Verbal Domination

"Bronya."

Jing Yan called out when he saw her.

She froze at the sound of his voice.

After seeing Jing Yan, Bronya froze for a moment but didn't immediately approach. She noticed his clothes and thought they looked unusual for someone in the Overworld.

He might be from the Underworld.

She was still wondering why he could stand here so openly without the Silvermane Guard having spotted him and sent him back to the Underworld when something even more astonishing happened: she felt strangely familiar with the young man before her, yet couldn't remember when they had met.

The more she tried to think, the more her head hurt, until she began to feel dizzy.

"I..."

Bronya raised a delicate hand to her forehead, unsure what was happening to her.

She didn't know why she was reacting this way, but assumed she was simply feeling unwell. Even so, she gave the order: "Seize them!"

At Bronya's words, Jing Yan didn't immediately use his ability to control the Silvermane Guard. The three people beside him assumed battle-ready stances.

Watching Bronya's expression change, Jing Yan naturally understood what was happening.

Bronya had actually been from the Underworld as a child, growing up in an orphanage in Rivethown. Later, she had been chosen as the Supreme Guardian's successor and taken to the Overworld to be trained.

Her memories had also been sealed.

That was why Jing Yan still remembered Bronya, while she didn't recognize him.

[Verbal Domination]

Jing Yan immediately used his newest ability.

Previously, he had only used it on Fragmentum Creatures. One reason was that he wanted to test how his divine power affected them. Another was that using it on people might have different effects depending on the individual, and could easily be noticed by others.

At present, the greatest range his power of "Eros" could cover was the entire city, but that only let him influence everyone in the city. It wasn't enough to control each person to the point of overturning their will and thoughts.

That level of control was limited to those nearby, and even then, the target couldn't feel too much hostility or resistance toward him.

Otherwise, unless they called upon the powerful aid of another Aeon, there was still a chance they could break free of his control.

But Bronya had retained subconscious memories of Jing Yan, and she had been caught off guard. As a result, he controlled her instantly.

"You, stand down!"

According to the ability's description, Jing Yan could now exert a certain degree of control over her through his words.

As long as his commands didn't go too strongly against her will, she would obey.

Unlike [Heart-to-Heart], which became available after his affinity with someone reached 90%, a person who became Jing Yan's follower could communicate with him through their thoughts.

Even though Bronya was now under Jing Yan's verbal control, he still had to give her spoken commands to influence and direct her.

"Silvermane Guard, spread out and secure the area!"

Bronya gave the order with a serious expression.

"Yes, ma'am!"

The Silvermane Guard squad nearby immediately spread out.

"Bronya, Cocolia..."

Jing Yan began testing how much control he had over Bronya.

First, he mentioned Cocolia—the Supreme Guardian, and Bronya's godmother.

At the name, Bronya's brow furrowed. That meant her emotions had surged. If he kept triggering such reactions, she would break free of [Verbal Domination].

"Mm." Seeing her reaction, Jing Yan understood.

So he skipped that subject and started giving her other commands.

This time, although the order was still somewhat sensitive, he avoided mentioning Cocolia.

"Could you take me to the Guard Restricted Zone?" Jing Yan asked.

"The Guard Restricted Zone?" Bronya paused, but didn't immediately refuse. Instead, she asked, "May I ask who you are and why you want to go there?"

"Entry to the Guard Restricted Zone requires authorization," Bronya added.

"Authorization?" Jing Yan smiled at her words. It seemed promising.

"If I want to go with Commander Bronya to admire the Architects' valor, bolster their resolve, raise their morale, and ensure everything goes smoothly during future defenses, would that be acceptable?"

Jing Yan continued.

"If it's just an inspection, I don't see why not," Bronya replied.

"However, may I ask who you are, sir?"

Under the effects of [Verbal Domination], Bronya looked somewhat confused.

But she hadn't been fooled.

At that, Jing Yan said, "I'm your friend, Jing Yan. Can I go and inspect the area?"

"Jing Yan, my friend?" Bronya murmured.

But she didn't answer immediately.

Then she seemed to start remembering something, and her head began to hurt again.

"My head..."

Bronya frowned deeply and began massaging her temples.

The Silvermane Guard around them noticed her strange behavior at once and hurried over to ask, "Commander Bronya!"

"Commander Bronya, are you all right?!"

Jing Yan stepped aside.

He stood to one side, lost in thought.

The test hadn't gone all that well.

Although it was his first time using this ability, it didn't seem to be working smoothly.

Compared to directly manipulating someone's desires, [Verbal Domination] was a more advanced and more complex ability. The failure rate shouldn't have been this high.

Still, Jing Yan had nearly succeeded in his attempt. In the end, he had failed, most likely because Bronya's abilities were unusual.

Bronya followed the path of "Harmony." While talking with March 7th and the others, he had learned a few things about the Aeons. For example...

The phonograph aboard the Astral Express played discs, and they had a peculiar one called the "Outer-Heaven Echo Disc."

It had originated with the followers of a dead Aeon: the Outer-Heaven Choir, who worshipped Tayi of "Order."

Later, Tayi of "Order" had been assimilated by Xipe of "Harmony," and the harmony of the past had fallen silent along with him.

The disc had a special effect that could free people from certain negative mental effects.

This also offered a glimpse of some of Xipe of "Harmony's" power: maintaining certain things in a steady state.

And Jing Yan knew that Bronya herself was good at this sort of thing.

She had a skill called [Combat Redeployment] that could use the power of "Harmony" to dispel negative effects.

Even so, Jing Yan had nearly succeeded in controlling her just now. But then he had triggered the memory seal Cocolia had placed on Bronya long ago, making her try to recall the name Jing Yan—and the fact that he was her "friend."