11. Smallville: Cheats
19.
If Diana Prince were here, she would be delighted to receive such a gift.
Even though Superman had never encountered the Greek gods, he had heard rumors of Fairy Mead—said to be a fine brew produced only under Hades' rule, offering the drinker the most delicious flavor imaginable. Because of this, it was favored by the Greek gods and made an ideal offering. This popularity among the gods had some influence on Supergirl's aesthetics, and she had repeatedly quoted poems about Fairy Mead in the League.
...But judging from those chapters, there's no harm in having it in the possession of a mortal. Seeing how the farmer seems to be attracted by this glittering golden wine, it's better to let her keep it.
The most problematic part is actually this lake.
Clark Kent leaned over to survey the lake. The water was cool and clear at the edges, and green algae flourished beneath the surface, swaying erratically with the waves. It didn't seem unreachable. A glint flashed in Superman's eyes, and he quietly activated his X-Vision.
Aria had her back to him, completely clueless about the Kryptonian's operations.
Under the influence of super powers, the entire lake spread out like a disassembled cardboard box, and the fish seemed to be swimming in the air. The freshwater drum swimming lazily at the bottom of the river were fish with gray dorsal fins, slender bodies and an overall cylindrical shape. They moved leisurely among the algae, unaware that a Kryptonian was watching them.
Superman saw a crisscross of organic and inorganic phenomena. The lake was funnel-shaped, its deepest point only a dozen meters below the surface. He couldn't see where it led to the River Styx or the entrance to the ocean. He leaned too close, and Aria pulled him back, "Be careful not to fall in."
It looked like they'd have to explore at night. Clark agreed and decided to have the Alliance check the latest Black Manta sightings. Unless he was incredibly unlucky, Clark couldn't believe such precious equipment would be so carelessly discarded and brought to Kansas, so far out at sea.
"Okay, okay." The young reporter took a few steps back, looking frightened - he was pretending, because he could see everything under the water clearly.
"I feel like, maybe, maybe, if I move the rod a little, I'll catch more fish." Seeing Aria's lack of success after a while, Clarke, perplexed by the farmer's question, slightly adjusted the angle of her rod, bringing her float into the area where the fish were gathered. She didn't know what bait Aria had used, but once they entered the area, the fish rushed to bite like crazy. The farmer couldn't even pull the rod fast enough to catch the fish. If this were a fishing show, it would surely make the anglers in front of the TV red-eyed.
Aria's eyes turned hot when she looked at Clark Kent.
There is a cheat!
Isn't this a walking fishing hack? The underwater perspective, which wasn't included in the mod, is being offered in this form? Then, could she consider recruiting some humanoid hacks, like one that could talk to the fish, to help her eavesdrop on their conversations and prepare bait tailored to their tastes? Or perhaps one that could discharge electricity, so she could just stick her hand in the water—sorry, electrofishing is illegal; fishing still requires attention to ecological balance.
Aria's gaze was too explicit, and Clark instantly became uncomfortable. He knew the meaning of this look too well. There were many times when someone almost guessed his identity or misunderstood something, and they would show this expression - and Clark Kent knew that usually at this time he should do some clown work.
A few clowns, a few jokes, a burst of laughter. People's attention will soon shift elsewhere. No one will pay attention to the similarities between Clark Kent and Superman. Often, identities are concealed in the laughter.
But he felt that this trick might not work on the farmer. In the short time he had known her, he had already sensed the farmer's amazing train of thought. She might not have connected the two things at all, and it was only because of her passion for fishing that she did so.
Kent coughed twice and explained, "It's just some little knowledge I discovered while fishing. It's really nothing."
It turned out to be just experience. Aria couldn't hide her disappointment. She had thought she had finally encountered a humanoid cheat. But then again, if the mod really had some outrageous cheat settings, it would completely ruin the gameplay. Imagine a player with supernatural powers, capable of flying into the sky and into the earth. She could end the war single-handedly without Kent having to return to Stardew Valley with PTSD from the battlefield... It seemed she had been overthinking it.
After exchanging the can of bait for a whole bucket of lively fresh fish, the farmer stood up and shook the bucket. She looked at the pink sunset cut out by the forest and the occasional flying birds, and said with a lingering feeling: "I have run out of bait. Let's stop fishing here today." She still had to go home to plant the strawberry seeds she had just bought today. Now that she remembered this new spot, she could come here by herself in the future regardless of rain or shine.
In a small town, the most important thing is social etiquette. Aria promptly expressed her gratitude to the NPC who helped her unlock a new location today: "Thank you, Clark."
The farmer always smiles with a cheerful and optimistic demeanor, as if nothing can stop her. She can go back and plow another ten acres of land right away: "Today is a really happy day for me."
People always express their gratitude to Superman—he saved their lives, and thus, different languages embody the same emotions: gratitude, admiration, and longing. Superman knows that some worship him as the reincarnation of Jesus, while others, "to earn the saint's guilty kiss, gladly accept the plague as a blessing."* He has always been cautious in dealing with public sentiment and uses it as a guide to his own morality—after all, many people regard Superman as their role model, and if he makes a wrong move, it is very likely to trigger a chain reaction of imitations.
...But Clark Kent rarely received thanks. The human touch of the metropolis couldn't mask its true nature as a metropolis. Everything was as hurried as a fast-moving machine. People were busy making a living, whipping themselves into a perpetual spinning top. They rarely expressed love, let alone expressed gratitude to strangers they met by chance.
Perhaps it was because his nerves had finally relaxed after returning to Smallville, Clark Kent's keen emotional antennae no longer maintained a safe distance between people like in the Steel City. Instead, he expressed his emotions more casually and was able to capture other people's kindness better than before.
The young reporter smiled and said, "You're welcome."
A heart popped out from Clark Kent's head. It turns out that some NPCs can gain favorability without giving gifts?
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*Quoted from Tears and Saints
It's said to be updated every other day, so today is also today (nods)
Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or provided me with nutrient solution between 2024-06-17 20:58:11 and 2024-06-19 23:59:18~
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