As a Gothamite with philosophical thoughts and an artistic appreciation, Victor finally understood why Shiller insisted on taking him to enjoy the spectacle. That employee, akin to a minor functionary in the Brainiac Government, really handled this matter quite terribly. Even though Hugo was such a bad person, Victor still couldn't help but feel that Shiller was being a bit too extreme.
The first intended victim of the resume killer, Jerryta, was actually not dead. Faking his death seemed difficult, but in reality, since Jerryta might already be a living corpse, his physical condition was different from ordinary people, so it wasn't completely impossible to fake.
In short, the resume killer didn't kill him but left him alive, with the purpose of using him to disgust Hugo Strange.
The logic of the plan went like this: Jerryta expressed love for Hugo and became his fervent follower. But as a master of psychology, Hugo could obviously understand where Jerryta's affection originated from.
It might have been interfered with by Shiller, or maybe it was just the way he was. In any case, Jerryta's affection stemmed from lust, and his lust was perverted. He didn't like the living; he only liked the dead.
In other words, while Hugo was alive, Jerryta didn't like him at all. Only after his death would Jerryta fall in love with him. What Jerryta liked wasn't Hugo's excellent manipulation skills, his talent in psychology, or any other virtues, but merely his death, precisely his death.
And who caused his death?
It was Shiller.
If, while alive, no one had ever expressed affection toward him, and he didn't have any fervent followers, then throughout it all, the only trait in Hugo that attracted a fervent follower was actually given to him by Shiller.
Victor put himself in Hugo's shoes and genuinely felt like vomiting. And indeed, Hugo didn't disappoint. Surrounded by countless madmen who might want to kill him, or possibly even a sniper, he still broke through all obstacles and smashed the glass with a punch, sticking his head out to vomit profusely.
"You're really something when it comes to disgusting people." Victor's features scrunched up as if he'd been punched.
"It's not just that," Shiller said, "he's always wanted to duel me because he felt the last confrontation wasn't fair. He doesn't admit he lost, so naturally, he won't acknowledge the death that came from failure. He absolutely loathes this death."
"It's obvious, in the illusion you described, he always wins. He clearly doesn't want to admit that failure." Victor shook his head.
And this was just the beginning of the sensational spectacle. As Hugo leaned against the window vomiting, Jerryta suddenly pounced. Fortunately, he made quite a commotion, and Hugo awkwardly flipped aside to dodge. Hugo cursed loudly, but Jerryta didn't listen at all. He madly lunged at Hugo, who fled in a panic.
The two of them, one chasing and one running, circled the entire room for at least a dozen laps, peppered with Jerryta's declarations of love and Hugo's roars. One of the Shillers stood inside watching, while the other stood outside enjoying the spectacle. The one outside was fine, but the one inside not only didn't help but even tripped Hugo. Hugo fell with a "bang" in a face-plant.
Victor couldn't bear to watch any longer. He put down the binoculars to avoid seeing anything that might give him nightmares. Yet Shiller was still watching with great interest. Victor was really just about at his limit.
"Shiller, if you keep watching, I'll never visit your High Tower for the rest of my life," Victor said, "This scene will definitely pollute your memory bank, and don't even think about me setting foot in your spirit domain again."
"Don't worry, nothing will happen," Shiller said, "Do you think I staged this just to make him feel a little disgusted?"
"This is more than just a little disgusting!"
Shiller shook his head, saying, "You're underestimating me. I'm not that twisted, nor do I want to pollute my own eyes."
"...So what do you intend to do?"
"Do you think Hugo will just sit around and do nothing?"
"Of course he can't," Victor said, "If he sits idly by, not only us but the entire Brainiac Government would be shocked!"
"Indeed, he has to find a way to deal with Jerryta."
"Isn't he supposed to be good at spirit manipulation? And what's with that illusion device? He should hurry up and use them!" Victor was more anxious than anyone, just thinking about what might happen next made him want to rush in and shoot the two of them.
"The illusion device has already been used," Shiller said, "He doesn't have many of those things; otherwise, he'd use them all on me, wouldn't he?"
"Then use spirit manipulation," Victor said, "Isn't that his specialty? He should use it!"
"That's where you're mistaken," Shiller chuckled, "Psychoanalysis doesn't have specific conditions for use. Basically, as long as I see you, or even hear about your deeds, I can employ it, though it's a matter of accuracy. Even if I'm currently facing some sort of crisis, it doesn't prevent me from using it. But spirit manipulation is different."
"Firstly, it requires a relatively safe environment, because one must enter another's spirit domain. If the external environment isn't safe, performing this skill in a hazardous environment is very likely to damage one's own spirit."
"Moreover, at least for me, the most troublesome part of spirit manipulation isn't the preparedness of the target for manipulation, because it can be overcome through conversation. If that doesn't work, there's always the option of using some drugs. The hardest part is if the target is too agitated. Simply put, the reason you need to sedate a patient during a mental health episode is because, at that moment, psychologists are unable to manipulate them, no matter how skilled. This is precisely because, during this time, the target's mental state is utterly chaotic and random. Entering their spirit domain is like jumping into a meat grinder."
"So that's how it is," Victor suddenly realized, "Jerryta is too excited right now, so Hugo can't use spirit manipulation on him."
"Exactly. Jerryta is having an episode. The pressing matter is to calm him down. It can be done through physical means or chemical means. Hugo is probably not prepared for chemical means, so he can only knock him out physically."
"That's not very realistic," Victor said, "Although Hugo is relatively strong for a scientist, Jerryta does physical work for a living. Hugo probably can't beat him, let alone knock him out."
"That's the key," Shiller snapped his fingers lightly, "Ordinary strength is not enough to subdue a berserk Jerryta. So for self-preservation, Hugo must use some not-so-ordinary strength."
"Not-so-ordinary strength?" Victor didn't react immediately, but soon he remembered, "The Power of Death?"
Shiller nodded and said, "This is the best opportunity to verify if he has broken free from the manipulation of the behind-the-scenes manipulator. If he really made any moves, he definitely wouldn't dare to use it, because if discovered, the second life he worked so hard to get would be taken back. His previous arrangements would all be in vain, and he wouldn't see the day I lose to him."
"My goodness!" Victor couldn't help but take out a telescope and look at the room. To be fair, Hugo's physical condition is indeed not bad, he hasn't been caught yet, but he's close. After pausing for a bit, Victor said, "Looks like he really doesn't dare to use it."
"Then he has one more option." Shiller smiled.
"What?"
"Call the police."
The flashing red and blue lights approached from afar, illuminating the originally deserted night sky of the North District. The police cars stopped at the entrance of the estate, and the police officers quickly rushed in, pinning Jerryta and Hugo on the ground.
Victor breathed a sigh of relief. But when he picked up the telescope again, that unknown little clerk had already disappeared. The police took Jerryta and Hugo together, stuffing them into the police car.
Victor and Shiller followed behind the police convoy. On the way to the police station, Victor asked, "Brainiac, is there any charge you can press against Hugo?"
"That depends on whether the victims are willing to come forward," Brainiac said, "As long as there are enough witnesses, the charges can be established. He'll appear in court, but without material evidence, it will be difficult to sentence him to death."
"So you don't plan on telling us there will be material evidence later?" Victor hinted.
"It's not necessary," Shiller said, "Producing material evidence for mind manipulation is already very difficult. Brainiac doesn't have this knowledge, and anything fabricated would be easily torn apart by Hugo. Even if I do it, I would have to conduct a thorough examination of the victims from back then, which is just too troublesome."
"So what do you intend to do then..."
"Wait. I had him brought to the police station to see if there's any flaw in his hypnosis of the little girl. Brainiac, have you already brought Noel over?"
"Yes. She's waiting in the room next to the interrogation room, able to see Hugo through a one-way glass."
Upon entering the police station, Shiller and Victor went to the chief's office to watch the surveillance. As Brainiac said, the little girl, Noel, was indeed in the room next to the interrogation room, observing Hugo from across the room through a one-way glass. When Hugo was brought in, Noel didn't react much; after a while, she looked confusedly at the nurse beside her.
"How is it?" Victor asked.
"It really isn't that simple. Hugo dared to lay out this plan because he's confident his hypnosis doesn't have flaws. Where exactly is the crucial loophole?" Shiller murmured to himself.
"What do you mean?" Victor instinctively asked, but quickly added, "Never mind, you don't need to explain, I won't understand anyway, and it'll interrupt your thoughts."
"There's no perfect hypnosis in this world," Shiller seemed to enter into a focused state again, saying, "Anyone's modification of another's memory can never be flawless. It's like you must leave a door open during house construction, or the workers wouldn't be able to get out themselves. Hypnosis masters would shrink the door to a window, or even just a tiny hole, and they'd find various ways to hide it so that the patient can't find it."
"Hugo knows the opponent he's facing is not the patient, but me. So he ensures this hole is hidden very deeply. But no matter how deep, it definitely exists. What could it be?"
"What aspect do you usually consider it from?" Victor asked.
Shiller shook his head and said, "Actually, there's no fixed pattern. It could be from the little girl's memory or from Hugo's. Just looking like this, there's no way to determine."
"Wait, you don't intend to enter the little girl's memory, do you?"
"It's the only way," Shiller turned to Victor and said, "The lesion is hidden so deeply that without performing an open biopsy, the result is unreachable."
"Absolutely not," Victor said, "I strongly oppose it. I must emphasize to you that this little girl could very likely be a living corpse, with the Death Force hidden inside her. Entering her spirit domain would be no different from walking into a trap!"