Yarra's Adventure Notes-Chapter 1278 - 64 Catherine’s Tactics

"Although I don’t have as many data samples as you do to infer others’ thoughts and purposes by their behavior, I have intuition and experience. In many fields, especially in judging psychology, these two things are actually more accurate and more efficient than the rigid mechanistic comparison of sample analysis." Pannis removed the ivory comb from the girl’s head and cradled her hair, combing through it bit by bit, "It’s through intuition and experience that I figured out your earlier words were not just simple inquiries and that even the timing of them was intentional. As for the purpose, it was to create that strange atmosphere we just had, am I right?"

"Ding." Ava still lay on Pannis’s thighs but fell silent. Pannis’s words did not elicit any expression from her. Of course, it seemed the girl couldn’t really make any other expressions either. Her eyes stared blankly at Pannis as if she didn’t understand what he was saying. After a while of silence, a sound like a mechanical alert suddenly came from the girl’s body, and then she spoke in a flat tone, "The City of Knowledge is a very large city with a peak population that can reach 1.5 million. Even during normal periods, the permanent population is over..."

"Hey hey, you’re using that method again, pretending not to hear what I’m saying. And why are you suddenly using an introduction to the City of Knowledge to dodge the issue? I know this place much better than you do." Pannis rolled his eyes, his voice a mix of laughter and frustration, "After leaving the National Research Center of the Goblin Empire, you, this blockhead, haven’t really done this to me recently. I thought you’d forgotten about it, but it turns out you just hadn’t found the opportunity, right? Now that you’ve found your chance, you can’t wait to use it again, can you?"

The girl’s eyes moved slightly, but she maintained her original state, her unemotional gaze meeting Pannis’s. After another moment of silence, she said, "Today’s temperature is 33 degrees, and there might be light rain tonight. It’s not suitable for outdoor activities in the evening, especially for hosting garden parties or similar gatherings. If..."

"Stop stop stop, I get it," Pannis said helplessly, "Same old story. I won’t ask anymore. You, though, even though you’ve left the mechanical system, still insist on deliberately ignoring my questions, just like before. It’s really infuriating."

Despite her unchanged expression and flat tone, a faint smile seemed to play in the girl’s blue pupils, indicating she was quite satisfied with Pannis’s frustration. Pannis poked her smooth, crystalline cheek indignantly, saying, "I don’t need your answer to know that you’re doing this on purpose, definitely. You’re only doing this because you’re anxious watching our performance, so you want to give Catherine a push from behind to create some opportunities for her, right?"

This time, although Pannis posed another question, Ava did not shift the topic as before. Despite offering no response, her different behavior indicated that she apparently conceded to Pannis’s assessment.

"You underestimate Catherine too much," Pannis sighed, speaking softly, "Although she’s straightforward and kindhearted, she’s still from a noble family of the ancient Falar Empire. When she truly wants something, does she need someone else to create opportunities for her? To want something is to strive for it with all one’s might. That’s the custom of those great nobles. Her family may have declined, but that habit is ingrained in her bloodline. So, you worrying about her is a result of not knowing her deeply enough. Do you think she’s not making any moves? Do you think she’s merely waiting passively? She’s already taken action."

"What does that mean?" Ava finally spoke up, puzzled, "I haven’t seen her do anything."

"Achieving one’s aims in a way that others can see is the crudest of methods. For the great nobility, that’s hardly elegant and would be a cause for mockery by other nobles. They believe the highest form of manipulation is to make it such that no one sees what they have done, yet their goals are still accomplished, like the wind of spring that, though invisible, spreads vitality to every corner of the Yarran Continent." Pannis withdrew her hand from combing Ava’s hair and stroked her chin with a look of appreciation, "You think she hasn’t done anything? Well, she does appear to have done nothing, these past few days merely creating the perfect opportunities for those three fools, dragging me around with them on their whims and fulfilling their desires. She’s well aware that the three of them are also smart and won’t force me to take a stand directly, but rather change my mind bit by bit. With this gradual approach, it is very hard for me to turn down their requests, so she doesn’t have to worry about them coming to harm."

"Yes, that was my assessment as well," Ava sat up straight, crossing her legs in front of Pannis, "which is why I want to give her a push."

"And yet, this is precisely the way she is fighting for it," Pannis shook her head, "Every action taken by Lina and the others is actually paving the path for her. The more successful their actions are, the more confident she becomes in achieving her own goals. Let me put it this way, if she had invited me to join her at Snape’s banquet the day she returned, I might have refused, but now, after everything that has happened these last few days, it would be much harder for me to decline such an invitation."

"I don’t quite understand," Ava shook her head, "Are you saying that Catherine is using Lina and Vivian to achieve her own ends?"

"No, it’s not about using them," Pannis shook her head, "I don’t know whether in your records the Goblin Empire has something akin to the great nobility, nor do I know what the goblins’ ways are, but for the nobility of the Fourth Epoch, most of their actions are unexpected. In many people’s minds, nobles will stop at nothing to achieve their goals, stepping on everything around them to vie for benefits. Indeed, such nobles exist, but then... they all died. The maneuvers of true nobility always appear very elegant. Their actions often enable those around them to reap benefits and achieve their goals, and it is precisely the process of others achieving their goals that propels the nobility towards their own objectives. Such outcomes result in everyone being happy and everyone loving them, allowing these noble families to endure through the ages. Catherine might not even be fully aware of these things herself, but her upbringing has instilled in her the instinct to execute such plans, some of which she might not even consciously consider. That’s why I say that your desire to give her a push is, in fact, completely unnecessary."

"Alright, I think I understand," Ava nodded, "Indeed there’s no need."

"And furthermore, haven’t you noticed something?" Pannis patted the girl’s head, "Your idea seems quite different from the old you."