Once the duel was over, people began to head towards the betting counters to collect their winnings.
The crowd moved like a river, divided between those who rejoiced at Yaiba no Maihime's victory and those who, disappointed by Arashi no Taka's defeat, still accepted the grandeur of the spectacle they had witnessed.
Among the throng, there I was, making my way with the nanny despite my bet on Arashi no Taka going south.
This was because I had no intention of returning empty-handed.
So, as we pushed through the crowd, I carefully observed the expressions of those clutching their bags of coins to come up with a strategy.
When an idea came to me, I decided to explain it to the nanny.
"I intend to take part of the others' winnings," I whispered to her as we stopped in a relatively quiet corner of the arena.
"And to do that, I'll use a sly psychological technique called gaslighting."
---
For those unaware, gaslighting is a psychological manipulation technique where a person tries to make another doubt their perception of reality, memory, or mental health.
The user may resort to denial, discrediting, distorting information, and minimizing the other's emotions.
And, the goal of gaslighting is often to gain power and control over the victim, making them feel confused and insecure.
---
Then I continued with my explanation:
"My success and my failure in attempting to manipulate the perception of reality of the other spectators will depend greatly on my cunning, and the confidence I exude."
Once she heard what I intended to do, the nanny made a strange expression and told me that it was fine and that she would stay and watch everything from a distance.
"I wonder if it will be successful," were her thoughts.
Indeed, despite her remembering my previous success, where I managed to deceive the people inside the previous resort managed by the Ryushin family, she believed it was due to simple luck, combined with my deceptively innocent appearance.
So, with this plan in mind, I approached a group of winners and began to speak in a confident and friendly tone, focusing on one of them, a man who seemed to be middle-aged, probably because of his poor cultivation, with a large bag of coins just withdrawn.
With a friendly smile, I said:
"What an incredible evening! Congratulations on the win, but I must say that I seem to remember that you had bet on Arashi no Taka, not Yaiba no Maihime. There might have been a mistake at the cashier."
The man, confused, looked at me suspiciously.
"No, no, I definitely bet on Yaiba no Maihime," he replied, clutching his bag tightly.
"Strange," I continued, maintaining a confident tone.
"I was right behind you when you placed the bet. I'm almost certain you said Arashi no Taka. Maybe they mixed up the tickets."
The certainty in my voice began to shake the man.
Something that began to be noticed by others around, who started to pay attention, and some even began to nod, as if they too were uncertain whether the man had really bet on Yaiba no Maihime.
"N-no, it can't be," said the man, but the doubt was now planted, and with it, a pressure due to the people who, listening to what I had said, had a doubt about what had happened.
So, he looked nervously at the bag and then around, seeking confirmation.
"Maybe we should check," I suggested, moving a little closer, my tone ever more reassuring.
"It could be an innocent mistake that could be easily resolved if we kindly asked the betting banker to check and verify whether you really bet on Yaiba no Maihime or not."
Hearing this, the others nodded, and the man, now increasingly insecure, nodded slowly, heading towards the counter, while I followed closely.
My plan was simple: continue to sow doubts, insinuations, and apply external pressure, so as to lead the man to question his certainties, until he found it acceptable to give up part of his winnings to avoid further discussions or checks.
So, as we approached the counter, I stopped him with a light touch on the shoulder.
"Look," I said in a calm tone, "I really don't intend to cause you any trouble, so maybe we can quietly resolve the matter here."
The man, feeling relieved, said in a low, trembling voice:
"O-okay, for how much?"
Seeing his reaction, and the way he spoke, I was internally satisfied. Now I just had to say any amount, and he would surely accept.
Despite that, however, I replied in a calm and peaceful tone, saying:
"Let's make it half the winnings, and then we'll talk more."
The man, now exhausted and confused, fearing more and more that what I had just said was true, looked at the bag of coins and then at me.
And, after a moment of hesitation, he nodded.
"Agreed," he said with a sigh, as if he had just rid himself of a huge problem.
"Take these, and let's hope that next time fortune is clearer."
So, he took some of the coins from the bag and handed them to me.
"Thank you," I said, smiling with feigned gratitude.
"Good evening."
After saying that, I quickly moved away, blending into the crowd. My heart was pounding, but the plan had succeeded.
I had obtained part of the winnings despite my losing bet, skillfully manipulating the man's perception of reality.
As I left the arena, the coins jingling in my pockets, I reflected on the power of persuasion and psychology.
My success filled me with satisfaction, and I knew I could continue to exploit such techniques in the future to take advantage of situations, even when luck was not on my side.
I was aware of the delicate balance between cunning and ethics, but my determination to achieve my goals was unshakeable.
I would further refine my skills, ready to seize every opportunity that presented itself.
The crowd around me was just the first step in a world of manipulative possibilities, and I was ready to explore them all.