"Perhaps this is because you lack specialized knowledge in psychology, but more so because your own understanding of emotions is not sound. You have undergone mental troubles and judge Shiller's capability to bear them by your own standards,"
Charles looked over the people in the room as he put his pen down, saying, "However, the fact is that Shiller has withstood more than any of you have experienced. He passed through the shattering period of mental instability during his youth. He is more stable and sound than any of you."
Charles then began to speak of Shiller's personal history to the others in the room, but his focus was not on the content of the story itself, nor his professional judgment, but the state Shiller was in when narrating these things.
At the end of the story, Charles summarized, "These memories hold no particular significance for Shiller. He does not suffer from them or draw strength from them. There is nothing to avoid or to emphasize."
"It can be said that if any of you casually asked Shiller about his past, you should have understood the story by now."
In a large meeting room, only Charles's voice echoed as the others were immersed in their own thoughts, most of them pondering over the story of Shiller's past that Charles had recounted.
Eventually, those who knew Shiller best began to seem puzzled about something. But before they could ask, Charles had begun to answer their puzzlement much like a good teacher would, starting from the beginning."
"People always say the phrase, 'Tribulation makes people stronger.' This is not just fantasy. Research evidence demonstrates that individuals who experience a greater share of life difficulties tend to exhibit a more stable external demeanor or, in other words, they become more 'mature'."
"But some question whether the adversity is truly the catalyst for strength—Does tribulation truly create maturity? I would rather call that calm outer demeanor 'numbness'."
Charles glanced impassively at Magneto sitting opposite him, and then continued, "Contrary to the intuition of most of humanity, mental trauma is harder to heal than physical injury. Time does not heal everything; it only helps us forget part of the suffering. What cannot be forgotten only makes us accustomed to it."
"Like all pain, once accustomed to it, numbness sets in. The pain persists, but subjectively, it no longer hurts as it initially did."
Charles turns a page he is holding, calmly saying, "The parts of severe mental trauma that can be forgotten are minimal. The majority exists in a state of persistent pain, leading to an ever-increasing numbness."
"The most severe consequence of this numbness results in individuals exhibiting an exceedingly calm outward demeanor, as though they have seen through everything and accepted everything in the world. Those who do not know why consider this demeanor to be the transparency and indifference that comes from experiencing suffering."
"In truth, this is the permanent scar of mental trauma. Its greatest danger lies in gradually losing the ability to seek outwards, appearing uncurious, uninterested, and uncaring."
"People often view the lack of contention as a display of kindness and mildness without paying attention to why they don't want to. For those who bear a permanent mental scar, they neither have the energy nor the interest in wanting anything."
Stark slowly furrowed his brow, as if thinking of something. Charles quickly responded to his puzzlement.
"Yes, this doesn't sound much like Shiller. Shiller always seems interested in everything, wants everything. But have you considered that his greed might be an extreme manifestation of his struggle against this state?"
"The operation of human psychology and thinking implies that considerable mental scar cannot be eradicated, so they must find a way to combat this state of dwindling vitality. Most trauma sufferers with good prognosis usually force themselves to divert their attention to something that has infinite appeal to them, like faith."
"Only by infinitely stimulating interest, thereby keeping an exploratory state, can numbness and emptiness brought on by trauma be countered."
"In other words, the trait of greed in Shiller's personality that you know is not morbid—in fact, it's the opposite. It's healthy, and it might be the healthiest trait as it ensures Shiller still has the curiosity and energy to explore."
After a moment's silence, Strange asked, "Because Shiller's psychological damage was serious and his enemy strong, he had to forge an even stronger weapon. Therefore his greed appears so extreme, am I right?"
"In some ways, you are correct," Charles's fingers brushed the paper. He turned his head slightly to look at Magneto, sighed lightly, and added, "Shiller was extremely fortunate. During the prime healing period after receiving trauma, he met a good doctor—one more patient than me and a better healer."
Magneto just lowered his gaze. His eyes deeply set in their sockets always carry a cold indifference to outsiders, but when he lifts his eyes to meet Charles's shining blue eyes, they are like rocks illuminated by the wavering light seeping below the surface of the sea—the light of once navigating furious waves reveals itself through these icy and profound depths.
"There's another point," Charles lowered his head back to the paper filled with his words, and continued, "Because of his autism, some of Shiller's emotional and behavioral expressions still do not conform to the norm. They're hardly noticeable. Anyone other than me would never have realized it. Obviously, this unfamiliarity is thanks to the doctor."
"The persistence of these abnormalities only shows that the doctor is an ordinary person, without my mind-reading ability. But this also indicates that I can help Shiller make further progress in eliminating these abnormalities."
Immediately, all humans present turned their attention to Charles, and Charles, in his usual calm but confident tone, continued.
"Next, I'm going to treat Shiller following my procedure for treating patients with autism. I've already convinced him to receive my treatment. As Shiller's friends and currently his family, your responsibility is to cooperate as much as possible during the treatment. This is the only way to ensure the best results."
"Mm, okay, Professor, I understand," Stark nodded. His hands clenched on the table, appearing nervous. He looked into Charles's eyes and asked, "So where do we begin?"