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The man who spoke to Jinseong had a peculiar appearance.

He was dressed in a suit just like those bustling around Wall Street, but it was evident that his trousers and shirt were of a luxurious kind, so polished they seemed to shimmer. The sleeves of his suit were slightly rolled up, revealing his skin; his right arm bore a sun-kissed tint, slight redness showing from exposure.

And his left arm was radiating with a rainbow of colors.

Have you ever seen a prism?

Have you ever witnessed sunlight hitting those angular glass pieces, causing a spectrum of colors to dance?

The man’s left arm was just like that.

It looked like a prosthetic made from crystal, or something resembling crystal, refracting sunlight into a riot of colors with every breath he took, every step he made, and every slight movement from Jinseong, dazzling the eyes.

Jewels.

Yes, the man’s arm resembled a jewel.

It looked even more precious than a common jewel.

While a gem might dazzle a person with its small size, this man’s arm held the same shape and purpose as a human limb, captivating the onlooker.

Inside the transparent body, neither color nor metal was visible.

Though the man’s arm was clearly a mechanical prosthetic, its inner components or structure were completely hidden, indicating it was made from crystal or something equivalent.

It could have been crafted from something like diamond.

Or perhaps it was a divine substance born from an alchemist’s hand.

“The people of the East, you know, they all share similar traits.”

The man twisted the staff in his right hand as if embedding it into the ground, turning it multiple times before resting his weight on it. Suddenly, the gems attached to the staff began to emit a soft glow, not reflecting light but rather responding to some unseen energy.

“They all seem unsure and can’t adequately express their opinions. It’s humility if said nicely, but if we phrase it rudely, it’s just blandness.”

An artifact shaped like a staff.

Its long body housed a magic energy core that, once specific conditions were met, would drain magic and direct that energy toward the gemstones. The gems would serve as lenses, projecting the energy outward, scattering it to trigger specific effects.

And the effect this man with the crystal arm was using was none other than…

“Cognitive Distortion.”

A spell formed by combining several effects.

Commonly categorized as “cognitive distortion magic,” this spell, as its name implies, warps a person’s perception. It can paralyze the sense of balance with sound, dazzle the eyes by manipulating light, release hallucinogenic substances, and send certain frequencies to the brain to provoke specific illusions.

At times, it can even disguise military facilities by merging with optical camouflage devices.

Of course, what this man was using right now wasn’t as grand as that.

When broken down, it consisted of low-cost magic spells that offered little effect individually.

Mirage, odor particle absorption, soundproofing magic fields, faint optical mimicry, and so on…

They were spells so trivial that it felt somewhat awkward to label them as “cognitive distortion.”

Yet, while each of these spells was weak, together they managed to divert attention from onlookers.

If someone was observing with a clear intent, it would be noticed, but for those merely passing by, it was a technique that could easily slip under the radar.

Naturally, such techniques wouldn’t be accessible to just anyone.

Unless a wizard personally crafted the artifact to utilize these techniques, they would have to acquire it through custom orders.

Considering that even mass-produced artifacts come with considerable price tags, it was safe to say that acquiring such custom orders would be a challenge unless one had a clear intent behind them.

Or perhaps, even with money, procuring such items could be difficult.

After all, to commission such goods, one would need connections.

“And then there’s the matter of groveling to the elderly. Sure, respect is important, but if you just sit there listening to their foolish words, that’s worthless.”

And with that, it implied that this man with the crystal arm was indeed a person of wealth and connections.

However, a question arose.

Why was such a capable individual approaching Jinseong in the first place?

A homeless man leaning against a wall.

To the casual observer, he appeared to be just another ordinary East Asian man.

It’s a combination that wouldn’t catch the attention of someone wealthy and capable.

“There’s a purpose behind this.”

Jinseong examined the man closely.

Even while spewing contempt at the homeless, his gaze never strayed from Jinseong.

Not only that, but his body was subtly angled toward Jinseong, leaning slightly in his direction.

It was a minor shift, but if one observed closely, it could easily be distinguished.

His right hand firmly gripped the staff as his body leaned against it.

His posture appeared so practiced; there was not a hint of tension or awkwardness in his grasp. His hand felt neither cold nor clammy, displaying neither nervousness nor discomfort. Moreover, he had intentionally stiffened his arm, which seemed more of a conscious action than an unconscious reflex.

In simpler terms… yes. It was a habit he likely performed to disguise any signals his body might send.

A person’s hands and arms communicate as much information as their face.

When Jinseong met his gaze, the man’s nostrils flared slightly, which could be seen as a signal. A sort of instinct derived from wanting to gather more information when facing someone attentive.

Of course, it might have been a movement influenced by emotion or a response to the environmental changes, but… for Jinseong, this movement felt like a sign of interest directed toward him.

Other signals were present too.

He was attempting to conceal trained impulses, but some aspects remained intriguingly unstifled.

Those details were conveying a message to Jinseong.

This man was showing clear interest in him.

And that he knew something about Jinseong.

Reading those signals, Jinseong stared blankly at the man.

He leaned slightly back, applying pressure to his hands and arms resting on the ground. As if to subtly draw his body away. With a grin reminiscent of a mask, he returned the man’s gaze, slightly nodding his head before stiffening his neck. And with deliberate movements, he signaled that he was curious.

This stance made it appear as if Jinseong was “a newcomer encountering a stranger and being cautious while simultaneously intrigued by their identity.”

“Well then. Jin, Seong, Park. How does it feel to be in the world’s top financial district?”

The man let out a laugh at Jinseong’s demeanor.

As his facial muscles moved, the wrinkles on his face shifted, giving him an appearance of a kind-hearted middle-aged man.

Yet, his snake-like, glistening eyes and the entirely emotionless grin hinted at something more primal, akin to a predator.

Wasn’t that just how a tiger or leopard would seem if it smiled?

“You know my name?”

“Oh, of course.”

The man replied, casually shifting his gaze back to where the homeless person was resting.

“You see, I’m a bit different from this pathetic fool.”

He understood the importance of information very well.

With that statement, the man straightened his posture, stopped leaning on the staff, and pulled out a business card from his pocket. He slipped it between the fingers of his crystal arm and tossed it toward Jinseong.

Like a shuriken, the card flew and nestled into Jinseong’s grasp.

Lucas Metathronius Goldsmith.

It was a business card with a peculiar name printed on it.

Furthermore, it had tiny diamonds embedded on each corner, and the name was gilded, making it all the more distinctive.

“Jinseong Park. Welcome to Wall Street and let me treat you to a meal.”

 

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