From Scrap Mecha to Sci-Fi Heaven

"What about yourself? Do you consider yourself a pilot or an engineer?"

Old Zhang continued to chuckle.

"Me?"

Lin Yu glanced at Old Zhang and said calmly, "Both, I suppose. My martial arts aren't bad."

"Haha, I really couldn't tell."

Old Zhang looked at Lin Yu's body, which wasn't thin but showed virtually no signs of training, and laughed heartily.

After laughing, he continued, "An engineer needs knowledge and creativity, while a pilot is a warrior, requiring mentality and martial prowess. But this martial prowess isn't just about fighting and shooting; otherwise, pilots wouldn't be a separate profession and discipline."

"Elaborate."

Lin Yu nodded slightly, appropriately playing along, encouraging Old Zhang to continue.

Although he didn't have a fawning personality, he wasn't stupid either. He knew that Old Zhang was probably a Mecha Pilot of extraordinary background, and he was naturally willing to listen to his experiences.

"Nowadays, even the worst Mech has at least a Somatosensory Interaction system, so most driving operations are discarded. The demand for pilots is more focused on the pilots' own combat skills and experience."

Old Zhang explained, changing the subject, "But normal combat skills and the combat skills required of a pilot are not entirely interchangeable.

We often control Mechs to perform illogical movements, with completely different force exertion.

Thrusters, anti-gravity, repulsive force, inertia, gravity and gravitational pull in the natural environment, etc., will all become factors affecting combat, so combat skills also need to be changed and adapted.

Beyond combat skills, there are many other things a pilot needs to master.

For example, the reading and application of various instruments and detection data, cooperation with onboard AI, scheduling of the fire control system, operation of various weapon modules, flight, air-space combat, all-round three-dimensional combat in outer space, beyond-visual-range combat…"

"You have triggered the skill acquisition clue—Mech piloting."

"Acquisition clue—Melee Combat: The [Melee Combat] skill must reach at least LV1."

"Acquisition clue—Shooting: The [Shooting] skill must reach at least LV1."

"Acquisition clue—Theoretical Review: Read and master basic textbooks related to pilot profession. (Expand to view the catalog)"

"Acquisition clue—Driving Test: Pilot a Mech to complete at least one evenly matched battle and win."

A light blue panel silently appeared before his eyes.

Looking at the information prompts appearing on the panel, Lin Yu's favorability towards the rambling Old Zhang instantly soared.

Good man!

A bunch of rambling actually gave me a skill clue.

And it's the most needed Mech piloting.

"So?"

For the sake of the skill clue, Lin Yu continued to act as a qualified listener.

"So, hehe, you should have figured it out, old man, I am the legendary S-class ace Mecha Pilot, a hidden expert."

Old Zhang chuckled, rubbing his hands, his face wrinkling into a chrysanthemum: "How about it? Do you want to become my apprentice?"

"Can you get me a top-tier Mech, or give me a billion or two as pocket money?"

Lin Yu asked.

"A billion or two? I want it, you want it too! If I had a billion or two, would I be reduced to collecting scrap in the Wasteland?"

Old Zhang's eyes widened in surprise.

"Then do you have any powerful connections to arrange a good path for me?"

Lin Yu thought for a moment and lowered his requirements: "I don't demand too much, first get me a Federation citizenship, and then cure my Stellar Halo Disease."

"Uh… cough, this…"

Old Zhang coughed awkwardly.

Lin Yu rolled his eyes: "Then you can at least teach some basic theoretical courses on piloting, right?"

"Basic theoretical courses?"

Probably stunned by the drastic change in conditions, Old Zhang was momentarily speechless.

Then he reacted, overjoyed.

This kid, it seems he understands the value of the old man, he himself also wanted to take an apprentice.

It must be so.

Look, he's giving me a way out again and again.

From wanting a billion or two to just solving the identity problem, now he even just wants to be taught basic theoretical courses.

It should be so, you know, Zhao Xing that kid kept circling around, the old man didn't even bother to pay attention to him.

"What's so good about learning this stuff, the old man is a practical person, all the experience is gained from mountains of corpses and seas of blood, what I teach you is guaranteed to be the most practical stuff."

Old Zhang became reserved, turned his back, showing the demeanor of a master, boasted, and then waved his hand: "As for basic theory, if you are interested in those things in books, you can find some videos and documents to learn by yourself."

"Then forget it."

Lin Yu immediately lost interest, and listlessly rolled his eyes.

The acquisition clue for the Mech piloting skill has been obtained.

All that remains is to complete the upgrade requirements to acquire and improve the skill.

And it's the most complete and comprehensive kind.

This Old Zhang can't even teach the basic theory required to complete the requirements, he really can't think of any reason to become his apprentice.

"Uh…"

The teacher's demeanor that Old Zhang had just put on froze on his face.

Then he exclaimed in astonishment: "You, you don't want to be my apprentice?"

"If you can't even teach basic theory, what use am I going to have for you?"

Lin Yu continued to roll his eyes.

"You can read the theory slowly, I can teach you shooting, fighting, and Mech piloting and various practical experiences."

Old Zhang said.

"I've said, my martial arts aren't bad."

Lin Yu shrugged.

Although he hasn't unlocked the melee combat and shooting skills, when he switches to Lu Bu's personality, he is equivalent to having Lu Bu's combat and shooting skills, and has various combat experiences from the cold weapon era.

Admittedly, according to Old Zhang, these cannot be completely applied to Mechs and modern battlefields, but they are enough to cope with most current needs, and after unlocking the Mech piloting skill, there is no need to worry about these.

"You! You!"

Old Zhang was so angry that he blew his beard and stared, and was speechless for a moment.

From Lin Yu's own point of view, there is no problem, but the two sides stand at different angles, it is like a chicken talking to a duck, naturally making him angry enough.

Especially this reason for refusal! Could it be any more perfunctory!

"Oh, Old Zhang, so you're here, I've been looking for you, I have a question that I haven't been able to figure out, I want to ask Old Zhang for your guidance…"

Zhao Xing quickly walked over from a distance.

However, he clearly chose the wrong time.

"No time."

Old Zhang snorted, like a child who failed to get candy, glared at Zhao Xing, and directly turned away.

"Uh… it's okay, I'll talk to you when you're free."

Zhao Xing showed an awkward but polite smile, watching Old Zhang leave.

Probably feeling a little embarrassed, he looked at Lin Yu and said, trying to make conversation: "Brother Lin, you were chatting with Old Zhang just now? What did you talk about?"

"Nothing much, I also wanted to ask about the basic theory of piloting, but he wouldn't teach me."

Lin Yu really couldn't bear to dampen his enthusiasm, and shrugged.

"Oh, oh, that's right, that's right,

legendary figures like Old Zhang naturally have some legendary arrogance and quirks…"

Zhao Xing immediately followed suit, slightly relieved.