"...In conclusion, when we encounter aliens, we must not judge their likes and dislikes based on the human facial expression system. Body language is also a crucial aspect to consider. However, due to so races having vastly different physical forms from humans, their emotional expressions through body language may also be markedly different. Now, please turn to page 31 of the textbook, and let introduce you to so of the unique body language used by special races in the cosmos..."
Amidst the rustling sound of pages turning, Jason looked around. To his left sat a Black guy who didn't look particularly strong, certainly not compared to him. The absence of tattoos on the visible parts of his arms and neck suggested he hadn't been involved with the street.
To his right sat a young girl who appeared even younger and sowhat frail, wearing round glasses, feverishly taking notes as if she was copying down yesterday's.
Noticing Jason's gaze, the Black guy lowered his voice and said, "What are you doing? Hurry up and turn the pages."
"I'm just a bit curious, isn't this an agent training class? You guys don't look like you'd be capable agents."
"Haven't you realized that you're the exception?" The Black guy put on his glasses before saying, "You look like you're from the field; did you transfer from the field team?"
"Uh, what's the difference?"
"We're here to be trained as diplomats," the Black guy explained. "Earth will be sending out an expedition to each of the Three Great Empires soon. Though it's for a technical exchange, we also need to gather intelligence; that's what we're here for."
The girl sitting beside them chid in upon hearing their conversation, "I don't know what your teacher was thinking. With your build, you won't blend in with the expeditions. One look and they'll know you're an agent."
Jason felt a bit embarrassed. It turned out this was a class for spies, but wasn't Captain Arica a superhero? Why would he be teaching espionage here?
Before Jason had ti to ponder further, Captain Arica at the front had begun the lecture, and soon Jason was engrossed by the various exotic races of the universe. A class passed by without him even noticing.
After class, everyone quickly left. Captain Arica, standing at the lectern, called Jason over and smiled, "How are you adjusting?"
"It's okay. I find the course interesting. But I have a question, and I an no offense, but why are you teaching this class?"
"Why couldn't I?" Captain Arica seed curious, looking back at Jason, as if realizing sothing. With a sowhat resigned smile, he said, "Here, being a superhero is like a part-ti job. I need to have so work, don't I?"
"Is that how it is for everyone?" Jason asked with curiosity.
"For most, yeah. So younger ones still in school can devote more ti to being superheroes, but for adults who've left school, most have dual identities."
"I don't an that. Do they all work in the agent division like you?" Jason paused, feeling his question was impolite and added, "What I an is, it seems a bit inconsistent with the image of Captain Arica that I heard about. I thought you'd be like a spiritual leader of the human race."
Captain Arica actually gave it so thought before replying, "Personally, the job is pretty good. The work hours are very regular, the salary is high, and there are various faculty benefits, free coffee, doughnuts, etc."
"From the perspective of being Captain Arica, during the past wars, I was shaped by the US governnt as a symbol of Arican spirit. And that Arican spirit, at least during that era, was about patriotism, striving, and creating a better future with your own hands. I personally agree with those values, so I was happy to help the governnt promote them as Captain Arica."
"However, while I was asleep at the bottom of the sea, the country underwent so changes. Clearly, the US governnt no longer felt that I, representing the spirit of that era, could continue to be the symbol of Arican spirit. They didn't want to use for propaganda, and even thought that the existence of Captain Arica might influence the public's voting tendencies, giving more benefits to the conservatives. So, naturally, the image of Captain Arica stopped appearing widely in the dia."
Jason listened attentively and nodded along. In so respects, Captain Arica was more complex than anyone he knew, since he had lived through two different eras in a very unique way.
During World War II, he was the most famous superhero, the greatest hero in the hearts of the Arican people, but his glory ca to an abrupt halt. When he awoke, the entire world had changed.
Jason had t long-life individuals before, but Captain Arica was different from them because he had jumped forward, skipping an entire era and entering the next, almost as if he had traveled to the future. The psychology of such a person was worth studying.
"I don't think the Arican spirit that I promoted back then was just so lie forced upon by the US governnt. In that era, I, along with many of my companions, truly embodied that beautiful spirit. I don't feel like my past self was in vain."
"Looking at the facts, I accept that this identity and what it represents are no longer suitable for modern tis, so I'm not sad that the image of Captain Arica is fading from people's view."
"The identity of Captain Arica might not be as dazzling as it was, but I'm still alive. I can't cling to the past and wallow in faded glory. Instead, I should seek new self-worth. That's why I accepted Nick's invitation to take charge of Earth's diplomatic affairs, where I've accumulated so experience, which I can now pass on to the young people."
"At this mont, I am satisfied with everything I'm doing, but I feel I can do even better. Teaching is only a part of my career for now. As Earth's interstellar diplomacy further develops, I believe there will be more opportunities for , and I can continue to build my new career in this field."
Jason felt that listening to Captain Arica was quite enjoyable, yet he was also a little puzzled. Was Captain Arica a bit too practiced in explaining his psyche to others?
It seed that Captain Arica had seen through what Jason was thinking, and he smiled and said, "If you had a psychological evaluation once a week, you would have this ability too."
"Once a week, isn't that too often?" Jason said. "That doesn't seem to comply with the professional standards of psychologists, does it?"
"Yes, but our Doctor is a bit special. Whenever he finds the ti, he enjoys doing these evaluations. Others might find it annoying, but I don't. I try as hard as I can to clearly express my inner thoughts, and to do it better each ti."
"Then he must be a bit too idle," Jason said.
"It's better for him to be idle," Captain Arica shook his head and said. "Doing psychological assessnts for is much better than doing them for Demon Gods or Abstract Entities."
Alright, Jason thought to himself, I'd like to see how well you've trained, so he asked a sharp question.
"Do you think modern Arica doesn't deserve Captain Arica?"
It seed the question didn't stump Captain Arica, or perhaps he was just too practiced, having already sorted out all such issues in his heart during countless reflections on psychological evaluations.
"If it were the Arica that developed into the Golden Age under my influence that rejected , I would feel that they had betrayed , abandoned . But if it's the modern Arica that developed while I was asleep for 70 years that rejects , I'd feel it was only fair, since I couldn't contribute anything to this era, just lying in a glacier not doing anything," he said.
"Those who work more get more, those who don't work don't earn anything. Since I haven't contributed to the developnt of this era, it's only right that they don't accept or that they forget ."
"Using my rits and faults from the previous era to speculate about what I might be able to do in a new era, and judging my worthiness based on this speculation, is a taphysical fallacy."
"The truth is, what I was able to achieve in the previous era might not necessarily be possible in the new one. In this tumultuous developing new era, I might not shine as I did before. So what grounds do I have to feel the new era doesn't deserve ?"
Jason found this perspective interesting, and said, "I heard that you defeated Hydra, the most evil organization of World War II. You must be very powerful. Even so, do you also think that if you hadn't been asleep, you might not have done better in the new era?"
"War and peace are two different worlds, but I absolutely cannot say that peace ti is definitely better than a ti of war," Captain Arica said, bolder than Jason had expected. "Because the mainstream viewpoint now is to pursue peace. If soone says that a chaotic and turbulent war era is better than a peaceful era, that person would definitely be labeled a terrorist."
But Captain Arica clearly had a different view, and he said, "Indeed, many sacrifices were made back then, and I an not just in Arica, but worldwide. War brought great casualties, but it also reshaped the world's structure."
"In such tis, there were plenty of opportunities for advancent. To not exaggerate, the Arica of that era really could get rich through hard work. As long as you were willing to put in the effort, you could significantly improve your situation over what it was initially."
"But now..." Captain Arica shook his head and said, "Sotis I understand why they don't advocate for Captain Arica anymore, because the Arican ideals I represent truly can't be achieved anymore. So people work their whole lives and see no change."
"Class turmoil and class solidification," Jason said after thinking for a mont. "Each has its benefits and drawbacks, depending on what different classes of people hope for."
"Exactly," Captain Arica said. "If I hadn't been asleep, the contributions I made in the last era would have easily allowed to beco a part of the upper class, and even if the class system later beca rigid, I would at least have lived in comfort and luxury."
"But sotis I think, when I see people who work hard and still can't improve their lot, would I truly be at ease enjoying all I had? And if I felt guilty, what would I do then?"
"Are you worried you would beco the architect of chaos and instability?"
"I don't think I'm that extre, but I might want to help these people more. But you understand, one cannot betray their own class. As a traitor to my class, I probably wouldn't et a good end," Captain Arica said.
Jason could almost see a different future, one where Captain Arica hadn't slept, returned as a triumphant hero, was cheered by the public, and exchanged his fa for wealth and status, living a life of gloss and glamour.
But he was a profound and kind man, so when he would discover the follies of the next era, he would choose to stand up, but without war, his importance would diminish, and the enemy he faced would be the entire upper class.
Those who had elevated him could cast him down into the mire, and those guided by the governnt to adore and chase after him could also be misled to discard and betray him.
So he felt that even if he had smoothly transitioned into the new era, what awaited him might not be as glorious an end as in the previous era. More likely, it would be the case of an old soldier not dying but rely fading away.
Each era speaks of its own contributions, and if his status in the new era were just as such, then perhaps more people would feel it was the once-hero who wasn't fit for the new era, that it was Captain Arica who had been abandoned by the tis.
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