Fortunately, the taste of the sake is still normal, quite strong, with a hint of fruit aroma.
Su Ming pushed the cover rice to the side, ate the lobster, and started drinking. As a super soldier, his ultra-fast metabolism made alcohol almost ineffective, but since it was a time for relaxation and leisure, having a drink to set the mood was nice.
This shop isn't big, but the tables and benches are made of sandalwood from the island, with a beautiful color and a faint fragrance. The sea breeze blowing in from outside was quite refreshing.
"Bird, have you ever thought about going back to the United Kingdom?"
"Maybe..." Bird picked up a handkerchief and wiped his mustache. He showed a standard gentlemanly smile, but his eyes had a slight hint of confusion: "I don't know how long I'll live, but after I die, I still want to be buried behind the church in my hometown."
A captain of a destroyer, now can only command a sampan with a displacement of less than 3 tons. He didn't know what to say about himself, and maybe he would change to another ship, but who could say what the future would hold?
Su Ming nodded and took another gulp from his glass.
This fruit sake was invented by the island's Japanese residents, but it wasn't served in those small white porcelain cups. Instead, it was poured into a large glass, half full, like Western liquor.
"If you had the chance, would you want to go back to the battlefield?"
Hearing Su Ming's words, Bird's eyes lit up for a moment but quickly calmed down. As a soldier, he did wish to return to the battlefield, but he saw no sign of any war breaking out.
The Anglo-French Allied Army had won, and Germany was beaten down. Now, Germans found it difficult even to eat, let alone fight a war.
Would it be possible for the French to go to war with the UK?
That was a possibility, since the French had always been the old rivals. In history, the wars between the UK and France lasted for hundreds of years, and the French constantly desired to reclaim the seat of European dominance.
"The Germans are still digesting the bitter fruits of their last defeat, and as for the war...are you referring to the French?"
Su Ming certainly knew it wasn't the French, but he wouldn't say it was a little mustache from Austria. He chose to skip that part.
"We are all soldiers; smoke and death have long been part of our blood, and God will always give warriors a chance."
Even though Su Ming strictly speaking only participated in the battles of Metal, thinking of the battlefield made him eager to try again. It was a feeling hard to describe, the passionate excitement could indeed be addictive.
Bird's face also showed a joyful expression, as if he suddenly became much younger.
"Then thank you for your blessing, although war brings many misfortunes, I shouldn't say this...but we are soldiers, and soldiers always yearn for a new war."
It was on this topic that the two talked about the last World War. Bird thought Su Ming was once a member of the American Expeditionary Forces and was very curious about it.
He wanted to know how Su Ming managed to stay so active despite being injured so much, and what he had experienced.
Thus, Su Ming naturally satisfied his curiosity, turning stories like Saving Private Ryan and Enemy at the Gates into a World War battlefield scenario set on himself.
Those stories left Bird astonished, and he regarded Su Ming as a divine figure. Warriors always admire the strong, and although the branches of service were different, Su Ming's achievements were indeed terrifying.
Of course, Su Ming was just bragging to satisfy Bird. He couldn't possibly tell him that he was a modified warrior who had just eliminated cosmic-level villain Barbatos along with a nest of madman bats, fought alongside a group of masked people, and was then sent here by a blue naked man from another world.
Such topics were way too surreal...
"Oh God, Slade, you must be His beloved; with so many dangers and wounds, you actually survived."
Bird, hearing the end, was so thrilled that he, who usually didn't drink, eagerly asked for alcohol to toast with Su Ming. He admired war heroes vehemently.
"I have pretty good luck, so I feel that you'll return to the battleship."
Su Ming shamelessly accepted the compliment and fed some enchanted soup to Bird, intending to get help from him regarding Kahol Island in the future! Maintaining a good relationship is essential.
The two chatted about various things, and in the end, it was Bird who got drunk first. Su Ming carried him back to the harbor and handed him over to his butler, promising to visit Kahol Island in the future.
He stood on the wharf, watching their little boat depart.
After stretching his waist and arms, he carried his gear and found a small inn by the beach in Honolulu to stay in. In these days, there wasn't any need to register identities, as long as you had money.
.................
In the next few days, Su Ming completely relaxed, wandering to the beach every day, drinking some soda and beer.
The girls were running into the sea wearing vintage swimsuits, their laughter sounding like silver bells.
The sea always made people feel bright and cheerful, watching the white waves approach, retreat, and approach again, like a dance.
Unfortunately, at this time, there were still few American girls coming here, and the beach was mostly locals. The social conventions were also very conservative, and swimsuits were all one-piece, not showing any belly.
But it was already a very good place. Compared to European civilians, the natives in Hawaii were living better than they were.
At this time in Europe, many people couldn't even eat, while in Hawaii, as long as they were willing to work by hand, they could freely eat the fish in the sea and the animals and plants on uninhabited islands.
After lingering for a few days at different beaches on various islands, Su Ming tried archery for hunting and diving, and even found an equestrian club suited for affluent people and spent a few days horse riding there.
However, his combat instincts still deeply affected him.
For instance, when seeing the girls on the beach, his first reaction wasn't to look at their faces or legs, but first to check their upper limb muscles, examine their hands for gun calluses, assess their combat capability, stance, and potential threat.
All these calculations happened entirely subconsciously, uncontrollable, akin to instinct.
Trying hunting on a deserted island, he knew the jungle better than the native guides, and the hunting scenes were always so bloody that the guides were terrified, thinking he was a pervert, and left not long after arriving on the island.
However, the butcher at the Honolulu market, who bought the hunted prey, was amazed by the clean cuts of bled and skinned game, seeing eye to eye with Su Ming.
Butcher Old Zhang became his second friend in Hawaii, aside from Bird.
Half a month's time passed by unconsciously.
At this time, Hawaii's entertainment options were very limited. After all, there were only so many activities to get tired of, and Su Ming was back at the beach.
Currently, Su Ming was lying on a deck chair, with a flower lei around his neck, sipping lazy happy soda, feeling like he was gradually adapting to the peaceful era.
The high-speed metabolism of a modified person ensured he wouldn't gain weight, and he could drink cola freely, a bottle costing only 25 US cents.
Having abruptly transformed from an ordinary person into a super soldier before, now he was merely recapturing the feeling of being ordinary again, adapting quickly as well.
He had learned to ignore those calculations and analyses; at least now he didn't instinctively reach for a gun whenever a stranger passed by.
He was simply enjoying life now, no longer thinking about all those chaotic things, watching the sun gradually set beyond the sea, with everything around him bathed in the glow of sunset.