"Come on," Henry said, pointing toward the parking lot outside. "My car's parked there. I'll take you two to dinner."
In theory, the two Eternals didn't actually need to eat.
But according to Kingo, their meals nowadays were less about replenishing energy and more about satisfying their taste buds.
Although Gilgamesh and Thena had lived in seclusion for a long time, they certainly had no objection to indulging in good food.
As they walked toward the parking garage, Henry turned to the composed-looking woman.
"Thena, I've never had the chance to ask. How have you been doing with the jewelry? Have those episodes happened again?"
"No."
Thena patted the small pouch hanging at her waist and smiled with satisfaction.
"The jewelry works well. I haven't had any more episodes. These past few years have probably been the most peaceful period of my life."
Judging from the bulging pouch, she was carrying the rest of the vibranium jewelry inside.
"Henry, I've got a question," Gilgamesh cut in.
"Go ahead."
"Why has everyone been staring at me ever since we got here? It doesn't feel like the way thieves or pickpockets watch you in poorer places. Is there something wrong with what I'm wearing? Did I accidentally offend some religion again?"
Apparently, the pair had encountered this sort of thing frequently during their travels. Otherwise, Gilgamesh wouldn't have immediately assumed that was the reason.
Henry smiled helplessly.
"It's not your clothes. It's because of the terrorist attack in New York a little while ago. People have become especially wary of anyone with Middle Eastern features."
He then gave them a brief overview of the September 11 attacks and their aftermath.
Although the incident had nothing directly to do with the two Eternals, unless they intended to live deep in the wilderness forever, it was impossible to move through society without being affected by the currents of the times.
Gilgamesh asked question after question.
Even Thena showed genuine concern.
They continued talking as they climbed into the car and headed toward the restaurant.
Henry noticed that the Eternals' attitude toward life wasn't one of detached indifference, where the outside world could collapse around them while they simply punched through every obstacle.
Quite the opposite.
The Eternals were remarkably good at adapting to changing times and circumstances.
Their refusal to interfere didn't mean they didn't care.
They paid attention not because they wanted to change the world, but because they wanted to remain hidden within it.
Thinking about it from their perspective, it made perfect sense.
If they still viewed humanity the way they had seven thousand years ago—as primitive people barely clothed and concerned only with finding enough to eat—how could they possibly understand modern society or modern ways of thinking?
Although they hadn't truly scattered among humanity and integrated into human civilization until they believed they had completely eradicated the Deviants from Earth—a process that had only taken place over the past few centuries—that period represented less than a tenth of their seven-thousand-year lives.
From a human perspective, however, a few centuries was an unimaginably long time.
Even a pig would have become extraordinarily clever after living that long.
Not to mention the first generation of superhumans created by the Celestials.
"So... coming to New York now isn't exactly good timing?"
That was the conclusion Gilgamesh reached.
Henry thought about it for a moment before answering.
"I wouldn't call it good or bad timing. Thena only needs to change how she dresses.
"As for you..." He glanced at Gilgamesh. "With a face that intimidating, there probably aren't many people brave enough to provoke you in the first place."
Far from taking offense, Gilgamesh regarded it as praise.
The giant man grinned proudly.
"Then should we go buy new clothes first?"
Whether it was simply a universal trait among women or not, the very first thing Thena suggested was shopping.
For a brief instant, Henry felt completely at a loss.
What was the correct answer here?
If he answered wrong, would he accidentally step on some hidden landmine and get himself blown up by this dragon lady?
Fortunately, his superbrain quickly restored his composure.
He stuck to his original plan.
"Let's have dinner first, then get some rest tonight.
"If you want to go shopping, we can head out first thing tomorrow morning. By the time we reach the department stores now, most of them will be closing around seven. There won't be enough time to browse properly."
"Hmm. That works."
Thena nodded calmly.
Looks like I passed that test, Henry thought to himself.
But Gilgamesh immediately asked another question.
"If that's the case, won't we cause trouble if we go into the restaurant dressed like this?"
"Oh, don't worry."
Henry smiled.
"The restaurant I picked doesn't have that kind of problem. They treat everyone equally. And if someone causes trouble, they'll deal with it fairly."
A high-end membership restaurant backed by the Russian mafia... worried about discrimination?
If anything, they discriminated against everyone equally.
Upon arriving, Henry asked the two Eternals to leave anything unimportant in the car and take only their valuables before handing the vehicle over to the valet.
Naturally, he slipped the man a generous tip.
The burly fellow—who looked more like nightclub security than a valet—finally cracked a smile.
Since Henry had made the reservation using John Wick's name, and because he himself was a valued customer who never hesitated to spend money, the three of them were escorted directly into one of the restaurant's private VIP rooms.
Even the waitress assigned to them was a carefully selected young Russian woman.
Most people would probably never imagine that Russian vodka could also be served as a dinner drink.
This restaurant, however, was extravagant enough to place an entire bottle of vodka in front of every guest.
For someone like Gilgamesh—who had even brewed homemade corn liquor during his years of seclusion—alcohol wasn't exactly a necessity, but he certainly never turned it down.
Thena, on the other hand, had spent so many years living with Mahd Wy'ry that she'd avoided alcohol and any substances capable of affecting the nervous system, including narcotics.
Even though she was no longer constrained by the illness, she hadn't suddenly changed her habits.
She merely sipped the vodka now and then.
Besides, whether it was she or Gilgamesh, alcohol had very little effect on an Eternal anyway.
While the three chatted over their pre-dinner drinks, an unexpected knock came at the door.
The man who entered was none other than that melancholy Slavic heartthrob himself.
Even Thena's eyes brightened slightly upon seeing him.
John Wick shook hands with Henry, who had risen to greet him.
"Henry. The front desk told me someone had reserved a room using my name. I figured it had to be you."
Henry laughed.
"Surely you have more friends than just me. Am I really the only one who comes here to eat?"
"My other friends don't need to use my name."
John replied matter-of-factly.
"They just show up."
Since neither Eternal objected, Henry made the introductions.
"I'm hosting a couple of friends tonight. They just arrived in New York.
"This is Thena. And this bull of a man is Gilgamesh.
"Everyone, this is John Wick."
Having accompanied Audrey Hepburn to more than his fair share of charity galas, Henry handled this sort of social introduction with effortless grace.
The introductions concluded with polite greetings all around.
No one displayed the slightest hint of discourtesy.
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