Chapter 1031: Astonishing The World (Eight)_2

"That's what everyone says, isn't it? They say, Captain America is the flag of this era, a man of perfection in the true sense of the word, and so, you believed them." Shiller squinted his eyes as he spoke to Steve.

"But there is no such thing as a perfect man in this world. Even if you were perfect in the last era, you are no longer so in this one. Your era has passed."

"In the last era, the Americans who experienced the Great Depression and Roosevelt's New Deal were full of vitality, brave, diligent, smart. That was when this beacon shone the brightest, and you, you were the brightest bulb on that beacon."

"You had to be the first man in America's Golden Age, to become synonymous with the American spirit." Shiller, looking into Steve's eyes, said: "This is what everyone was telling you, and indeed you did as they said."

"Their demands on you were not excessive because, at that time, this was still the World Beacon. People from other countries could deny everything, but they had to admit that America really had a most prosperous and glorious period."

"Back then, the people around you were all excellent, self-disciplined officers, scientists with genius minds, diligent and capable workers. In this atmosphere, they called you their idol, and naturally, you had to do your best."

As Shiller narrated in a calm tone, Steve seemed to truly see these scenes, or perhaps, these scenes had always existed in his memory, never fading.

That was the real Golden Age.

But in the next second, Shiller's words, like a punch, shattered his illusions, and Shiller's voice rang again in his ears:

"When you woke up, you found the world has changed."

"That vibrant country began to get a bit chaotic. Various ideologies and groups took to the streets to wrangle over issues that you had never even heard of, causing a huge mess. So, you started to avoid going out."

"You loved reading the newspaper, but it shifted from covering technological advancements and human progress to a cycle of hurling insults, with political vendettas and business competition. So, you started to avoid reading the newspaper."

"You learned how to use a smartphone, and then you found the internet seemingly full of extreme crazies, with no one being able to think or discuss rationally. So, you started to avoid using your smartphone."

Shiller sighed, directly addressing the issue at the heart of Steve's problem: "The giant of the Golden Age is unwilling to bow down to this decadent and chaotic era."

"You don't want to be Captain America of this era, yet because of the patriotic education you have received, you feel guilty about your own resistance."

"You know clearly that the ways of the previous generation don't work anymore, yet you don't know how to be perfect in this era. Should you lower yourself to their level? Should you abandon your principles? Should you pander to mass sentiment until it becomes nothing but empty entertainment?"

"There is a conflict between your character and your mission, which makes you feel sad and upset. But you have no one to share this with because those who gave you this mission have all passed away."

"It would be more accurate to say, rather than Captain America being the flag of America, you are just a relic of the Golden Age, the last orphan of the American spirit."

With a "pop," the sound of a cork being pulled out resonated in the quiet room like an earthquake. Steve, his arm trembling, grabbed the liquor and poured it down his throat.

"You're right, you're right..." Steve mumbled: "I'm just an antique, I just don't want to get a transit card, I think walking is good, it's healthy and I can see the scenery on the streets..."

"But Captain America can't be an antique. I can't just barge into a service hall without any understanding, be rendered speechless by robots, have my image snapped and put onto online forums, and have my ignorance and rigidness defame their fathers..."

"Their fathers and grandfathers did a far better job than they ever have!" Steve slammed his liquor bottle on the table, speaking for the first time with such an extreme tone: "The people I knew didn't advocate nihilism and death. They didn't judge others solely based on images. They didn't encourage decadence and irresponsibility so nonchalantly..."

"It's the effort from that generation that has brought about the results of today. I can't let them mock us!" Steve raised his voice: "This is utterly unfair to those who have passed away!"

"They're gone, thus no one knows about their contributions, how they could have taken their time to enjoy themselves, but chose to work hard and build such a great nation."

"If the role model of that era, which is me, acts just as stupid and old-fashioned, then the entire era and everyone from it would be a laughingstock..." Steve covered his eyes, visibly distressed.

"Do you remember when we first met?" Shiller took a gulp of cold beer. He didn't let the Gray Mist control his body and couldn't drink frequently as a doctor, so he had low alcohol tolerance. He was already feeling a slight vertigo.

"We touched upon this topic then…" Shiller halted for a moment before continuing: "As I said, it's not that you can't learn to use a smartphone, but you simply refuse to. You believe the lifestyle of the previous era is not inferior to the current one, that the people were spirited and vibrant."

"That's indeed the case." Steve wiped his mouth with his hand and continued to say: "Miss Carter wanted to date me. We arranged to meet at a restaurant in Brooklyn. After we arranged the date, she asked me how I was going to get there. I said I could walk, she seemed surprised."

"I know that people in this era seldom walk five or ten kilometers at a time, but the feeling of exercising is genuinely great. While walking, I could also observe the changes in storefront signs and whether or not new items have appeared in the display windows."

"I don't like shuttles and sky trains. The unnervingly regular vibrations when they're moving make me feel as if my muscles are melting."

"But I can't speak freely about these topics!" Steve frowned, lowering his head and saying painfully, "I must claim that I like and understand them..."

"Of course, Captain America should like and understand these novel devices. But Carter's question was too sudden. I misspoke and had no way to recover or cope with it. So, I turned her down and ran away like a coward even after settling upon a place for our date."

"Don't... don't worry..." Shiller gulped down more alcohol, his words growing slurred, but he kept insisting:

"I'm a... I'm a professional psychologist... I can analyze everything again for you... Steve, Steve... listen..."

"Wait, you can't just drink beer!" Steve, who had downed half a bottle of strong liquor in a short time, was also a little tipsy. He walked up to the bar, got more liquor and handed some to Shiller, saying:

"This reminds me of when I used to drink and chat with my companions...Come! Open it! No, no, no, I'll open it for you, you... you drink this bottle, this one is mine..."

Shiller took a gulp of strong liquor, which made him cough violently. But when the burning liquid entered his chest, he felt a flame ignited, and his mind became brighter.

"Drink... drink!" Shiller slurred: "If you lose to me, I'll spill all your embarrassing moments... to Tony..."

"Burp! That's nonsense... even his dad couldn't outdrink me!"