Chapter 4573: Day of White (39)

Actually, Deathstroke is very interested in psychology. But what he is interested in is applied psychology. To be precise, it is how to use psychology to gain an advantage, not those long-winded theories. What's more, Schiller's theory doesn't sound very reliable either; it feels like he made it up himself.

But miraculously, he could listen to Schiller talk about this kind of long-winded theory for the whole way, and he could actually listen to it. Don't look at his brain development; it's not that every piece of knowledge needs to be stuffed into his brain. And precisely because his control over his brain is stronger than ordinary people, he can block out a lot of junk information. Logically speaking, Schiller's nonsense should be among those blocked, but he could actually remember it.

"He said he awakened his superpowers at the age of 7." Deathstroke sighed, sat in the driver's seat, and then said: "He should also have some mind-reading abilities, right?"

"Yes, he has," Schiller said, "To perform mind control, one must build a bridge between spiritual realms. Once built, it is inevitable to see some of the other party's memories."

"Oh my god!" Deathstroke said, "I dare not think about what he saw. Those scenes of me killing people are just too... for a 7-year-old child."

"Do you think he cares more about this?"

Deathstroke turned to look at Schiller in the passenger seat.

"When you find out that he is not as weak as you imagined, will you care about how that plane landed first?"

Deathstroke didn't react to what kind of analogy this was at first. But he soon realized that to make the plane land first, of course, it couldn't be done just by persuasion. Joseph must have used his superpowers to do something.

Whether from a moral or legal level, it must contain some evil means. Threats, intimidation, manipulation, these mental injuries may not be lighter than physical injuries. Although he was just for self-preservation, it cannot be treated as if it hadn't been done.

Then what about before? Did he often do this in school? Did it start in middle school? Or elementary school? Isn't it evil to impose mental control on children?

Although Deathstroke is not a good person, he has common sense. In the public's moral judgment, imposing mental control on people is sometimes more immoral than killing that person. Especially, forced control is almost equivalent to killing the other party's soul, and it is no different from a killer.

However, when Deathstroke learned that Joseph had such abilities, what he thought of was not whether he was evil, or how many people he killed or how many bad things he did. The only thing that made him feel angry was that Joseph clearly awakened his superpowers but didn't tell him.

So conversely, what Joseph should be angry about is that Deathstroke was clearly a mercenary but didn't tell him. For people like them, deception is more annoying than evil.

"No," Deathstroke said again, "I remember. One night that year, he was just 7 years old, it seems it was two months after his birthday. One night, he was yelling in the room and looked very scared. I wanted to tell him a story, and he kicked me out. He must have discovered it at that time."

"Is there anything wrong?"

"He was very scared," Deathstroke emphasized, "He must have seen the bloody things in my memory to be scared. If he wasn't afraid at all, he wouldn't have that performance."

"I didn't say he wasn't afraid at all. However, compared to those bloody scenes, I am more inclined to think that he was afraid of the strange you."

Deathstroke exhaled lightly, his shoulders slumped, seemingly feeling a little sad. "He is afraid of the real me. He must want a normal good father, at least the kind whose profession can be taken out."

"Have you heard of Stockholm syndrome?"

"Heard of it," Deathstroke said, "Hostages falling in love with kidnappers or something, it sounds ridiculous. Who would fall in love with someone who wanted their life?"

Schiller shook his head and said: "This is a public misconception. The key point of Stockholm syndrome is not that the hostage falls in love with the kidnapper, but that: the generation of emotion is not based on justice and evil, but on consistency."

"What do you mean?"

"Either normal or pathological, there is no middle option."

Deathstroke appeared even more puzzled. He really didn't want to look like an idiot, but what Schiller said really didn't make much sense, and he couldn't think of more.

Fortunately, Schiller soon opened his mouth and said: "You can love others like a normal person, protect him, support him, and treat him well consistently. You can also love others like a madman, control him, manipulate him, and make him have nowhere to escape. But you can't choose the middle option."

"You can't be like a normal person on one hand, swearing to treat him well, to protect him, and then be like a madman on the other, using violence to control him. Or vice versa, clearly a perpetrator who uses violence to control others, but insists on being good to the hostage every few days."

"Wait a minute," Deathstroke said, "I can understand the first one. In the community we moved to later, there was a drunkard who always beat his wife. When he was sober, he swore to God that he would never drink again and would definitely treat her well. After getting drunk, it was the same. I heard they were childhood sweethearts. It didn't take long before they divorced."

"But if it's the latter, it sounds like a means of manipulation. Using violence to make people submit on one hand, and giving people a little sweetness on the other. Isn't this right?"

"That depends on how you give it," Schiller said, "You can't be soft-hearted, you must always occupy the position of the controller. Otherwise, it's the hostage manipulating you."

Deathstroke was thoughtful, and Schiller continued: "The main contradiction between you and Joseph lies in your self-tugging. You have to figure out who you are first, and then you can deal with your relationship with others."

It was very late. The night wind in Egypt is always more primitive and desolate than elsewhere. Driving along the coastal highway, Deathstroke could smell the scent of sand and seawater in the wind. The scenery in front of him gradually became clear.

If Joseph could see through him, he would definitely understand that Deathstroke was just playing a good father. And under the skin of the role, his real self was not stable. Because of this, Joseph couldn't expose him.

It's like, if a scarecrow relies on the layer of clothes on the outside to support it standing, then you can't move its outer skin. Because it doesn't have that pole, and if you remove the outer skin, there is nothing to support it.

For a long time, playing a good father supported Deathstroke's life. He worked as a mercenary outside, just like hunting outside, in order to earn more money, so that one day, he could take enough pension and enjoy his old age with his family.

Thinking about it carefully, this goal was unnecessary for Deathstroke, because he was immortal. There was no need to retire, let alone provide for the aged. He set this goal for himself just because a good father should do so.

Not to mention when he was at home with his family. He would do most of the work that traditional family husbands and fathers would do, repairing and maintaining cars, mowing the lawn, and other physical work. Accompanying his children, taking him to exercise, holding family gatherings, and helping others in the family socialize. These were his whole life.

If he was exposed, at least the part about parent-child companionship and education couldn't be carried out smoothly. From what position should a bloodthirsty killer stand to cultivate his children?

Unless he could be like Ra's al Ghul, the boss of the League of Assassins, whose goal is to cultivate his children into the world's top killers. Otherwise, there is no way to deal with the relationship with children. After all, you can't be a killer who kills for money on one hand, and teach your children to abide by the law, follow morality, and be a normal person who strives and contributes to society on the other. This is untenable.

So Joseph chose not to expose him, and just lived like this. Deathstroke played his role on his own, and he cooperated somewhat perfunctorily. Anyway, he fooled it over.

Thinking of this, Deathstroke said somewhat awkwardly: "Actually, since Joseph went to high school, I have been considering having another child."

"Not strange," Schiller said, "After Joseph went to high school, your responsibility as his father for companionship and education dropped significantly. But you don't want to miss this piece. Having another one is the best choice."

"Better not," Deathstroke said, "I thought about it carefully and felt that I still couldn't do this."

"Why?" Schiller asked.

"Look, Joseph happens to be able to read minds, so he knew, accepted it, and didn't expose it. But other children might not have this ability. I teach them in this way, let them grow into a good person useful to society, or even a hero. Then one day if they find out what I'm doing, wouldn't they turn against me?"

"Then why don't you think Joseph will turn against you?"

Deathstroke said somewhat embarrassedly: "Because I think he is too weak. Even if he is a kind and righteous person, he can't do anything to me. I know this sounds a bit cold—he is not qualified to be my opponent at all. Naturally, I wouldn't care whether he is kind or evil."

"But now you have to care."

"Yes, but fortunately. That plane landed first. Thank God." Deathstroke even made a sign of the cross on his chest.

"Then don't you consider telling them directly?"

"And then? Cultivate them into a killer? Although I am not a good person, I haven't been that bad," Deathstroke shook his head and said, "And although they have a probability of awakening superpowers, in this line of work, force value is really not the most important thing. Without that talent, they won't live for two years. I can't let them go to die, right?"

"Really rare," Schiller looked at him and said, "You haven't made a big mistake yet, but the ones in other universes might not be."

Deathstroke frowned, Schiller said: "Some of you in other universes have three children. Guess what? —They are all your enemies."

Deathstroke covered his eyes. "Joseph? Is Joseph also one?"

"Of course. He was even throat-slit."

Deathstroke's hand paused suddenly.

"What about the others?"

"Grant was killed."

Deathstroke gripped the steering wheel tightly.

"Your daughter also broke with you."

Deathstroke slowly released the accelerator.

"You even sent your other child to be raised by Robin."

Deathstroke clenched his fists.

"You tried to resurrect your son, but failed—" Schiller laughed and dragged a long tone, "But you successfully killed the father you resurrected."

On the pitch-black coastal highway, a car slowly stopped. A strong figure climbed out of the driver's seat, pulled out a greatsword and swung it hard, roaring: "You damn orca! If you can't give me an explanation, I'll make you roll back into your ocean mother's arms right now!!!"