“Even so, I still want your help!”

Cross looked through a glass window, he noticed a group of men who were busy with their work. An older man was instructing them sternly.

It looked like they were attaching some parts to an old-looking Mech. It was a dark mech with a robust figure. It had a round torso perhaps because the cockpit was located there.

At a glance only, Cross could tell that this was an agricultural mech. These types of mechs were slow and not combat-oriented. Its main purpose was for heavy-duty work.

"Can you finish it in 15 minutes?"

Cross returned his gaze when he suddenly heard that. The owner of that question was no other than Commander Beth. She sounded anxious though.

It looked like she was asking her subordinate, who was adjusting or reprogramming the Mainframe.

"Sorry, Commander. Because of its complexity, I think more than an hour is necessary to finish it without any implications," replied her staff in her honest estimation.

Cross saw a frown on Commander Beth right after she heard her subordinate's reply. The expression on her face indicates that there was a problem. And Cross could pretty much guess what it was. They were running out of time.

"That is not good. We won't make it in time…" so said Commander Beth in a worried tone. She fell silent after that and looked at her wristwatch.

No matter how Beth thought about it, they could not deliver it in time.

Looked like Cross was right, they were running out of time.

"…add to that the time of delivering it… we'll be late for sure," the commander added in almost a whisper.

"If only the Vice Commander was here, we could make it happen, I'm sure of it. However, if I'm not wrong, she was already in the arena at this moment," her subordinate said.

"I see, but I'm the one who asked her to go there to check on the merchant's mechs performance," Beth said and pondered. "Hm…" Now she regretted her decision of sending the Vice Commander away.

True. If it was the Vice Commander, Beth was sure that she could finish it right on time. Beth could only sigh inwardly at the problem at hand.

Her subordinate continued saying, "The Vice Commander is the most skilled in this. Even without someone assisting her, I bet she could finish it in 15 minutes. On the contrary, I can't do it alone."

Beth jerked up after hearing that. She said in haste, "Do you mean you can make it happen if there's someone who can assist you?"

"I… I think… but…"

Her staff was hesitating.

"But what?"

Commander Beth urged her to continue. Cross on the other hand was just listening to their exchange.

"I mean I need at least someone who is half as good as the vice commander to assist me."

"….."

Beth fell silent upon hearing that and thought internally, 'Someone who is half as good as the vice commander? Where can I find someone like that?' Beth asked herself.

But wait… half as good as the Vice Commander? They could actually find someone like that!

Actually, some of their new members showed promising skills. Although they were not as good as the vice commander, they could be at least half as good as her, no? Beth thought so.

However… when she looked around. Beth could not find anyone who passed the qualifications. All that was left here aside from her and the programmer, were those like her whose talent was not in Mainframe programming.

Aside from that, everyone seemed so focused on their individual work. All their works were of course related to Mechs, but not with Mech programming.

Looking at their serious faces, she thought inwardly she could not destroy their concentration. In that case, Commander Beth could only sigh in regret for the second time.

As she continued looking around, suddenly, Beth noticed someone standing nearby, seemingly looking like a sore thumb.

"Uh…? Y-You're still here?" Beth asked after a short gawk.

Cross didn't know whether to laugh or cry at her reaction. Well, he didn't want to just leave without notifying them.

"Uh, I wanted to ask whether I am fine to go, but everyone is so focused right away, so…" Cross tried to explain.

"Ah, so you hesitated because you're afraid to disturb us?" Commander Beth immediately got the gist of it.

She saw the young man nodding his head without saying a word. She wanted to chuckle deep inside, however, she was not in the mood to do that right now.

"Uh, I see. Don't worry, you're fine to go. Thanks for delivering the items by the way."

"Okay, no problem," Cross said and saluted.

Saluting a higher-ranking person in the academy was a normal thing to do to show great respect. The academy didn't only act as a school, it was also the center of defense in the city. That's why all students here were already considered as defense units the moment they were admitted.

After a slight bow, he turned around to leave. But before he could leave the room completely, unexpectedly, he stopped moving and looked back.

Commander Beth who was still looking at him at that time looked puzzled towards him.

"Wait…" Cross suddenly said.

"Hm?" Commander Beth asked. "Is there a problem?"

Cross showed a wry smile.

"Do you need help with Mainframe programming?" Cross suddenly asked, surprising the commander on the spot.

But that only happened in a second before she returned completely normal.

Beth looked him straight in the eyes. She did not expect that question. That stunned her for a second. Even her subordinate, the programmer, also gawked at it.

"Why are you asking?" She asked. "Wait, uhm, do you mean you know how to handle programming?"

Cross just showed a faint smile.

Seeing that, Commander Beth brightened up. "That reaction alone told me that you do have. Otherwise, you won't mention it, right? In that case, what are you waiting for? Come here," said the commander.

"Uhm… I did. But… are you sure you want to trust a random person?"

Cross knew that the commander was desperate, but he needed to remind her first that this decision of hers was very important. Whether she took his offer of help or not, was up to her now. At least he already reminded her.

Commander Beth fell silent. She knew that he had a point. The Mech's Mainframe was the most important part of it. Just a tiny malfunction and it would affect the whole of it.

Seeing Beth's hesitation, Cross turned around and started stepping away. It looked like he made her realize how dangerous her decision was. It was unbecoming for a commander to decide without careful consideration.

"Even so, I still want your help." Commander Beth suddenly said that in a stern voice.

Because of that, Cross stopped walking again and looked back at Commander Beth.

"Well. I can't guarantee a good result," he said with a smile.

"Wait commander! What if he made a mess?!" The programmer stood up and showed an objection.