Chapter 4982

"Look at Venom," Shiler said. "Same alien creature, but he can eat everything in the seafood tank."

"Is that the same? Klyntar is all deep mountains and old forests; Knull and primitives aren't much different." Thor shook his head.

Shiler wasn't angry, though, because while Grey Mist considers himself a symbiote, he doesn't feel he is a Klyntar. Or rather, symbiote is a life form — like other parasitic races can also be called symbiotes — but Klyntar specifically refers to the race that came from Klyntar, like Venom. Grey Mist doesn't acknowledge that old home.

"The Asgardians know well: toward enemies we are naturally wild and unruly, but toward friends we must still behave in a civilized manner." Thor said, "You think if I hint around and get them to arrange a barbecue feast, they'd agree?"

"Of course. Ms. Carter is worrying over how to run the event right now." Shiler said with certainty. Though Carter hadn't told him, he could tell.

Actually, this kind of event hosting multiverse guests is very hard to pull off. If you make it too rigid and doctrinaire, these people aren't the type to stand there listening to you preach; but if you make it too entertainment-heavy and stimulate this bunch of already energetic superheroes, they'll probably end up fighting again. You have to combine the two — tension and relaxation, teaching through entertainment.

For example, the morning museum visit was clearly an educational activity, but the afternoon was pure eating, drinking, and fun. If not for that fish incident earlier, the whole schedule would count as a success.

And now that the fish incident happened, Carter wouldn't come out night fishing even if you killed her. Today was fine because Diana was there, and Sif genuinely isn't afraid of this sort of thing. If Diana hadn't been close, Sif would have knocked the fish unconscious with one punch herself. But Sif is a god, after all. What if someone who isn't a god showed up?

Moreover, people like Scarlet Witch usually bring kids, and there's even Shazam who is a kid himself. Hook a fish and have it slap someone across the face — how much psychological trauma would that cause?

But you can't just dismiss everyone after lunch. Strolling on the beach, there has to be a reason. Holding a bonfire dance party would be good — everyone experiences American-style barbecue while singing and dancing, a very suitable entertainment item.

And, in Shiler's view, among superheroes, billionaires like Iron Man and Batman are still a minority. The better-off ones are just middle class; the vast majority are actually ordinary citizens.

Not even mentioning the financially strapped Spider-Man types — even a journalist like Eddie doesn't reach the wealthy class. You can tell he has yacht and night fishing experience, unlike Peter who basically never boarded one and finds everything fresh. But that doesn't mean he actually likes yachts.

For people like this, this kind of rich-people activity is usually only attendable during social obligations — not a relaxing environment at all. Like Eddie, tense from the moment he boarded. Venom was already biting the fish, and he could still yank it back. His state wasn't relaxed at all, let alone carefree enjoyment.

Those who genuinely find this activity interesting are either billionaires or people like Peter who completely don't understand. Everyone else feels a bit uncomfortable. Once seated at the table, they subconsciously want to toast; the Manhattan weather and stock market small talk is already on their lips. Men stand there holding wine glasses, hands subconsciously moving to suit trouser pockets, touching air, then awkwardly pulling them back.

And Shiler is precisely that kind of person who completely doesn't understand. Because he got seasick before — or rather, ocean-sick. Let alone yachts, he didn't even dare stand near the sea to fish. Everything related to the ocean had nothing to do with him.

After boarding the yacht, he observed too, but quickly discovered it wasn't different from a land banquet — aside from fishing, it was just those few sets: buffet, pool, movies...

Moreover, the yacht basically only had cold food. Though there was indeed a kitchen and specially hired chefs, you couldn't expect them to roast a whole lamb up here. Many ingredients were pre-processed — just slice, plate prettily, and serve. And you had to eat light to prevent seasickness. The taste could only be described as middling.

"I'll talk to her later," Shiler said. "They'll probably come apologize soon."

"How did that fish happen?" Thor only now thought to ask. "The bass we ate at noon was normal."

"The bass we ate at noon was raised by Atlanteans." Shiler had clearly listened carefully to Carter. "Should be their ocean ranch product, and their ranch might not be in this sea area."

"Meaning the local seafood here can't be eaten?"

"If you can beat them, you can eat them too." Shiler stated Gotham common sense. "Whoever wins gets to eat the other."

Thor grimaced. "Is being the top of this food chain a bit undignified?"

"Losing is the minority case." Shiler still explained. "Humans have firearms after all. Even a two-meter fish, a shotgun blast will definitely blow it up, let alone slug rounds."

Thor clearly knew something about human firearms, and was even more speechless. "You mean, going out to sea fishing here, I still need to bring an elephant gun?"

Shiler nodded.

"Then Gotham's whales..." Thor was a bit incoherent.

This is clearly a spiraling logical problem. In normal areas, elephant guns are for shooting elephants, but here they're only for shooting ordinary fish, because Gotham's ordinary fish are bigger. If ordinary fish already need elephant guns, what gun do you use for whales?

Whether to shoot or not isn't even a question — it has nothing to do with whale protection. It only depends on whether Gotham's whales will attack you. The answer is obvious.

"Whales have high IQs; they generally don't come over." Shiler explained. "After all, even orcas would probably struggle to be the ocean overlord in Gotham's coastal waters. The overlord is someone else."

"For example?"

"You know the Eye Tyrant?" Shiler was a bit helpless. Every time he introduces Cthulhu to Marvel people, he has to start with the Eye Tyrant.

"Stop, you don't need to say it." Thor had clearly heard this introduction many times. One mention of Eye Tyrant and he knew what Shiler would say. Also his thinking was limited — he naively thought Gotham's seas would only have marine life. One day an upright-walking octopus shows up, and Gothamites would have to nitpick whether to elect it as their lord.

"Does your Aquaman not care?"

"Actually, Gotham's land area once had a chance to double." Shiler put it diplomatically. "Talked out of it by other Justice League members."

Thor's mouth twitched. Though diplomatic, he understood. He didn't know Arthur well, but he knew Namor well — that guy thinks about flooding the land every day to expand his territory. He should go train in Gotham for a couple days to understand what "avoid like the plague" means.

The two chatted while finishing the meal. On the surface, Sif seemed to see them chatting heatedly and didn't come disturb them. In reality, this lady had gone back and forth to the buffet counter dozens of times before eating her fill. Though their constitutions are strong, they still get hungry. And there was Venom eyeing things tigerishly beside them — if they didn't hurry up and eat, it'd be another light fast broken.

Sure enough, not long after, Carter came to apologize. Naturally everyone said it was fine. However you put it, no one was actually hurt, and it was pretty thrilling.

Then Carter asked everyone's opinions. Since fishing was off the table now, no need to stay out at sea. Better to return to the hotel and rest properly.

But she also proposed a compensation plan. Since tonight's evening activity wasn't so satisfying, these people could voluntarily join tomorrow night's activity. Though from Carter's tone, she probably hadn't figured out what to do tomorrow night yet.

Just as Carter was about to leave again, Shiler stopped her: "Wait a moment, ma'am."

He glanced back at the crowd, then walked into the pilothouse with Carter. He said: "Regarding tomorrow night's activity, I have an idea. It's like this — just now Thor and I talked..."

Shiler briefly summarized. Carter slapped her forehead: "How did I forget this. Actually when Venom was wolfing things down earlier, I felt the ingredients might have been prepared too little. Forgot there were alien big eaters too..."

"Venom's situation doesn't count," Shiler said. "He wasn't hungry; he was purely gluttonous. If he really ate it all no one would complain. But he eats half and spits half..."

"Alright, but I saw Ms. Prince didn't seem to eat her fill either." Carter sighed. "I thought the menu lacked fruits and yogurt Greeks like, and specially told the chef to make more tonight. But whether it's a taste issue or what, she didn't look like she liked eating much either."

Shiler shook his head: "Although he's a demigod of the Greek pantheon, his relationship with the family isn't great. Amazonian dietary style differs from other European countries, and leans more toward meat. They like chewy poultry, barbecue and pit-roasted meat methods..."

Carter noted it down carefully, then said: "Actually I really want to visit Themyscira. After all, we didn't have that country before. Heard it's a very beautiful small nation. If I'd gone before, I wouldn't have made this mistake."

Shiler heard the sigh in her tone. Perhaps before her passionate romance and marriage with Captain America, she had other plans for her life. So he said: "It's not too late now. There's still plenty of time."

Carter took a deep breath, quickly composed herself, and said: "Then tomorrow we'll just do maximum-portion American barbecue. That solves the complaint about food not reflecting New York character, and satisfies these big eaters. Not to mention, beef will definitely be enough."

"That's enough. You also know, Earth counts as a very resource-rich place among the Nine Realms, even top-tier in the whole universe." Shiler flipped through his Marvel memories. He said, "Even Earth's most ordinary meats, placed in the universe, count as premium cuts — fine fibers, ample juices, rich fat fragrance. As long as quantity is sufficient, it'll definitely win universal praise."

Carter recalled, then said: "I've eaten Asgardian barbecue. Honestly, a bit too tough to chew, hard to swallow — like a steak grilled extremely old with a ton of gristle. Though some meats do have different flavors, compared to those, Earth's meat really qualifies as melt-in-your-mouth."

"Asgardian food has this problem especially severely." Shiler still recalled. "Asgardian combat power is too strong. The prey they bring back are often ten-plus-meter monsters. And their teeth are great — they like this coarse-fiber, chewy meat. Earth's meats, to them, are more like baby food. But I dare say, no one can refuse the fragrance of fat."

Carter nodded: "I'll get some grain-fed beef, so the fat fragrance is richer. Then add some chewy meats. I've eaten ostrich meat — that texture should be good."

America farms ostriches, but Shiler hadn't eaten ostrich meat. Heard it's rather like beef, but if you must eat something like beef, Shiler leans more toward venison.

He raised his idea. Carter nodded: "Yes, high-quality beef supply might not be enough. Can also add venison to fill the gaps."

"Decided then." Carter smiled. "Thank you so much, Professor. Honestly, at first I thought you'd be hard to get along with, but now you're indeed a respectable gentleman."

"You don't have to deliberately come up with a word to praise me." Shiler shook his head helplessly. "I'm not a character from a 19th-century opera."

"I thought you'd like it. But I'll still say it — Gotham people are all this tune. Look hard to get along with on the surface, but actually interact and they're witty and loyal, always have good ideas. Mr. Wayne is the same."

"You mean Thomas Wayne?" Shiler asked with some puzzlement. "What's he doing now?"

?? Chapter 5000!!! Confetti!!!