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墨書 Inktalez
"Alright, let's put this matter to rest for now. You all stop your research and don't report today's events."
The Middle-Aged Science Student nodded slightly and said, "We understand. We'll treat them as missing persons. If they can't be found, we will classify them as missing and once they reach the legal age, they will be declared dead due to disappearance. This way, it will be the best explanation for their families."
The officer nodded in agreement, offering a reassuring smile. "Yes, you are absolutely right. I'll leave it to you."
"Yes, I will take care of everything," the Middle-Aged Science Student replied.
"Also, what about the Survivor we rescued? How is he doing?" The officer pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling somewhat fatigued as he turned to the nearby Science Student.
The Middle-Aged Science Student shook his head slightly, expressing regret. "I've heard rumors that he is already receiving treatment. His severe injuries have healed, but that's not the main issue. The real problem lies in the psychological trauma he has suffered; he is experiencing depression and violent tendencies. Currently, he is restrained with a Straightjacket. Although he sometimes cries and sometimes laughs, those are just unstable emotions. Psychologically, he has been deeply affected, which may lead to severe Schizophrenia in the future. These two behaviors represent weakness and blind optimism—two extremes."
"The Psychiatrist was also quite surprised by this. I find it strange too; what kind of shock could turn a hunter into someone with Schizophrenia? I don't see this as a good sign. It indicates that the monster is terrifying and must be eliminated."
"Indeed, but to proceed with that process requires a unanimous vote from the twelve Meritorious Elders representing Noah's highest authority. We must yield to the majority, and everyone's opinions differ; it's not something you or I can decide. However, we can create pressure through public opinion; that's not an issue. If we don't eliminate that monster, our territory could become its future habitat. There's no turning back now; even if we have to abandon this newly acquired area, it doesn't matter." The officer sighed heavily.
"If time allows, I would prefer to speak directly with those Meritorious Elders. But for now, I should make some time for it," the officer continued. "By the way, can I go see that Survivor now?"
"Of course you can! I just need to check with the doctor first; it's nothing complicated. However, we can't have close contact with him. We can observe him through a transparent Glass Wall," the Middle-Aged Science Student quickly explained.
"What kind of talk is that?" The officer expressed some anger. "Our warriors are fighting bravely on the front lines while we can't even approach him closely? We are responsible for what happened to him! It's a miracle he's still alive; if he recovers his senses soon, all the information he has about that creature will be a significant advantage for us in our strategic thinking. Let's go; I'm heading there now."
"But that's still too risky! No one wants to take responsibility for what happens to you after this encounter; it shouldn't just be your decision alone; you need to discuss it with others," the Middle-Aged Science Student insisted again.
"Enough already! It's just a visit! I believe he won't really do anything to me. And if something does happen, I won't hold back; I understand these matters," the officer chuckled awkwardly and quickly responded.
"That's acceptable," the Middle-Aged Science Student nodded.
After stepping outside, the two of them arrived at the basement.
They had cleared out all the facilities in this area to confine a group of emotionally unstable individuals.
These people could only be released after undergoing thorough counseling from psychologists. The main reason for their condition was excessive stress, accumulated fatigue leading to conflicting emotions, and a lack of sufficient sleep and rest. Some chose to go on strike, while others resorted to self-harm to escape the current Construction Plan.
This construction project was different from previous ones; they faced numerous deaths, which led everyone to develop a new perspective on life. They believed that only by staying alive could they hold onto their ideals.
Those who had previously given up on themselves, thinking that death would solve everything, had witnessed many lives deteriorate from being perfectly fine to disappearing in mere moments. The pressure they felt became palpable.
Life had once been precious, and perhaps because of this newfound understanding, they simply wanted to live. Consequently, a group of psychologists was brought in to help those workers who were struggling or had developed conflicting emotions.
Even workers exhibiting aggressive behavior were sent for treatment and could only return to work with the psychologist's approval.
On the third underground floor were the rooms for severely confined patients.
Most of the patients here had developed manic tendencies, prone to smashing things. As they ventured deeper, they encountered other patients until they reached the final door, which was opened by several doctors together. They did not observe through transparent glass, as that would seem impolite; if the patient happened to be aware at that moment, they would feel as though they were being watched.
For this reason, the officer was willing to come down to the basement to assess the situation firsthand.
He aimed for a closer understanding of the circumstances, but upon arrival, he found it exceeded his expectations.
Although the patient's facial features and body had been repaired and restored to their best condition, visible scars from surgical incisions remained on their body.
This was already considered the greatest Ultimate; no doctor could achieve a scar-free result.
However, it was evident that those with strong bodies generally recovered faster. Although his physical condition had nearly returned to normal, his spirit showed little improvement. Bound in a Straightjacket, only two pairs of desperate eyes could turn their heads to observe the surroundings.
Indeed, those pupils held no feelings, just an incredibly hopeless gaze that sent chills down one's spine.
There was not a glimmer of hope; even though eyes are said to be windows to the human soul, revealing emotions even in depressed patients, this pair seemed filled with thoughts of utter despair, exuding a grayish negative energy.
Coupled with his overall appearance—his beard, teeth, and disheveled hair—he looked like a helpless wreck who had spent decades in prison.
"What’s going on? It seems so quiet. Why is he still in a Straightjacket?" The officer had thought through this before arriving. Even if the situation was worse than expected, he could anticipate it. Yet seeing the person before him instinctively stirred strong feelings of dissatisfaction and frustration; it was indeed a troublesome matter.
"Quiet is just a surface phenomenon. His current state is very unstable. The Straightjacket provides him safety and gives us doctors a sense of security. Sometimes, even the Straightjacket cannot fully restrain him," the doctor beside him shook his head and awkwardly replied.
"How so?"
In response to the officer's questioning, the doctor hurriedly pulled back his collar, revealing a purple finger mark on his neck. He immediately continued, "His emotions are very unstable. Don’t be fooled by his current calmness; that’s just the initial phase. If we compare this to his previous state unaffected by fear, then his violent state would be a reasonable reaction when he is Confronting fear. In that state, the Straightjacket becomes ineffective; he could even break free from it. Our staff doesn’t dare to enter directly to give him an injection to stabilize his emotions. I got this mark during my first attempt to inject him; he caught me in the chaos. My head nearly got crushed! Fortunately, I had several strong soldiers with me for protection who managed to pull him away, but one soldier still ended up with two broken ribs. Later, we found a pattern in his outbursts and installed Hypnotic Gas in the room beforehand. The doors and windows were replaced with Nanomaterials, which allowed us to keep him contained within this room."
"Is that so? I had no idea so much was happening; you’ve really worked hard," the officer sighed after hearing the doctor’s account and quickly added, "By the way, does he have two personalities? When does that violent side show itself? Haven't you found out his patterns?"
"Yes, after calculations, it occurs between two in the morning and five in the morning when he becomes extremely agitated. We have to change his bed regularly; sometimes we don’t even need to provide him with one—just restrain him with ropes. But keep in mind that even with nanomaterial walls and metal doors, they may not truly contain this person. There are often various fist marks on the walls; I estimate that if that state persists for much longer, he would have the capability to break out of the room," the doctor continued.
"Is there any way to communicate with him? Or have you tried without any clues?" The officer stepped closer and glanced at those eyes. Unconsciously, it seemed those eyes moved slightly as if pondering something while staring at him for quite some time. After observing for a while without any further reaction, he quickly turned back to respond to the doctor beside him.
"We have attempted similar hypnotic guidance, but it's quite challenging. This person's Thinking Logic is unlike anything I've ever seen; he can even break free from hypnosis and question our set answers. At that time, we didn’t realize he had violent tendencies and didn’t respond positively to him, which only aggravated him further—he literally tore apart the table right then," the doctor recalled with a hand on his forehead, feeling overwhelmed by those initial memories.
"Is that so? What other solutions are there?" The officer felt a stir of emotions upon hearing this.
He was at a loss for what to do, only able to imagine what more he could do for him. Even if it meant paying any price to heal him, money was just a string of numbers, powerless in the face of life.
It could neither buy time nor ensure a safe life.
For this reason, many people were still willing to spend vast amounts of energy and time competing to possess it, driven by their so-called greed and the intricate struggles for power and profit.
It was only when they saw someone on the brink of death in a hospital bed that they understood the true meaning of life.
Money could truly only be considered a consumable, available in abundance or scarcity, depending on the physical strength, mental capacity, and energy exchanged by humans.
"There is one option: the Pons interruption resection surgery. This could completely isolate his two types of thinking," a doctor said as he instructed a nearby nurse to bring over an information sheet filled with medical terms, along with brief descriptions of potential consequences and symptoms.
The officer took the sheet and examined it closely. After some contemplation, he said, "I understand now. The cost of this surgery would result in a singular state of thinking for this person. So, would he only be able to either remain silent or exhibit manic behavior? This soldier has already done enough. If he could live comfortably as an ordinary person in his next life, that would be the best outcome. It would completely isolate his manic side. Can modern medicine achieve this?"
"I'm not sure," the doctor shook her head, sensing skepticism from those around her. She quickly added, "I'm a psychologist, not a psychiatrist. The Pons interruption surgery is the specialty of neurosurgeons and neurologists. I haven't experienced that myself, but as long as we meet the necessary conditions and sign off on it, the best Pons doctors and neurologists will come to assist. However, they require an exorbitant fee, which is why we've kept this plan under wraps. I really don't know what else to say; if there are no other options, this plan will soon be presented on your desk."
The officer carefully flipped through the document and selected several key issues for detailed reading. His reading speed was swift; after about ten minutes, he looked up and said, "There are no issues here. This surgery is meant to help those with severe schizophrenia by eliminating their delusions. However, our soldier is merely suffering from fear and has developed anxiety and manic traits. While they may appear similar, it seems more akin to severe depression. I believe the risks associated with this surgery are even greater; he might still experience nightmares reflecting those terrifying past events. Wouldn't that just torment him further? I need the safest and most effective medical method available or simply to purge all toxins from his body so he can return to normal."
"Well, theoretically I have no authority on this matter," she replied hesitantly. "In such circumstances, it's really difficult to provide him with any significant help because he has already suffered a major psychological blow. I'm afraid that adding more pressure might lead him to develop even worse traits; although these side effects manifest only in dreams, at that point a psychologist's role can help alleviate those symptoms. We can monitor his sleep patterns; if we ensure he lives comfortably, those troubling matters should fade away."
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