Chapter 1994

York expressed his surprise, "There weren't many PhD students specializing in hypnosis in our cohort; I should known them all. But I don't recall any student from Hustuabourg with the surname Stone."

Keegan showed York a photo on his phone, "This is the person."

York paused, a flicker of recognition in his eyes, "That's Yoel Stanley."

"He's Joplonese?" Keegan asked, taken aback.

York nodded, "He wasn't in our university or in my cohort, but he often attended our professor's lectures. He was perceptive and a quick learner. The professor favored him. But Yoel's reputation was tarnished. He was once embroiled in a lawsuit for illegally hypnotizing a girl, though the case was dropped due to lack of evidence.

"He then opened a studio, using skills gleaned from the lectures. He gained some fame but remained ethically questionable, spending much of his earnings in brothels and on alcohol. Academically, he stagnated. His skills waned, leading him to use banned substances on clients. Once