rion Aaden joined this club!

The current Rion was more comparable to the likes of Minister Shederin and Senator Tovar than the stupid, gullible dwarf of the past.

Even a pig would turn into a scarily smart and competent statesman after receiving the equivalent of trillions of hex credits worth of cybernetic implants, genetic modification and tutoring from some of the best teachers in the galaxy!

What also turned Rion into a formidable individual was how much time had passed since he started his new lease on life. So much time had passed since the beginning of the rebellion that he had gone through many life experiences and matured each step of the way.

All of this resulted into a dwarf that truly deserved to be regarded as the emperor of the Vulcanites. Ves even admired Rion Aaden a bit for working so hard all of this time. The determination he showed was much more impressive than any other dwarf or human for that matter. Step by step he studied and improved his skills until he was truly able to lead the Vulcan Empire to a greater future!

Why didn't it happen, then? Why didn't Rion step out of the shadows? With the current crisis engulfing the Vulcan Empire, his people needed his leadership more than ever!

"ARE YOU WONDERING WHY I HAVE DECIDED TO REMAIN IN THE SHADOWS AFTER SO LONG?"

Ves tentatively nodded. He did not feel as uncomfortable in Rion's presence than before, but he was always mindful that his life and future was still in the dwarven emperor's hands.

Just his powered dwarven armor was strong enough to flatten Ves like a bug, especially when the local gravity was as high as 4.6 g!

Fortunately, Rion did not look like he was eager to repay the round that Ves had fired through his head.

Instead, the dwarf continued to set upon the steps of his throne while carefully caressing the banner draped over his thick, armored legs.

"I HAVE ALREADY REVEALED ONE OF MY REASONS FOR STAYING OUT OF THE FOREFRONT OF THE VULCAN EMPIRE. THE VULCAN EMPIRE HAS ALREADY CHOSEN ITS LEADERS."

"Not good ones considering what has happened on their watch." Ves pointed out.

The cybernetic dwarf shook his head. "MY GRAND-NEPHEW IS DOING THE BEST HE CAN DO WITH THE RESOURCES HE HAS AVAILABLE. EVEN I CANNOT SUPPRESS THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE VULCAN FAITH AND THE DWARVEN GOD CULT. I SHOULD KNOW. I HAVE ALREADY TRIED."

"You… sound like you're not entirely happy with the state of the Vulcan Empire."

"LOOK AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED." The armored dwarf waved his giant armored hand. "THE FOUNDATION OF THE VULCAN EMPIRE WAS FLAWED FROM THE BEGINNING. THE DOMINOES OF ITS OWN FALL HAD ALWAYS BEEN IN PLACE. THE EVENTS THAT TRANSPIRED AFTER YOUR ACTIONS ARE SOLELY THE FAULT OF THE VULCANITES THEMSELVES."

Ves took a second look at Rion. The dwarven emperor's analysis of the situation matched disturbingly well with Shederin Purnesse's own views on the stability of the Vulcan Empire!

"You call yourself the Iron Emperor, but how can you rule when there aren't any people under you anymore? The state founded in your name is collapsing at the seams!"

Bang!

Rion's armored fist clanged against the step!

"THE VULCAN EMPIRE IS A STATE FOUNDED IN YOUR NAME, NOT MINE. THE QUALITY OF ITS CULTURE AND INSTITUTIONS REFLECT THE QUALITY OF THE SOURCE THAT INSPIRED THEIR CREATION. IF MY CURRENT SELF WAS IN CHARGE AT THE TIME, I WOULD HAVE NEVER ALLOWED THE VULCAN EMPIRE TO LAY THE SEEDS OF ITS OWN DESTRUCTION AT THE ONSET."

That sounded strange. Ves had never heard a head of state disparaging his own empire!

"You… don't believe in your own state?"

"DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE STABILITY AND SURVIVAL OF THE VULCAN EMPIRE?" Rion asked as his cybernetic yellow eyes stared straight at Ves.

"No." Ves truthfully replied. "When I first heard about it, I always thought it sat in a precarious position. Now that I have visited it and experienced the charm of your subjects, I think even less of this state."

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