Chapter 131: Skeleton mech (1/2)

Chapter 131: Skeleton mech

Translator: EndlessFantasy TranslationEditor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Animal skeletons were a kind of organic material, with many unique physical properties; skeletons of mutated lifeforms were even stronger. Some mutants even have bones that were harder than high-strength alloys, and very resilient. Most importantly, they were much lighter than metals - a very crucial property, since lightweight materials could greatly reduce the burden on the mech’s engines, and would substantially improve the mech’s automotive performance!

However, skeletons, unique as they were, did not come in a consistent form, and processing them was difficult; one can imagine how hard it would be to mold them into the various parts of a mech. Even if they could be shaped into appropriate parts, the ingrained surface of the bones often led to uneven force distribution among the parts, thus reducing their resilience and introducing a random factor to the quality of the parts.

The sky high costs and low probability of creating satisfactory products were the reasons for the lack of interest in skeletons as building or manufacturing materials.

Nan Nan’s grandfather was a skeleton carver, and lived a poor life. One day, a client brought a set of giant wart frog’s bones and a schematics, requesting to use the frog’s bones to be processed based on the schematics. The client also promised a higher reward based on the sturdiness of the final product.

Nan Nan’s grandfather had tried his hands on skeleton workmanship since young, his years of experience allowed him to be deeply familiar with the pattern of skeletal surfaces. He made short work of the final product based on the client’s specifications. The product was determined to have excellent mechanical properties through examination using a professional device, and the client was much overjoyed. That was how Nan Nan’s grandfather earned a sizable sum!

From then on, more people came to him for his services, and he did not stop studying intensively to improve his skills. He grew more competent, and began to have a reputation in selected circles! However, while he was always making parts for skeleton mech, his unfamiliarity with mechs meant that clients would have to bring their own schematics for him to create the final product as desired.

Those who knew him called him the Skeleton Artisan.

As his life became easier, and his reputation became more widespread, more organizations began to attempt to win him over to their side. They used all sorts of tricks, but he was unmoved by sweet words or threats, and none could convince him otherwise. Soon, he was targeted by an organization whose methods were far, far more ruthless and brutal than the gentler persuasions he had experienced before! Nan Nan’s parents had perished in that incident, while Nan Nan was rescued and escaped with her grandfather, finally landing in the Orbits.

In this violent society, he quickly found a new home, and his skills won him great respect. No one would offend the Skeleton Artisan, and none of the local organizations dared to meddle with people who possessed such unique skills, since they were under the protection of the sanctuary. Even the mentalists from the sanctuary were very courteous to them.

Of course, this did not mean that all was safe and well, like the time when that group of people Ye Chong met had threatened Doctor Lu. When your life was in danger, you tend to be reckless. Besides, who here on the Orbits was not a desperate person?

That was why Nan Nan’s grandfather had installed a top-of-the-line security system!

Skeleton carving was a branch of carving skills that received little attention, and there were probably no education institution that would list it as one of their offered courses. It was only a traditional craft passed on from one carver to another, slowly losing its place in history!

Hei Zi was a student accepted by Nan Nan’s grandfather after they came to the Orbits. He was hardworking, practical, and eager to learn, winning the old man’s approval. The only regret was that Hei Zi was a little too old to begin learning the craft and limited in talent, thus he could only improve slowly over time.

Hei Zi saw that Ye Chong fully absorbed in his words, and could not help but feel excited as he continued on, ”Look at this, this is the shell of a mantic locust. It looks like metal, but when I examined it, it does not have a scrap of metal in it. The thing’s strong, and very resilient, suitable for making a mech’s shield. Most importantly, it is light, try it!”

The shell spread across the size of 2 or 3 tabletops with a slight concave bend, and its surface shone with a metallic luster. The entire shell was in a greenish black, overlaid with wavy stripes of brilliant yellow, a dazzling piece. Ye Chong gave it few knocks, and heard the crisp echo from the material - it was solid hard. He reached for the edges of the shell and lightly lifted it , which came up with ease.