All these irrational behaviors were meant to deepen Needham Brown's "villain" image, to increase the authenticity of his "betrayal."
Judging from the perspective of a human politician, such a strategy was indeed crude, immature, and full of loopholes.
In ancient times, any cunning and crafty minister could have seen through it easily.
The Sage Institute and Informed Guides fully absorbed Harrison Clark's ideas. They did not necessarily strive for results; they did their best in the process without leaving any regrets, took care of every detail they could, and left the rest to fate.
It seems that humans have a good life now.
This ingenious plan actually succeeded in the end.
One reason might be that the Compound-Eyed Observer was not a high-EQ race, and Needham Brown, who appeared to be a clumsy schemer, managed to deceive them with his seeming determination during the escape of the Shadow Forces.