#067. Artificial Emotions (1)
The leaders of the five gangs knelt before Ray, their faces bloodied.
“There are three pieces of information I want. Rainbow. Black rain. A woman with brown hair.”
His mind felt foggy. He still couldn’t fully comprehend the situation.
“Come to my lodging every day to report. What you’ve gathered. How many streets you’ve patrolled.”
He remembered them rushing at the white-haired figure simultaneously, and then…
“I’ll give a reward to whoever does the best job.”
Reward.
The word instantly sharpened the gang leaders’ attention.
“H-how much…?”
“100,000 shillings. Only one person gets it. Understood?”
Their jaws dropped.
They nodded frantically before scrambling up and bolting from the alley.
“Rainbow! Black rain! Brown hair! Rainbow! Black rain! Brown hair!”
“Starting today, I’m an information gatherer!”
Chanting Ray’s keywords,
they pumped their fists with renewed vigor.
Philip watched Ray’s handling of the gang leaders in silent awe.
Brilliant. Concentrating the reward to fuel competition—I never considered that approach.
He’d merely suggested using rewards alongside force when dealing with street kids.
Yet Ray had not only mastered the concept but elevated it.
“We should return to the lodging to change first. These clothes are too expensive to ruin,” Veronica提议.
Ray and Philip agreed.
Their hotel visit concluded, the fancy outfits had served their purpose.
After changing, the group reemerged to investigate the sector.
“Philip and Veronica will patrol together. The gang warnings should prevent trouble, but stay cautious.”
In Veronica’s ring, sky-blue mana swirled beneath the dominant white—the color of cheerfulness and joy.
Its elemental attributes: wind, change, speed, connection.
Mana for enhancing mobility, accelerating projectiles,
or conjuring blades of air.
She’ll manage fine without me.
If threatened, Veronica could shred attackers with wind blades—
though her gentle nature made this unlikely.
Her wind typically cooled sweat or swept bookstore steps.
Ray added another safeguard.
Whoosh—
A mana stream from his palm etched glowing patterns on their hands before fading.
A Binding.
Now they could sense each other’s locations
and send danger signals by channeling mana into the marks.
「Originally for controlling familiars, but adaptable.」
One of Graham’s teachings—
limited range, but sufficient for nearby streets.
“We’ll take this route.”
“See you later, Ray!”
Ray watched them depart before turning toward the alley.
“You can come out now.”
Tap. Tap.
Slow footsteps revealed Skyle.
“I wasn’t hiding. Merely waiting politely.”
Ray remained unfazed—
his enhanced senses had detected Skyle’s presence early.
The mercenary had arrived as their conversation concluded.
“Finished with Mr. John?”
Ray’s tone carried newfound formality.
A temporary alliance demanded basic respect.
“Yes. I’d like to discuss our plans. Shall we relocate?”
The upscale bar in the sector’s heart clinked with ice against glass.
“Do you drink, Mage?”
Ray hesitated.
Memories surfaced of Nyles shoving cheap vodka at him:
「Never had alcohol? Drink! Next day’s gut-wrenching hangover and recovery soup—that’s adulthood.」
The man had grinned.
「Alcohol makes people emotional. Might start calling me ‘hyung’ or something.」
「Not that I want that.」
「Maybe?」
Ray agreed—drunks overflowed with emotions,
sometimes crawling or laughing hysterically.
Nyles called alcohol “human-to-dog transformation potion.”
Ray had tried the gift vodka under a bridge.
No mood changes, just burning throat and wasted hours.
Perhaps cheap liquor lacks potency.
This expensive drink might differ.
“Yes, I drink.”
“Excellent.”
Skyle slid a filled glass toward Ray, then raised his own.
“To our partnership! I’m Skyle of the Skyle Mercenaries.”
His vessel brimmed with anticipation and gold-hued greed—
the second brightest in Sector 48.
A money-obsessed man.
Ray drained his glass.
“Kuh.”
No effect.
“You handle liquor well. Which mercenary group are you with?”
“Haven’t named mine yet.”
A beat passed before Skyle’s eyes lit up.
“Ah! You’re starting one? Splendid!”
Three rounds later, Skyle remained talkative despite the strong brandy.
Why isn’t he affected?
Ray kept drinking experimentally—
mixing liquors, taking shots—
while Skyle’s suspicion grew.
“Thank you for not mentioning the hunting to the client,” Skyle said.
Ray hadn’t withheld it intentionally—
his visit to John Grid focused solely on Lockdear intel.
“Are you still tracking the Lockdear herd?”
“Of course. My men follow at a distance, assisting population control.”
Hunting.
Skyle’s greed surged visibly.
“Stop the culling. Now.”
Confusion and hostility spiked in Skyle’s vessel.
“May I ask why?”
Ray crushed his glass telekinetically.
Clink!
Shards scattered as liquor pooled.
“Objections?”
“N-none! Merely curious.”
The hostility retreated.
“No hunting while I’m here. Do as you please afterward.”
“Understood.” Skyle’s smile twitched.
“Departure plans?”
“Tomorrow morning, as requested.”
Humoring this delusional mage might pay off.
Skyle accelerated the drinking pace,
but only he grew tipsy. Ray remained unaffected.
Is he swapping bottles?
Skyle snatched Ray’s Captain Jack and gulped—
then vomited his mushroom stew lunch.
Ray observed Skyle’s stagnant greed.
Needs stimulation.
Most people reacted to cash displays,
but revealing his 5-million-shilling trunk risked trouble.
An idea struck.
If emotions attract mana…
Could mana amplify emotions?
Ray conjured golden atmospheric mana
and funneled it toward Skyle’s vessel.
