Chapter 828. Connected (1/2)
After half an hour of presenting themselves, Captain Orfan of the Vandals Lieutenant Dise of the Swordmaidens both elicited a couple of minor roars from the giant form of Qilanxo.
While the roars didn't sound impressive, the mere fact that both of them managed to hold Qilanxo's interest already served as an encouraging sign.
”What do you think, Qilanxo?” He asked her directly. ”Do you find these two worthy enough to allow them to partner up with you?”
She let out an ambiguous-sounding roar. Both Orfan and Dise frowned as they couldn't interpret the sound. Even Dise, an experienced beast hunter, couldn't interpret the meaning behind the roar.
Every exobeast was a completely different alien species who evolved on separate planets. Despite sharing the same label, they different vastly in traits, though they also had a lot of things in common due to convergent evolution.
In Dise's experience, the sacred gods of Aeon Corona VII possessed a thunderous, warbling roar that unsettled her every time she heard it at close proximity. Her entire bones shook at the low, gutteral vibrations.
It made her feel small and weak, yet it stirred her battle intent as well. She tried her best to repress those desires, keeping the warnings issued by Ves in mind.
”Qilanxo isn't displeased with the two of you.” Ves interpreted for the sacred god. ”That doesn't mean the two of you pass as of yet, but out of every mech pilot in our midst, you two stand the highest chance of getting accepted.”
”So what now, kid?”
”The two of you are still strangers to Qilanxo. You need to spend some time with her and continue talking to her. Let her know you better so she has a deeper understanding of who you are. Treat it as a relationship and invest your emotions into building it up. As long as you are sincere, I'm sure Qilanxo will come to accept you as her partner.”
Orfan and Dise looked disappointed that they hadn't been able to convince Qilanxo to accept them right on the spot, but then they reminded themselves that others received a straightforward rejection.
Only the two of them received the opportunity to spend more time with the sacred god!
Captain Orfan quickly frowned after she thought of something. ”I have a lot of duties. I don't think Captain Byrd will be pleased if I'm pulled away from leading my mech company.”
Lieutenant Dise shared the same concerns as well, though to a lesser degree.
”Well, it's either you two, or no one.” Ves shrugged. ”I'll bring it up to Captain Byrd and Commander Lydia. I think assigning you from your old posts to allow you to become Qilanxo's beast rider is a lot more attractive than leaving her unattended.”
After sending the two officers off, Ves activated his comm and contacted both Commander Lydia and Captain Byrd in a remote conference call. He briefly summarized how the selection process proceeded.
While Lydia remained calm, Captain Byrd looked irked. ”This isn't what you initially promised. We agreed that one of our low-ranking mech pilots should be in contention.”
”Captain, I can't help it if Qilanxo isn't willing to give them the time of her day.” Ves shrugged. ”She's not a mech that willingly lets everyone who enters her cockpit pilot her like a puppet. She only accepts those who are worthy of the honor to bond with her. As a proud sacred god and and second strongest of her old pantheon, do you really think she'd be content with accepting an average mech pilot?”
”Still, there are better choices than Captain Orfan…”
Did Byrd dislike the fact that Orfan scored such a significant opportunity? It was no secret that the two Vandal mech captains disliked each other.
The chance of becoming a beast rider was an extremely unique opportunity. If Captain Byrd managed to win Qilanxo's approval, then she'd be able to add this to her record and enhance her stature even after she retired!
Even if the Mech Corps classified everything that happened on Aeon Corona VII, she still had her memories to inflate her ego.
And if some of the theories that Ves and the exobiologists had come up with were true, then Captain Orfan might experience some drastic improvements in her physique and piloting skill.
Just as the sacred god changed under the influence of their beast rider, so did the beast rider change under the influence of the sacred god!
Therefore, what Ves had done under his own initiative practically boosted Captain Orfan in every way imaginable.
”Look, ma'am, none of the other mech officers with the Vandals and the Swordmaidens have ever dueled a sacred god in a one-on-one duel. That alone accords them a critical measure of respect and recognition from Qilanxo. Mortals who challenged the sacred gods and lived are the only humans that aren't forgettable in Qilanxo's eyes. Unless you want to go off to Samar and challenge Pailanon and his subordinates for another set of duels, Captain Orfan is all you have among the Vandals.”
Commander Lydia nodded her head. As someone deeply steeped in the warrior culture, she instinctively understood Qilanxo's lofty position. ”Captain Byrd, any success is to be celebrated. When I heard how my Swordmaidens failed the initial selection process, I became concerned about what we should do about the beast. Now that we found a pair of compatible riders, we should be grateful that we don't have to consider less palatable alternatives.”
All the other options were worse, so Captain Byrd could only surrender to the circumstances.
”Proceed with attempting to get those two accustomed to directing Qilanxo what to do. We are almost finished with repairs. Within a week, we will begin to move. The exobiologists believe she's capable of moving by then, so make sure our newly-designated beast riders gain sufficient control over the beast to follow our instructions.”
”Will do, captain.”
Qilanxo let out a soft but angry roar once the call ended. Ves conducted his call within earshot of the sacred god and she must have noticed Captain Byrd's dismissive attitude.
Ves turned to the sacred god. ”I don't want to lie to you. There are people among us who want to make use of you. They also happen to be in charge. For the time being, you are under our care, and that means you only get to live as long as you are useful and controllable in their eyes.”