Asylum Observations

"Hey, Luther!"

Bathing in the sunlight and recalling what had just happened, Luther was about to make a few remarks when he heard Rozanne calling from the front desk. She leaned out from behind it and waved at him.

"What is it?"

Luther walked over and asked.

"The captain went out on business. Before he left, he told me to let you know that you should hurry up and get that psychiatric evaluation certificate. It's best if you finish it before the welcome banquet for the newcomers."

"Oh, right, that too."

Only then did Luther remember. There had simply been too many things to deal with after joining the team, and he had completely forgotten about it. The welcome banquet was on Friday night, and it was already Wednesday. He did not have much time left.

"Got it. I'll make a trip to the asylum tomorrow."

Luther casually agreed.

At that moment, he noticed that Rozanne's expression was rather strange. It looked as though she had something to say but was holding it in.

"What is it?"

"Luther, I heard Old Neil gave you his property. Is that true or not?"

Rozanne's eyes were filled with gossip.

"So you found out too."

Luther could not help laughing. Rozanne's information network really was impressive.

"Wow, that must be worth a huge amount of money!"

Rozanne had been quite afraid of him at first, but after getting to know him over recent days, she had gradually relaxed around him. Hearing Luther say that, she immediately showed an envious expression. "That's so nice. If I had that much money, I'd invest it and definitely make a fortune."

"Invest?"

"Of course. Look, the newspaper says they discovered a huge iron mine in the Hornacis Mountain Range. They're preparing to establish a company to develop it and are recruiting investors to buy shares. They say the returns are extremely high." As Rozanne spoke, she handed him the Tingen City Honest People's Newspaper. "Why not consider using money to make money?"

Thanks to Roselle, the concept of "stocks" had become widespread in this world as well. Many companies had used this method to quickly raise funds. Some had made a fortune, but there were also cases where investors lost their entire family fortunes.

Luther gave it a cursory look. The description in the newspaper was more or less what Rozanne had said. It also included photographs of the mine and a portrait of the mining company's director. He was a young man with a full forehead and black hair. His appearance was ordinary, and he wore glasses, though the smile on his face was quite warm.

"I'll pass."

Luther smiled and shook his head. "Investments carry risks. Lying around and collecting rent is much more enjoyable."

The next day.

Luther raised his head and looked at the building before him with a complicated expression.

A wall twice the height of a man enclosed a vast area. Through the iron-barred gate, he could see the lawn, the recreation square, and the three-story building farther inside. People in patient uniforms were scattered everywhere. Some were dull and vacant, some sat silently, while others screamed and giggled foolishly. The scene was lively yet bizarre. Numerous doctors and nurses moved among them, their expressions exhausted. They looked even less healthy than the patients.

This was Greenhill Mental Sanatorium, commonly known as the Tingen City Asylum.

"Wonderful. It feels like coming home."

He laughed at himself.

Searching through Luther's old memories, he recalled many things about this place. His parents' strained faces after spending so much money, his sister crying after being frightened by the lunatics in the courtyard, himself being tightly bound in a straitjacket and forced to swallow all kinds of potions... Later, when there truly proved to be no effect, his parents had no choice but to abandon the treatment and stop bringing him here.

So there was nothing wrong with Luther calling the asylum "home" when he saw it.

"Luther, don't say things like that!" Cecilia, who had accompanied him here, immediately interrupted. "You're healthy and normal, not a lunatic!"

"Alright, alright, I'm normal." Luther comforted his sister. "Aren't we here to find a doctor and have him prove that I'm normal?"

Cecilia said nothing more. Instead, she hugged his arm and followed him through the iron gate into the asylum.

Luther could feel her hand trembling slightly. Just like when she was little, she was still afraid of lunatics.

"Why don't you wait outside for me?"

He asked quietly.

Cecilia shook her head.

It had been the same at home. When she learned that Luther was going to the asylum, she insisted on coming with him no matter what. Luther could understand how his sister felt. She was probably worried that something would happen to him. He had finally recovered; what if he came to such an unlucky place, got provoked by another patient or doctor, and relapsed? It was an unscientific concern, but one born from the depths of her heart.

Luther could only take his sister's hand and lead her into the dark treatment building, just as he had led Cecilia across the street when they were children.

Cecilia gradually stopped trembling.

The lunatics shouted and cried all around them, yet Luther felt extraordinarily calm.

After entering the treatment building and explaining their purpose to the nurse at the entrance, she clearly showed surprise. Once she checked the medical records and confirmed that Luther truly had been a patient, her astonishment deepened further.

"Could you please take us to see Dr. Chris Wilder? He was my attending physician back then."

Luther said.

"Ah, certainly! Dr. Wilder is in his office on the third floor. Go up these stairs, then take the first door on the left."

Under Luther's gaze, the nurse pointed out the way somewhat flusteredly.

Luther had thought the nurse's attitude was already excessive, but Dr. Wilder's reaction was even worse. After conducting a complete examination and setting down the measuring instrument, he stared in shock. "Every indicator is completely normal! You... how did you do it?"

By dying once.

"I went through an accident. After surviving it, my mental illness got better."

Luther casually brushed it off.

"Mr. Rondal, please be serious. Your case may well become a new method for treating mental illness."

Wilder was somewhat angry.

"Please don't be angry, Dr. Wilder. My recovery was entirely a coincidence. It cannot be replicated in other people, and the specific reason involves official secrets, so please forgive me for not being able to tell you." Luther said, "Please issue the recovery certificate quickly. I'm in a hurry to get home."

"Go home? You can't go home tonight."

To his surprise, Wilder flatly rejected the request.

"Why?"

Luther almost suspected that he had misheard. Cecilia beside him immediately became agitated. "My brother is already fine, and you still want to control him?"

"Don't misunderstand, Miss Rondal."

Dr. Wilder explained, "Your brother's current state is indeed normal, but he has experienced relapses in the past. As the final part of the examination, I need to observe him for one night and see whether he has another episode. This is my responsibility as a doctor."

Cecilia glared at him. "What if we refuse to stay?"

"Then unfortunately, I will be unable to sign the certificate. I must be responsible for my patient... Please understand, I am not deliberately making things difficult for you. If you are dissatisfied with me, you may return the day after tomorrow. Another doctor qualified to issue the certificate will be on duty then, and you can have him sign it. But if you come to me, you must complete my full set of tests."

Wilder made it very clear: either stay in the hospital for one night, or wait until the day after tomorrow and have another, less demanding doctor sign it.

What should he do?

For a moment, Luther fell into hesitation.