When the plot-skips players into the game world

Chapter 237

Chapter 237: Chapter 162: Threats are More Powerful Than Capturing Pieces Chapter 237: Chapter 162: Threats are More Powerful Than Capturing Pieces Aiwass Moriarty was kidnapped and disappeared, which should be the biggest news on Glass Island recently.

Moreover, this news is like a serial drama—first, he made it to the front page headlines several times for continuously thwarting the plots of the Noble Red Society, and was eventually awarded the Holy Sword Medal out of turn for his meritorious deeds.

But before a week had passed, he was captured by the members of the Noble Red Society who stormed into the school.

“Judging from the battle traces, Aiwass put up a very fierce resistance.

He even took down several Transcendents far stronger than himself… but alas, he was outnumbered.

Hayna, I remember you have a pretty good relationship with Aiwass, right?”

“Huh?

Oh…”

Hayna listened to her roommates discussing the recent news, somewhat absent-minded: “Yes.”

She was pondering something.

...

Was Aiwass really in trouble now?

Or rather, was his current disappearance part of Aiwass’s plan?

Aiwass had previously mentioned to her that he might have to fake his own death like Sherlock did.

But now that he was truly in trouble, Hayna couldn’t help but wonder… was the “fake death” Aiwass mentioned this time?

She felt a bit anxious.

What if Aiwass’s plan failed?

If the fake death he spoke of wasn’t this time but later, what would happen?

That is to say, he was really attacked suddenly and really kidnapped, which was also possible, right?

“What does the Noble Red Society specifically want by capturing Aiwass?

Do they want to torture him?”

“Indeed, that doesn’t make much sense.

If it was for revenge, they should have killed Aiwass directly, right?

Carrying a live person with them, it’s not easy for them to escape either.”

“Isn’t it to interrogate him?

Maybe Aiwass knows some secret, so they had to capture him alive.”@@@@

“But there’s no need to rush into the school to kidnap him, right?

Our school is Department Head Meg’s territory...

Although she’s not usually around, she’s definitely going to be angry after this incident.”

“I think, could it be that they wanted to exchange hostages?”

“That’s also a possibility.

But the people from the Noble Red Society that were caught, weren’t they all hanged?”

“Maybe there are still some alive.”

“Impossible, if there were live ones, the newspapers would definitely report it right away to pressure them.”

“Then could it be that they want to exchange Aiwass for a list of traitors?

That’s how it’s always written in novels, right?”

Hayna’s roommates gathered together, chattering about the matter.

And all thanks to Aiwass.

Originally on Glass Island, many people simply had no comprehension of the Noble Red Society.

Perhaps in the rural towns more people knew, but Demon Scholars were rarely seen in big cities—there were too many educated Inspectors and Priests, who could easily spot the traces of rituals and Demons.

But thanks to Aiwass’s several front-page headlines, people quickly started paying attention to these Demon Scholars.

After the news from the Glass Staircase Daily, other newspapers, in order to chase the trend, would interview some senior Inspectors or Bishops to inquire about the Demon Scholars and the Noble Red, and promptly release them, explaining “what the Noble Red Society has done.”

“What do you think, Hayna?”

Suddenly, Hayna felt someone touch her and asked, “Does the Supervisory Bureau have any inside information?”

But this question broke Hayna’s contemplation and hesitation.

She decided not to hesitate any longer, got up from the bed, threw on her coat, and rushed out: “I don’t know, I’m going out for a bit, you guys chat—”

Watching Hayna leave, the dormitory fell silent for a while.

Her roommate, who often went to the Old Captain Bar to fish for men, sighed: “It seems Hayna really cares a lot about Aiwass.”

“She wouldn’t have fallen for Aiwass, would she?”

Another person raised a possibility.

If we switch to bridge, I probably won’t win… Ah, Hayna is here, too.

We can set up a game for four.”

Upon hearing this, Hayna was startled.

But she immediately felt a surge of joy—like a child who craved sweets and got a taste of honey.

The whole world seemed sweeter, and The Sun was shining brightly.

She immediately knocked on the door and, without waiting for a response, pushed the door open eagerly.

“You’re really alright, Aiwass!”

In the room, Aiwass was seen reclining backward in his seat, legs crossed with the left one swinging.

His face was covered with a confident smile.

That demeanor was completely different from the obedient and gentle temperament he had when he was in the wheelchair.

Bathed in the golden sunlight of the morning, red butterflies fluttered around his fingertips.

Only after truly leaving the wheelchair and sitting in a seat just as high as the others did Hayna realize that Aiwass and Sherlock were about the same height.

But at this moment, Aiwass seemed even taller.

And Sherlock, across from him, was frowning deeply, his arms propped on his knees and his hands under his chin, as he pondered over the chess game.

Lily sat close to Aiwass, right next to him.

She too was smiling, and was the first to look up at Hayna.

Sherlock paid her no attention.

He just focused on the chessboard and murmured softly, “This is tricky.

I was in a dominant position at the beginning, but at what point did it turn against me…”

After pondering for a long while, he finally moved a chess piece, “Though I have already lost, I still want to finish the game.”

Aiwass then smiled and said, “Because you don’t understand a principle, Sherlock.

Chess is not purely a game of logic; it’s related to psychological warfare.

From this angle, a threat is always more powerful than capturing a piece… because I choose not to let you handle the situation I’ve created, but rather use the anticipated pressure to increase your cognitive load and psychological stress.

“By using a defensive strategy to gradually weaken you, I apply pressure when you become impatient, forcing you to make mistakes.

The prouder a person is, the less they can tolerate their own errors...

and in repetition, your strategy will gradually warp.

Your goal shifts from ‘seizing victory’ to ‘solving the puzzles I pose.’

“From this viewpoint, some plans don’t need to be actually implemented.

Just making the opponent aware of the possibility is effective enough—the impact it creates is the result.”

With that, Aiwass placed the white queen, “Checkmate.

I have won three times in a row now, Sherlock.

Your urge to attack is too strong, and it blinds you to the threat placed on you.”

“That’s why I am here.”

Sherlock replied, “That’s only logical.”

Aiwass shook his head with a smile, “Attack doesn’t signify an advantage, and relentless assault doesn’t signify victory.

It was I who gave up my turn to attack, allowing you to launch consecutive offensives… Some people yield because they are indeed weak, but others give up their attack to preserve their agility.”

“Like how you choose to stay put here?” Sherlocks retorted.

“Right.”

Aiwass picked up the white queen, holding it between the index and middle fingers of his right hand, showing it to Sherlock.

“Once I leap off the chessboard, I’m no longer just a chess piece.

Now I can go anywhere, and it makes them anxious.

Anxiety leads to mistakes.

Mistakes lead to death.

And when they die, they desire to drag others down with them.”

The young man with platinum-gold hair narrowed his eyes like a fox, “Just watch, Sherlock...

just watch.

“They won’t last long, I’ve already applied all the pressure needed.

Now, it’s their turn to attack.”

Sherlock looked towards Aiwass Moriarty in the sunlight.

For the first time, he realized that he might have never truly understood his friend.