Chapter 398: Chapter 260: Inception and Truman Show (Part 3)_1

"What if a person dreams that they are asleep, and then dreams within that dream?"

Those around Shiller sunk into contemplation. He continued, "In most cases, these people simply bounce from one dream to another, much like hopping from one point to another on a plane."

"But in a few rare cases, it's as if one's consciousness can drop vertically from a point, breaking through the plane and falling into a deeper level of consciousness."

"In the dreams you've created for Hugo, where would he go if he wanted to enter someone else's dream?" Victor murmured to himself.

"That's exactly what I aim to research."

"Let's go back to the beginning. I used the Mad Liquor to draw all of your consciousnesses into my consciousness space. Right?"

"Following that, I also drew Hugo's consciousness into my consciousness space. Although he isn't on the same level as you, you're all currently within my consciousness space."

"Now here's the situation: while you and Hugo are in my consciousness space, he wants to connect his consciousness to yours. If he enters your dreams while in his own, would he open a direct passage to your deeper consciousness?"

"That's the problem I've been heavily researching recently. How to maintain a stable dream within a dream state and establish a stable passage to the deeper consciousness. If we can achieve this, many psychological issues can be fundamentally resolved."

"I'm not sure if I've understood your entire plan, but as of now, you've brought Hugo into your dream and, using his role as a psychologist, allowed him to infiltrate others' dreams within the dream. You think this method can open a passage to the deeper consciousness, right?"

"Exactly. The world of consciousness is a very complex concept. Everything is both possible and impossible. There might be ten thousand keys for one door, or one key that can open ten thousand doors."

"Therefore, any research related to the consciousness space sounds like a fairy tale, but it truly exists. Fascinating, isn't it?"

"Pretty boring." Jack picks at his ear and says.

"Yeah, to you it might be, because your surface consciousness and deep consciousness are mixed together like mush. You could easily slide from the surface level down to the deep level and then spring right back up…"

As he spoke, everyone saw a bubble emerge above the treatment room where Cobblepot and Hugo were. Inside the bubble was another space with the Iceberg Restaurant. Shiller said somewhat regretfully, "This should be the surface consciousness...not successful, but why?"

"A deep consciousness space wouldn't be so concrete and orderly. The surface consciousness space is typically stable, given that you're still relatively sane, not completely mad. The most terrifying memories should be hidden in the deep consciousness space."

"Let's send some actors in first...," Shiller guided. He continued, "I suspect it's because Hugo's desire to explore isn't strong enough. His 'belief' isn't firm enough..."

Thus, an avatar of Cobblepot came out from the Iceberg Restaurant, invited Hugo in, and then Victor entered the restaurant. Shiller followed soon after. The scene froze in an instant, stopping at Hugo pressing a button.

"What does this represent?" asked the audience Victor. "That button, what does it represent?"

Shiller, looking at the yellow button, said, "It should represent confidence in his own theories, and the desire to manipulate the minds of others..."

In the split second of pressing the button, the globe on Shiller's head began spinning rapidly. He said," The passage to the deep consciousness space has been opened... What is that? Fear?"

"Looks like it's indeed fear."

Shiller looked at the image of a huge, blood-covered elderly woman brandishing daggers on the screen. Turning his head, he saw Cobblepot's figure blink.

Shiller's figure suddenly enlarged as he reached into the screen, popping the bubble above the treatment room with a "pop".

He pulled his head back out and said, "It appears that's something that escaped from the deep consciousness space. This method does work, but it's unstable..."

"Is it my turn next?"

"Exactly."

A few minutes later, Shiller crushed the storm-filled bubble again and said, "The situation is exactly the same, the passageway can be opened, but it's unstable."

Evans raised his hand and said, "It's my turn next, right?"

"I feel that his consciousness can't handle being consumed again. If there's another time, he might wake up, just like someone jumping off a high-rise building in a dream."

Shiller continued, "Forget it, let's try one last time."

Watching Hugo back off, Shiller concluded, "It could be his brain's self-protection mechanism working."

"So, what do you think? Do you want to try again?"

"Of course, I think this method can work, but the root cause for the instability of the passageway may not be the method itself, but the problems with your consciousness world."

"So what are you planning to do?"

Shiller's globe head began to spin faster. He said, "Jack, work with me. Maybe you'll get some entertainment later."

Without waiting for Jack's consent, he snapped his fingers. A medical record fell on Hugo's desk. The record bore a name with no surname - "Jack".

The scene shifted again. Jack was sitting in the consultation room chair, crying ceaselessly. He said, "Dr. Hugo... you must save me! That dreadful Dr. Rodriguez constantly tortures me, forcing me to dye my hair green, put on clown makeup, and then perform for him. He's a devil, you must save me…"

"Don't cry, Jack! Don't cry..." Hugo put his hand on Jack's shoulder and said, "I also suspect that he might be secretly torturing his patients and manipulating their minds. Listen, Jack..."

"I will summon him here with official affairs, and then you can take the chance to knock him out when he's off guard. After all, you're just a pathetic little victim of his abuse. We can..."

Shiller touched the model of the globe on his head and said, "I don't even know whether to praise your acting skills or… never mind, it must be your superb acting skills."

"What are you talking about?" Jack in the audience also began to wipe away tears, "You dreadful psychologist, a devil has imprisoned our consciousness here, and we are used for your horrifying experiments!"

"Stop crying, it's almost time for your favourite part."

Jack held his hand over his eyes, peeking out from between his fingers. On screen, Shiller walked into the office, Hugo stood opposite trying to get his attention, then a figure with green hair swung a baseball bat at Shiller's head ...

"Hahahahahaha!!" Jack in the audience let out a string of laughs, tears flowing freely.

"See that? That's the ordinary Shiller! Hahahahaha!"

"Do you know the funniest part? It's... hahahahaha... the way you fell is totally off? Ordinary Shiller! You've never been knocked out before, you can't even fake it, hahahahaha…"

Victor turned to look at the globe on Shiller's shoulder, saying, "Looks like Texas State is indeed your rolled-back eyeball."

The scene on the screen shifted again, Shiller was sitting on the interrogation chair, then Hugo turned on the light and said to him, "You've woken up…"

And Jack, leaning against the wall, revealed a mocking smile just before Hugo closed his eyes.

Zoom in on Jack's expression. He was looking up, as if from the bottom of the stage looking at all the people in the upper audience. The smile at the corner of his mouth was not mocking Hugo, it was more like... self-mockery.

Jack in the audience did the same thing - looking up at the sky, and smiling.

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