Chapter 400: Chapter 400 Sincere Cooperation_1
An hour later, in the negotiation room, Aiden and Presia sat facing each other across an iron table.
"This really is a tough problem you’ve given me." After hearing Aiden’s request, Presia gave her assessment, "To change a person’s decision on a particular matter without affecting other parts of their spirit, such a delicate task can’t be solved with mental magic. A sword master might be able to use a sword to kill beasts, but he probably can’t use it to trim nails. I can brainwash her to do exactly as we say, but her spirit would suffer some trauma."
"Of course, I’m not asking you to go that far. I don’t want to end up in jail," Aiden said, waving his hand, "My request is whether you can give her some hints that would make her gradually inclined to do it."
"That... maybe possible," Presia replied hesitantly, "but in the end, the final decision would still be up to her."
"That’s the effect I want," Aiden nodded.
The effect he wanted to achieve was actually ordinary psychological suggestion and guidance, black magic was just a means to that end.
"In that case, my plan is to create an ’epiphany’ for her." Presia raised a finger.
"Epiphany?"
"Many times, when people are indecisive about something, they just need a push from some factor to make a decision," Presia explained, "At that time, an epiphany is needed. For example, some people choose to flip a coin, and the result of the coin sometimes convinces them that it’s fate, in any case, we need to create a factor that pushes her."
"Okay, I think I understand what you mean," Aiden nodded, "So how do we create this epiphany? We can’t just give her a coin and force her to make a decision."
He had also flipped coins. Although in his past life he was an atheist, flipping a coin was just a way for him to make decisions quickly with a fifty-fifty chance, but sometimes the result of the coin was strangely convincing.
If the result of the coin made him hesitate and want to flip again, then he would choose the other side’s outcome directly.
But regardless, when people are wavering, sometimes they do just need a gentle push from an external cause.
"I suggest using dreams to create an epiphany for her," Presia said without hesitation, "Dreams themselves carry a romantic notion, especially effective for emotional issues; sometimes, a dream can give someone the feeling of a divine revelation."
"That’s interesting, you can do it then?" Aiden also felt the plan was promising.
"I need to conduct enough mental analysis on the target to precisely interfere with her dreams, which requires time."
"How much time do you need?"
"If it goes well, it can be done in three nights."
"That’s too slow," Aiden shook his head, "I’ll arrange for an excellent assistant for you, she’s very good at creating dreams, just guide her."
"An excellent assistant?" It took a moment for Presia to catch on, after a while, she suddenly realized, "Don’t tell me..."
"It’s exactly what you’re thinking," Aiden smiled.
A quarter of an hour later.
"Lord Aiden, you must have missed me!" Fille, brought by the jailer, burst through the door of the negotiation room excitedly.
But upon seeing Presia, her expression went from sunny to overcast in an instant: "Why is there someone else here? Didn’t we deal with this woman last time?"
"What exactly did you do to my body that day?" Suspicion was again aroused in Presia.
"Nothing at all, now sit down, Fille... I said sit down! Climb up on the table again, and do you believe I’ll have the golem break off your horns?" Aiden quickly gave his instructions, "This time I called you here to use your abilities again; we have serious business to attend to."
"And the less serious business can wait until after?" Fille tilted her head.
"If you insist on jumping to conclusions, that’s beyond my control," Aiden spread his hands.
"Lord Aiden, you always do this," Fille pouted, upset, "Am I just a cheap woman to you, to be used when convenient and thrown aside when not?"
"If you want the blunt truth..." Aiden paused, then nodded without hesitation, "Yes, that’s right!"
"Wahhh! Lord Aiden, that’s so mean!" Fille quickly pretended to cry, but then she started laughing, "But I like it, hehe."
"Your conversation is really hard to listen to," Presia remarked with an embarrassed face.
"Alright, Fille, if you don’t want to help, I won’t force you. It’s fine if Presia takes full responsibility. If it takes a bit of time, so be it," Aiden suddenly said.
"What a joke, that won’t do! If you let her take my work, you’ll surely forget all about me," Fille declared resolutely.
"I really don’t want to work with this brainless succubus," Presia complained, holding her forehead.
"Tonight, you’ll wait in the cell. I’ll come and call you out to cast the spell on the target. We’ll discuss the details then."
...
Half an hour later, Aiden took the two out of the conference room and sent them back to the central prison area.
"Don’t forget, we’re counting on you tonight." As they approached the main door, Aiden reminded them again.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Presia sighed, "But warden, don’t you forget what you promised me for doing these things."
"Lord Aiden, you have secret deals with other women!" Fille immediately pricked up her ears, "when you won’t even agree to—"
"Don’t get excited over everything! Keep moving, or I’ll kick you out of the way!" Aiden urged impatiently.
Just then, the main gate to the central area opened, and the prison guard Isabella, accompanied by a riot officer, was escorting "madman" Halo out. Halo, wearing shackles and handcuffs linked with a chain, was tightly grasped by the riot officer.
"Warden!" Isabella and the riot officer both stopped to salute.
"Taking her for a bath?" Aiden glanced at Halo.
Halo, as before, stared intently at Aiden, squinting and tilting her head slightly, her expression showing a bit of confusion.
"Yes," Isabella replied.
Halo’s mental issues prevented her from working or interacting normally with other prisoners. Fortunately, she still had some ability to care for herself. Aiden had no choice but to keep her locked in his cell, only allowing the guards and riot officers to take her to the bathhouse for washing and changing clothes during times when her condition was relatively stable, and other prisoners weren’t around.
"Go ahead," Aiden nodded, then continued toward the main gate with Presia and Fille.
Isabella and the accompanying riot officer also moved forward, but Halo suddenly stopped moving.
"Move!" Isabella commanded.
However, Halo remained stationary, simply turning her head to glare at Aiden’s retreating figure.
"Hey, don’t stand there—"
Isabella spoke again to urge her, but Halo suddenly let out a sharp scream, then swiftly turned and charged at Aiden.
