amaotonovel Chapter 4534 The Darkest Night (62)
Chapter 4534 The Darkest Night (62)
Chapter 4534 The Darkest Night (Sixty-Two)
Nora was also taken aback. While applying medicine to Billy's head, she said, "I'm not really sure, maybe it's an infection? Or a cavity?"
Schiller pulled Aisha over as well. She wasn't injured, just her hair was a bit messy. Schiller took her braids off, combed them back up, and said, "After Brainiac took over Earth, there's an unlimited supply of medicines. There won't be any shortage of anti-inflammatory drugs. If, as you say, the toothache has gotten to the point of making you very irritable, it must have been hurting for at least a few days. If you've been taking your medication on time, the inflammation should have subsided long ago."
"If it's not inflammation, but a cavity causing a problem with the dental nerve, then root canal treatment should have been arranged already. Brainiac wouldn't listen to a child's crying. He would treat cavities immediately; why wait until now?"
“That’s definitely not normal,” Brainiac said. “I checked his medical records from two days ago. The records show no signs of gingivitis or cavities. And their shopping records show that their diet is quite healthy, and the whole family doesn’t really like sweets.”
“The child wasn’t fat at all,” Nora said. “He looked quite healthy. After acting impulsively, he quickly realized his mistake and apologized to us. He seems to have a very good upbringing.”
"Families like that are even less likely to let their child's toothache affect their mood. Are they from the East District? Did you get their contact information?"
“Yes. They live in the Babylon Apartments,” Nora said. “I heard from others that when houses were built in the East District, they cost a lot more to buy there; it’s considered a wealthy area in the East District. I think their house even has a sea view.”
Victor sensed something was wrong. He quickly said, "Contact the parents. Tell them we were also at fault today and want to apologize in person. Ask when they're available."
Nora went to contact them. Victor and Schiller went downstairs to the store to buy some gifts. After all, they couldn't go empty-handed to apologize. While shopping, Victor said, "Do you think it might be..."
"It's possible. Children are more sensitive and more easily influenced by things. If they also have a mystical constitution, it's even more likely."
“Oh, my God.” Victor felt guilty again. “I thought the cliff was quite far from the East District, it wouldn’t…”
"Don't worry, if something serious happens, it won't just be a toothache. Brainiac, check for similar unusual cases in the East District recently. You know, the kind where hospital tests come back negative, but the person is still experiencing symptoms."
"We are currently investigating... There are indeed some similar cases. However, none of them are serious. Most of them involve toothache and headache. Some people have been diagnosed with psychogenic phantom pain and have shown significant improvement after seeking help from psychiatrists."
“That must be due to the influence of the curse of Shekkun,” Schiller said. “It seems we should deal with it as soon as possible.”
“How do we get rid of him?” Victor said. “I really don’t know much about this. Perhaps Constantine has a way?”
"Don't rush. Since the psychiatrist is helping, it means it's not a big problem. We can't be too hasty. If I'm not mistaken, the mastermind should make a move soon."
Victor nodded, and they bought a set of cutlery and packaged fruit before returning to school. Ron arrived just then, also seeming somewhat anxious, but calmed down after hearing Nora's description.
"How's the Justice League going?" Schiller asked, shaking hands with Ron.
“I’m busy,” Ron said somewhat vaguely. “I can’t stay long. Let me go with you. After all, this was all Jenny’s doing…”
“Don’t say that,” Nora said. “It’s perfectly normal for kids to roughhouse. They grow up through these kinds of social interactions. We should set a good example for them, shouldn’t we?”
Rong En nodded, and together they took the East District's internal rail transit to the Babylon Apartments. It was called the Babylon Apartments because it was the tallest building in the East District complex. Every apartment had floor-to-ceiling windows, and the higher floors even offered sea views, making it arguably the best residence in the area.
They took the elevator to the 32nd floor. After knocking, a somewhat well-off-looking lady opened the door. She stepped forward, hugged Nora, and said, "This is far too much trouble. I'm so sorry about today..."
“It’s nothing, madam. We were just worried that you were being too harsh on little Ryder. Billy, go on, go play with him.”
The lady opened the door, and the children ran inside, then rushed into Ryder's bedroom. They were soon playing together again. The adults stood in the living room talking.
Not wanting to appear irresponsible, Ryder's mother avoided discussing his toothache, instead promising to teach him a lesson about how to be less impulsive. When Nora asked him about the toothache, he said somewhat sheepishly, "We actually went to the dentist, but they didn't find anything. Rabbis isn't a liar. But it's just..."
"Have you seen a psychiatrist?" Victor asked. "Sometimes it's not the pain that causes the emotional problem, but the emotional problem that triggers phantom pain."
Ryder's mother paused for a moment, then said, "We really hadn't considered that. We'll take him there in a bit..."
“Oh, you don’t need to take him. There’s a psychologist here.” Victor winked at Schiller. Schiller came out with Elsa. Ryder’s mother looked him up and down.
Are you also a professor at Gotham University?
"Yes, Professor Schiller Rodriguez, it's a pleasure to meet you, madam."
“Oh, you are Professor Rodriguez. I’ve heard Miss Pat from next door mention you. She’s a graduate of the psychology department.”
“Miss Pat is a very diligent student. She was even awarded Outstanding Graduate last year,” Schiller said. “Let me meet Ryder. I’m worried about him.”
So Ryder's mother knocked on the door. The children were already engrossed in playing. But Aisha quickly pushed little Ryder out. She said, "Don't be nervous. The professor's mind-reading is painless..."
Little Ryder was clearly having a toothache again. He covered half his face, looking quite pained. Schiller looked at him and said, "I know you're not lying. This is probably a neurosis. It can be treated with hypnotherapy."
After saying that, Schiller had him sit on the sofa, meditated for a while, and then performed a simple hypnosis. When he woke up, little Ryder jumped up and said, "Oh my god, it really doesn't hurt anymore!"
Schiller stood in the center of the living room, looking out at the sea through the floor-to-ceiling windows. In the night, the Gotham Sea was calm and still. It appeared neither evil nor dark, but rather possessed a serene depth that made it all the more mysterious and unfathomable.
“Madam,” Schiller said, turning to Ryder’s mother, “I think your child may be feeling stressed by the sudden change in the weather. I think it would be better to draw the curtains. It would be better if he couldn’t tell day from night.”
“God bless you,” the lady said as she approached. “Thank you so much, Professor.”
“Brainiac,” Schiller added, “I think you could issue a notice reminding residents to draw their curtains to avoid letting the darkness caused by this total solar eclipse affect their spirits.”
“I will,” Brainiac said.
After leaving the Babylonian apartment, Victor asked, "Is it really the influence of the Great Old Ones? Or is it...?"
“A certain contest is underway,” Schiller said. “It seems that the mastermind behind it all failed to shake the stars. Now it’s turned its attention to these Great Old Ones on Earth.”
Victor immediately tensed up and asked, "Will they start fighting?"
“He must be struggling with not being able to fight,” Schiller said. “How do you fight a whirlpool in the ocean? A whirlpool that you can’t even see or touch. It has nothing substantial, yet it can cause changes in astronomical phenomena and drive everything that gets close to it crazy.”
“The number of missing persons in the East District is rising,” Brainiac said. “I suspect that the zombies that were lying in ambush were sent to the cliff to scout the situation and then never came back.”
"Can you find a way to go and take a look?" Schiller asked.
“I think I should be largely unaffected. But I can’t be sure. If I get contaminated, the consequences will be catastrophic.”
“Okay, I’ll go,” Schiller said. “That way I can at least turn down Jenna’s invitation to coach her Christmas show. I’ll just tell her I’m off to save the world.”
"I……"
“You can’t come with me,” Schiller said, looking at Victor. “I’m sure I won’t be affected by the Great Old Ones, but you might not be.”
Victor was somewhat worried, but he knew this thing couldn't be touched lightly, not even with the Greylight Ring. So he could only nod and let Schiller drive the car away.
Schiller was quite certain he wouldn't be affected by the Great Old Ones. Partly because of the gray fog, and partly because Nyarlathotep wouldn't allow him to be driven mad by other Outer Gods until he repaid his debts. Although the money wasn't actually his, expecting Anatoli to repay it was clearly unrealistic. Nyarlathotep was determined to cling to him. In a sense, he was now also part of Nyarlathotep's retinue and wouldn't be corrupted by Great Old Ones of lower rank.
The beach and cliffs remained desolate, only the sea breeze was more humid. Schiller walked up the cliff. And the moment he stood on the edge and looked down, even he felt dizzy.
In the deep, dark blackness, a colossal, boundless black vortex remained. It was as if the ocean had opened an eye. Even more astonishingly, the Great Old Ones, who should have been blind and foolish, in that instant of being gazed upon, resembled a wise sage with an ancient soul, as if trying to convey something through their eyes. Schiller could even sense, beyond the forbidden knowledge, certain emotions resonating within him.
As expected, none of the Great Old Ones with names and titles were simple. Schiller took a deep breath to calm himself and focused his gaze on the center of the vortex, where he indeed saw a familiar figure—Hugo Strange.
He can no longer be called human, for his body has become a battlefield between the Black Death and the Great Old Ones. Just as Schiller predicted, the Black Death is using Hugo to try to unravel the secrets of the Curse of Shekun.
This is not surprising. The Black Emperor cannot influence the movement of the stars, and therefore cannot glimpse the secrets deep within them. He may even have discovered that this self-contained system is not something he can easily shake. Improper handling could even attract something from within the stars. These mysterious entities attack indiscriminately, offering no benefit to the current situation, so he naturally gave up.
However, one should always target the weakest link. This sudden black vortex that descended upon Earth appears to be a lone prey. Attacking it could not only unlock the secrets of the starry depths but also solve the code lock on the sun. Naturally, the Black Death Emperor would target it.
Hugo, who had fallen, carried the power of death, making him the perfect conduit for the curse. If nothing unexpected happened, the Black Death Emperor was testing the waters, confronting the Cursed Sergon in the same way he had faced Schiller. The Black Death Emperor would be fine, of course; he wouldn't go mad at the sight of a Great Old One. But Hugo was in dire straits.