In fiction writing, characters choosing covert methods to hurt others without being noticed is a plot setting full of creativity and psychological games. Here are some possible ways and examples of characters: ### Using environmental factors 1. **Setting unexpected traps** - **Example**: In an old castle, the character knows that the victim has the habit of patrolling a specific area of the castle every night. So, he loosened a seemingly solid wooden board on the stairs in that area in advance, and used clever techniques to cover up the loosening traces so that it blends in with the surrounding worn wooden boards. When the victim patrols at night and steps on this wooden board, he will roll down the stairs due to the breakage of the wooden board, causing serious injuries, and it is difficult for others to think that this is intentional. - **Analysis**: Using objects in the environment as traps, taking advantage of people's inertial cognition of the safety of objects in the daily environment, the victim is hurt without any preparation, and because the trap is cleverly set, it is difficult to trace it directly to the setter. 2. **Relying on natural forces** - **Example**: A colleague who is extremely jealous learns that a competitor plans to go to a remote laboratory alone on a stormy night. After learning about the weather conditions that night in advance, he quietly destroyed the roots of a large tree near the laboratory. On the surface, the tree still looked intact, but in fact, the foundation was unstable. When the competitor drove past the tree in the storm, the strong wind blew the damaged tree down and hit the vehicle, causing injury or even life-threatening to the competitor. This accident can easily be attributed to bad weather, and almost no one would suspect that it was man-made. - **Analysis**: Natural forces are uncontrollable. By cleverly intervening in the elements of the natural environment, they are transformed into tools to harm others. This can not only achieve the purpose of harm, but also use the cover of natural phenomena to keep oneself out of the matter and difficult to detect. ### Manipulating interpersonal relationships 1. **Killing with a borrowed knife** - **Example**: In a complex workplace environment, the protagonist is jealous of his colleague's promotion opportunity. He knows that the boss attaches great importance to the results of a certain project and is slightly dissatisfied with the work attitude of the competitor. Therefore, the protagonist deliberately pretends to inadvertently reveal some false information at an important meeting, implying that the competitor is lazy in the project. The boss was very angry after hearing this and decided to investigate the competitor. In order to prove his innocence, the competitor had to spend a lot of time and energy to deal with the investigation, which delayed the progress of the project and eventually lost the opportunity for promotion. The protagonist, on the other hand, reaped the benefits of the investigation. In the whole process, he did not directly accuse the competitor, so it was difficult to be found to be the mastermind behind the scenes. - **Analysis**: Taking advantage of the existing conflicts, prejudices or interests between others, cleverly conveying false information or creating misunderstandings, guiding others to attack the target object according to their own intentions, so as to achieve the purpose of hurting others without exposing themselves. 2. **Sowing discord** - **Example**: In a small group, member A wants to suppress member B. A knows that members C and D have been unhappy about some trivial matters recently, so A fabricates bad things about each other in front of C and D, saying that C laughs at D's ability behind his back, and D complains about C's selfishness in private. After A's provocation, the conflict between C and D gradually escalates, eventually leading to a fierce conflict between the two in the team, and B is marginalized in this chaos. A successfully achieves his goal, and because he is just passing messages between the two, it is difficult to be regarded as a direct instigator. - **Analysis**: By spreading rumors, distorting facts and other means, the trust and relationship between others are destroyed, conflicts and contradictions are triggered, and the target object is hurt unconsciously, while the instigator hides in the dark and is not noticed. ### Use psychological hints 1. **Inductive psychological hints** - **Example**: A villain who is good at psychological manipulation wants a witness to make false testimony in court against the defendant. He approaches the witness in various ways, inadvertently mentions some negative information about the defendant many times, and emphasizes certain details in a seemingly casual tone, such as "I heard that he is easy to lose control in that situation." After hearing these hints continuously, the witness gradually forms a negative impression of the defendant in his subconscious. In court, the villain further skillfully guides the witness to recall these hints, so that the witness unconsciously makes false testimony according to the villain's intentions. During the whole process, the witness may not realize that he is induced, thinking that he is testifying based on real memories and feelings. The villain successfully hurts the defendant with the help of the witness, and it is not easy to detect. - **Analysis**: Using psychological principles, through repeated language or behavioral hints, the subconscious and cognition of others are affected, so that the target object unconsciously acts according to the hinter's expectations, thereby achieving the purpose of hurting others. The whole process is highly concealed. 2. **Situational psychological hint** - **Example**: In an old manor full of mysterious atmosphere, the owner wants to drive away an uninvited guest. He deliberately