understanding the grammar of “XをYに”

Question

兄さんをエサにホムンクルスを引っ張り出します

Is there an implied verb after に, or not? Is this sentence more along the lines of the situation when you have two verbs connected with the ～て form, or is it more along the lines of "兄さんをエサに" being an element of the verb 引っ張り出す in the same way that ホムンクルスを is?

Could you replace に with として here? If so, how would it compare with the sentence using に? If not, why not?

I know I asked a lot of questions; just address whichever ones make the most sense.

Answer 1

You are on the right track about the missing verb. The missing verb can be して. But you do not need to change the particle. Just add the missing verb: 兄さんをエサにして. Using と here is unnatural. I think として can be used as "as if", implying that it is not actually it. In 兄さんをエサにして...を引っ張り出す, the brother is actually treated as bait, so に should be used. In 兄さんをエサとして扱う or 兄さんをエサとみなす, there is implication that the brother is not actually bait, so と is used.

Answer 2

It seems like して is implied after the に. The robot ホムンクルス seems to be saying that he'll make the guy (兄さん) like bait (エサ) and pull him along (and won't let him die).