CHAPTER #3:- ENDOWMENT EFFECT

"Score card stands 1-1, Players please proceed with the final round...."

My name is Kami Kosu, I am a son of a fraud lottery man, I never actually met my mother I think she just ran away after giving birth to me because of my so called genius father.

My father's schemes were like thrist traps of money, trapping the unsuspecting in a cycle of false hope and shattered dreams. Despite knowing the truth, I couldn't escape the allure of easy money, I guess I was a victim of that trap too.

When I graduated from school I started working for an insurance company but I think the influence from my father was deeply etched into my heart and since insurance is a scheme where you exchange your money for some security it was easy for me to just target their vulnerablities.

I realized that the only way to succeed in this cutthroat world was to outwit and deceive others before they could do the same to me. I started to exploit loopholes, and bending the truth to serve my own interests.

As long as people think they are going to gain something you can scam them! Especially if you use the good old two truths and a lie method that's how humans are,greedy and power hungry.

"Hey Kozlov before you choose just make sure you know that you are aware of the fact that, I have 7000 marionette so even if I lose I can just pay the bet price can you do the same?"

"You sure do talk alot for someone who just got lucky"

"Lucky? don't make me laugh"

"We will see, Middle one"

"Kozlov chose the middle one and it's paper, Mr Kosu your hand is now paper,please proceed"

I am sorry kozlov I don't think you understand how this game works, the cards these guys provide at the Mannequin are actually Marked! but they are not your usual marked decks these decks are totally see through from the back side but only if you look at from the opposite side and at a specific angle.

You made a mistake from the beginning when you arrived late I just effortlessly replaced my marked decks with the same looking unmarked deck and that is how I have been winning at this game easily.

"Kozlov please quickly arrange your cards on the table"

"What happened kid are you scared? So your arrogant attitude was a bluff after all"

Kozlov carefully arranges the last deck of cards on the table and leans back on his chair.

why don't you just give up? What's the point I can see Rock! it's the right one!

"It's the right one Hudson, let's get over it"

Hudson picks up the card looks at it for a while and then slams it on the table.

"The middle card is Scissors, Kozlov wins 2-1, the game ends here"

"Wh.. What!!!"

Kosu slams the table and picks up the card.

"SCISSORS?! SCISSORS!!!"

"What happened Kosu?"

Kozlov's voice was sinister, he took out some papers from his pocket and threw them at Kosu, the papers had images of Rocks and Papers.

Kozlov then Picked up the other two cards and showed it to Kosu.

"WHAT?! THESE TWO ARE SCISSORS TOO?!"

"Yea all three of your choices would have been wrong"

Kosu was about jump on Kozlov but suddenly kicked him away and said.

"Sorry Mr Kosu no violence is allowed in the premises"

"How...HOW! I CAN-"

"See through my cards? Oh I know that but unfortunately you can only see a single layer"

An evil smirk graced Kozlov's lips as he peeled of the image of the scissor from one of the cards revealing the image of Rock.

"Well you see in the first round I examined the cards and the back surface of my cards was uneven and rough compared to yours which were visibly smoother and with the uneven pattern on my deck along with your prediction in the second round confirmed that this deck was marked but the fun part was that when I tried to bent the cards after the end of the first round the images started to come off, so I decided to do a little trick this time"

Kosu was at his knees and he was staring at the ground.

"There's no way... How did I never notice it?"

"Do you know about the endowment effect Kosu? It refers to a type of cognitive bias where when an individual gets used to something it becomes his comfort zone and it becomes extremely hard to step out of it and since you have always won at this game using the same method you never actually analysed this game to the fullest extent"

Kozlov approaches kosu and stares down at him and says in a cold tone.

"Mr Kosu YOUR OWN CHOICES HAVE SCAMMED YOU"

Hudson interjected,

"Kozlov how would you like to have your winnings? Do you just want 900 marionette or do you want it in the form of money"

"Money would be nice I dont see the need of having that currency so early on"

"Okay, Mr Kosu give your opponent his reward"

Kosu mutters under his breath and gives Kozlov his 900usd

"You may leave now Kozlov"

"Okay thanks by the way keep looking for a new game for me got it?, So I will see you later Mr Ortwin, Mr Ortwin are you listening?"

"Oh-h yeah! well played Kozlov"

1 hour earlier,At the Cafe,

"Well Mr Ortwin if you want to help me, you can certainly do in one way..."

"Oh really? Tell me what do I need to do?"

"Tell me about the game first"

"As you wish here read this note it has everything that I know about this game"

"And What is Kosu's play style? Anything you know about?"

"Well Kosu usually goes first where he kinda gives off the win and then allows his opponent to go for the next two rounds, and surprisingly he wins the next two rounds with ease within seconds"

"Okay, thanks Mr Ortwin you can relax now... as long as he does what I expect him to do... I will win"

Current time,

Kozlov slowly walks away and leaves the room as I try to comprehend everything.

"Dont tell me..That guy just expected all of this to happen? how?"

There are people in this world who are better left untouched and honestly Kozlov is a guy I should not have crossed my paths with.

TO BE CONTINUED.