Lorien stayed quiet for a moment before speaking slowly. "Every day, people die and people are born. Beyond your parents and your son, I believe you've experienced other deaths as well. Watching them pass, while not as painful as losing a parent or a child, must still have brought you grief."
Bruce Wayne remained silent. Lorien was right—he did feel sorrow.
"Especially here in Gotham, where all kinds of people mix together, death is constant, and unpleasant things happen every day. Your son's death wasn't an accident, was it?"
Lorien's tone was calm.
Bruce said nothing, but Lorien didn't need his answer. He knew the story of Batman well. Even if some details varied, he understood enough.
Glancing at Bruce, Lorien continued, "I believe you'll take revenge. And I believe you came here because you know what justice is. No matter how much pain you're in, there are lines you refuse to cross."
"You hate it. You wonder why something so cruel, so unbearable, had to happen to you. You've even thought of destroying everything. If your son could come back, you'd pay any price."
Lorien spoke steadily, exposing every hidden thought in Bruce's heart.
Bruce looked at him warily, unease flickering within.
So this is how terrifying a psychologist could be?
He could read him so precisely—even thoughts Bruce had never spoken aloud, only fleeting whispers inside his mind.
"Since you're a psychologist, what advice do you have for me?" Bruce's tone grew heavy. "If it meant bringing my son back, I truly would pay any price."
"Unfortunately, I'm only a psychologist. But Mr. Wayne, when it comes to bringing your son back, no one is more capable than you."
Lorien smiled.
He didn't spell it out, but every word carried hidden meaning—enough to set Bruce's thoughts spinning.
Bruce stood, looking down at him.
Though he towered above, lowering his gaze toward Lorien still gave him the strange sense of being pressured.
It felt like even if he struck now, it would be pointless.
Some people carried immense strength in nothing more than their words.
This psychologist was not simple.
Bruce, who had met countless people in his life, judged him that way.
His muddled thoughts suddenly cleared, opening a new possibility.
There were many ways to bring someone back from the dead.
In the past, he lacked the means. Even if loved ones died before his eyes, he could do nothing.
But now, things were different. He had the power, the wealth, and even the courage to act.
"Yes. My son will come back."
Bruce smiled suddenly.
Looking at Lorien with unusual seriousness, he said, "You're an extraordinary doctor. Staying just a doctor is a waste of your talent. If you're willing, I could invite you to join the Justice League..."
But Lorien interrupted him.
"I'm just a doctor, nothing more. I don't have lofty ambitions. I just want to clock in and out on time, have weekends off, and if possible, enjoy long summer and winter vacations."
He sounded perfectly content with that, leaving Bruce speechless.
So many people begged for a place in the Justice League, yet here was someone rejecting it.
"The League handles endless crises. Emergencies happen at any time. I doubt I could meet your conditions."
Bruce didn't press. After Lorien's almost casual refusal, he let it go.
He paid, then said, "I hope we'll have another chance to talk. Please leave me some time next visit."
"My office hours are posted outside: Monday to Friday, nine to five sharp. No weekends. I take summer and winter holidays. If we run into each other casually, we can grab a drink—but no work outside those hours."
Lorien laid out his schedule clearly.
He couldn't help but sigh inside.
The sign outside already said all of this. Why did people refuse to read it?
...
Next time, he wouldn't bother explaining again.
The only reason he had this time was because it was Bruce Wayne in front of him. Otherwise, he'd have brushed him off with a few words, not gone into such detail.
Besides, there was something he wanted to ask Bruce—and only Bruce could answer.
"Do you know Clark Kent?"
"You know him? That guy's an old friend of mine. But he's been missing for a long time. I don't know where he went. Recently, someone told me a young man who looks a lot like him showed up in Gotham. I'm not sure if it's him. Haven't had time to check."
Grieving for his son left him little energy to chase after such things.
And in this world, look-alikes were everywhere. If Clark had a problem, he would come to Bruce himself. There was no need to go searching. So Bruce hadn't cared much.
But now, seeing this psychologist's interest in Clark, perhaps he should look into it.
Bruce Wayne soon left.
Lorien watched his back until it vanished, then slowly drew back his gaze.
Not long after Bruce departed, Gwen arrived at the door, just before noon.