“You know what? Even if we get the number plate, we can’t get out.”
Kasha’s words were undoubtedly like dropping a bombshell on the calm lake, causing the freshmen outside who were quietly waiting for the next words to go crazy.
“That’s ridiculous. The masked man said that as long as we get the corresponding number plate, we can leave. If he lied to us, we will report him to the dean!”
“That’s right. I see that you haven’t got the number plate you need yourself. You are just guessing, and it’s an unfounded guess!”
“What are you trying to do by saying that? To cause us to panic?”
The freshmen all denounced someone who was hiding in the warehouse and dared not show up.
Kasha knew that no one believed what he said, but it didn’t matter.
The more they denied themselves now, the more they would affirm themselves when the plot turned.
Therefore, Kasha did not explain.
He silently waited for the emotional freshmen outside to finish scolding.
The red-haired boy seemed to have some prestige among these people.
He raised his hand hurriedly: “Everyone, please be quiet for a moment, be quiet for a moment, and listen to me, okay?”
After all, they are a group of young people.
Except for a few who consciously try to occupy a dominant position, other freshmen will be influenced by the herd mentality.
When there are many people, they can easily become fence-sitters or yes-men and influence more people.
As soon as the red-haired boy opened his mouth, his friends shut up first.
The other freshmen were also affected and their voices gradually became lower.
Finally, except for a few individual whispers, the third floor became quiet.
“Is this your guess or your conclusion?”
There is a difference between guessing and conclusion.
A guess is just a person’s conjecture, like a castle in the air, without any basis, while a conclusion is the final answer obtained after testing.
Kasha did not explain, but said: “If you don’t believe me, go and try it now. You won’t be eliminated if you lose your number plate anyway. Just find someone to test it.”
Because losing the number tag did not count as a failure, the red-haired boy spent some time exchanging a few number tags with someone from another group, and then led the group to the iron gate on the first floor.
Some freshmen followed, either out of curiosity or suspicion.
Not much time passed.
About ten minutes later, when the red-haired boy led everyone back to the third floor with a grim look on his face, the other freshmen gathered around him. “how?”
“Is it really like what the man inside said?”
“Is anyone out?”
The freshmen were eager to know the result, and some of them who were more observant guessed the conclusion after seeing the expression of the red-haired boy.
“I can’t get out even with a number plate? How come?”
“Then won’t we all be eliminated!?”
“Why did this happen? The masked man deceived us? But it was unnecessary!”
The failure of the experiment made the freshmen panic.
To be honest, if Kasha were to lobby one by one and communicate with these freshmen earnestly about cooperation, even if he became the leader of the largest group of cliques, few people would believe what he said.
Even when Kasha proved in front of others that he could not get out even if he got the card, the freshmen would not be convinced of him.
Precisely because Kasha is now a villain who occupies the food warehouse alone and is hostile to all other freshmen, when his words are proved to be correct, the shock to the freshmen will be maximized.
Here we must once again emphasize the role of herd mentality.
The more than 700 freshmen outside began to feel that they were deceived by the masked man and that they were going to be eliminated.
Then, under the leadership of the red-haired boy, they unanimously placed their hopes on Kasha, who was originally a “villain” in their eyes, as never before.
“Inside, little brother, how did you know we can’t get out?”
——Okay, now that you asked this question, the initiative is in my hands!
Kasha clenched his fist slightly.
Next, Kasha wanted to let them know that he was not their enemy, but someone who was in the same boat, so as to increase their sense of identity.
“Coincidentally, my companion was the first one to get the number plate required for customs clearance.”
Kasha’s words attracted the attention of others: “Remember those two people No. 1 and No. 999 who were wandering around?”
“It’s you guys?!”
Many people thought of the two teenagers who hung number tags on their chests and ran around.
Because of the special nature of their numbers, the freshmen did not take action against them.
After all, the gain would not outweigh the loss.
The leisurely appearance of the two of them wandering around left a deep impression on many freshmen.
“My partner is No. 1. He got the number plate he needed.”
Kasha continued.
The reason why he mentioned Roel was because he was No. 999.
In the eyes of others, he needed No. 2.
If No. 2 was present among the people outside, he might be regarded as a liar.
But Roel was different.
As No. 1, in the eyes of others, what he needed was No. 1000.
But in fact there was no number 1000.
Therefore, no one could refute him.
“Then it was just like when you tried just now. He couldn’t leave. Then, I thought about the rule carefully and finally figured it out.”
Figured it out?
Figured out what?
The freshmen held their breath.
“The person who proposed this rule wants to eliminate all of us!”
——Now, we are all tied to the same rope.
Anchoring effect!
It means that when people make judgments about someone or something, they are easily dominated by the first impression or the first information, which is like an anchor sinking to the bottom of the sea, fixing people’s thoughts somewhere.
As a psychological phenomenon, the anchoring effect is prevalent in all aspects of life, and first impressions and preconceived ideas are its manifestations in social life.
One of the reasons why Kasha took Roel around in the beginning was to leave a first impression on all the freshmen, that is, “harmless”!
No matter if it is No. 999 who can only pass the level by getting No. 2, or No. 1 who needs No. 1000 to pass the level, the threat of both to other freshmen is almost zero!
Especially after knowing that they will not be eliminated if they lose their number plates, the threat of both to others is just like a little sheep.
Now, the “harmless” image left by “No. 999” and “No. 1” has covered the “villains” occupying the warehouse.
Coupled with the “evidence” of “eliminating all of us” obtained after verification by the red-haired boy, Kasha has changed from an enemy to a partner in the eyes of these freshmen outside, and a “harmless partner” at that!
Everyone is going to be eliminated anyway, so why are they still harping on the fact that he occupies the warehouse?
Kasha clenched his fists slightly.
He knew that at this moment, his previous opposing image had changed instantly!
He was now one of the freshmen who would be eliminated!
A companion!
The original image of a “villain” completely disappeared.
In the eyes of others, even if he was not a savior, he was still a master who knew the “inside story”!
After establishing the most basic trust, the next step is…
Kasha opened the explosion-proof door directly.
“Do you want to clear the level?”
No one answered.
The looks from the freshmen told Kasha. think!
“Then please give me your number cards.”
Kasha smiled and stretched out his hand.
Looking at the hesitant expressions of the others, Kasha raised his index finger and said, “First, I can hide in there for three days. When you are all too hungry to move, I will come out and take your cards. But now, I am coming out by myself.”
Extend your middle finger.
“Second, losing your number plate won’t make you eliminated, and getting your number plate won’t make you pass. We could all be eliminated anyway, so why would I lie to you?”
Extend your ring finger.
“Third, if I deceive you, you can block me here and prevent me from leaving even if I get the card.”
Hold out your pinky finger.
“Fourth, I have a method for everyone to pass the level.”
Give your thumbs up.
“Fifth, I can be the last one to leave.”
Yes, he is now like a turtle in a jar, and he has no capital to play tricks on everyone, so why should he be afraid?
Opposite Kasha, the red-haired boy and the gray-haired Amon hesitated for a moment, and were the first to take out the number plate and hand it to Kasha.