AUTHOR'S REINCARNATION IN A FANTASY SETTING

The sun was completely set and the sky was dyed in the shade of deep blue, with shiny white stars sparkling all over.

I entered my room and closed the door back, I went ahead and took off my cloak and hung it inside the wardrobe. Then I sat on my bed and removed the black mask I was wearing and threw it on the desk.

After changing from my school uniform to indoor clothes, I stepped inside the kitchen that was attached to my room and started gathering some ingredients and tools.

10 minutes later I came back inside my room with a cup of coffee in my hand and sat on the bed. I rested the cup on the desk and waited as the coffee was too hot to drink.

I folded my legs and sat comfortably on the bed, leaning against the wall. As I waited for the coffee to cool down a bit, I thought about the things I did today.

Right after the classes were finished I went and met with Anya and talked about certain things with her. Then I went to the store and bought myself a cloak and a mask.

Around dusk, I met with Seiren, Alada, and Wrena; this was the most important action I took. Today before the classes I sent a letter to Seiren, saying her to come to meet me at the given location if she wants to take Ellyn down.

I knew they will come, and as expected, all three of them came. I talked with them, providing them with a fabricated backstory while keeping my identity hidden.

I promised to give them a weapon to use against Ellyn; a secret of hers. The conversation went up and down at times, though I let them take the lead so that they can feel that they are keeping me under control.

As the 1st Law of Power states, [Never outshine the master]

Always make those above you feel comfortably superior. In your desires to please and impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talent or you might accomplish the opposite—inspire fear and insecurity. Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power.

I wanted them to believe in the story I was providing them with, to do that, I had to make them feel like they are controlling the situation. They were already suspicious of me if I went ahead and tried to butter them up with my words, trying to make myself seem like a trustable person.

Then it was possible that I might have achieved the opposite; arose more suspicion and would've lost the deal then and there—which I didn't want in the least.

"Guess it's just enough now," I mumbled as I picked up the cup and blew air out from my mouth at the coffee. Then I took a sip slowly.

Making a deal with Seiren and the other two was important, as for why? Well, I want someone to keep tabs on Leon in my place; so that I can take a load off my mind and take off other things I had to do.

I wanted someone who is close to Leon, whom he trusts enough to not doubt them even if they made a mistake and raised suspicion, and lastly, someone whom I could control.

I wanted to be the one to pull their strings from the shadows. In short, I wanted a puppet spy. This was a plan I was keeping on hold for a long time as I wasn't able to find the right person for the task, but now it was important.

After a bit of research, I concluded that Ellyn was the best person for this. She was hanging out with Leon pretty much all day and she was someone he trusted—I know this with the information I have of loli_pop's novel.

Though one thing was still left undone, I wasn't controlling her now; and to do that those three girls were the best.

Hence, I laid a honey trap for them. I offered them my assistance and a weapon by which they can control Ellyn; a secret of hers that she didn't want anyone to know about.

Though I didn't tell them exactly what the secret was for certain reasons, and this enraged them as they felt cheated. A bit later though, I made them agree with me.

Actually, it was pretty funny how they agreed to me just like that.

My plan was not flawless, in fact, it was filled with them. There were many holes in the type of assistance I was offering them, and anyone could notice them if they looked at it objectively.

The thing here was, that the plan didn't need to be perfect.

Manipulation is a dangerous game. Once someone suspects they are being manipulated, it becomes harder and harder to control them. Everything depends on the sweetness of your bait.

If your trap is attractive enough, the turbulence of your targets' emotions and desires will blind them to reality. The greedier they become, the more they can be led around.

p The bait I provided them with was of similar aspects. All three of them loved Leon and too much of that. I knew that much after stalking them for a day. But the problem here was Ellyn; she stood in between them and Leon.

Due to her they never got time and opportunity to approach him as he was already occupied by her. They wanted to remove this thorn on their side and were willing to go to any extent to do that.

Hence, I laid the perfect trap for them and gave them a chance to remove Ellyn and open the doors of the path that led to Leon. They were blinded by their love, and due to that, being unable to notice that they were playing right into my hands.

'Love, is truly a very dangerous thing.'

In the end, they agreed to my terms, and this part of the deal was done.

"Now I can move to the next part," I whispered and sipped my coffee.