Chapter 1953 U: Beyond Big Events (42)_1

After lunch, Shiller was freed from the restraining bed which made him sigh deeply again. It seems that the other party couldn't even wait for the 48-hour observation period, they desperately wanted these people to do something in the hospital.

Indeed, Shiller felt that the main purpose of the so-called mental patient scam from beginning to end was not to make them believe that they were mentally ill, but to prove that they were not.

Yet, it's more difficult to prove that a person is not mentally ill than to prove that they are. If the proof is difficult, then perhaps escape is a solution to the problem.

Ever since he regained consciousness in this hospital, it seems like all actions of everyone were guiding the participants to escape the hospital, giving them ample opportunity.

For instance, the best way to make a person believe they are mentally ill, is to actually disturb their mind. Let alone brain surgery, a triple dose of Ativan medicine combined with a sedative, forced down using coercive means, would keep anyone at bay for at least three days. After repeating this several times, even the most active grasshopper could not jump anymore.

Although Shiller did not look at the medication in his tray, when he took it, he could tell the name and dosage of the drug from his vast experience. Not only wasn't it much, but it could be considered less.

Moreover, the doctor seemed surprised that he willingly took his medication, as if to say, "Don't eat so fast, at least give me a chance to pretend I didn't see you hide the drug."

Shiller guessed that this so-called mental patient scam was only the first layer of the trap, or rather, it was the leaves covering the deep pit. Its goal was to guide people to explore in the hospital, to look for a way to escape, while the real spikes lay in a certain corner of the hospital.

Therefore, Shiller proposed to conduct a psychological examination for Beihan in a regular psychotherapy office. This could solve the problem of Thomas and Martha, and it would also provide Batman an opportunity to explore the hospital.

It's not that Shiller wanted Batman to take risks. It's just that Batman from the Prime Universe is very unique. Almost all events revolve around him because he is the protagonist. If anything strange happened in the hospital, it would definitely occur when he left the room.

Nearing dinner time, Shiller was refining the process of conducting a psychological examination for Beihan in his mind. An open-minded Batman was a miracle, you couldn't expect him to just say everything he was thinking, it still required some tactful guidance.

At dinner, Shiller found a small note that Natasha had left under the dinner tray. The note was generally asking about Shiller's game and what should be done next.

Shiller put the note aside, and while eating, he continued to think about Beihan's inspection plan. Considering Batman's peculiar nature, Shiller had prepared four schemes in case Batman's suspicion flared up and he became resistant.

When the night fell, Batman threw a note into the room. On it was written the number of the consulting room. Shiller recognized it as the consulting room where he woke up during the day.

After a moment of thought, Shiller understood. The previous bed must have broken the door card. The consulting room was now under repair, so it was empty. Who knew whether Batman would find it absurdly funny because the bed had broken the door card.

No matter if the Batman from the Prime Universe did, Beihan definitely would.

When he was called over that night and saw the marks on the door frame, he was intrigued for a while. He said, "The people who set the door construction standards and the bed size standards really have a tacit understanding. Maybe they are twin brothers."

Then he walked into the consultation room, sat across from Shiller, and said, "Why do you suddenly want to conduct a psychological assessment on me? Doctor, is something wrong?"

"Nothing, this just happens to fit the theme of the game level, doesn't it?" said Shiller as he wrote something.

"I'll emphasize it again, I don't have a mental illness." Beihan sighed and said, "My personal doctor and my psychological consultant are the most professional in the world. I cannot possibly have schizophrenia or delusional disorder."

"I never said you do... wait, you have a psychological consultant?" Shiller looked up at Beihan in surprise and asked, "Do you undergo regular psychological examinations?"

"Of course. Apart from shutting the board of directors up, I also need to ensure that my emotions and personality are stable. Otherwise, how can I ensure that I won't make a crazy decision and lead the whole Wayne Enterprises into the abyss when I lose control?"

"Who is your psychological consultant?"

"That's confidential." Beihan looked at Shiller and said, "Because he knows my personal information, for security reasons, anyone who knows about this must not reveal his name."

"Good, it does seem to be Batman, not impersonated by some strange creature." Shiller looked down and continued writing and said, "I didn't plan to do a comprehensive psychological assessment for you, and there is no need to. But I am also checking to make sure that one rash decision of yours wouldn't lead this whole team astray."

Beihan immediately turned his head to look at Batman at the room door and said loudly, "I have been saying that I am not crazy... well, if you all think so."

"The psychological assessment is not to determine if you are crazy, its main purpose is..."

"... to ensure that my emotions and mental state are stable, and that I am still sane. Alright, alright, I get it. Doctor, let's start."

A Batman who rushes to start a psychological assessment? Truly a rare occurrence, thought Shiller. So, he coughed twice, Batman at the door turned around and left, closing the door behind him, his figure disappeared outside.

"If you have a lot of experience dealing with psychological checks, then I won't beat around the bush with you." Shiller pulled out a sheet from under several pieces of paper. It was the most straightforward process that he had prepared. He came straight to the point and said, "How do you view the disaster that occurred to your parents?"

"Here we go again." Beihan pursed his lips and said, "Every psychologist is worried that I will lose control because of this. Or rather, everyone is worried about this."

"Yes, because from a professional perspective, this is the most likely factor to cause you to lose control. But don't feel pressured, I don't have a bunch of parrot-like shareholders behind me."

Shiller smiled, and Beihan was also amused by him. After pondering for a while, he said, "Maybe that's exactly why I can speak freely. The only goal of those people gazing at my scar is to find my weakness, but you won't, right?"

"I'm looking for the source of your strength."

"Then you will find it, just not sure whether you'll be satisfied with it," Beihan responded.

"I don't know if you understand my point, Doctor." Beihan placed his hands on the table, tilting his head, his gaze lingering on a blank spot on the table as he spoke.

"When you survive a catastrophe you absolutely could not handle, you become another version of yourself, one that could endure such catastrophe."

"Or perhaps you still couldn't, but you survived, and that catastrophe becomes a part of the past, affecting you only through memories. If you are not affected by it, it has no power of retaliation."

Beihan turned his head to look at Shiller and said, "If I could not endure a catastrophe, then I become a new version of myself who could; if I am affected by the memories of the catastrophe, then I would become a 'me' who would not be."

"All the versions of me that I abandoned, those who could not endure catastrophe and were affected by its memories, are not worthy of being me. Only the 'me' that remains here and now is worth being me."

Shiller silently watched Beihan, feeling a profound shock when their gazes met.

He suddenly understood why the Joker, portrayed by Heath Ledger, seemed so vividly alive and deeply vital. It's because his Batman, this Batman, is indeed the Dark Knight who has truly freed himself from the past, so arrogant and so powerful.

He has completely freed himself from his past, not just overcome his shadowy memories. He discarded them, along with the version of himself who wanted to wrestle with them.

This can't be said to be a drastic decision to cut losses, but rather a miraculous evolution of life.

"But that doesn't mean I do not care anymore," said Beihan, shaking his head. "I am able to objectively realize that this is a human tragedy. I am conscious of the immense harm such a crime has brought to my parents and me, so I am still enraged, at the murderer of my parents and all criminals."

"That catastrophe is no longer your weakness," Shiller looked at Beihan and said, "because you have discarded it and the hesitating 'you' that came along with it."

Beihan nodded.

Shiller heaved a long sigh.

"I feel it's necessary to let you know how astounding this is." Shiller placed his hands on the table, looking at Beihan earnestly, "You have achieved what the majority of Batmen in the cosmos couldn't."

"How is he doing?" Beihan was asking about Batman from Prime Universe.

"He has always been stumbling along with that catastrophe and his never-grown-up self, until he entirely integrated them into his being, making them part of his personality, and used it as motivation to immerse himself in darkness."

Beihan seemed shocked too, and he asked, "Why?"

"Maybe he didn't want to give up on any child."

"Click!"

All the lights in the room went off all at once. Shiller and Beihan lifted their heads at the same time, looking at the ceiling lamp that was turned off.

The chandelier in the room had fallen to the ground due to Shiller's previous destruction and had not been re-installed yet. The ceiling lights were maintaining the brightness of the room, but now they had all turned off simultaneously.

Suddenly, both Shiller and Beihan simultaneously turned their heads toward the door as a shadow swiftly flashed past the doorway.

Beihan instantly rose, pushing his chair back as he said, "Who's there?!"

Shiller also stood up, but just stood quietly in his place. He then tapped lightly on the table and said to Beihan, "Look at the window."

Beihan abruptly turned his head to look at the window behind him and caught another fleeting shadow, lingering a bit longer this time, evidently in a human shape.

"What did you just say? If you can't bear something, you become a 'you' who can."

Beihan turned back to look at Shiller, hearing him say.

"Then you better quickly become a 'you' who can withstand supernatural events."

"What?"

"Unless something unexpected happens, this hospital is haunted."