Volume 6 Chapter 23-2 I Can't Do Math. But I'm Good at This
Abel tilted his head behind him as Randy nodded, saying, "That's right."
"Yeah. They think they're the [Pilgrim of Truth] right now..."
"So? What's with that empty expression?"
Randy muttered, "Empty expression... empty expression," as he shrugged at Abel, who looked confused.
It seemed like a pointless secrecy regarding their affiliation.
Randy pondered, silently considering how even such a basic aspect was visible through a brainwashed personality.
(Is it necessary for the [Pilgrim of Truth] to keep their affiliation secret...?)
Abel called out to the thinking Randy, saying, "Normally..."
"If you think about it normally, it seems like they'd want to forcefully admit their affiliation."
"If they answered about their affiliation without hesitation, it'd be seen as nonsense."
"That's true," Randy sighed, and Abel nodded.
"Moreover, it's clearly a form of mental interference. They definitely foresee that we would catch them."
Randy tapped his fingers on the floor, continuing that even if they interrogated and got an answer about the affiliation, Randy and the others wouldn't trust it.
(What is this? It just feels off. Besides, we──)
With that thought, Randy clapped his hands.
"It might not be something necessary or intentional..."
Dropping his shoulders in disappointment, Randy scratched his head, saying, "Ah..." as he stood up.
"Damn it. I wasted time."
Abel tilted his head almost at a right angle, puzzled by Randy's snorting.
"We have Ellie with us. I don't know how much they grasp, but *they definitely know we easily resolved the brainwashing* in Waldner."
Randy sighed as he continued, mentioning that Waldner, tormented by brainwashed servants, had suddenly bounced back with their visit.
The [Pilgrim of Truth] is not stupid.
There's no doubt they are aware that Randy and the others possess a method to break their brainwashing.
"Abel. If you can easily break brainwashing... well, mental interference, what would you do when you see someone clearly affected by it?"
"What would I do...? I would immediately──"
As Abel whispered that far, his eyes widened in surprise.
"That's right. Normally, you'd solve it right away. Otherwise, there's no point in talking."
As Randy said, there are few who would honestly engage with someone under brainwashing.
"So, what about this situation...?"
"It's probably unexpected for them."
Sighing, Randy continued, "They wouldn't expect someone to ask questions without breaking the brainwashing."
"This situation is unexpected. This phenomenon is neither necessary nor intended for them."
Glancing back at the men, Randy sighed again, saying, "I wasted my time thinking seriously."
"When you brainwash combatants, it just ends up like this."
"Like this?"
"With stronger brainwashing, an overly brainwashed personality emerges... well, it means they're useless."
The seemingly unnecessary concealment of affiliation is just a byproduct for them.
A professional who becomes vacant-eyed just from being asked about their affiliation would be of no use, even if they could be brainwashed.
But even so, it was fine.
They still sent it to Victor.
"If they're useless, then why?"
"It's obvious. It's a *bluff*."
Snorting, Randy continued with the shocking information that combatants are being brainwashed.
This was shocking information for Braubelg, who was still on guard against the [Pilgrim of Truth], as well as for Waldner and Hartfield.
"Even an obvious joker can be effective depending on how you play it."
If Ellie had been here at this moment... with just a snap of her fingers, their brainwashing would have been undone, and they would never have reached this fact.
"The fact that they deliberately sent something useless to us shows they know how to play their cards."
Victor would undoubtedly capture it and release it immediately.
Thus, only the non-existent joker would wander among their ranks.
It would be a trivial move once noticed, but if they remained unaware and acted as messengers, it would undoubtedly cause great confusion for other families.
"But it's an obvious brainwashing."
Abel, frowning, pointed out that it was brainwashing that was clear from the start.
Normally, one would judge it to be useless even without the current exchange.
Even if they quickly undid the brainwashing.
"Well, normally."
Nodding, Randy fixed his gaze on the men and said, "That's exactly why we were sent here."
"Most likely, it's a bluff's complement... to put it simply, these guys are *messengers*."
Abel tilted his head, not quite understanding Randy, who snorted.
"It's an obvious brainwashing. In fact, just yesterday, I thought it was nothing to worry about. So, if we were to immediately undo the brainwashing... what do you think we would do?"
"What do you mean... listen to them?"
"Exactly," Randy nodded at Abel, who crossed his arms and furrowed his brow.
"Listen to them. For instance, if they were to say, 'Among those we were with, there were some who were affected by mental interference,' what do you think would happen?"
Abel gulped at Randy's question.
If he had thought it was nothing to worry about, it would mean that those they had already dealt with might have been brainwashed.
A brainwashing so natural that one wouldn't even notice.
The means to confirm that was already in the belly of a fish.
If that were to be revealed...
As Randy said, it could serve as a complement to the information (bluff).
"Well, that was just one example... depending on what they say, *we* might have been played for fools."
Saying that, Randy bent down to meet the men's gaze once more.
"What are you doing?"
"You'll understand if we try to undo the brainwashing."
With a sly smile, Randy prompted, "Can we do that?" Abel tilted his head.
"For now, let's just punch them a couple of times..."
"No way. They might die."
"Just kidding. Leave it to me."
With a grin, Randy made Abel's expression shift from neutral to one of mild exasperation.
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