Martin drew out a lens that shimmered like a diamond and infused it with his energy. Then he ran it all over Kyon’s body, lingering over the 9 points. Fortunately for Kyon, Martin had no idea about the 10th element. It didn’t even occur to him to scan the boy’s head.

«Hmm... That’s interesting.» - Martin finished the check-up and sat on the edge of the table opposite Kyon’s chair. He looked even more puzzled than before. - «You know, there’s something wrong with your keys. They look damaged. There’s absolutely no reaction, but I can’t see any visible defects. I couldn’t move my energy even a few millimeters! I've never seen anything like this. Any idea why it could have happened?»

{The keys... That’s how the spheres are called.} «I don't quite understand... Can you tell me more about the keys.» - Kyon decided to get the most of his awkward situation.

«It’s a long story, but I will cut it short. The key (aka “whirlpool,” “source,” “spring”) is something that connects your physical body with the spiritual one. It’s a kind of attachment. All in all, there are nine spheres or keys. Each of them revolves and releases energy in the form of a specific element, following your lead. But as you have no connection with your spirit, you shouldn’t read too much into it. Alright, enough talking.»

{Spiritual body? Does he want to say my Synergy comes from spirit? Soul... Am I in some religious world or something?}

When Martin made sure that Kyon had no connection with spirit, and hence with elemental energy, he took out another device to apply a formation. This time it was of a completely different kind of formation. He never used it for ordinary plebs. It had a nametag, which means it was connected with him directly, not with a shared database. Martin had already deleted Kyon from the database to avoid unnecessary questions. At the moment, Kyon didn't exist in the mine at all.

In addition to the usual location tracking, the formation could also display his heart rate, fluctuations of the elemental energy in his body, waking-up/sleeping modes, and other physiological details. All the information came straight to Martin's head. It would take a hundred times more effort to get the new formation removed.

When the procedure was over, Martin put two cups on the table and took some sweet rolls out of thin air (was he hoarding them?). Then he walked to the coffee table to get a tin fat-bellied teapot. When he put it to the cups, the spout was already steaming. The aroma of the tea flooded the room.

«You know, I’ve been working as a formacist for more than 20 years, and my professionalism has never been questioned. I have earned a certain reputation over the years.» - Martin hospitably moved the cup towards Kyon, took a sip from his own, burnt himself, and looked accusingly at the hot drink. - «So, when my reputation is in danger, I deal with it at once. I don’t need any misunderstandings. Don’t take my excessive curiosity amiss.»

Martin carefully sipped his tea. This time he was satisfied with the temperature and bravely took a gulp. He noticed that Kyon had never touched his treat and raised his eyebrows in surprise:

«Why aren't you eating? I don’t think you get spoiled with delicacies over there. You'd better accept my gesture of good will.»

This rigorous, self-confident man had never been judgmental about slaves, unlike many others, for instance, Mob. Besides, Kyon had to wait until Bob returned. Why not seize the moment and have a little chat?

The hint about “dealing with those who put his reputation at risk” hurt a bit Kyon’s appetite. But he didn’t want to offend the talkative boss and reluctantly nipped off a piece of delicious crispy roll.

«Can you tell me more about the marks?» - Kyon kept prying into the case, sipping his tea.

«Ha-ha, here is the right place to ask this question!» - Who doesn't like to talk about their work? And it doesn't matter much who the listener is. - «I'll correct you first. It is not only a mark on your forehead. They also apply a slot for storing energy, a place where a formation is kept. It’s an energy that reacts in a certain way to certain events.»

{Sounds like programming code.} – Kyon thought.

Then Martin told him that the formation could perform a variety of functions: from tracking the location of the “subject” to subjugating their will. The brain was influenced by hormones or directly manipulated by a kind of hypnosis with the only difference that the person stayed awake, aware, able to hear and perform. This type of formation must be connected with the object that receives the information. Martin showed Kyon a mercury mirror peppered with notches and specks. It was a miniature map that showed the location of those who had a formation.

«The mercury mirror is not the best option as a connecting “object” for the subjugating formation. The subordinate must be connected with a particular person or a group of people who will give orders. Trust me, there’s a whole science behind it. I'm a formacist of the sixth rank. It’s very honorable, given the fact that there are only seven ranks, and the first rank belongs to the best of the best, legendary people... I’ve only read about them.» - Martin smirked, took a bite of the roll, and added in a “humble” voice: - «I'm a bad teacher, but I hope you’ve learned something.»

«I have. You’ve made everything perfectly clear, but don’t you think a subjugating formation for everyone would make things easier than an ordinary tracking one?»

«Well... First of all, not everyone can apply it. Only a formacist of at least the fifth rank can do it. Moreover, the formacist must be two phases higher than the subordinate, three phases is even better. Well, if someone wants to be controled of their own accord, then the rule of two phases is not necessary. Then the formacist can be in the same phase as the subordinate, but I don't recall anyone doing so.» - Martin chuckled. - «You can get someone drugged, suppress their spirit, undermine their moral, put them to sleep, but even so, you must be at least a phase higher than them. And one more problem, the submission is not absolute. The subordinate can resist. Much depends on the quality of the formation…»

«Are there really so many problems?»

«Indeed! Even if we assume that the slaves of the entire mine obeyed, each of them would need an individual order, which would affect the efficiency. So, utopia is impossible, no matter how much we desire it.» - He gave a sigh full of sincere sorrow.

Kyon smiled to himself at Martin's words. «I get the point, thank you. You don’t know what a great teacher you would make!» - Kyon’s flattery was to thank him for the valuable information.

«Thanks! By the way, I remember Flitz telling me a story about a talented guy who had subjugated a queen of one country, and she was a whole phase higher than him! As a result, he ruled the entire state through her, and not only the state, hehe... So many dirty things he did to her... Anyway…» - Martin came to his senses, skeptically glancing at the skinny boy. How old is he, fourteen? - «You have no idea about sex, do you? Forget it. Besides, I don't really believe in these fairy tales.»

Borya, Mike, and Bob squeezed into the office. The latter was dragging a bag. Mike looked exhausted. Borya did not understand why they were brought here, and Bob just wanted to get it over with.

«This is exactly what you asked for.» - Bob reported, dumping the contents of the bag on Martin’s table.

«Great! Guys, take a seat, I'll check your energy, and you're free to go.»

Martin searched them for any unusual items. When he didn’t find anything out of the ordinary, he opened the door and ordered them to wait outside.

Then he made an inspection of the books, the toys, and the tools from Kyon's “personal belongings." A detail of the construction kit was missing as well as a piece of modeling clay, but Martin wouldn't know about that.

«So?» - Bob asked impatiently.

«Shit! There’s nothing, just normal stuff... Have you searched his ward?»

«I have searched through everything.»

«Check if the boy has anything on him!» - Martin dropped the mask of the “hospitable host” and his polite manners as well.

Bob had his hands all over Kyon, patting his body like a real security guard. However, he only shook his head.

Kyon had anticipated the search. He secretly stuck the wooden piece on clay under his chair. It helped him to keep them safe.

«Hell, I don't see how it's possible...» - Martin slammed his hand on the table in frustration and thought hard. A split second later his eyes lit up with a spark of insight: {Unless... Unless this boy has a unique body!}