Enforcer Manual
Chapter 462: Salted Fish Remedy, Treating Your Mental Exhaustion_1

Chapter 462: Chapter 462: Salted Fish Remedy, Treating Your Mental Exhaustion_1

"I understand, let’s go with the full-body prosthesis modification package," Hannah said without much hesitation.

Hannah did not struggle long over this multiple-choice question. She was clear that for her parents and the Bureau of Investigation, a person lying in a hospital bed and needing the comfort of a virtual scene was practically no different from being dead.

When Song Lan and Lu Xiang entered the room, their conversation was already drawing to a close.

They just happened to witness the moment when Hannah made her decision.

"Your friends are here."

The attending physician glanced toward the door of the ward and then left Hannah with her friends, having fulfilled his duty as a doctor.

Hannah turned her face to the side, one of the few things she could still do.

After sitting down, Lu Xiang asked, "You’re going through a full-body prosthesis modification? You should be aware of the risks involved."

"I’m aware. This is my decision; please don’t try to persuade me otherwise," she replied.

Hannah was suddenly reminded of the soap operas she had watched, one of the limited forms of entertainment she enjoyed during her work travels.

The unfortunate future, advice from friends, created an atmosphere as heart-wrenching as a soap opera. She faced Lu Xiang, and finally, Lu Xiang spoke with a tone of doubt, "But I wasn’t planning to dissuade you. You’re an adult and you will take responsibility for your own decisions."

"... Oh," Hannah blinked blankly, and the room’s atmosphere turned awkward for a moment.

Lu Xiang remained as rational as ever, pulling her back from the soap opera mood into the real world, and soon after, Hannah felt deeply embarrassed for having imagined Lu Xiang as a melodramatic supporting actress, wailing tragically beside her hospital bed.

Even though over half the parts in her head were not original following the surgery, the sensation of her face heating up was still evident.

"I just wanted to say that if you experience any mental issues, I could recommend a specialist to you," said Lu Xiang.

"A psychologist?" Hannah quickly asked to avoid further embarrassment, following Lu Xiang’s lead.

"He’s the head of our Psychological Counseling Department, an expert who has done considerable research on cybernetic mental illnesses and helped many cybernetic mental health patients," Lu Xiang said, casually patting Song Lan on the shoulder. "That’s right, it’s him."

Song Lan, who had been enjoying the scene, was caught unaware by Lu Xiang’s gesture. He had thought she was referring to Roger, but she had cleverly brought up his name instead.

He admitted that he had indeed helped many with cybernetic mental illness find themselves again and had created the Shadow Guards, but his method of treatment was somewhat unconventional.

While curing their illnesses, he also implanted something else into their brains.

"In fact, cybernetic mental illness can be traced," said Song Lan, clearing his throat and sharing his experiences in researching and treating cybernetic mental illnesses seriously. "I have studied over a thousand cases of cybernetic mental illnesses. Although their symptoms and causes vary, they can all be summed up by the fact that they all experienced intense emotional turmoil before their conditions worsened."

"I’ve read the relevant reports. The Bureau of Unusual Case Investigation also has a department dedicated to studying cyber lunatics," Hannah chimed in.

Cyber lunatics were always their primary concern; nearly half of the cases handled by the Bureau of Unusual Case Investigation each year were caused by cyber lunatics. These highly prosthetically modified individuals lived like ticking time bombs throughout the territories of the United Government.

The prevailing understanding of cybernetic mental illness was intense mental fluctuations.

Yet, theory is just theory, and no one can solve this problem at its root.

Medicine can only delay their emotional fluctuations, or help them calm down more quickly, but as long as human consciousness and thought exist, the ticking time bomb will eventually detonate.

"Can you resolve it?"

Hanna felt that, if Song Lan really could eradicate this disease, then this year’s United Government medical research award would undoubtedly go to him.

"It can’t be one hundred percent effective, but some patients indeed improved with my help. I call this treatment method ’Salty Fish Psychotherapy’."

As the founder of the Chapter-opening School, Song Lan’s level of talking nonsense had always been top-notch.

"Salty Fish Psychotherapy?"

"Its purpose is to help you reduce mental burnout, relieve work pressure, and find joy in life, but all of this is based on the premise that you subjectively agree and cooperate with the treatment plan."

"What kind of treatment is it..."

"For example, for the first lesson, we’ll discuss how to effectively take advantage of our status as patients."

Whenever the topic of slacking off came up, Song Lan could always speak endlessly for a day and a night, and he had already sensed Hanna’s determination to become a salty fish during the alumni gathering.

He believed that as long as Hanna could grasp the essence of becoming a salty fish, she could free herself from the troubles of cyber mental illness, even without the need for Devourers or the will of the Bug Swarm.

As Song Lan delved deeper into his explanation, even Lu Xiang’s expression became increasingly astonished.

She discovered that much of what Song Lan mentioned wasn’t made up; he seemed to have a very deep understanding of modern medicine. However, unlike ordinary Prosthetic Doctors, he focused mainly on the symptoms of diseases, and he could even perfectly imitate the subtle differences caused by different conditions leading to headaches.

Just as Lu Xiang suspected that this knowledge might also be related to Song Lan’s lost memory, Song Lan said, "Faking illness is a very profound art. The symptoms we display must be accurate to avoid being exposed."

This was his true feeling.

He had completely transformed and was no longer the weakling in college who could only fake a stomachache.

His growth was all thanks to Lu Xiang.

The supervisor of their department was really too hard to fool. Any slight flaw could be detected by the supervisor’s acute observation.

Lu Xiang had always maintained one attitude towards his faking illness — it’s okay to fake it, just don’t let me find out.

If the supervisor ever saw through him, a bleak fate would await him.

Under intense environmental pressure, he painstakingly studied various medical journals, and now he had finally reached a realm where even Lu Xiang couldn’t see through him.

"The week before last, half a month ago, and also on the 12th of last month..."

Lu Xiang took out her phone and opened one of the notes, "Were all these times you faked it?"

She had thought that although Song Lan wasn’t exactly robust, he wasn’t so frail as to fall sick three times in one month. Yet each time, Song Lan’s symptoms were impeccably faked, and she really hadn’t noticed.

"Manager, I think that’s not the point."

Song Lan said boldly, "What I mean is, Classmate Hannah, you’ve now gained a reasonable opportunity to ask for leave from the Investigation Bureau at any time!"

Hanna’s eyes widened.

Every time she met Song Lan, he exceeded her expectations—this was the first time she had seen someone fool Lu Xiang three times in one month without being detected.

What was even more incredible was that his main occupation wasn’t a professional psychologist, but a detective.

"How come you seem to know everything?"

"You’re right."

Classmate Lu Xiang once again revealed a dangerous smile, affectionately wrapping her arm around Song Lan, but to Hanna, her posture suggested she was seconds away from choking Song Lan, "This guy really does know everything except how to do his actual job."