After weighing the pros and cons, Lu Ze ultimately decided to spend the night at the asylum.
After all, what the Captain said made sense; if he still had the title of a 'Lunatic' before the welcoming dinner, the scene of introducing himself in public would be somewhat awkward.
"This Doctor Wilde is truly terrible! When he treated you, he didn't help at all, and now that you need him, he's caused you so much more trouble!"
Cecilia was very displeased about this. She had originally wanted to stay with Lu Ze for a night, but Lu Ze firmly refused her. Firstly, it wouldn't look good for a young girl to spend a night in such a place; secondly, she still had classes tomorrow. So, despite her extreme reluctance, Lu Ze took her out of the asylum and put her in a carriage to go home.
After seeing his sister off, Lu Ze returned to the inpatient department of the asylum and stayed with Doctor Wilde in his office until closing time, where he was treated to a truly disastrous patient meal. Afterward, Doctor Wilde arranged a room and a roommate for Lu Ze.
"I'm very sorry, Mr. Longdaoer, the single rooms are all full. You'll have to make do here for one night. This is your roommate, Hude Ougen. Don't worry, his condition is very stable. He enjoys chatting with patients but is unwilling to communicate with us doctors."
In a double room on the third floor, Wilde pointed at the patient on the bed by the window and said to Lu Ze.
Lu Ze looked in the direction he pointed and saw a man who seemed quite normal. His face was long and thin, and his light yellow hair was neatly combed. Hearing someone mention him, he turned his head, gave the two a faint look with his gray-blue eyes, and then turned back without speaking.
"See? Completely non-aggressive."
Wilde said, "Your bedding is all new; you can use it as you please. I'll be patrolling the third floor tonight and will check on you from time to time. Please rest assured and spend the night here. As long as you don't have an episode all night, I will sign your mental health recovery certificate first thing tomorrow morning."
"Alright, thank you for your trouble, Doctor Wilde."
Since things had come to this, Lu Ze didn't act coy. After thanking and seeing off Doctor Wilde, he lay down on the asylum bed without hesitation.
Ah, this mattress, this familiar sensation...
He was about to take off his coat when he suddenly remembered that his gun holster was still attached to the shirt underneath, and it would be inappropriate for it to be exposed. He simply lay down fully clothed, on his back, with his hands behind his head, staring at the ward ceiling and clearing his mind.
Hude Ougen, beside him, ignored him and continued to look at the night sky outside the window.
The sky gradually darkened, and the crimson Moon slowly rose, casting crimson grids on the floor through the barred window of the psychiatric ward.
The room was very quiet; neither Lu Ze nor his roommate spoke. Only Doctor Wilde's footsteps, patrolling the corridor outside, and the faint shouts of a patient in a distant ward could be heard from time to time.
Lu Ze's eyelids gradually grew heavy; sleepiness washed over him.
What should I do, take off my clothes to sleep?
But I have a gun holster on me. However, it probably doesn't matter if a Lunatic sees it.
Just as he was thinking this, he heard footsteps in the corridor outside once again.
Hmm, Doctor Wilde is coming again, he's really working hard… huh? It doesn't seem to be him.
Lu Ze detected something amiss from the sound of the footsteps.
Doctor Wilde was old, and his steps were slow, but these footsteps were very light and quick, clearly belonging to a young man.
Is someone going to the restroom, or is it another doctor?
As Lu Ze was thinking this, he heard the footsteps stop at the door of his ward. Then, with a "whoosh," the door was pushed open. Orange-yellow light illuminated the ward, and a young man, holding a gas lamp in one hand and a bag in the other, walked in.
"Hi, good evening!"
His lips curved upwards, completely unfazed by Lu Ze's surprise. Instead, he waved at him, greeting him as if Lu Ze were an acquaintance he knew.
"You—"
Lu Ze couldn't help but sit up. He looked at the young man with some surprise. For some reason, he always felt that this young man seemed a little familiar.
Who is he, and why is he entering a psychiatric ward in the middle of the night?
Just as Lu Ze was about to ask, Hude Ougen, in the back of the room by the window, suddenly sighed. He pulled out a silver bell from under his pillow, raised it, and gently shook it.
"Ding-a-ling-ling"
A clear sound echoed in the ward. The sound was very peculiar; it seemed to penetrate the body and resonate directly in one's mind.
Lu Ze was sharply jolted, his body losing control. He felt the world suddenly become blurry, other sounds seemed to come from a distant place, and only the bell's chime echoed in his mind, until—
"Whoosh"
The sound of illusory tides rose, overpowering the bell's sound, and also clearing his consciousness, allowing him to hear the two men's conversation.
"Lan'erwusi, why aren't you out doing your scams? What are you doing here at my place in the middle of the night?"
Hude Ougen looked at the young man with dissatisfaction, saying, "I even saw it in the newspaper; your scam is really comprehensive, you even put out ads for iron mine company shares."
Lan'erwusi?
Iron mine company shares?
That's right, it's that person from the newspaper!
Lu Ze finally remembered, realizing why he felt this face was a bit familiar: a wide forehead, an ordinary face, round glasses, and that hint of a mocking smile. This was exactly the appearance of the iron mine director from the newspaper Rosanne had shown him last time.
Wait a minute, what did Hude Ougen mean? The iron mine is a scam?
He looks so normal; could it be that he's not crazy at all?
And his item can actually hypnotize me… it seems to be related to mysticism, like a Sealed Artifact.
And his relationship with Lan'erwusi.
Countless pieces of information flooded Lu Ze's brain in a short time. He analyzed them quickly, not acting rashly, but continuing to pretend to be under control, Listening to their conversation.
"Heh heh. That scam has already been reeled in."
Lan'erwusi patted the bulging bag in his hand, smiling maliciously, "Thanks to those greedy and foolish guys… to be honest, I've had enough fun and am ready to leave Tingen."
"So you're here to say goodbye to me? Heh, I have nothing to say to someone like you."
"Don't be so heartless. When you used me to harm your companion and seize his Beyonder item, weren't you full of gratitude towards me?"
Lan'erwusi smiled, pointing at the bell in Hude Ougen's hand, directly exposing the other party's secret.
Hude Ougen's expression changed, then he let out a cold laugh.
It seems these two guys are both bad news.
Lu Ze thought to himself.
But at the same time, he couldn't help but be curious: what exactly was Lan'erwusi's purpose in coming here in the middle of the night?
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