been just a preparatory barrage? against people's ability to see straight in preparation for the biggest one of all?
If you slowly make people believe that things happen all of the time that defy the odds, then when you spring something that defies astronomical odds, they will tend to not see it.
If you slowly make people believe that things happen all of the time that defy the odds, then when you spring something that defies astronomical odds, they will tend to not see it.