Chapter 153: Extraction

On the folding bed in the activity room, Merlin slowly opened his eyes.

The effect of the God-grade sedative seemed different from the human version. It wore off quickly, but it was effective in suppressing his "madness" state.

Now, there was no trace of confusion or haze in Merlin's eyes.

He sat up, turned his head toward a small table nearby, and saw Lin QiYe, wearing a white lab coat, sitting there with a glass in his hand, smiling slightly at Merlin.

"Good evening, Lord Merlin."

"Good evening, Director Lin." Merlin got out of bed and walked over to sit in the chair opposite Lin QiYe. He gazed at Lin QiYe, raised an eyebrow, and said, "It seems that the crisis around you has been resolved."

Lin QiYe was surprised. "You noticed?"

Merlin smiled but didn't speak.

"Then, can you see what my fortune will be like in the coming days?"

Merlin's deep eyes flickered slightly, and he shook his head. "The future is hard to predict, but at least in the next few days, your luck seems to be good."

Lin QiYe nodded. After a brief pause, he asked, "Lord Merlin, how much do you remember about what happened just now?"

"What just happened?"

"Before you fell asleep."

Merlin pondered for a moment, then uncertainly said, "I remember I was thinking about something in the room, and then... I can't recall anything after that."

Lin QiYe nodded thoughtfully, his mind racing. So, when Merlin had lost control and turned into a pink starfish, his consciousness had been unconscious...

Wait, that's odd.

When he became the starfish and was running around the courtyard, trying to catch jellyfish, what was controlling his body? A second personality? Or was it his subconscious?

But... such a respected scholar like Merlin having a bizarre subconscious?

And the names he shouted when he became a starfish—SpongeBob, Squidward, and the Boss—were so strange! Would a normal person shout such names? Or was there something else, some kind of truth behind it?

Lin QiYe shook his head, clearing those messy thoughts from his mind. He took out a few pills from the pocket of his white coat and placed them on the table.

"What is this...?" Merlin's eyes showed a hint of confusion.

"Medication." Lin QiYe spoke calmly, "It might help with your condition."

Merlin shook his head. "I told you, I don't have a sickness."

"But the fact is, you do." Lin QiYe said in an unarguable tone, pushing the glass of water in front of Merlin. "Lord Merlin, please take these pills first, and then we can continue."

"These pills are the same as those prescribed to Instructor Gu at the psychiatric hospital. The doctor there believes they are effective. Gu has proven that they work well for him."

Merlin furrowed his brows, seemingly pondering something. After a moment, he sighed helplessly and took the pills in one go.

"Now, can we continue?" Merlin raised his hands.

Lin QiYe glanced at the treatment progress bar above Merlin's head. It was still at 0%, but that wasn't surprising. He had just taken the medication; it wouldn't take effect immediately.

"Lord Merlin, I came here to discuss something with you."

"Oh?" Merlin seemed a little surprised.

"I've had some new thoughts about the 'real world' you mentioned before."

As soon as he heard the words 'real world,' Merlin's expression changed. His eyes sparkled with excitement.

"What thoughts?"

Lin QiYe took a deep breath. "I think the world we live in is the real one."

Merlin asked curiously, "Why?"

"Because I feel it's real. If I feel it's real, then it is."

Merlin frowned slightly and shook his head. "That's idealism."

"So what if it is?" Lin QiYe smiled. "In this world, there are my family, my friends, countless people with blood and flesh. Even if this world is fake, does that mean they are fake? Does it mean their lives and emotions aren't important?"

Lin QiYe stood up and locked eyes with Merlin, speaking slowly and firmly:

"The truth or falsity of the world is an idealistic problem. If you think it's real, then it is. If you think it's fake... so what? Even if it's fake, what's the difference?"

Merlin stared blankly at Lin QiYe, silent.

"You want to pursue the truth. That's instinct as a seeker of knowledge, but I believe this shouldn't be your everything... Even if you find the real world, it doesn't mean you belong there. Even if you don't find it... you still have us, and this vast world that's ours."

"You've been putting too much pressure on yourself, Lord Merlin."

After Lin QiYe finished speaking, he saw Merlin fall into deep thought and quietly left the room. Once outside, he took a deep breath...

"I have to say, the doctor who treated Instructor Gu really knows his stuff... He spoke those words so easily, and they're not something an ordinary person could say. Next time I meet Instructor Gu, I have to ask him for the doctor's contact information."

Lin QiYe muttered to himself, then turned and walked toward the corridor.

He had said everything he needed to, given the medicine, and now it was up to Merlin to decide whether it would have any effect.

As Lin QiYe walked outside, he was about to speak to Li Yifei when a small message appeared before his eyes.

Merlin Treatment Progress: 2%

Reward Conditions Met, Beginning Random Extraction of Merlin's Divine Powers...

Lin QiYe's eyes lit up, and excitement surged in his chest.

It's finally here! It's really here!

The familiar virtual wheel appeared before his eyes once again, and the list of divine abilities on it dazzled Lin QiYe's vision.

"Fire Magic Mastery, Lightning Magic Mastery, Transmutation Magic Mastery, Space Magic Mastery, Eye of Wisdom, Black Magic Mastery, Abyss Magic Mastery, Divination, Astrology..."

Most of the abilities were related to magic, with a few focused on wisdom and prophecy, which made Lin QiYe breathe a sigh of relief.

At least he wouldn't draw something like "Supernatural Reproduction."

The wheel began spinning rapidly...