Chapter 966: Chapter 446: That’s Really Quite Rude
And having a Mecha Synchronization Index that can at least harness 40% of a mecha’s potential is the entry condition. This means in order to pilot a mecha of a corresponding level, the index must convert to more than 40%, otherwise, it simply cannot be activated."
"Currently, our Mecha Synchronization Indices are generally very low... The vast majority of people are between 5 and 20.
Someone like me, with an index of 24, is already considered outstanding in the alliance, but I can only barely manage to pilot an A-level mecha, utilizing 48% of its power. As for the qualifications to pilot an S-level mecha, I don’t have them.
And this situation is worsening, and the reason is related to males.
The Mecha Synchronization Index of offspring is related to the indices possessed by the mother and the owner of the Promotion Device. The higher both are, the greater the probability that the offspring will have a high index.
Back in the days when armor wasn’t used for combat, males had an inexplicably low innate synchronization index. If 5-20 was the average for us, then for males, it is 0-5.
Even the lowest E-level armor didn’t meet the entry conditions at the time.
Occasionally, one might encounter some exceptionally gifted males, but they were only about ten in number.
This was already quite low, but still acceptable as it has always been this way since ancient times. However, the problem is becoming more severe now.
Because the Promotion Devices we use for reproduction have possibly encountered issues due to generations of replication, or maybe the technical requirements for mecha have grown increasingly stringent. In short, many Promotion Devices that could initially support a Mecha Synchronization Index of 5 now have an actual effect equivalent to 1, 2, or even 0.
So, the Mecha Synchronization Index of the new generation is generally showing a declining trend.
To have someone capable of piloting an S-level mecha emerge, we can only hope for the rare chance of a ’hidden genetic explosion’ to produce high-index offspring.
But even these lucky ones, who used to have indices as high as 60 or 70, now only have 40 or 50, barely enough to pilot an S-level mecha.
Our overall strength is gradually weakening due to this reason.
We are in decline, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to resist the invasion of those stellar monsters..."
"However, your value is astonishing," Zhu Ning turned her head towards Lin Li again, blurred features casting a hopeful light:
"80, a whole 80, this exceeds our highest record by nearly tenfold.
This means that if we study and begin replicating your Promotion Device for future offspring, it could potentially yield offspring with unimaginably high synchronization genetic potential, and there’s a considerable probability of nurturing a new generation with significantly high synchronization indices.
With our current technology, newborns, within a few years or even just a few months, can grasp basic knowledge and learn how to pilot mechas to join the battlefield defending the continent.
In the short term, they would become our newfound strength against alien invaders, a turning point."
After speaking, Zhu Ning somewhat dejectedly lowered her head, not saying anything further.
She hadn’t expected that Lin Li only had one Promotion Device and that he needed it himself.
How could she ask for it now, especially when her life was saved by Lin Li, she couldn’t possibly ask Lin Li to sacrifice for her country.
Before her, Zhu Ning was silent, and Lin Li frowned slightly.
Wait a minute.
Something sounds increasingly off.
Lin Li hesitantly opened his mouth:
"Miss Zhu, are you sure the thing you need is called a Promotion Device, and not gold?
If in your world having a child requires consuming a Promotion Device, isn’t that a bit too cruel to the ancient men who wanted a lot of children?"
"What is gold, and what difference does it make?" Zhu Ning was stunned, somewhat confused.
Lin Li began to educate Zhu Ning on some physiological knowledge.
"..."
"So that’s it! Gold, what I need is just your chromosomes! That thing that men can produce, not the device for producing it!"
Upon finally being able to distinguish between the two, Zhu Ning’s voice burst excitedly, as though finding new hope, she spoke expectantly towards Lin Li.
It’s not really Zhu Ning’s fault; men have been extinct for so long, in a world where conventional reproduction methods no longer exist, and she’s not the one responsible for research in this field, so it’s indeed easy to confuse the two.
After getting conclusive clarification, Lin Li turned his gaze to the system panel, where Task Five was still hanging.
The task description did not clearly state to give something like the roots of his life directly to Zhu Ning.
It merely required him to fulfill Zhu Ning’s request.
If her actual purpose is just for his ’lads’, then it’s not impossible to oblige.
The task then becomes completable.
In this light, it seems much more reasonable.
Luckily, he wasn’t prone to rash decisions, not chopping at the first request, Lin Li now even suspects that acting on Zhu Ning’s misunderstood expression of her needs might not have achieved the task.
"If it is this case, then I could offer some for your research," Lin Li nodded to Zhu Ning, but then reminded:
"However, I must caution that it might not meet your expectations. My Mecha Synchronization Index is an evolving trait, granted by an ability, and it may not be related to my human form, hence, my ’lads’ might symbolize a Mecha Synchronization Index of 0."
Previous health reports showed that his blood, among other things, did not display any abnormalities despite the system’s Physical Improvement.
As for his Mecha Synchronization Index, it originates from the system’s Physical Improvement.
While piloting mecha, the mecha’s display shows his Synchronization Index as only the system-assigned 80, indicating that fundamentally, his base index could be judged as 0.
It is cruel to kindle hope only for it to be shattered, so Lin Li felt it necessary to issue a warning.
Hearing this, Zhu Ning paused slightly, after contemplating Lin Li’s peculiar traits, her ecstatic mood faded somewhat, but only slightly:
"It’s okay, as long as there’s an opportunity, that’s good enough. I’m not one hundred percent sure anyway, after all, we are essentially two different kinds of humans now, aren’t we?"
"But even if your juice doesn’t carry the 80 Mecha Synchronization Index gene, we can conduct experiments like genetic transplantation through studying fresh and not ancient samples. If we can restore the ancient samples to even a synchronization index of 10, that’s a tremendous help to us."
"Alright," upon realizing Zhu Ning understood his implications, Lin Li ceased saying more and then inquired: "Approximately how much of my ’lads’ do you need?"
Zhu Ning: "Would a ton do?"
Lin Li: "(゜▽゜)?"
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[This segment isn’t long; it’ll be finished tomorrow, and at the beginning of the month, do vote with your monthly tickets.]
