Shiller showed a hesitant expression.
"After all these years, if your brother is still alive, he may have settled down on another planet. Your sudden appearance may disrupt the life he's already established and he may not want to return to Earth."
"Have you considered that your superhero friends may not welcome a mutant of such power back to Earth, let alone the mutants themselves? If there are people unwilling to welcome him, does that mean you will go to war?"
Shiller showed an expression of sadness and disbelief.
But in his heart, he said: "Here it comes, the necessary step after showing care, the cold shower, it's here."
Many people think that PUA is about constantly belittling and denying the existence value of the victim, but that's not the crux of it. The essence of manipulation is love.
You have to make the other person feel your love first. Only then can belittling and denial infiltrate under their guard without alerting their self-defense mechanism.
After establishing a safe and warm environment for the other person, their instincts will cause them to relax their defenses and open their hearts.
There is solid evidence that people, when living well, are more willing to see things in a positive light. When facing difficulties, however, they can't help but have a pessimistic and doubtful attitude towards things.
So, in a safe and comfortable environment, some demeaning and negative words will sound more like sincere advice. Of course, just negation is not enough. After the "cold water", comes "I'm just looking out for you" and the real map of Yan Country "I'm gentle, calm and smart, but you are clumsy, reckless and foolish."
"Shiller, I consider us as similar types, so I want to be able to help. I advise you not to go to Centaurus yet, it's not because I want to separate your family, but simply out of concern for your situation."
"Your brother and you have been apart for so many years. Even if there is still some affection left, it certainly can't compare to the friends and relatives that you each spend your days and nights with. Now, you suddenly find him and tell him the universe is going to be destroyed, so you came to ask for help. Doesn't that sound like exploitation?"
"Your brother might not realize the hardships you went through to find him, he might just think that you didn't bother when you didn't need him but recalled him when disaster occurred. The love and affection you have for him shouldn't be misunderstood in this way."
"Even if you bring him back to Earth, your superhero friends might think, we have been with you day and night for so long, yet you don't listen to our opinions and insist on bringing a dangerous person back home. Doesn't that also disrupt the friendship between you?"
"I understand that mutants are not unified. Regardless of which faction you belong to, all factions need to consider the impact that you and your brother might have on the current situation. In case they hold resentment towards you in the future, it would put you in a very awkward position."
Ultimate Iron Man entered the room and sat on the edge of the bed next to Shiller. He placed a hand on Shiller's shoulder and said: "Of course, I understand that you've been apart for so long and you can't wait to see each other. But there is still a long time ahead. We must also prepare for the future, right?"
Shiller seemed to suddenly calm down. He took a deep breath and exhaled a long sigh, turning his head to look at Ultimate Iron Man and said: "You're right, I was a bit impulsive. I'm truly thankful, Tony. You not only helped me find Owen's lead, but also saved me from future troubles."
A glimmer of elation flashed in Ultimate Iron Man's eyes. This was the first time that Shiller had called him Tony instead of referring to him as his superhero friend, Iron Man, and he was the first time he revealed the name of his brother. It signified that he was beginning to show trust.
Ultimate Iron Man sighed in relief and said softly: "You scared me a bit. When I first saw you, I thought you were a cultured and refined doctor. I didn't expect you to have even more drive than an agent. Have there been any major problems due to your impulsiveness over the years?"
Shiller lowered his head and gave an embarrassed laugh: "There have been some troubles, but others have always been forgiving."
"Then you must have quite a good circle of friends. Doctor Shiller, you can't be this impulsive in such situations. Alien races are all watching."
"Nothing else, your goodbye to Mrs. Nashi earlier was a bit rude. You were a bit too anxious."
Here it comes again, thought Shiller. Finally, the phase to belittle and undermine self-esteem has arrived.
So, he cooperatively widened his eyes, as if he didn't understand why Ultimate Iron Man would say that. Ultimate Iron Man laughed and said, "This puts me in a bit of a tough spot. After all, I was the one who invited Mrs. Nashi. I'm afraid she won't invite me to her dances anymore."
"Oh God, I'm really sorry." Shiller intentionally raising his voice a bit, pondering in his heart the intensity of his emotional expression, then said: "I'm unaware. I may... I may have been a bit too anxious."
"It's alright." Ultimate Iron Man hurriedly comforted him: "She is a very generous lady. I was just joking just now. But you must not behave like this again. If someone uses this against you, it will be troublesome."
Shiller nodded, showing an expression of taking Ultimate Iron Man's words as sincere advice.
Seeing Ultimate Iron Man's hidden satisfaction again, Shiller couldn't help but smile inwardly.
The next morning, when Ultimate Iron Man saw Shiller in the breakfast room, his face was pale, and he looked fatigued, like he hadn't slept all night.
Shiller walked up and gave a bitter smile to Ultimate Iron Man, saying: "I'm sorry, I look a bit of a mess. I didn't sleep last night, I was thinking about your words."
"I must thank you again while also apologizing to you. I was indeed too anxious before, not considering your feelings."
Ultimate Iron Man suddenly felt an explosion of joy in his brain. The wailing of the prey caught in the trap sounded like the most beautiful music, the rich smell of blood provoked a more intense hunger. Ultimate Iron Man could hardly suppress the bloodthirsty roar in his heart. He knew that it was time to close the net.
But in Shiller's heart, it was just a small ripple. His threshold had long been raised too high and this kind of scenario could no longer give him any effective stimulation. But watching Ultimate Iron Man's almost uncontrollable excitement, he too knew that it was time to close the net.