Days as a Spiritual Mentor in American Comics Chapter 5673 - 4697: Deadly Escape (30)

Shiller extended his hand and gave the cage a shake, his brow furrowing. The container was surprisingly light, seemingly constructed from aluminum alloy or a similar material; it was certainly not made of iron or steel.

"I see it now," Shiller declared.

"What have you figured out this time, Professor?" Bruce asked, a hint of bewilderment in his gaze. "Did you Spirit Communicate with another version of yourself again?"

"You're already slacking off again, Bruce." Shiller stepped back, fixing his gaze on Bruce. "I'm not going to spell it out. Figure it out yourself."

Bruce let out a sigh. "The very reason I teamed up with you was to avoid exercising my brain, Professor."

"And I have absolutely no desire to watch you fail to use your brain. I have witnessed more than enough of that over the years. Now, hurry up and deduce."

Bruce, much like a lazy mule needing to relieve itself before reaching the millstone, procrastinated for a considerable time before finally commencing his examination of the mechanism. However, there was not much to scrutinize. The escape room's design adhered to a minimalist aesthetic with a singular solution. The latter point might be debatable, but the former was undeniable, leaving few clues for analysis.

Bruce directed his attention upwards towards the disc mounted above. This was the sole element within the room warranting detailed inspection, yet its elevated position and dim lighting obscured any fine details.

Bruce attempted to ascend the cage, but its remarkable lightness rendered it highly unstable and difficult to climb. Even with Shiller bracing the cage, considerable effort was required for him to reach the summit.

Even upon reaching the top, a significant gap remained between him and the disc. The iron chain spanned approximately four to five meters, and no illumination was present. Bruce stood contemplating the scene for an extended period, still unable to discern the details clearly. Nevertheless, he did manage to confirm one aspect: faint patterns appeared to be etched onto the disc's surface.

"I understand," Bruce proclaimed. "We need to propel the cage, causing the chain to swing, and then utilize the chain's momentum in a specific direction to activate a mechanism positioned above the disc, thereby resolving the enigma."

Bruce had, of course, taken note of the drainage system. He remarked, "To fully comprehend the puzzle, we must await the water's ascent to a particular level, which will elevate us, allowing for a clear view of the required push direction. By that time, however, the water will have inevitably surpassed the cage's brim, making the act of pushing somewhat challenging."

"The switch controlling the drain is likely linked to the cage door." Bruce cast another glance at the cage door, where a small device was indeed visible. He continued, "However, this cannot be the sole requirement. There must also be a pressure-sensitive device situated above the disc; if no one occupies the cage, the mechanism probably remains inert."

"Let me contemplate this." Bruce mused, "We don't necessarily need to be inside the cage. I will stand atop it, you secure the door, and as the water level rises, we can both ascend and swim towards it, taking turns descending to push the cage. Is that the solution?"

"While that proposed solution appears viable, it is precisely why it will not succeed," Shiller countered. "Assume for a moment that I have undergone Spirit Communication with the stage designer. It is highly improbable that they would leave such an obvious exploit available. There is likely an additional safeguard integrated into the cage to prevent alternative interactions."

Bruce rubbed his chin, thinking aloud. "There are two key distinctions between standing atop the cage and standing within it. Stability is compromised on top, requiring one to grip the chain, and the absence of a solid board beneath one's feet for support. Could it be that the board itself possesses a unique property?"

Bruce leaped down, examining the floorboard of the cage. He had initially assumed it to be a simple wooden plank, but upon closer inspection, he discovered a layer of rubber affixed to its surface.

"Electricity!" Bruce exclaimed, then let out a dispirited sigh. "That's truly devious. What is this, electrofishing?"

Bruce now grasped the intended methodology of the game. Standing atop the cage was not an option: firstly, the lack of an insulating material beneath one's feet; secondly, grasping the chain with one's hands would undoubtedly result in an electric shock.

Subsequently, Bruce began devising an alternative 'cheese' strategy: no one would enter the cage; instead, reaching through the bars from below, one could grasp the edge of the insulating board, pull the cage downwards to apply pressure, then close the door, thereby deceiving the mechanism into believing someone was inside. This approach would negate the necessity of entering the cage for either participant.

However, he soon realized the flaw in this plan. The cage was positioned just slightly too close to the ground, and from that angle, applying adequate force proved impractical. Consequently, Bruce looked towards Shiller, a flicker of hope in his eyes, and inquired, "Professor, your Strength..."

"Has been significantly reduced, but I can still enhance myself somewhat..."

"No, no, no, absolutely not." Bruce vigorously shook his head. "I believe we should adhere to the rules, don't you think?"

"Even if we can't use that specific method, we still have other possibilities," Shiller remarked.

"What possibilities are there?"

"The Exhaustion Method," Shiller stated, elaborating, "We can enter the cage initially to trigger the mechanism. Before the water level rises, we push the cage in various directions. If we are fortunate, we might hit the correct path."

"That approach is far too uncertain," Bruce countered. "Setting aside other concerns, the cage is electrified. Each time we attempt to push it, both the person inside and the one outside receive a shock. If we keep trying this repeatedly, how long would it realistically take? We'd be electrocuted before we even figured it out."

"This is precisely where the psychological aspect comes into play," Shiller explained. "Would you opt to endure pain to evade the threat of immediate demise?"

Bruce's brow furrowed as he contemplated the situation. He grasped the underlying logic of the game: after the mechanism was activated, one could still attempt to move the cage before the water filled it, but without knowledge of the solution, the Exhaustion Method was the only recourse. The range of possible angles for pushing was indeed limited, so a pure brute-force trial-and-error approach might eventually succeed. However, anyone interacting with the cage, whether inside or out, would experience an electric shock with each attempt.

Subsequently, once the water began to rise, especially after it surpassed the cage and reached a considerable height, one might be able to swim up to examine the disc. Perhaps the disc itself contained the answer, indicating the correct direction to push, prompting a descent to execute the correct move.

However, even if the water rose swiftly, by the time it reached that elevation, those submerged would have already suffered significantly. Attempting to push the cage at that stage might prove too late. Furthermore, the rising water would also be electrified, meaning both individuals would continue to endure shocks.

Therefore, in this scenario, the Exhaustion Method appeared to be the more practical choice. One would inevitably be shocked regardless of the timing; pushing earlier meant an earlier shock, while delaying meant a later shock. Completing the task sooner seemed strategically advantageous.

In practical terms, however, this is where one's mental resilience is truly tested. Often, individuals understand intellectually that it's better to face discomfort immediately rather than prolonging agony, yet confronting the present pain remains incredibly difficult.

This difficulty is amplified because it's not merely about enduring personal suffering; one must also witness another individual being subjected to the same ordeal. Some people might not mind enduring hardship themselves, but the moment it involves another person, they find themselves unable to proceed. It's highly probable that they would continue to delay, eventually reverting to the water-based solution, significantly increasing the fatality rate.

"The fundamental concept of this chamber is to exploit your emotions while demanding ruthlessness. Your feelings for the other person might grant you the fortitude to confront pain directly, yet these same emotions can prevent you from rationally selecting the option that yields the greatest benefit, potentially leading an otherwise successful endeavor to ruin."

"That sounds precisely like something the Joker would devise," Bruce muttered, exhaling softly. "Or, to be more accurate, something a master of psychology would engineer."

"Very well," Shiller conceded. "There exists an alternative method."

Bruce turned his gaze towards Shiller, who subsequently handed him the iron rod. "Do not forget we still possess these tools. You can position yourself outside the cage, gripping this rod. Extend your feet through the gaps and place them upon the insulated plate. This should achieve the desired outcome."

Bruce paused for a moment, envisioning the required stance. He realized it was indeed feasible. The crucial element was the iron chain attached to the rod; it possessed a certain length. Even after wrapping it around the bars, there would still be some slack remaining.

Thus, by looping the chain around the central section of the bars and gripping the iron rod at its end, one could extend their feet through the openings and stand on the insulated plate. The bars, chain, and body would form a triangular structure, enabling one to hang outside the cage in a stable manner.

However, grasping the rod would still result in an electric shock, which presented no advantage over standing directly on the cage. Bruce swiftly conceived of a solution: employing his hair.

Dry hair possesses insulating properties, and with his moderately long hair, he had ample material. The rod was considerably thinner than the chain above; he could wrap a portion of his hair around it for insulation, though it would cost him some hair.

The instant Bruce articulated his plan, Shiller let out a sigh of exasperation. "Have you considered inverting the approach?"

"Inverting how?"

"Insert the rod's end into the bars, then hook the ring on the opposite side with your fingers. This way, you would only require a few strands of your hair," Shiller explained.

Bruce suddenly grasped the concept. Initially, it hadn't crossed his mind, but upon reflection, the logic was undeniable. Utilizing the ring required only a minimal area of insulation – perhaps a few strands of hair would suffice.

He put this idea to the test and confirmed its feasibility. Adjusting his stance so that no part of his body made contact with the cage, save for his feet upon the insulated plate, he achieved a state of remarkable stability. This arrangement allowed Shiller to push him, thereby pushing the cage, without Shiller himself needing to touch the cage, preventing him from receiving any electric shock.

"The designer certainly incorporated some flexibility," Shiller remarked. "Were I the designer, I would have ensured the cage was entirely sealed. This would prevent anyone from circumventing the established rules."

"Oh my goodness, I am a master at circumventing the rules!" Harley exclaimed. However, upon glancing around, only Pamela was visible within the room; Harley seemed to have vanished from sight.

In actuality, she was suspended beneath the cage. Her legs extended through the lower apertures into the interior, while her arms passed through other openings. Her four limbs effectively functioned as clamps, securing her torso directly beneath the cage's base.

In this manner, she avoided entering the cage altogether. Merely by hanging below, she could still contribute weight to the cage.

"This implies that you are the sole recipient of the shock, Little Pa," Harley stated with a hint of disappointment.

Pamela still appeared somewhat astonished by her own agility. Truthfully, their progress through this entire trial had been largely attributed to Harley's acrobatic prowess. Once they escaped, the two of them would undoubtedly need to treat the Harley Quinns to a substantial meal.

Nevertheless, she quickly regained her composure and declared, "I do not need to be shocked either. I can simply kick the perimeter of the insulated plate."

"Huh?" Harley was momentarily perplexed. "But if we are both inside the cage..."

"Then this method is ineffective. Once inside the cage, our only option is to stand. When standing, a person's center of gravity is at its least stable. If force is applied unevenly, such as by kicking the base, the individual within will inevitably lose balance, strike the bars, and consequently receive a shock."

"It's no wonder the cage is designed this way," Harley mused. "If the objective is to push the cage steadily, the person doing the pushing must endure the shock. Conversely, if the person outside must remain unharmed, the one inside is virtually guaranteed to be electrocuted. Is this also a facet of the trust-versus-betrayal game's design?"

"Most likely. Should individuals with animosity towards each other reach this point, the one confined within the cage would be at a significant disadvantage. This is because the person outside simply needs to deliver a few random kicks, resulting in numbing shocks for the captive. Therefore, no one would willingly volunteer to enter the cage."

"Then my prediction is that the subsequent cooperative challenge will likely penalize whoever arrives last," Harley conjectured. "The reasoning is that individuals with unresolved conflict might hesitate to cooperate at this stage, leading to their punishment in the later rounds."

"If individuals harboring such animosity managed to reach this juncture, their persistence is commendable in itself," Pamela commented, shaking her head. "I believe, apart from Batman and the Joker, few others could achieve this."

"If it were the Joker, he would likely be imploring Batman to electrocute him..."

"Ah, this brilliant woman," the Joker exclaimed, clutching his chest in the control room. His expression then darkened, and he roared, "That wretched Superman! He actually permitted Batman to enter the cage—his love for Batman is clearly absent!!!"