Chapter 423: The Mystery of Metropolis (Part 7) (Patreon)

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"Ah, yes, I saw that in your latest paper. You devoted a whole chapter to exploring this issue, but it seems to me that your focus is more on philosophy and ethics," said Lionel, clasping his hands together and smiling.

"For someone like me, who is not well-versed in these subjects, it's a bit difficult to understand. You know, us businessmen with limited education prefer more practical issues," he continued.

Lionel looked a bit hesitant, as if he wanted to ask a question but didn't dare. Schiller understood and said, "Don't worry, Lionel. I'm here to answer your questions and clear up any confusion you may have."

Lionel put his hands under the desk and chuckled twice, then said, "You're really approachable. Much more so than many experts I've met."

At that moment, a waiter walked in. Schiller turned his head to look at him, and Lionel explained, "Sorry, I called him over."

The waiter brought two glasses and a bottle of wine from a cart behind him. Lionel explained, "Originally, I was planning to share this classic vintage with Mayor, but who knew..."

"But it doesn't matter. Schiller, may I call you that? It's an honor to drink with a scholar like you," Lionel said, his smile deepening as he poured the wine.

The beautiful color of the wine looked like a gem frozen in the glass. Seeing Schiller skillfully pick up the glass, Lionel's smile grew even wider.

He then took out a box of cigars from his bag and had the waiter cut them and light one for Schiller. Schiller took a puff and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, relaxing back into his chair. Lionel, on the other hand, leaned forward and chatted with Schiller about some common knowledge questions related to psychology.

As the conversation became more and more heated, the topic returned to the previous question. Lionel asked, "I've said it before, I have no intention of questioning your academic level, but putting one person's personality into another person's body... it sounds like a fantasy."

"Putting aside the philosophy and ethics that give me a headache, I'm just curious about a question that any ordinary person would ask. How is it done?"

"Lionel, I know you're curious about this, but I also have a question for you," Schiller said, glancing at the burning end of his cigar. "I heard that you built the vast Luthor business empire from scratch. How did you do it?"

Lionel's mouth opened slightly, and he didn't know how to answer the question. He didn't know if Schiller would answer his question with the same attitude if he used the same perfunctory and polite words.

"This is a question that outsiders have when they look at insiders. When someone achieves great success in a certain field, many people who don't understand that field like to ask a question: 'How did you do it?'" Schiller continued.

"They urgently want a specific and implementable method from your mouth, but in fact, only insiders understand that there is no standard answer to this question. In most cases, even if you answer seriously, you can only give a perfunctory answer."

"For example, through hard work, a little inspiration, and a little luck. That's what you just wanted to answer me, right, Lionel?" Schiller said, smiling.

Lionel's expression stiffened for a moment, but soon his face was full of smiles again. "Indeed, many people want to know the secret of my success, but where is the secret? Everyone in the world knows how business is done, but there are only a few people who can truly become billionaires."

"Of course, I understand that outsiders see psychology as very mysterious. They always think that we can read minds and know what they're thinking just by looking at them. But that's not the case," Lionel said.

"This is also a subject that requires a lot of theoretical knowledge to learn, and then constantly absorb experience and lessons in practice, and obtain achievements through systematic and scientific training."

"As for the question you raised earlier, whether it is possible to put one person's personality into another person's body, I can say with certainty that it can be done. But if you really want to know the principle, you may have to start from scratch."

Lionel's smile did not diminish, and he said, "Look at me, I'm so engrossed in talking to you that I almost forgot about today's business, Lex's situation..."

"Psychological treatment is a long process. I can't turn him into a socially adept normal person overnight. As for how to treat him, I need to do a basic examination first."

"Lionel, to be honest with you, I can tell that you're eager to see results," Schiller said, taking another puff of his cigar. As he spoke, the smoke gradually filled the air.

"Just like everything else in this world, as long as you're willing to pay the price, there's always a faster way," said Lionel, understanding Schiller's message. He raised his glass and lightly clinked it with Schiller's, saying, "This is the best news I've heard in years."

After a while, Scarlet Witch's young Lex was brought back to the reception room and sat across from Schiller. Lionel, who was standing beside him, asked, "Uh... should I go out first?"

"No, it's not necessary," replied Schiller, surprising Lionel. He hesitated for a moment before explaining, "I thought outsiders need to avoid this."

"This is just a simple check, not a formal treatment, so you can wait here," Schiller said.

Schiller sat across from Lex and conducted a preliminary examination, which was a simple process of asking basic questions such as name, height, weight, age, as well as simple addition and subtraction and describing shapes.

Lionel sat beside them and watched as Lex answered Schiller's questions in a stiff manner, without asking why or making any unnecessary movements. Schiller asked, and Lex answered.

"It's a bit strange..." Schiller looked at the paper used to record the results and then looked up at Lionel, asking, "Are you sure the previous diagnosis was autism?"

Lionel's smile faded a bit, and he seemed hesitant. He turned his head to look at Lex several times before saying, "Yes, that's what the doctors told me before..."

Schiller frowned and fell silent, and the atmosphere in the room became tense. However, after a few seconds, Schiller muttered to himself, "It's probably atypical autism."

"What's going on, Professor? Did the previous doctors misdiagnose him?" Lionel interrupted Schiller's train of thought and asked.

"No, not exactly," Schiller said, drawing and writing on the paper. "I don't know if the previous doctors explained it to you, but autism spectrum disorder is divided into many different categories. The most common type is communication disorder autism, which is usually typical autism."

"But there are also atypical autism cases, and the symptoms of these patients vary widely. It seems that your son's situation is a bit complicated..."

"Sorry, Professor," Lionel interrupted Schiller again. He looked at Lex and said, "Is he autistic? Or could it be..."

Schiller looked at him strangely and asked with some doubt, "Lionel, you seem a bit..."

At this point, Lionel realized that he had lost his composure. He was about to adjust his expression when Schiller suddenly said in a tone of sudden realization, "Oh, I see..."

Lionel's fingertips trembled slightly, and Lex's numb expression also showed some subtle changes. At this moment, Schiller suddenly said, "I've seen many parents like this who think their children are not sick. They distrust doctors, teachers, and even their own relatives."

"They think the diagnosis is nonsense, and in their eyes, their children are no different from others."

Schiller walked over and patted Lionel's shoulder, saying, "I can understand this feeling. No father wants their child to be sick."

"But Lionel, avoiding the problem is not the solution. My diagnosis may be slightly different from the previous doctors, but there is no doubt that your son Lex Luthor is mentally different from the average person."

"So far, the most likely diagnosis is still autism spectrum disorder, but a more detailed diagnosis is needed to determine the specific classification."

At that moment, Lionel's stiff expression softened a bit. He sighed, wiped his eyes with his finger, and then made a sad expression, saying, "Indeed, I also hope that Lex can be like normal children, even if he's a playboy like little Wayne."

Schiller noticed a subtle change in Lex's numb expression when he heard the name Wayne. Converging his gaze, Schiller nodded at Lionel and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Luthor. Everything will be okay. Your son will recover and return to normal. I guarantee it."

Lionel hesitated and asked, "Can you really..."

"Do you remember what I said before? I can even put one person's personality into another person's body. Autism does require long-term treatment, but..." Schiller smiled and looked into Lionel's eyes. "As I said before, there's always a faster way, isn't there?"

Schiller saw a hint of malice in Lionel's eyes, but it quickly disappeared behind his smile.

At that moment, a series of noises suddenly came from the corridor, as if someone was rushing over in a hurry. Schiller and Lionel turned their heads at the same time, but Lex remained numb and sat still.

With a bang, a waiter pushed open the door. Lionel frowned and asked, "What's going on? What do you want?"

"Mr. Luthor! You better come down quickly! Officer Benjamin is asking for you!" the waiter said urgently.

"What's going on? Why are you so flustered?" Lionel was a bit annoyed and scolded the waiter with a frown.

"Someone died!... Someone else died!" the waiter said.

Schiller also frowned, and Lionel took a step forward and asked, "Who died?"

"I... I don't know, but I heard it was a farmer's market distributor named... named..." The waiter stuttered and couldn't explain clearly. Lionel waved his hand impatiently and said, "Take Lex back to the room. We'll go down and take a look."

As they walked forward together, Lionel said, "A farmer's market distributor? It could be Old Parker. He's the largest distributor on the East Coast, so he was invited to this banquet..." frowning deep and said, "Damn it, Mayor White's death hasn't been solved yet, and now there's another murder? Is there a curse on this damn Manor?"

After Schiller and Lionel arrived downstairs, they saw a corpse lying in the center of the banquet hall. Lionel walked up and talked to Benjamin, while Schiller stood at the staircase without any intention of going forward.

Benjamin glanced at Schiller and soon walked over to him, looking into Schiller's eyes and saying, "I heard that you have been involved in many famous murder investigations."

"Correct. Are you planning to hire me?" Schiller asked.

Benjamin's eyebrows furrowed deeply, but before he could answer, Schiller turned around and said, "But I'm not planning to accept. I want to go back to sleep."

"Wait!" Benjamin stopped Schiller, who was about to go up the staircase. "Two murders have occurred in a short period of time, which may be related to the previous serial murders in Metropolis. Don't you often participate in these cases?"

Schiller paused on the staircase and then turned around to look at Benjamin. "You misunderstand. I only participate in university defenses, not kindergarten performances."

Benjamin stared at Schiller, who turned around again and walked up the staircase, holding onto the armrest and leaving with one last sentence, "If the serial killer in Metropolis is only at this level, I suggest postponing my defense."

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Next Chapter>>Chapter 424: Metropolis Doubt (8)