Exlor
Watch the plot twist be that the shadowy mech is the Oroborous (sp?) and Ves accidentally created the method when he was doing that mastery oh so many chapters ago. Ves is frequently the answer to his own questions. XD
The MTA just saddled Ves with a secret he's now forced to keep. Unless they're willing to lend him a God Pilot to perform that procedure, he's no closer to solving his problem than he was before asking for their help. Basically, they're baiting him and hoping he develops a more easily accessible solution they can throw around, AND SPINNING IT AS THEM DOING HIM A FAVOR HE SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR. Next chap, after this chat ends, the System awakens from its coma and Ves buys a pill or something to solve his problem. No hassle, no rip-off dealings, just P2W like he used to enjoy.
Ves at first might be out of options... but he might be the only one uniquely equipped to solve the problem. god pilots might be in short supply, but he has already developed ways for protogods to exert their auras through otherwise benign objects. he need only experiment with ways for his venerable and possibly the cross saint to do the same through some certain coins and then convince the MTA to allow him to do the same procedure on a god pilot... 🤔
Interestingly Ves can tackle this problem on many fronts, the progress of the Clan experts toward God Pilots level, the progression of one of his mech on the Ladder toward the highest level, the progress of the design Spirit themselves to higher lever and finally his own progress toward Star Designer. Who knows what would a Star Designer focused on life and also Holy Son could do in the end. Problem remains the time frame. By the time he gets there it's probably his grandchildren that would be the main beneficiary.