Chapter 254
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Chapter 254: Treatment Results
Upon hearing Lin Qingliu’s question, a smile spread across Fresnel’s face:
“Our isolation review is nearly complete. I’ve gathered statements from the four of them. During the period when I handed over control of my body to the Puppet Master, Wang Xiao performed exceptionally well in leading the team.
“I believe he is an excellent candidate; with some training, he could surpass my own capabilities.
“What’s more, after this incident, Wang Xiao’s survival skills have shown significant improvement.
“For a team, a resilient Captain is like the central banner of an army; as long as he stands, the team’s fighting spirit remains intact…”
Lin Qingliu listened intently, nodding occasionally in agreement with Fresnel’s points.
Initially, his nods were merely to offer emotional support, but as he recognized the validity of Fresnel’s reasoning, his approval became more heartfelt.
Recalling Wang Xiao’s grand ambitions, Lin Qingliu briefly wondered if Fresnel had caught wind of something.
However, he quickly dismissed the thought.
From both a factual standpoint and Fresnel’s perspective, his decision was genuinely made for the benefit of his teammates.
Given that, what reason was there to object?
After listening to the entire report, Lin Qingliu commended Fresnel for his wisdom. He then, as was his custom, entered a dream state to review memories, leaving behind a subtle suggestion before concluding the psychological counseling session.
Before Fresnel awoke, Lin Qingliu quietly left his room.
Having completed his task, Dr. Lin did not depart immediately. Instead, he navigated the winding corridors of the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ building, eventually arriving at a nondescript room. He knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
A steady voice responded, and Lin Qingliu pushed the door open and entered.
The room was a rather unremarkable study—or, more accurately, in the resource-scarce Hope City, it was simply a bland document processing room.
Seated in the center of the room, his back to the window, was a short-haired man. This was Lin Qingliu’s direct superior due to his special status, and also the client who had assigned him this overtime task—General Wencheng.
“Faster than I expected. How is it? Can they… continue in their previous roles?”
Lin Qingliu gently pulled out the chair and sat down, carefully considering his words as he faced the general.
The last time the two had met was the day after the five Dummies from the Nian team had gone missing. As one of the last suspects questioned by the three, Lin Qingliu had been brought to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for a rigorous interrogation.
Though only a few days had passed since that incident, Wencheng appeared to have aged slightly.
His face still bore its sharp features, but a few more strands of white hair now framed his temples.
For a man not yet fifty, Wencheng had been under immense pressure recently.
As the top official overseeing military affairs for the council, his workload was already substantial. Following the significant losses of superpowered individuals in the second phase of the Exploration Plan, his responsibilities and stress had increased dramatically.
While Wencheng’s demeanor remained composed, Lin Qingliu could sense the weight of his internal struggles. If Wencheng needed treatment, Lin Qingliu would have been more than willing to offer his services pro bono.
But clearly, Wencheng had not summoned him for that purpose.
“Most of the members are in good condition, but three individuals require special attention.”
Lin Qingliu gathered his thoughts and began summarizing the results of his day’s work:
“The superpowered individual Ink Drench has been carrying a heavy moral burden related to the Marsh Settlement incident. Although she does not regret her decision, she remains haunted by the lives she took.
“I’ve done everything I can to counsel her, but she will need ongoing support. In future missions, it would be wise to assign her and her squad tasks that avoid moral dilemmas, to prevent the buildup of negative emotions.”
“Although her other teammates appear fine on the surface, they also carry mental burdens. I recommend reducing Ink Drench team’s missions targeting humans to prevent a collective loss of control within the team.”
He picked up his water cup and took a sip, then continued:
“The second superpowered individual requiring close observation is Ink Drench’s teammate with bipolar disorder.
“She is the one I mentioned earlier; although she doesn’t bear a moral burden, she still struggles with mental burdens. She used her ability to manipulate her hormones, allowing herself to enter a state devoid of emotional fluctuations immediately after the review ended.
“While I can help alleviate some of her pressure, the decision to restore her emotions ultimately lies with her.
“The third individual with some concerns is Fresnel. He seems to have developed a certain aversion to himself and displays a lack of confidence in his abilities.
“He intends to deliver the Captain role to another teammate, choosing to step down and focus more on combat and protection rather than command.”
“Oh?”
Wencheng, who had been jotting notes on a blank sheet of paper, looked up.
“Is that his intention?”
“Yes.”
“What do you think?”
“I have no authority to interfere. I don’t view this as avoidance. It may be an escape, but more importantly, it reflects his ability to recognize his own limitations, so I don’t oppose it.”
“Hmm, I’ll speak with him privately later. After all, if he truly makes this decision, his father will need to be informed in advance.”
Wencheng lowered his head again, unsure whether he was speaking to Lin Qingliu or to himself.
The efficiency of their discussion was remarkably high, sparing Lin Qingliu the tedious task of writing a report afterward.
After confirming there was nothing else to address, Lin Qingliu stood up, preparing to leave. The Ministry of Internal Affairs was not a pleasant place, so the less time spent there, the better.
As he stood, Lin Qingliu glanced at Wencheng. After a brief moment of thought, he decided to speak:
“Sir, from my observations, you also seem in need of some relaxation. Would you like my assistance?”
Wencheng looked up from the stack of documents at the young psychologist, sensing an air of confidence about him.
“Can you ease my mental burdens without using your abilities?”
Lin Qingliu’s superpowers were no secret to Wencheng; in fact, the aspects he revealed were quite familiar to him.
Wencheng knew that Lin Qingliu’s superpowers included natural charisma, enhanced hypnotic effects, and the ability to soothe certain emotions or pressures, all while creating empathy with the target’s memories.
Lin Qingliu thought for a moment and shook his head:
“I’m sorry, I cannot. The effectiveness of my treatments stems largely from the significant enhancement my abilities provide.”
Wencheng lowered his head once more, gesturing toward the door with a finger to signal Lin Qingliu’s departure.
“Then let it be. My mind holds many things that no one should see.”
