chapter 136 a perfect manipulation

Brainless Girl didn't waste time. With the Cursed Amulet tucked safely in her hands, she moved swiftly toward a section of the city known for housing wealthy but cowardly NPCs—the kind who feared assassins, curses, and bad luck more than actual danger.

Frost Eye followed, keeping a safe distance, blending into the shadows like a lazy ghost.

She wasn't hesitating. That meant she already had a target in mind.

Who?

A few moments later, the answer revealed itself.

Target: Lord Garrelton

Lord Garrelton was a minor noble known for his paranoia. He believed enemies were out to curse his family, ruin his fortune, and bring misfortune upon his household. He paid absurd amounts for "protective charms" and frequently hired priests to cleanse his estate—even when nothing was wrong.

The man was a gold mine for scammers.

And Brainless Girl was about to strike.

Setting the Trap

She didn't approach Garrelton immediately. That would be too obvious. Instead, she walked near his estate, deliberately holding the Cursed Amulet in plain sight.

She muttered under her breath, just loud enough for the nearby servants and guards to hear.

"…Shouldn't have taken this out… It's too dangerous…"

Frost Eye's lips curled slightly. Hah. Subtle.

A nearby servant, sweeping the cobblestone path, paused and glanced toward her.

Brainless Girl sighed dramatically, as if troubled, turning the amulet over in her hands.

Hook.

The servant hesitated, then cautiously stepped closer. "Miss… what is that?"

Brainless Girl feigned surprise. "Oh, this? It's nothing. Just… an unfortunate relic. I really shouldn't be carrying it around here."

The servant immediately tensed. "A… relic? What kind of relic?"

Brainless Girl bit her lip, looking genuinely concerned. She leaned in and whispered, as if afraid someone might hear.

"They call it the Soulbinder's Oath. It's been known to bring misfortune to those nearby. Especially to… the wealthy."

Frost Eye almost laughed. She's not even selling it yet. She's selling the fear first.

The servant visibly paled. "I—I should go tell Lord Garrelton—"

Brainless Girl grabbed his wrist gently. "Wait. It's fine, I was just passing through. I'll be out of here soon."

The servant panicked. "No! If Lord Garrelton finds out later, he'll blame me for not telling him! He needs to know now!"

Perfect.

Brainless Girl sighed, as if reluctantly giving in. "Alright… but let me handle it. If he sees this amulet, he'll panic."

The servant nodded frantically and rushed inside.

Brainless Girl turned away, hiding a small smile.

The Sale

Less than five minutes later, Lord Garrelton stormed out of his estate, his face pale, his hands trembling slightly.

"You!" he barked, pointing at Brainless Girl. "Let me see it!"

Brainless Girl hesitated, clutching the amulet tighter. "My lord, are you sure? The last man who touched it…" She trailed off, letting the sentence hang ominously.

Garrelton visibly gulped. "Just… just tell me what it does!"

Brainless Girl looked reluctant but finally nodded. "It is said to attract misfortune to those with… high financial standing. Merchants, nobles, anyone with great wealth." She sighed. "I was on my way to dispose of it before it caused any harm."

Garrelton turned pale. "Dispose of it? How?"

Brainless Girl pretended to think. "There's an exorcism ritual, but… it requires a certain amount of wealth to be 'offered' in exchange for safety."

Garrelton tensed. "How much?"

Brainless Girl sighed again, hesitating.

Then, softly: "…Five gold."

Frost Eye, watching from the shadows, had to bite his tongue to stop himself from laughing.

Brainless Girl had just sold back the same gold she borrowed.

Garrelton was sweating. He grabbed a pouch from his belt and shoved it into her hands. "Take it! Get rid of that thing—NOW!"

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: +5 GOLD ACQUIRED]

Brainless Girl bowed gracefully and turned to leave.

Garrelton, still shaking, hurried inside, shouting for his priests.

Frost Eye crossed his arms, smirking.

"She's got her money back," he murmured. "Now… let's see what she does next."

Brainless Girl didn't stop after conning Lord Garrelton. She walked away briskly, her steps light, her expression unreadable.

Frost Eye followed her from a distance, intrigued. Alright, you got your five gold back, but what's next?

He doubted she was satisfied with just breaking even. She wasn't a small-time trickster. If she was truly skilled at manipulation, she'd be setting up something bigger.

Brainless Girl didn't rush. She didn't need to.

She moved through the bustling marketplace like a whisper in the wind, never lingering too long in one spot, never drawing direct attention to herself. Instead, she carefully dripped fear into the air, one conversation at a time.

Frost Eye, hidden in the crowd, watched her work.

She wasn't screaming, "There's a curse!" like some desperate scammer. No, she was smarter than that.

She was planting ideas.

---

First Target – The Nervous Merchant

She approached a stall selling jewelry, its merchant a slightly overweight man with sweat beading on his forehead. He looked stressed—likely due to slow sales. Perfect.

Brainless Girl leaned forward slightly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You should be careful," she murmured, her eyes flicking left and right as if checking for eavesdroppers.

The merchant stiffened. "Huh?"

Brainless Girl sighed, shaking her head. "I probably shouldn't say anything, but… I just came from the noble district. Lord Garrelton is in a panic."

The merchant visibly tensed. "Lord Garrelton? That noble who collects rare artifacts?"

Brainless Girl nodded gravely. "They say he was cursed. I heard he lost a huge sum overnight, just… gone. And it's not just him. A few other wealthy people have been acting strange lately. It's like bad luck is hunting the rich."

The merchant swallowed hard. His fingers twitched toward the expensive rings on display.

Brainless Girl glanced at them, then let out another sigh. "I'd… keep a low profile if I were you."

Then, without another word, she walked away.

The merchant's mind was already spiraling.

---

Second Target – The Adventurers

A little further, a group of armored players stood near a blacksmith's stall, discussing their latest dungeon raid. They looked confident, careless—the perfect contrast to the nervous merchant.

Brainless Girl passed them slowly, not looking directly at them, but letting them overhear her as she spoke to no one in particular.

"First a noble, now a whole family? This curse is spreading too fast…"

One of the adventurers—a rogue with a scarred cheek—perked up immediately. "Oi, what's this about a curse?"

Brainless Girl hesitated.

She turned, eyeing them as if debating whether to speak.

That was all it took.

The rogue stepped closer, intrigued. "Come on, don't keep secrets. What's happening?"

Brainless Girl chewed her lip, then sighed. "I don't know the full details, but… you didn't hear about the merchant in the eastern district? Woke up broke. Gold vanished, business ruined."

The rogue scoffed. "Pfft, probably just got robbed."

Brainless Girl shook her head. "No signs of forced entry. His guards heard nothing. It's like the money just… disappeared. And the weirdest part?" She lowered her voice. "The same thing happened to a noble yesterday."

The adventurers exchanged looks.

Brainless Girl pretended to catch herself, then forced a small laugh. "I mean, it's probably nothing. Just a coincidence. Right?"

Then, before they could respond, she left.

Now their imaginations would do the work for her.

---

Third Target – The Old Herbalist

Brainless Girl approached a small stall selling herbs and alchemical ingredients. The vendor, an elderly NPC woman, was carefully arranging vials on a wooden shelf.

Brainless Girl deliberately acted more anxious here.

She fidgeted slightly, rubbing her arms as if uneasy.

The old woman immediately noticed. "Something troubling you, dear?"

Brainless Girl hesitated, then leaned in. "You… you don't sell charms or protective herbs, do you?"

The old woman frowned. "Charms? You mean wards against misfortune?"

Brainless Girl nodded quickly. "Yes! Anything to keep away bad luck. I'd take anything you have."

The old woman's frown deepened. "Bad luck? Child, are you in trouble?"

Brainless Girl hesitated, letting the silence stretch. Then, she sighed. "It's probably nothing, but… even Lord Garrelton is hiring exorcists. And you know it's serious when someone like him panics."

The old woman's eyes widened. "Lord Garrelton? Exorcists?!"

Brainless Girl bit her lip. "I probably shouldn't have said anything. But… you might want to be careful."

Then, she walked away, leaving the woman muttering worriedly to herself.

---

The Result – Spreading the Fear

By the time Brainless Girl finished her circuit through the market, the rumor was alive.

People talked.

The nervous merchant started whispering to other shopkeepers, warning them to "be careful."

The adventurers kept glancing around, discussing if it was "some new hidden event or debuff."

The old herbalist even told a passing guard about "a dark omen spreading among the rich."

And Brainless Girl?

She simply moved on.

---

Frost Eye's Observation

From his spot leaning against a wall, Frost Eye almost laughed aloud.

"She's not just spreading a rumor. She's feeding it, shaping it. She's making it grow."

She had created demand without selling anything.

By the time she moved to Step Three—selling the solution—the market would already be primed.

"Damn. I almost feel bad for these NPCs. Almost."