The Mech Touch novel Chapter 1759

Tristan illuminated several facets of the Friday Coalition that Ves only only brushed upon when he read Aisling’s correspondence.

Though both of them were direct disciples of famous Masters, they each belonged to different groups within their large and expansive state.

Lady Aisling Curver was part of the most powerful and self-assured partner of the Friday Coalition. She mostly communicated with people from the same side, so they all infected each other with the pride and confidence that was seared into their bones!

It was different for someone like Tristan who came from the Carnegie Group. As a partner who bore the brunt of Hexer aggression, he not only stood to lose the most, but also possessed a much greater understanding of the enemy.

The lack of confidence exhibited by Tristan sent a very depressing message in itself!

Not that Ves particularly cared. The Carnegie Group and the Vermeer Group which Master Olson hailed from could go to hell for all he cared. He long cut ties with both partners.

Instead of worrying about the Friday Coalition’s precarious internal situation, Ves paid a lot more attention to their external moves.

Since he had a friendly Fridayman on the line, Ves might as well take advantage of him to answer some of his doubts!

"What is the deal with monitors like Lady Curver? If the Friday Coalition truly wanted to keep an eye on foreign states, why not send a diplomat or a spy?"

"There are several reasons for that." Tristan replied without hesitation. "First, diplomats and spies have already been dispatched. The former are high profile while the latter are low profile. Regardless of their responsibilities, they are doing most of the actual work in keeping tabs on a foreign state."

"Then what is the purpose of dispatching mech designers like Aisling?"

"The answer should be obvious." The Fridayman replied. "As mech designers, what do we do best?"

"Designing mechs."

"And building them. Have you taken a good look at the material stockpile aboard the Scarlet Rose?"

"It’s not enough to build another second-class mech." Ves instantly replied. "There aren’t enough high-grade exotics available."

In fact, Ves had even less at his disposal now that Lucky gobbled up the choicest exotics!

"That’s because the so-called monitors aren’t expected to do so. In a foreign third-rate state, which mechs are the most common?"

"Third-rate mechs."

"Exactly!"

"What is the purpose of this?" Ves puzzled.

"It’s for allowing agents to blend in with the locals."

"If the Fridaymen want to blend in, why not buy a mech from the market?"

"That’s because blending in is only one of their purposes. Oftentimes, a mission involving mech pilots often requires a mech that blends in with the locals while simultaneously possessing sufficient power to complete the mission. Such mechs have to be tailored to the circumstances, hence the need for a mech designer who is close to the situation."

Ves finally understood the role of Lady Curver. Even though none of the systems and logs alluded to it, a mech designer assigned as a monitor actually served as an equipment provider who facilitated the clandestine operations of her state!

"Does that mean that the Friday Coalition is secretly meddling in the affairs of the Bright Republic and other states?"

Tristan didn’t answer his question. Instead, his mouth remained shut.

His silence was an answer in itself. Ves understood that Tristan had already been unusually generous with his information. There were some topics he couldn’t afford to go into, though.

Ves felt his heart sinking as he went over the implications. The Friday Coalition might have compromised the Bright Republic already!

At the very least, Ves bet that the Cavendish and Ramza Families were already in their pocket!

"Will.. will the Friday Coalition extend the war to the third-rate states?"

Tristan sighed. "I’m no strategist, and I’m not privy to the plans of my state. All I can guess is that if we are losing trend, we’ll definitely pull out all the stops! Dragging in the rest of the star sector in the war will add more variables to the mix. This will give our side more opportunities to reverse our decline!"

"How does that work?" Ves asked. "No third-rate state is stupid enough to attack a second-rate!"

"They don’t have to. It’s enough to change their stance and stop their formal and informal ties to their patrons. States like the Bright Republic serve as an important source and shipping conduit for several important materials. They encompass both bulk goods such as titanium and palladium to strategic materials such as high-grade exotics."

"Stopping this trade means weakening a second-rate state, is that right?"

"You got it, Ves. The idea that the Bright Republic and the other third-rate states are bystanders in the Komodo War is incorrect. While your weaker states all like to bury their heads in the sand and pretend that they are neutral, from our perspective you are already vessels to us or the Hexers."

The revelation came as a very disconcerting surprise to Ves. Though he already suspected as much on some level, Tristan’s confirmation still discomfited him a lot!

If his words were true, then the Bright Republic and the Ylvaine Protectorate would definitely get dragged into the conflict in time!

"Does that mean that our states will soon be home to battles between Fridaymen and Hexers?"

Tristan pressed a lip against his finger. "I doubt it. All of our best fighting assets are still needed at the frontlines. What will most likely happen is that the third-rate states will be pressured to double down their commitments to their respective patrons and wage war against the states aligned with their enemies!"

"What!? Really?!"