Chapter 19: The Asylum of Mad Heroes

[Ding! Marshal Huo has led the First Legion to successfully rescue civilians in District 13. A large number of males suffering from mental collapse are on their way.]

[The Asylum for Deranged Males is requested to prepare for intake.]

[The Asylum for Deranged Males is requested to prepare for intake.]

"The Asylum for Deranged Males?"

Yu Lan’s expression was one of confusion and bewilderment. "What kind of place is that?"

She was currently in Shen Zhuoran's office, where he had been briefing her on the procedures following her successful bid for a senior researcher position. Hearing her question, Shen Zhuoran immediately offered an explanation, his demeanor entirely composed.

"It means exactly what it sounds like."

"The Asylum for Deranged Males is a facility specifically designed to house males who have no female companions and are suffering from mental collapse."

"Once their mental stability collapses, these males lose their sanity and regress into beasts."

"However, since they aren't truly wild animals, they cannot simply be released into the wilderness. They must be kept in a dedicated containment facility."

"And the Asylum for Deranged Males is exactly that place."

"Then what does that have to do with our Research Institute?" Yu Lan asked, blinking her beautiful eyes.

Wasn't the Research Institute supposed to focus on research and development? Yet, this notification had echoed through the Institute, and judging by Shen Zhuoran’s casual attitude—showing no hint of surprise—this was clearly a routine occurrence.

"Because every male who enters the Research Institute automatically consents to participate in and cooperate with the Institute's experimental studies."

In short: every male who enters the Asylum for Deranged Males automatically becomes a test subject for the Research Institute.

The Research Institute had long been dedicated to the study of sedatives. Every new drug brought to the public had to undergo countless rounds of experimentation.

Yu Lan’s expression changed instantly; she had not expected such an answer.

"They... some of them are soldiers who have bled and fought on the front lines."

"Can't you find some females to try and provide them with comfort?"

How could such a kind and naive female exist?

Shen Zhuoran sighed, looking at Yu Lan with a calm expression as he stated the facts:

"The empire’s ratio of females to males is a staggering 1:1000. Only one female is born for every thousand males."

"However, during the estrus cycle of adult males, if they do not receive comfort, the frequency of these cycles increases from once a year to once a month, then to three or four times a month, and so on."

"Yet, females are fragile, and their healing abilities are limited."

"A D-grade female can only provide comfort three times a month, a C-grade six times, a B-grade nine times, while A-grade and S-grade females have a slightly higher capacity."

"A female's comfort is like the sweetness on the tip of a sharp blade."

"It is extremely rare and expensive. Not everyone is qualified to receive it, and to obtain it, one must pay a heavy price."

"Some males may go their entire lives without ever having a chance for comfort. They must struggle to climb to the top, occupying high positions just to attract the attention of a female."

"Some males may find victory in this war, but many more will die on this path."

What Shen Zhuoran said left Yu Lan feeling both horrified by the cruelty and overwhelmed by a sense of guilt.

So that was it. No wonder Su Xingye, Huo Zhanting, and the others hated her so much.

They originally had the opportunity and ability to form relationships with other high-ranking females. Instead, they were forced into a marriage with her—a useless person with no healing power.

To them, this was undoubtedly too cruel.

If she were in their shoes, she might find it hard to get along with the culprit either. Yet, the original owner of this body had shamelessly tried to force her way into marking these males.

Lan Lan sighed, her small face scrunching into a bitter frown.

"Can I go to the Asylum for Deranged Males to take a look?"

"You want to go see it?"

Shen Zhuoran was truly surprised this time. After suffering mental collapse, males regressed into beasts. Their formidable bodies and strength did not fade, giving them immense destructive power. Females were supposed to be terrified of them. Why would she want to go see them?

Yu Lan was truly different.

The atmosphere, which had turned cold and somber as Shen Zhuoran mourned the fate of his kind, instantly softened.

"Yes, I want to see them." Yu Lan nodded earnestly.

"Didn't you say this is a place specifically for containing them?"

"I trust that the security measures are well-prepared, right?"

"If there is no danger involved, then what’s the harm in taking a look?"

In truth, Yu Lan was thinking of Su Xingye, whom she had seen in his beast form, having lost his mind, right after she transmigrated. If Su Xingye could return to human form and regain his sanity through the injection of a sedative, then perhaps there was a way to help these males who had completely lost their minds recover as well.

Certain components in the sedatives surely had similarities to a female's healing power. Perhaps by finding the commonalities between the two, she could achieve this goal.

Yu Lan already had an idea in her mind; she wanted to try it herself.

The first step toward achieving this goal lay in Shen Zhuoran's hands. Yu Lan looked at him with burning intensity.

According to the "Female Protection Act," Shen Zhuoran should have refused a female's request to visit an asylum to see males who had lost their minds and regressed into beasts.

However, meeting Yu Lan's gaze, he found himself nodding as if by some strange impulse.

It was like a butterfly gently flapping its wings; perhaps, at this very moment, fate was about to undergo an unexpected and massive transformation.

"Fine. Since you want to go, I will take you."

Shen Zhuoran stood up and led the way. He guided Yu Lan through several turns until they reached an elevator. After he swiped his authorization card, the elevator began to descend rapidly.

Soon, they arrived at the third basement level—a floor not listed on the Research Institute's elevator buttons.

Facing Yu Lan’s inquisitive gaze, Shen Zhuoran turned to explain.

"These deranged males require strict management, but human hearts are soft and irrational."

"To prevent experimental staff from feeling pity and releasing them, the highest authority is held only by the Director of the Research Institute."

Yu Lan nodded in understanding.

The next second, the elevator doors opened. Yu Lan followed Shen Zhuoran into the corridor, and upon seeing the scene before her, she finally understood why he had spoken that way.

Lining both sides of the corridor were row after row of iron cages.

Inside, they were not the animalistic creatures Yu Lan had imagined. They were all in human form, their hands and feet shackled with cold iron, huddled in the cages with expressions of sorrow, numbness, and emptiness, quietly waiting for the moment they would lose their sanity completely and become beasts.

As they appeared, the men sitting in the cages remained, from start to finish, in that same state of numb, hollow despair.

"How can it be like this?"

This was completely different from what Yu Lan had imagined.

"What did you expect, Lan Lan?" Shen Zhuoran said. "Did you think they would be beasts with eyes glowing green in the dark?"