Steve didn't continue speaking, because there was no need; the facts spoke for themselves. At that time, Steve was indeed too young. He thought the war era was the nadir; when he awoke after being frozen for decades, he saw that America was called the "golden age."
Steve always emphasized that those times were indeed good and were the most prosperous period for America. But this wasn't because America was a paradise then, it was because America now resembles Hell too much.
American society had many issues back then, and Steve certainly wasn't unaware of them. But it depends on whom you're comparing it to. If compared to the utopias that both sides of the Cold War wanted to build, then society indeed had problems. But if compared to today's America, calling it a golden age isn't an overstatement.
"Actually, I've always had a thought," Natasha said, leaning her head on her fingertips, "if I accidentally fell into an ice hole in Minsk and was frozen until now, waking up to see the earth-shattering changes, what would I feel?"
"I think I would be very sad, maybe even lose the will to live, because my great motherland suddenly died," Natasha feigned a woeful expression, but soon she laughed, "But if I came to America, I'd regain the will to live. It's a good thing the Soviet Union died, if it turned into today's America, I'd probably die of disgust."
"It's a pity we can't trade places. Otherwise, I wouldn't have to witness how my country rotted away, and you wouldn't wake up to fall straight into a cesspool," Natasha took a big swig of liquor.
Steve's expression wasn't good. Because as the saying goes, lies are not sharp blades, truth is the real sharp knife. The greatest benefit of a dead body is that it can't make more jokes. The Soviet Union showed signs of embarrassment, but because it died quickly enough, it became fondly remembered by many.
The consequence of America surviving is that there is not a single day without embarrassment. Moreover, given the most probable outcome of this election, this isn't the limit. The next president has a very unique perspective on how to govern this country; every day after he takes office will likely set new records for embarrassment.
But what could Steve do? The frail Steve of the past felt powerless facing the morbid truths of society, just as the strong Captain America does now. He was never satisfied with being Captain America, because he understood the massive task of challenging society and history as a mere human. Anyone facing this colossal work feels their own lack of greatness.
The closest Steve ever came to solving the problem was when Shiller stood in Congress and said he needed a brighter lighthouse.
Captain America, this superhero representing America, more American than America itself, boarded the starship, becoming a beacon for humanity's exploration and pioneering of the cosmos. Wherever there's light, he spreads light.
Steve Rogers, the last speck of gold from the giant corpse woven of flesh and gold, youth and beauty glowing with bloodlight, is cooked, cast, until the shackles melted into a shield held in hand. Wherever there's heat, he spreads heat.
But when he returned to Earth and found himself again dragged into the quagmire of Hampton, he had no choice but to face the incurable morbid facet of this society. There are too many things he wants to flee from but cannot. Because now, he is no longer the weak Brooklyn kid easily thrown out; with great power comes great responsibility.
After figuring this out, Steve decided to stay. His silence stemmed from knowing he wasn't professional in this field. Leaving it to those who were truly the upper-class would be better, also because, even if he couldn't do anything, just standing there itself was a form of support.
No one present couldn't understand Steve. He wanted to solve the problem but wasn't professional enough, so he didn't plan to intervene but rather made room for professionals to handle it.
"Alright," Greed said, "let me explain why we're not stepping out now to prevent the potential massive casualties. The logic here is a bit complicated, and I'll try to explain as thoroughly as possible."
"In upper-class society, there's no justice to pursue, which is both true and false. Usually, everyone fights over who defines justice. But in upper-class society, sometimes you must concede the right to define justice to the other party."
"In a completely self-interested collective, interest equals justice. Most of them think this way, so they call those who bring them benefits just, and those who harm their interests evil."
"Just like what Captain did when he was young. He thought exposing a murder was just, but these upper-class people didn't because it harmed their interests, so they must label it evil. Once labeled as evil, it is repelled, or even becomes the target of their united attacks, which is obviously not a good way to enter the game."
"So, the way to make them define you as just is not to harm their interests, but rather to bring them benefits. Make them feel that they have something to gain from you, then without you having to say anything, they will surely elevate you, calling you the most benevolent person in the world."
Steve nodded, having experienced this deeply. Because now, both the military and the Federal Government are scrambling to use him to enhance their image, with press releases touting Captain America everywhere, as if they can't wait to move the Statue of Liberty to let him stand on it. Anyone who dares to say that Captain America is not just will first face their sanctions.
"And the most crucial part of bringing them benefits is that you cannot send yourself to them. Once they find out they can also use you, the relationship will become mutually exploitative. They will no longer feel they are taking unilaterally but rather both sides benefit, and it's only right for them to use you."
"Once it turns into such a relationship, you will gradually lose the initiative. Because they will certainly want to use your intentions for them to turn the mutually beneficial relationship into one where they have an overwhelmingly dominant position, ordering you around, even turning you into their dog."
"To avoid falling into such a predicament, you must first show that you demand nothing from them. You're not after them at all, having no intention of getting involved in their affairs, nor wanting anything from them, but rather just a passing stranger."
"For this reason, we cannot act at this time to intervene in this matter. Otherwise, they will feel that solving the Hampton issue is The Avengers' duty to maintain social stability and then, like treating subordinates, condescensionally command superheroes to solve problems for them. They are very adept at doing so."
"It wouldn't be so bad if they could indeed give clear instructions, but their attitude is covering up more than solving problems. They only want to maintain peace, like when Dracula was around, suppressing everything as if nothing happened. But the problem is that even Dracula couldn't suppress it, proving this method doesn't work anymore. They won't believe it and will only keep insisting on this path, ultimately screwing everything up."
"To prevent them from taking the high ground and making a mess of things, we must not act first but rather let them come to us. This is not standing by idly and allowing death. On the contrary, this is saving their necks. Otherwise, by their approach to solving problems, few will survive in Hampton."
"Even from an emotional standpoint, they absolutely cannot be allowed to dominate this matter. Because they must be very panicked now, and this group can never be united. In the end, it will certainly evolve into everyone wanting The Avengers to be their personal bodyguards, as long as they can survive, not caring whether others die or not. At that time, large-scale deaths will really occur in Hampton, causing social turmoil. What we're doing is preventing this worst-case scenario."
Greed took a sip of wine to moisten his throat and said: "That's why I'm hosting a housewarming party to make them understand that we are here not to solve any supernatural events. Our presence here is only because they are invited to help me move. We demand nothing from them; it's entirely their need for us. Securing the initiative makes the subsequent things easier."
Everyone nodded, although it's a bit complex, Greed has made it very clear. In the game with American elites, it's always either the western wind overpowers the eastern wind, or the eastern wind overpowers the western wind, there can never be a middle option. For in their mind, there's only a zero-sum game, only masters and slaves. If you don't whip them, they will whip you. The modern notion of equality is nonexistent; there is only one side entirely suppressing the other.
In such a case, if you choose to sit down and negotiate with them, they will think you are easy to bully and then attempt to trample over you, inch by inch, plundering everything. To deal with this group, you must first put them under your feet.
And there are many ways to suppress the other side; fists or social tactics both work. Greed chose a relatively gentle approach, which is to wait until they are scared beyond reason and come to seek aid.
Even though there will certainly be casualties during this process, it is better than having a tug-of-war with them, getting everything messed up and no problem solved, and in the end, dragging the entire Hampton to Hell.
Furthermore, because Ghosts have a component of illusion, it is the knowledgeable or those with a guilty conscience who are haunted by Ghosts. Because everyone's illusion is based on their own memory, it won't appear if they haven't done or known about something. Like Banner or Hawkeye, these outsiders can't see paranormal phenomena at all.
"The housewarming party is the key," Natasha said. "But if you're planning to have it in just a few days, can such a short time really frighten everyone into coming to us for help?"
"Yes, it will." Arrogant lowered his eyelids, saying lightly, "There's nothing that can't be solved with a party."
Even though this seemed unproblematic, everyone sensed something unusual from it.
When Arrogant turned to look out the window at the sea, the falling snow reflected in his gray pupils, like great bodies falling from the sky, a long whale fall in the deep sea.