Actually, Deathstroke is quite interested in psychology. But what he's interested in is applied psychology. To be precise, how to use psychology to gain an advantage, not the long-winded theories. Moreover, Shiller's theories don't sound very reliable, they seem like he made them up.
But amazingly, he can actually listen to Shiller's long-winded talks all the way through and still remember them. Even though his brain is highly developed, he doesn't have to fill it with all sorts of knowledge. Precisely because he has more control over his brain than most people, he can filter out a lot of junk information. By logic, Shiller's nonsensical words should be filtered out, yet he remembers them.
"He said he awakened his superpower when he was seven years old." Deathstroke sighed, sat down in the driver's seat, and then said, "He probably has some mind reading technique abilities too, right?"
"Yes, he does," Shiller said. "To perform mind manipulation, you must build a bridge between spirit domains. Once it's built, it's inevitable to see some of the other person's memories."
"Oh my God!" Deathstroke said. "I can't imagine what he saw. Those images of me killing people are way too much for a seven-year-old child..."
"Do you think he cares more about this?"
Deathstroke turned his head to look at Shiller in the passenger seat.
"When you find out that he is not as weak as you imagined, would you still be worried about how that plane landed first?"
Deathstroke didn't immediately understand what kind of analogy this was. But he quickly realized that getting a plane to land first couldn't be achieved just by persuasion. Joseph must have used his superpower to do something.
Regardless of the moral or legal level, there must be some evil means involved. Threats, intimidation, manipulation—these psychological traumas may not necessarily be lighter than physical harm. Although he did it just for self-preservation, it cannot be considered as never having happened.
What about in the past? Did he often do this in school too? Did it start in middle school? Or elementary school? Is it not evil to exert spiritual control on children?
Although Deathstroke is not a good person, he has basic common sense. In public moral judgment, exerting spiritual control over someone is sometimes more immoral than killing that person. Especially since forced manipulation is almost equivalent to killing the other person's soul, and it's no different from being an assassin.
However, when Deathstroke learned that Joseph had such abilities, he didn't think about whether he was evil or how many people he had killed or how many bad things he had done. The only thing that made him angry was that Joseph had awakened his superpower but didn't tell him.
So conversely, Joseph should also be angry that Deathstroke is indeed a mercenary but didn't tell him. For people like them, deception is more infuriating than evil.
"No way," Deathstroke said again. "I remembered. One night that year, he was just seven years old, like two months after his birthday. One night, he was yelling and screaming in the house, looking very scared. I wanted to tell him a story, but he drove me out. He must have discovered it then."
"What's wrong?"
"He was very scared," Deathstroke stressed. "He must have seen those bloody things in my memory to be that scared. If he wasn't scared at all, he wouldn't have acted like that."
"I never said he wasn't scared at all. However, compared to those bloody images, I tend to believe he was more scared of the stranger in you."
Deathstroke gently exhaled a breath, his shoulders slumping down, seemingly feeling a bit sad. "He was afraid of the real me. He must have wanted a normal good father, at least with a respectable profession. So he never liked me afterward, never wanted to communicate with me."
"Have you ever heard of Stockholm syndrome?"
"I've heard of it," Deathstroke said. "The whole hostage falling in love with the captor thing, sounds ridiculous. Who would fall in love with someone who wants to end your life?"
Shiller shook his head, saying, "That's the public misconception. The key point of Stockholm syndrome isn't about the hostage falling in love with the captor, but rather: emotions are not based on justice and evil, but on consistency."
"What do you mean?"
"Either normal or morbid, there's no middle option."
Deathstroke looked more confused. He really didn't want to seem like a fool, but what Shiller said made no sense, and he couldn't figure out any more.
Luckily, Shiller quickly added, "You can love someone like a normal person, protect him, support him, and be consistently good to him. Or you can love someone like a madman, control him, manipulate him to the point where he has nowhere to escape. But you can't choose the middle option."
"You can't act like a normal person, swear to be good to him, protect him, and then act like a madman, controlling him with violence. Or conversely, you're clearly the perpetrator who controls others with violence, yet inexplicably treat the hostage well from time to time."
"Hold on," Deathstroke said. "I can understand the first type. In the community we later moved to, there was a drunk who always beat his wife. When he sobered up, he'd swear to the heavens never to drink again and would surely treat her well. But when drunk, it was the same all over again. I heard they were even childhood sweethearts. They divorced not long after."
"But the latter, it sounds like a form of manipulation too. Using violence to subdue someone, while giving them a taste of sweetness. Isn't that correct?"
"That depends on how you give it," Shiller said. "You can't soften your heart, you must always be in the position of the master. Otherwise, the hostage will manipulate you."
Deathstroke pondered, and Shiller continued: "The main conflict between you and Joseph lies in your self-struggle. You need to understand who you are before you can deal with relationships with others."
It was already very late. The night wind in Egypt was always more primitively desolate than in other places. Driving along the coastal highway, Deathstroke could smell the scent of sand and seawater in the wind. The scenery before him gradually became clearer.
If Joseph could see through him, he would surely understand that Deathstroke was just playing the role of a good father. Beneath the skin of that role, his true self was unstable. For this reason, Joseph couldn't expose him.
It's like, if Scarecrow is supported by the outer layer of clothing to stand, then you can't touch its outer skin. Because without the stick, removing the skin leaves nothing to support it.
For a long time, playing the role of a good father has been supporting Deathstroke's life. He works as a mercenary outside, like hunting, to earn more money with the hope that one day he can retire with enough pension and enjoy life with his family.
On careful thought, this goal is unnecessary for Deathstroke, as he is essentially ageless and immortal. There's no need to retire, and no need for a pension. He sets this goal for himself simply because a good father should do so.
Being at home with family is even more significant. He does most of the things a traditional family husband and father would do, repairing and maintaining the car, mowing the lawn, and other physical chores. Spending time with his kids, playing sports with them, hosting family gatherings, helping other family members socialize. This is his entire life.
If he gets exposed, at least when it comes to parental companionship and education, things will not go smoothly anymore. What position does a bloodthirsty assassin have to cultivate his own child?
Unless you can be like the boss of the Assassin's Union, Leixiao Gu, and your goal is to raise your children to become the world's top assassins. Otherwise, there's no way to handle the relationship with children. After all, you cannot be an assassin who takes money to kill people while telling your kids to obey the law, follow morality, and become someone who strives hard and contributes to society. That's completely unfeasible.
So Joseph chose not to expose him, and just muddled through life like this. Deathstroke continued his role-playing while Joseph cooperated with slight perfunctoriness. In any case, they just muddled through.
Thinking of this, Deathstroke said awkwardly, "Actually, ever since Joseph went to high school, I've been thinking about having another child."
"Not surprising," Shiller said, "Since Joseph went to high school, your responsibility as a parent for companionship and education has significantly decreased. But you don't want to miss out on this. Having another child is the best choice."
"Better not," Deathstroke said, "I've thought it through and feel it shouldn't be this way."
"Why?" Shiller asked.
"Look, Joseph happens to have the Mind Reading Technique, so he knew, accepted, and didn't expose me. But other kids might not have this ability. If I teach them in this way, hoping they grow into good people who are useful to society, even heroes, what if one day they discover what I'm doing and turn against me?"
"Then why don't you think Joseph will turn against you?"
Deathstroke said with some embarrassment, "Because I think he is too weak. Even if he is kind and righteous, he can't do anything about me. I know this sounds a bit cold – he simply doesn't qualify as my opponent. Naturally, I don't care whether he is kind or evil."
"But you have to care now."
"Yes, but it's okay. That plane landed first. Thank God." Deathstroke drew a cross on his chest in an imitation.
"So don't you consider directly telling them?"
"And then? Train them to be assassins? I'm not a good person, but I haven't sunk that low." Deathstroke shook his head and said, "And although they might awaken superpowers, in this line of work, Combat Power isn't the most important thing. Without talent, they won't survive two years. I can't let them go to their deaths, can I?"
"That's rare." Shiller looked at him and said, "You haven't made a big mistake yet, but in other cosmos, it's not necessarily the case."
Deathstroke frowned, and Shiller said, "In some cosmos, you had three children. Guess what? – They're all your enemies."
Deathstroke covered his eyes. "What about Joseph? Is Joseph one of them too?"
"Of course. He was even throat-slit."
Deathstroke's hand suddenly paused.
"What about the others?"
"Grant was killed."
Deathstroke tightly clutched the steering wheel.
"Your daughter also broke away from you."
Deathstroke's foot slowly released the accelerator.
"You even sent your other child to be raised by Robin."
Deathstroke clenched his fist.
"You tried to revive your son but failed—" Shiller dragged the words with a smile, "but you succeeded in killing your revived father."
On the dark coastal highway, a car slowly came to a stop. A strong figure climbed out from the driver's seat, drew a Great Sword, and swung it powerfully, shouting, "You damn Orca! If you can't give me an explanation, I'll send you back to your ocean mother's embrace now!!!"