[Illusion Domain]
The moment he appeared in the Upper District, Jing Yan activated his ability.
"Human behavior always deviates from rational calculations," Svarog said, looking around.
Although he was under Jing Yan's control at that moment, his core functions had been fully unlocked.
So he still retained his original thinking ability, manner, and "personality."
"Perhaps. Though we've been old rivals, you're right about that."
"Of course, you mean the people in the Upper District, right?"
Seele ran alongside them, occasionally glancing over at Mr. Svarog as she spoke.
The Underworld Fire organization mainly protected the miners' interests. The Robot Settlement, however, was closer to the vagrants who explored ancient ruins, since Svarog was searching for a way to save the Underworld. As a result, the two groups had clashed repeatedly.
The Underworld Fire organization had generally been on the losing side.
That was because its main force was still made up of people, and someone as strong as Seele was one of a kind. When people got hurt, they needed a long time to recover, whereas machines only needed their parts replaced.
On top of that, the Architects had left behind a huge number of machines, so Svarog's Mechanical Vanguard had the Underworld Fire completely outnumbered.
Under Jing Yan's control, most of the members of the Resistance Alliance who had come up from the Underworld were Mechanical Vanguard units.
"The Underworld... is the same," Svarog said stiffly.
Seele wasn't pleased to hear that.
"What a block of metal."
She couldn't help but grumble.
Even now, he still showed not the slightest "spirit of alliance."
Jing Yan's [Illusion Domain] was extremely powerful at that moment, easily covering a hundred meters around him.
And its influence was absolute.
In fact, Jing Yan could do more than that.
With the boost from the [Robe of Beauty], he could now exert a powerful charm over even those in opposing factions, as long as they didn't hate him intensely.
To them, he would appear to be an exceptionally wonderful person.
This was the effect of combining the Paths of "Eros" and "Beauty."
Even the Silvermane Guards on patrol, keeping order in Belobog's Upper District, developed a favorable impression of Jing Yan—over 70 percent, even reaching 75 percent. They couldn't help feeling a sense of reverence toward him.
If Jing Yan hadn't been conserving his divine power for his coming confrontation with Cocolia, he could have made his image so charming it reached a terrifying level.
In the eyes of others, he would have seemed like a radiant, dazzling deity.
Of course, he hadn't done so. There was no need yet.
Even so, under the influence of his [Illusion Domain], no one tried to stop them. And after they passed, the guards were still dazed, unable to tell that anything was wrong.
"Jing Yan, your power..."
Stelle looked astonished.
As someone with a Stellaron sealed inside her, she knew her own potential was extraordinary.
She had once defeated the Doomsday Beast aboard the Herta Space Station, but she still couldn't fully control that power. The part she could use was only a small fraction of what was inside her. This man before her, however, was different.
His Path power was special, mysterious, and powerful. More importantly, ever since the three of them had met Jing Yan, they had noticed that his power seemed to grow stronger by the day.
They had reported everything that had happened since meeting Jing Yan to Himeko and Welt Yang aboard the Astral Express, but the two hadn't given them a clear answer.
They had only said, "Jing Yan is special, and he's very powerful!"
Still, they could at least be sure of one thing: Jing Yan wasn't a follower of Destruction.
Nor was he their enemy.
That was something to be grateful for.
After all, if Jing Yan became their enemy, the consequences would be unimaginable.
With their strength, they couldn't claim they would be able to withstand his divine power.
The moment Jing Yan had influenced Bronya outside the Goethe Hotel in the Upper District had left a deep impression on them.
They felt that the forces under Bronya's command were already quite formidable. What's more, she followed the Path of Harmony, which excelled at dispelling negative effects, so...
If they were in her place, they felt they might not even be able to escape Jing Yan's control.
Fortunately, Jing Yan had never controlled them.
They had reached that conclusion because they wore cameras, and had simple programs that could determine whether they were acting unusually.
If they ever behaved strangely, that would mean Jing Yan might have controlled them.
That suggestion had come from Himeko and Pom-Pom aboard the Astral Express.
But...
It seemed unnecessary.
At least, that was what the three of them thought after hearing the suggestion and following it.
"The outer guards in the Administrative District are no longer a threat. Does anyone want to go in and search for documents?" Jing Yan asked.
Seele had the Underworld Fire members go inspect the Administrative District.
The rest headed for the Guard Restricted Zone.
According to the relevant information, Everwinter Hill lay beyond the Guard Restricted Zone.
It was out on a snowy plain.
So, to get there, they would have to cross the heavily guarded zone.
Just then.
A tall woman with golden hair streaked with deep blue-purple, the ends fading into a bright blue, suddenly ran over from a mechanical workshop at the distant street corner.
"Serval?" March 7th asked.
"You're... not planning to force your way into the Guard Restricted Zone, are you?" Serval asked.
Everyone was a little surprised.
Serval had helped them before, giving them some information about the Upper District, but some people present still didn't trust her. After all, she was from the Upper District, and she was Gepard's older sister.
Serval smiled and explained, "You really don't need to be so suspicious of me. Cocolia once expelled me from the Architects, and I used to work in the research department. I know these roads better than you do, so would you like me to guide you?"
Serval asked.
"Oh, right. Are you the 'Child of Miracle' Little March mentioned?" Serval suddenly asked, looking at Jing Yan.
"Child of Miracle..." Jing Yan murmured, finding the name rather ridiculous.
He hadn't expected to have a title like that.
At that, Seele beside him suddenly smiled.
"Actually, plenty of people in the Underworld call him that. Most of them are miners and ordinary people, though, so perhaps you haven't heard of it, Mr. Jing Yan?"
Jing Yan let out an amused laugh.
He looked at Serval and said, "No need for a guide. What's a restricted zone?"
"In my eyes, it's wide open!"
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