Seele's Affection

"Why is it so chaotic over here?"

March 7th asked from beside him.

"Seele's locked in a fierce fight with a Fragmentum Creature, while the wanderers and miners nearby are at each other's throats."

Dan Heng added, looking into the distance.

He still felt a little shaken by the ability Jing Yan had just used.

It wasn't the first time he'd seen Jing Yan use something like it.

The last time had been out on the snowy plains beyond the city. But back then, Jing Yan had used his power on people, not Fragmentum Creatures. And instead of freezing them in place, he'd made them suddenly burst into tears.

This time was different.

The main thing was, Dan Heng couldn't identify what kind of power Jing Yan's was.

What Aeon could wield a power like that?

Jing Yan hadn't revealed anything about it, either.

[Seele's affection increased by 3%, from 66% to 69%]

Looking at the information displayed on the system panel, Jing Yan felt quite pleased.

It seemed Seele was different from the other women. She seemed to like strong people and those who could make her fall in love at first sight.

After resolving the crisis on Seele's side, Jing Yan headed over to the nearby commotion.

That was where the wanderers and miners were arguing.

"Hey, Brother Jing Yan! I've been looking all over for you. I never got to thank you back there!"

Just then, someone popped out from nearby. He had blue-violet hair and a cheeky grin, and his clothes were more lavish than those of most people in the Underworld.

It was Sampo.

"Thanks to you, I managed to bring down another batch of supplies. I'll send you a couple of things later."

Jing Yan was at a loss for words.

He asked, puzzled, "What are you doing here, Sampo? Don't tell me you came to watch the show."

Sampo shook his head. "I only just saw what was going on here. But you know I'm a businessman. I'll do business with anyone, as long as they can offer a good price or good merchandise."

"Look, I've got customers among both the wanderers and the miners over there. How could I butt in? Besides, upholding justice has always been Underworld Fire's job. Never mind that 'the capable should do more'—I'm just a humble peddler. If I stole their thunder, wouldn't that be disrespectful to Miss Seele?"

Sampo flashed Seele an obsequious smile.

Seele ignored him completely.

"By the way, Brother Jing Yan, I heard you went to Robot Settlement just now and even brought Mr. Svarog out."

"Are you...?" Sampo glanced at the Mechanical Vanguards behind him, his expression unreadable.

"Nothing to worry about. I'm just here to help resolve things faster," Jing Yan said casually.

"Take those wanderers, for example. A lot of them will stop at nothing for a little gain. You're not like them, Sampo."

At Jing Yan's words, Sampo scratched his head awkwardly.

"You sure know how to read people, Brother," Sampo said.

"If that's the case, then with Underworld Fire's people stretched thin by the Fragmentum invasion, what's wrong with helping settle disputes and keep the peace?" Jing Yan asked.

"N-nothing," Sampo replied after studying Jing Yan carefully.

Jing Yan understood what he was thinking.

In Sampo's eyes, not long ago he'd been nothing more than a doctor at Natasha's Clinic.

Aside from treating the sick and injured, he hadn't seemed particularly noteworthy. So how had he suddenly become the leader of a new power? And what was he trying to do?

Did Jing Yan really just want to keep the peace, or was he taking advantage of the situation to do something else?

Did he truly have no ambitions of his own?

Those were the questions running through Sampo's mind.

Meanwhile, the wanderers and miners in the distance were still locked in a standoff.

They were fighting over a small Geomarrow Ore vein that had just been discovered.

The vein wasn't enough to delay Belobog's eventual downfall, but it could be sold to the Upper District for a good deal of money.

According to the rules, a vein usually belonged to whoever discovered it.

But this time, a miner had found it, and only two miners had the proper work permits. The wanderers who arrived afterward had turned greedy. Armed with guns, they were trying to seize the newly discovered Geomarrow Ore vein for themselves.

A large crowd had gathered on both sides, and the situation was tense.

But ever since Jing Yan showed up, things had changed.

The force at his back was much stronger, and...

Even Svarog himself was with him.

That had struck right at the heart of their livelihood.

After all, their main source of income came from using robots to excavate treasures from ancient ruins.

Underworld Fire needed these relics, and some wealthy people in the Upper District bought them to collect. The most valuable ones were sent to the Research Institute for further study.

But after being affected by Fragmentum disturbances, the Mechanical Vanguards were prone to all sorts of malfunctions, which caused the wanderers plenty of trouble.

That was why they had previously gone to Svarog's Mansion in Robot Settlement and blocked the entrance: they'd assumed Svarog could no longer control the machines.

Now, it was clear that wasn't the case. And here, so many Mechanical Vanguards—and Mr. Svarog himself—had appeared under Jing Yan's command.

The wanderers were naturally thrown into a panic. They no longer had any thought of bullying the miners through sheer force.

Still, these wanderers were just as baffled as the ones in Robot Settlement.

When had Jing Yan become so powerful?

How could he command so many people?

Of course, Jing Yan had no intention of explaining himself to them.

In his view, there was no need.

The wanderers were a loose group to begin with. Some were simply drifters, while others were different, willing to use tricks and force to take what they wanted for their own benefit.

Different people had different ways of thinking and behaving.

The ones here were only a small fraction of the wanderers.

Most of the rest would probably know how to read the situation.

At least, that was how Jing Yan saw it.

Sure enough, just like back at Robot Settlement, they soon settled down and became much more cooperative.

"By the way, Jing Yan, there's something..." Seele suddenly said from beside him.

Jing Yan turned to look at her.

"What is it? Just say it."

"Well, you've probably noticed that the conflict in the mining area wasn't caused by just one side. But at its root, it's because the Fragmentum invasion drove many people from their homes, and some of the old mines were shut down, too."

"But..."

Seele seemed to remember something.

"Jing Yan, do you have the ability to purify the Fragmentum?"

Seele's words immediately drew the attention of several people nearby. March 7th, Stelle, and the others all turned to look at Jing Yan.

"It does seem like you can," March 7th said.