Demon's Lust: making a harem with lust system

Chapter 143: Engineer of Mars

"Amazed" was an understatement for what Ray felt toward the safehouse that Starblaize’s squad used. Rotating flames made a sphere around them, and in the middle of it a mansion as luxurious as one could get was made. Golden walls were enough for Ray to know that place cost them way more than anyone should have paid.

"I’m sorry, my master can’t let you in; she will be here in less than a minute." A butler bowed to them next to the entrance walls.

Ray didn’t mind it; another thing had his attention. The flames’ rotating speed was different at different parts; scanning some parts, magic flow on top of it was so much lower.

"This thing is not a simple shield." He whispered to himself; after a few seconds of observation, he found after some rotations the color of flames became brighter, yet it disappeared after another rotation.

Using his magic to check the structure could lead to them attacking without any thought, but a feeling told him before they did, Aria would have killed him.

"Any idea yet, blood angel?" A voice came from behind him; turning around, he faced a person that he could describe as an angel.

With short red hair, perfect angles, and a small nose and mouth, her face was smaller than Ray’s, yet she was as tall as Ray. Wearing a suit, she had taken the meeting seriously.

"The shield spins the magic and air around itself, yet there is a spin for the whole shield, and each smaller part has its own spin against it. The only way to break it by brute force." Excitement of his voice carried to his eyes. "But I don’t understand something: why at the top there is more magic?"

The red-haired woman pointed at the top of the sphere, "It’s working as a simulator for mathematical fields around the sphere; it gives them another magical spin."

"Aria from Goddess Squad, great to have you here." With an obviously fake smile, she turned toward Aria.

Aria folded her arms. "Drop the act, Cindi. Why are you here?"

"Don’t worry, I’m not after the artifact. What we all want is for it to be destroyed. But right now I’m interested in another matter." She threw Ray a red ball. "Would you like to be an honorable member of Starlaize’s squad?"

"I’m afraid my honorable status is already taken, but we can work together not as people from factions." Ray gave the ball back without even knowing what it was.

"Smart. My name is Cindi, the engineer of Mars, the one who created the very sphere you can see." She bowed elegantly.

"Why the hell did you call me here at all, Cindi?" Aria’s impatience grew; the sight of the other woman disgusted her.

"I didn’t call you here; my business for now is with Blood Angel." Putting her hands on her hips, her blue eyes burned. "And I don’t like your language in my own house."

"Threatening me? Someone whose only achievement is being the daughter of the Red Queen?" Aria turned around and opened a portal. "Send him yourself, and fuck you and your language."

Leaving the two alone, Cindi asked with a curious tone, "I’m level 15, and she’s 23. If a fight broke out, who would have won?"

Without any hesitation, Ray answered, "You." The complexity of the sphere alone showed how well she could control her magic.

"Wrong, I would have evaded the fight and asked for compensation from their leader." Her eyes never left Ray’s face.

Ray shrugged; the person was way more dangerous than what he had thought. "Are you done testing me?"

"No, one last question: What is war, and how do you win it?"

Thinking about the question for a minute, Ray found himself never thinking about the definition of the things that were part of his daily life. After three minutes he answered what he believed to be true: "It’s a struggle between two sides that want the same thing, and the way you win it is by finding a way to get to the most benefit."

"You have passed my test." She clapped for him.

Ray’s eyes narrowed. "What is your definition?"

It’s all about energy; use some energy to gain more energy. The way you win it is by finding the low-cost route and the most efficient way to transfer your energy." She guided Ray to an open area by their side where seats were put with a pole next to them.

"You are an engineer; that’s exactly the definition someone like you would have said." Ray sat on the seat, crossing his legs.

With a sign of her hand, the butler from before brought them food and orange juice.

"So our first deal, I have some money and I want to buy some crystals."

"The number?"

Ray calculated the whole number once more, "104 billion dollars in gold."

"And the price that you have in mind?" Her kind attitude faded away from her face.

"Since it’s our first deal, let’s go with two million for each crystal."

"You want to bait me with the real offer you have; that is your next offer, not bad."

Shaking her head, Ray agreed, yet still there was no reason for her to pass the deal.

"Do you have them with you now?"

"Yes."

"Good." Her mind made up their connection with Ray; in a second, both sides exchanged their cargo.

"I would attribute the fact that you gave me 60000 to your generosity."

Starting her breakfast, she paused for a moment. "It’s its own first deal, as you said."

Drinking the orange juice Ray enjoyed the infamous fruit; some virus had destroyed most of its trees a long time ago, and only rich people had access to it at that point.

"Shall we get to the part that we both want?"

Ray didn’t waste time. "I have the formula for piercing magic."

Cindi spitted the juice; taking a breath, she asked with amusement, "Can you repeat that?"