Now that most of the major issues had been addressed, the likelihood of either internal or external war breaking out had become minimal. So, Shiller decided to start addressing Strange's problem.
"Are you scared?" Shiller asked bluntly.
Victor hesitated for a moment, but ultimately nodded his head and said, "I don't know what he's going to do to me, whether it's with his amazing surgical skills or with his strange magic. But I am truly worried, if the treatment... doesn't go as he wishes..."
Victor didn't say the rest of his sentence aloud. But Shiller understood what he meant. Looking at the current situation, the brothers had been apart for so long that their differing environments had shaped their completely different personalities. Their lack of understanding of each other over the years had made them strangers.
Blood relations aren't magical; even the strongest of familial love can fade over time. Victor knew that his brother was somewhat extremist; perhaps Strange had suggested some extreme measures while he was dealing with their father's illness. So, Victor was afraid, uncertain of what the future held or what Strange would do to him.
For this reason, the more Strange tried to persuade him to stay, the more pressure Victor felt. When people feel insecure or pressured, they just want to revert to their comfortable environments. That's why Victor had been trying repeatedly to return home.
Shiller stretched out a hand to hold Victor's arm and looked into his eyes. "I own a sanatorium that's quite a distance from New York City Center, which is where your brother works. He's very busy with his work, so he probably won't have much time to visit you. I'll ensure that doctors and nurses take good care of you."
Victor began to open his mouth as if to say something, but Shiller continued, "However, if you insist on leaving, Steven will surely follow you home. He might even bring a whole team of doctors and nurses with him. You know how obsessive he can be, right?"
Victor immediately showed a worried expression and stuttered, "It cannot be this way. The neighbors might think I am dying. This...this is too outrageous!"
"That's why the best choice is to go to a suburban sanatorium, far away from him. I'm Steven's friend, and he trusts me. If he wants to do something, I can block him. It's safe there for you."
Victor took a deep breath, glanced at Shiller hesitantly, and then said, "I'm not the type to repay kindness with animosity. I know that he's the one paying for my hospitalization, I just..."
Shiller pressed firmly on his arm again and said, "Your brother does indeed have some mental issues, and any normal person would feel pressured in his presence, because he is unpredictable. People fear everything that cannot be predicted."
Victor lowered his head and said, "I want to make him happier, but I can't control myself. Maybe I'm not that normal either."
Shiller hesitated for a moment before saying cautiously, "Generally speaking, some significant signs of mental instability could be inherited. You two are blood brothers, so there are some similarities between you. If you weren't so headstrong, you would have probably acceded to his arrangements already."
At this, Victor finally showed his first smile. Though it was bitter, it was mostly filled with self-mockery, and he said, "You're right. I too am famously stubborn in our town. All the Stranges are the same."
With that, Shiller finally let go of his hand. He gave Victor a few more precautions before leaving. A few minutes later, Strange came in. After Victor was taken out by a nurse, Strange looked gratefully at Shiller but still covered his mouth to cough twice.
"I think psychology should be categorized as a part of magic, don't you think?"
Shiller just offered a smile and patted him on the shoulder. The gloom that Strange had been carrying for the past few days had finally lifted.
Victor successfully moved to Arkham Sanatorium, while Strange went back to work at the Holy Sanctuary. But this period of quiet lasted only for three days. On his next visit to the sanatorium, Shiller received a medical report from the head physician.
"Hereditary metabolic liver disease?" Shiller read out aloud. The white-haired head physician adjusted his glasses and said, "Yes, it's a polygenic inherited liver disease, very complex in nature. There are no known precedents, so we can't be sure whether it'll get worse or not, but there's a possibility."
Shiller frowned and asked, "Assuming, just assuming, if his liver could be reverted back to the state when he was sixteen, would his condition improve?"
What Shiller was trying to ask was whether the Time Gem would be of use. The doctor seemed puzzled by this question. He thought Shiller was subtly inquiring if the patient might have had unhealthy habits and said, "This isn't like the situation with a fatty liver or alcoholic liver disease, where lifestyle habits play a substantial role. The onset of this disease is inevitable."
"Moreover, the patient's overall health is quite good. Unless there's an abrupt liver failure, he shouldn't face any life-threatening risks within the next ten years. But no one can guarantee if any sudden symptoms will not appear."
Shiller took a moment to think before asking, "Can a liver transplant be performed?"
"There's no immediate need for that. But if it's necessary, it can be done. Except we can't perform it here. Firstly, we don't have the credentials to match the graft, and secondly, we don't have a suitable lead surgeon."
Shiller waved his hand to indicate he understood. After the doctor left, he began searching for information on liver transplants without a second thought.
Even though Shiller was a psychologist, he could tell from the doctor's statement that the prognosis for such complex and rare cases was very uncertain. Victor could either go on for decades without any symptoms, or if the disease were to suddenly manifest, the hands of modern medicine would be tied.
However, since there were already signs of the disease, the situation didn't look promising. If a liver transplant could be performed, then it naturally should be done. After all, Victor, being a close relative of such an important figure on Earth, could receive protection from various parties, ensuring a high success rate. Therefore, the sooner it's done, the better.
Shiller knew that upon finding out about his brother's condition, Strange would also make this decision and would certainly want to be the lead surgeon himself. No one could shake his confidence in this regard.
But besides medical reassurances, Shiller also needed to put other safety measures in place. After all, Strange had made irreplaceable contributions to Earth's development. It wouldn't be right to let him end up alone and desolate.
As for how to put these safety measures in place, Shiller had ample experience. On a fine sunny day, Shiller, with one arm in a sling, again visited the Land of Death.
"Death, I'm here to negotiate!"