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Chapter 256: Hugos Adventures in Wonderland (2)

Based on Hugo's previous experiences of entering ordinary people's minds, generally speaking, the conscious space of humans appears as a void darkness, surrounded by many strange things that reflect their recent thoughts.

The surface level of the conscious space is relatively empty, mostly consisting of fragments of daily life. If we were to depict it with a specific scene, it would be like a square filled with floating fragments and peculiar objects, while beneath the square's floor lies the deep consciousness of the individual.

In general, the structure of human consciousness is not complex. Apart from these two layers, there might be floating small rooms, each with its own unique properties. Some people have many such rooms, while others have none. At least among the countless patients Hugo has encountered, this is often the case.

However, today, the conscious space is different because as soon as Hugo landed, he saw a restaurant standing in the square.

It was a restaurant with a distinct Gotham style, featuring tall and narrow buildings. The signboard displayed the words "Iceberg Lounge," and indeed, there was a layer of ice surrounding it, along with a few small icebergs, guarding the entrance of the restaurant like sentinels.

At this moment, a slender figure emerged from the restaurant and, upon seeing Hugo, became stunned, asking, "Who are you?"

Hugo was also taken aback because he had never encountered living beings in the conscious space of humans before.

If we were to compare humans to peaches, the conscious space would be the pit in the middle. The pit itself is a part of the peach and no peach would have a complete one within its pit.

The conscious space is a manifestation of personality, so it is unlikely for someone to recreate another self within their own conscious space. At least, that's the case in the vast majority of situations.

But now, Hugo witnessed this peculiar state where he saw a complete peach within the pit. Not only was it complete, but it was also excessively so.

The Copperpot before him had a completely different appearance and attire from the real space. He was now dressed in a suit, with slicked-back hair and shiny leather shoes, wearing a smooth smile that didn't quite match his age.

Hugo had seen many people depict a more perfect version of themselves in their conscious space, but usually, it wasn't represented through a complete human figure. It would typically be key items or keywords.

For example, someone who lacked a good education might have items representing exams, scores, acceptance letters, or a separate room symbolizing their hopes for a better education.

The average person's brain is not capable of manifesting imagination in such intricate detail, especially not while in a relaxed state induced by hypnosis.

Hugo was also witnessing this for the first time—a person fantasizing about another version of themselves within their mind, and the level of detail was as if it had a soul.

"It's you?" Copperpot looked at Hugo with a hint of confusion and said, "Is this what you meant by hypnosis? You can actually come in here."

Hugo stared at him and the building named Iceberg Lounge behind him, slightly dumbfounded. However, Copperpot maintained that smile and said, "Since you're here, why don't we go inside and have a seat?"

Hugo followed Copperpot into the interior of the Iceberg Lounge, and to his astonishment, everything inside was intricately detailed, just like in reality.

This was almost impossible, similar to when a person dreams. Although they may recall specific things from their dreams, if another person were to enter their dream, they would discover that most of the things appearing in the dream are vague and hazy, extremely inconsistent.

This is the typical state of the brain when in a relaxed state—ignoring many unimportant details and only conveying the main concepts.

However, the Iceberg Lounge in Copperpot's deep consciousness was not like that. From the overall decoration, layout, and structure of the entire restaurant, down to the wood grain on the counter and the reflections on the barstools, one could say that if this restaurant appeared in reality, it could open for business without any need for modifications.

This completely exceeded Hugo's expectations. Even for an interior designer, transforming the designs and drawings in their mind into an actual design requires countless modifications and adjustments. If an interior designer could manifest their imagination with such intricate detail in their mind, they would undoubtedly be the most successful designer in the world, without a doubt.

Before Hugo could finish being amazed, the restaurant door creaked, and an adult male in a suit walked in. Copperpot greeted him, saying, "Professor Fries, you're here so early today?"

"Oh, Copperpot, you're here. How did your classes go today? Have you learned all the new knowledge I taught?"

"I'll review it later..."

As Hugo observed their fluent conversation, he was still immersed in shock, but he couldn't help but analyze. Professor Fries in Copperpot's consciousness likely represented a role of urging academic progress. Whenever Copperpot wanted to start reviewing and assessing his learning achievements, Professor Fries would appear.

Hugo continued to observe Victor, searching for any inconsistencies, but he couldn't find any. Although he hadn't met this Professor Fries before, he could tell from Copperpot's mental image that he was an intelligent, knowledgeable, and refined professor.

Before he could come up with an answer, the door creaked, and a man in a long coat, holding an umbrella, walked in. Hugo exclaimed in surprise, "Schiller?"

"How are you, Mr. Copperpot? Has your condition improved? How have you been feeling lately? Still not planning to move?"

Hugo could tell that Schiller seemed to play the role of a gentle doctor in Copperpot's mind.

But that was normal, Hugo thought. In the records of Copperpot's treatment, he didn't see any radical therapies, only conservative psychological counseling and conversations. It's no wonder Copperpot would think highly of Schiller as a good doctor, but Hugo believed that this inclination towards conservative treatment was a sign of Schiller's inaction.

At this moment, the real Hugo furrowed his brow, exploring Copperpot's consciousness world while murmuring, "Come on, let me see what you fear the most..."

Saying that, he pressed a button on the machine, and the machine emitted two sharp alarms. Then, Copperpot's consciousness world started shaking violently.

A fierce and agonizing scream came from the shattered space, and Hugo saw a figure of an elderly woman covered in blood, holding a knife. One of her fingers was larger than the entire flat mountain restaurant. She had a blood-stained face and was waving the dagger, instantly shattering Copperpot's conscious space.

Connected to the machine, Hugo let out a scream and woke up, sitting on the ground, gasping for breath.

Supporting his forehead, Hugo stood up and whispered, "I should have realized... Fear can also manifest in a more vivid and destructive way..."

Copperpot, on the other hand, woke up from the chair as if he had just had a nightmare. Pale-faced Hugo had to force himself to say, "The result is not bad, but your willpower is a bit fragile and might be disturbed by the images you fear..."

"I know," Copperpot said calmly. "Because I often have nightmares."

Seeing Hugo, who seemed exhausted, Copperpot felt a sense of disdain. He didn't feel that this hypnotherapy had improved his condition in any way, but this doctor seemed quite tired.

He shook his head and thought that next time, he would come when Dr. Schiller was around. This substitute doctor wasn't that great.

Despite the setback from Copperpot, Hugo didn't give up. He believed that it might just be a coincidence. Copperpot was an extraordinary child, a genius, so his ability to manifest details was highly specific. However, Hugo still didn't think it reached the level of a mental palace. It was merely an elaborate imagination of dreams and aspirations.

Another name recorded in the medical records seemed familiar to Hugo—Victor Fries.

In Copperpot's conscious space, Hugo had heard Copperpot refer to him as "Professor Fries."

The medical records stated that Victor had mild anxiety with vague symptoms. There was a record of medication therapy, and it seemed to have quickly recovered. However, Hugo was still curious and wanted to see if Victor was the same as in Copperpot's conscious world. So he called Victor.

As a colleague of Schiller's, Victor was aware that he had quit, but this time Hugo used the excuse of a problem with the medication invoice and hoped that Victor would come in person to discuss it.

Issues related to invoices, taxes, and insurance were taken very seriously, and Victor didn't find anything inappropriate because he had previously come here for an invoice matter.

As Hugo entered the treatment room, when he mentioned the need for a simple reexamination, Victor didn't think much of it. He thought it might be Hugo's way of ensuring the previous doctor didn't misuse medications, so he cooperatively lay down on the chair.

Hugo entered Victor's consciousness in the same way. However, as soon as he entered, he was blown down to the ground by a sudden intense cold wind.

He found himself facing an extremely cold and vast icy plain. Hugo looked around in confusion but couldn't see any boundaries.

As mentioned before, the surface consciousness of humans is like a square. It is called a square instead of a plain because the size of human consciousness space is limited. The margins of most people's consciousness space lie within the limits of imagination and thinking. However, Hugo walked for a long time in this vast snowy plain and didn't see any boundaries.

There were only three things here: ice, snow, and snow turning into ice. There might not even be wind because Hugo couldn't hear any sound of the wind. It was an extremely quiet space.

But silence wasn't a good thing. It made the place feel even colder. From beginning to end, Hugo only felt one thing—cold, an unimaginable and tremendous cold.

Hugo clenched his teeth, held his breath, and tried to unravel the secret of this consciousness space. No matter which direction he walked, how long he walked, what posture he assumed, or what words he shouted, he only received endless snowfall and boundless ice fields as a response.

There were no abstract concepts, no fragments of memories, none of the things that should exist in a human mind. There was only ice and snow, only cold.

Just when Hugo was on the verge of despair and about to give up, he finally saw a flicker of flame at the end of the ice field. He made a strenuous effort to move closer to that direction. After who knows how long he walked, to the point where his consciousness was numbed by the cold, he finally saw a small campfire.

Around the campfire were several figures: Copperpot squatting and warming his hands, Victor standing nearby and reading a book, and Schiller adding firewood to the fire...

Why is it Schiller again? Hugo wondered, why does he appear everywhere?

But apart from that, there was nothing else. Looking at the endless snowfield around him, Hugo's heart had become numb. Nevertheless, he dutifully pressed the button on the machine, wanting to see what Victor feared.

Then, he heard a faint "crack" sound coming from the consciousness space, like something shattering. It grew louder and louder...

In an instant, a terrifying storm swept everything away.

When Hugo's consciousness returned to his body, he couldn't help but hold onto his arms and tremble. His teeth were chattering.

In the office with sufficient heating and a burning fireplace, he felt a level of extreme cold that he had never experienced in his life.

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