Roasting (4)

...

Completely oblivious to Echidna's rather fantastic thoughts. Icarus just thinks she is silent, being shocked by the revelation that he used her anger to his advantage

'Well, I don't think there is anyone who likes to be manipulated that way'

With that in mind, he decides to say a few words to try to console her:

"You don't need to have it. It's okay, you don't need to feel sad that you fell for it. After all, I am very good when it comes to roast people!"

[...]

"Don't be like this! Sigh! Okay, listen... I'll teach you how to roast someone, so the next time that I roast you, you won't feel so bad!"

Hearing this, Echidna thinks a little confused: 'Huh? Normally, wouldn't this be the time, when we apologize and promise not to do that anymore? So why the hell instead of that... are you warning me that you're going to do this more often in the future?'

After saying this, Icarus begins to stroke his chin with one hand, while reflecting on where to start.

"Hmm... let me see... Hmm"

After about a minute, he finally makes up his mind: 'Okay, I got it!'

Having made up his mind, he looks up towards nothing, hoping that Echidna will be able to see his face from this direction, and in a serious and didactic tone, he begins:

"You know, the basic principle of roasting someone is to attack and criticize everything related to your target! Where he lives, what he wears, what he eats or even how he reacts to his teasing!

Well, at least, it's that kind of thing that I focus on, when I want to roast someone!

However, this situation was a little special and I couldn't use any of these options, because… well, putting it in the simplest possible way. I don't know anything about you!

Therefore, when faced with this situation, I decided to attack the only thing that I knew that in some way or another was related to you. That is – The system!"

Echidna quickly interrupts him and curiously asks

[How exactly did you know that I am related to the system?]

Hearing this question, Icarus looks at nothing with a confused face and in a strange tone, he answers:

"Huh? Isn't that a bit obvious? You voice and the system's voice are practically identical! The only significant difference is the tone of the voices! The tone of the system is monotonous and lifeless, while yours is varied and very vivid!"

'Ohh, as expected he also realized this! Well, considering that part of my conscience was absorbed when I was trying to assimilate the [World Voice] of this planet, it's not at all strange that my voice is used as an announcer for the system. Well, whatever! He finding it out won't make much difference at all!'

Seeing that at least for now, Echidna doesn't seem to have any more doubts.

Icarus decides to conclude his explanation, and in a triumphant tone he says

"So, having decided my target, I started to attack the system or Elizabeth like I had named before! As we can see from the situation we are in, my plan clearly worked!"

After saying this, he stop for a moment, laughs and with a carefree tone says

"Huehuehue! It's funny to think that I did all this just and solely because of my curiosity, isn't it?"

[Yeah~]

Echidna agrees with him and responds in a somewhat mocking tone, but after doing so, she freezes: 'Wait a minute... why did he do this? Why did he reinforce this point a second time? It's like. For some reason... he's emphasizing that he did it just out of curiosity!'

Had it been earlier, Echidna would have completely ignored this and assumed that Icarus was trying to alleviate the strange mood that exists between the two of them.

However, after falling into the extremely elaborate trap of Icarus (Something that is not true), Echidna went into a state of alertness, a state where he suspects everything he says.

Not only that, she even decided to use some of the knowledge about human behavior, which she acquired by looking at his memories.

It must be remembered that before Icarus came to Skarseld, he was a swindler, an extremely experienced and very infamous swindler.

He was even known and feared by many in the underworld under the name of [Jester]

The number of people that [Jester] deceived is extremely large and even a little unbelievable.

Obviously, during his career as a swindler, he ended up making thousands of enemies. Each and every one of them hated Icarus and his irritating personality, deeply.

They hated him so much, that on several occasions they tried to get rid of him. Nevertheless, since Icarus died on the bench during the robbery, it is clear that all their attempts have failed.

Well, probably, after receiving the news of Icarus' death, they must have celebrated a lot! Anyway! Despite the gigantic infamy that Icarus had as the [Jester], there is one thing that no one can deny that is... Icarus' incredible talent to win the trust of others!

It can even be said that this talent is the reason that many of his schemes have worked! However, different from what many think, this is not something that Icarus was born, but something that he learned after studying the most varied topics. Topics that sometimes are related, but most of the time not!

To convince people, in addition to his great charisma and intelligence, Icarus also makes use of various techniques.

His repertoire ranges from performance and oratory techniques... to sales techniques and body language reading. And if that wasn't enough, when necessary, he also uses some of his knowledge in psychology! All that only to convince his victims to trust him!

Of course, after years of being a swindler, the knowledge behind such techniques is impregnated in his existence.

That using such techniques when talking to others has become as natural to him as breathing.

It is exactly, because of this naturalness, that many people get confused and think that the talent to convince others, is something that he was born!

Only Icarus knows the work and effort it took him to master them.

At least, that was the case until he died, because, after seeing all of Icarus' memories, Echidna saw him learning and training these techniques, and even though she was unable to master it, to use it as naturally as he did.

At least, she managed to learn the basics! And it is exactly this basic knowledge that helped to see this strange point in Icarus's discourse!

'If I remember correctly, when we are trying to hide something, we tend to leave some clues behind, even if involuntarily. These clues vary, ranging from words with more than one interpretation, to the subject we are trying to hide itself!'

Imagine the following situation, Friend A comes to you and tells you a secret about Friend B.

After he tells you this, he reminds you that you shouldn't tell Friend B about it, and then leaves.

But then, right after Friend A leaves, Friend B appears and comes to talk to you.

In that situation, you almost that immediately think something like: I shouldn't tell him that Friend A told me this, about him!

Therefore, you start focus on not revealing this. However, because you are thinking that way, it becomes difficult for you to pay attention to what is happening around you, and any distraction you have, leads you to reveal this information even if in an unconscious. That information is... the clue!

Upon reaching this conclusion, Echidna begins to laugh internally while thinking

'Hahaha! It seems that after making that incredible plan he must have gotten really tired and ended up letting his guard down! Honestly, I didn't expect him to make such an amateurish mistake! Not that I'm complaining about it. In fact, this is very good!

Hahaha! It seems that the tables have finally turned!'

Echidna's conclusion is both right and wrong, Icarus really let his guard down, but it's not exactly for the reasons she thinks.

In normal situations, Icarus would never have made a mistake like that, but dying and waking up on an unknown planet is not exactly the best definition of a normal situation! And although Icarus is acting aloof and his appearance is carefree, in fact, he is extremely tired not only physically but also mentally!

Besides that, despite knowing that Echidna saw all of his memories, he did not expect that she would have taken the trouble to learn to use some of his techniques.

Thinking that he is dealing with a layperson, Icarus did not pay much attention to his choice of words!

In conclusion, Echidna was lucky, as Icarus not! It's like the saying goes: Every dog ​​has his day!

Icarus probably never expected to be caught for his own knowledge and techniques!

After celebrating her first victory against Icarus, Echidna quickly sighs trying to calm down and begins to reflect on the situation.

'Phew! I had better take it easy! I shouldn't celebrate too soon! After all, even though I'm already over ninety percent sure that he's hiding something. I still have no idea what it is and why he is hiding it! Well, knowing him I don't think he's doing it for no reason. There must be a reason, even if it's a completely stupid reason! But it doesn't matter, because I want to know anyway!'

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