If not for the two factors working together, Jing Yan could have used [Verbal Domination] on Bronya without a problem.
Still, even though he'd failed, he hadn't come away empty-handed.
He'd gained three things. First, apart from Bronya, who followed the Path of Harmony, he could basically control anyone at will.
Second, by changing his wording, he could lead others into his trap without them realizing it.
Third, when he used [Verbal Domination], he unconsciously released a vast force of "Eros" around him. If he didn't care about causing permanent damage to the other person's mind, he could keep applying pressure until they submitted to him. But that might also let them break free—or turn them into an idiot.
"All right, let's hurry," Jing Yan said, turning to the Astral Express Trio.
"Where are we going next? And what did you just do to Commander Bronya? What was that, exactly? Don't tell me it was hypnosis," Stelle asked.
At that moment, Bronya's affection for Jing Yan had increased.
[Bronya's Affection Increased by 5%, Current Affection: 65%]
Looking at the panel, Jing Yan understood something.
It seemed that if he thought of someone who didn't know him, their affection for him defaulted to 0%. But once they met him, it immediately rose to around 60%. If they spent more time together and began to like him, their affection would gradually increase.
65%? Not bad.
Jing Yan pondered.
By now, Belobog's broadcasts had begun airing the latest emergency news. Because of the Fragmentum Monsters' invasion, citizens needed to return home as soon as possible or follow the Silvermane Guard to a safe shelter.
At the announcement, people on the street hurried into nearby buildings.
Hearing the news, Jing Yan smiled. He knew one thing: the mass invasion of Fragmentum Creatures had nothing to do with him.
He had indeed controlled a few Fragmentum Creatures to draw the Silvermane Guard's attention, but he'd summoned only a small, manageable number.
The numbers mentioned in the broadcast far exceeded the ones he'd summoned. He figured Cocolia had made a deal with the Stellaron and asked it to do this.
"Hypnosis? You can think of it as an ability of my Path," Jing Yan said vaguely.
The three of them looked puzzled.
Of the eighteen Aeons they'd heard about so far, none seemed to have a Path with this kind of ability. But the universe was vast, and anything was possible. For instance...
It was possible Jing Yan followed the mysterious Path of Enigmata or the Path of Nihility. In that case, some unusual effects—or debuffs that inflicted negative effects on others—wouldn't be hard to understand.
And besides a Path's power, Jing Yan might also possess some kind of strange object. It was entirely possible that he'd used its power to affect Bronya.
In short, Jing Yan had a special background and unusual abilities. And so far, everything he'd said aligned with the goals of the Nameless aboard the Astral Express.
"You look like such a serious guy, but tell me honestly—have you ever used that ability to do something bad?" March 7th asked, blinking.
Jing Yan smiled and said nothing.
"You can ask whatever you want later. For now, how about coming with me to the Underworld?"
"The Underworld?" Only then did they remember Jing Yan had said he was from there. They hadn't thought much of it before, but when they saw him move a manhole cover, they froze.
"The Underworld... is underground?"
Jing Yan didn't say much. He led them down, went around an abandoned junction, and opened a steel grate that seemed to have been sealed off. Below, beneath the sewers, there seemed to be layer after layer, all made of pitch-black steel, with enormous gears turning among them.
Jing Yan jumped down and gestured for the three of them to follow.
"Uh... all right."
March 7th, Stelle, and Dan Heng jumped down one after another, stunned by what they saw.
They were near Luxin, at the connection between the Underworld and the Overworld. The Underworld's "sky" was a wall of steel, blocking out the sun—or rather, there was no sky at all.
The orange-yellow Geomarrow Ore that jutted from the rocks provided the light.
The landscape spiraled upward in layer upon layer, like an upside-down pine tree.
The Geomarrow Ore made the three of them realize something at once.
Its shape was exactly like the Monument of Everwinter in the center of Belobog's administrative district in the Overworld.
But the enormous Monument of Everwinter was made of blue Geomarrow, while the ore here was orange-yellow.
"Welcome to the Underworld."
Jing Yan smiled.
They could deal with the problems above after they returned. There was no need to rush.
They could take a look around the Underworld first.
With Jing Yan showing them the way, the Astral Express Trio descended from the towering Connection Tower at the Furnace Core, which stood dozens of meters tall, and made their way to the Underworld's surface.
The people here dressed quite differently from those in the Overworld.
Their clothing was simpler, and the same went for the buildings and their surroundings.
Still, the Underworld seemed to have a little more warmth to it, while the Overworld had more style.
They had now arrived at Natasha's clinic.
Quite a few people had gathered there.
Most were members of the Underworld Fire, along with a few children from the Moles.
"I heard something happened up there..."
Before the four of them could approach, they heard someone speak.
"Outsiders from beyond the stars, wanted criminals, and now Fragmentum beasts showing up out of nowhere. Things just keep getting harder to bear!"
Another Underworld resident chimed in.
"Where's Jing Yan? I heard he went to the Overworld to find Sampo. I hope nothing happened to him."
A miner spoke up.
Natasha's clinic often treated miners injured on the job, so Jing Yan had helped heal quite a few workers and had gotten along well with them.
"That Jing Yan... He just played the hero and rescued Miss Seele, and now he's gone to the Overworld again. This doesn't seem like him. Is he usually this reckless?"
Someone asked.
Just then, Jing Yan and the Astral Express Trio appeared. Everyone spotted them and cheered excitedly.
Natasha hurried over first, relief written across her face. There was even sweat on her forehead, as if she'd been searching for him for a long time.
The moment she saw Jing Yan was safe, she rushed up and hugged him. Then, remembering they were a man and a woman, she let go.
"What's gotten into you?!"
"I thought..."
Natasha's face flushed as she chided him.
"Haha." Jing Yan gave an awkward laugh.
Before you continue