A Matter of National Prestige

Led by Fury, Kyle followed him to the command room at the American headquarters.

"You go in. I’m just here to pass along the message." Fury stopped at the command room door and gestured for Kyle to enter alone.

"Alright. I’ll find you later."

Kyle nodded and strode straight into the command room without any stage fright.

The room was plain and minimalist. A massive strategic map served as a decorative backdrop, alongside an American flag striped with stars. Behind a military desk piled high with documents sat a middle-aged officer.

The officer appeared to be in his early forties. His face was stern and rugged, and he wore a full officer’s uniform. A distinguished general’s insignia was clearly pinned to the left side of his chest, bearing five stars.

A Five-Star General! The highest-ranking general in America during World War II, and the supreme commander of this tripartite Allied force!

Kyle looked at the general before him, planted his feet firmly, and gave a standard salute. He raised his voice. "Major Kyle, reporting!"

General Chester looked up, his sharp gaze sweeping over Kyle, who stood less than three meters in front of him. Then he nodded with a warm smile. "Major Kyle, you’ve finally returned."

Kyle nodded. "Yes. During the battle in the Alps, an accident occurred while we were pursuing Hydra’s leader, Schmidt. Steve crashed into the sea in an out-of-control aircraft. I survived by parachuting out beforehand."

"Steve… I’ve already read the details in the telegram Agent Carter sent." General Chester sighed regretfully, then said to Kyle, "Your safe return is already the greatest victory report for our army. At this critical moment in World War II, a War Hero cannot fall so easily."

General Chester paused slightly, then said meaningfully, "Actually, I personally wanted to meet you long ago. You should know that I was the one who gave the order for the Super Soldier experiment to be carried out. You were the pioneer who refused the Super Soldier experiment and gave the opportunity to Steve, your fellow trainee. I remember that clearly."

Kyle looked embarrassed and shrugged. "All I can say is that I was too proud back then and failed to cherish the chance to become a Super Soldier. Fortunately, I got lucky later and became the second Super Soldier by coincidence."

"The facts proved that you had the right to be proud." General Chester shook his head lightly and said in a deep voice, "After Steve became the only Super Soldier, I thought highly of the American justice and iron will within him. That was why I personally taught him combat techniques."

"Steve becoming Captain America, an American Hero, exceeded my expectations, but it was also within reason."

"But you, Kyle—from a recruit at the Training Base to repeatedly creating miracles of war on the front lines, step by step reaching your current status as a hero who influenced the battlefield through your own strength—you have far exceeded my imagination."

After saying that, General Chester looked at Kyle with undisguised admiration.

"Luck. It was all luck," Kyle said modestly. The general had practically praised him to the heavens, so he had to be humble for once.

"If it was all luck, then the goddess of fortune must have spent all her luck on you." General Chester teased him before turning serious. "Yesterday, after learning that you had safely returned to the Training Base, I specifically contacted the President to discuss your situation."

"Discuss me?" Kyle was slightly taken aback as he waited for General Chester to continue.

General Chester said seriously, "I recommended that you be exceptionally promoted to the Major General rank. The President has already approved it."

Major… Major General?

Kyle was genuinely stunned this time. What did Major General mean? It meant becoming an officer at the general level!

He had previously experienced remarkable promotions, from recruit to corporal, from corporal to Second Lieutenant through merit, and from Second Lieutenant to Major after stacking up military achievements. But this promotion was simply too enormous.

Normally, every small step up from Major required extensive time and accumulated military merit. Yet it had been less than a month since Kyle was promoted to Major.

"General Chester, I don’t believe I’ve accumulated enough military merit to be promoted to Major General yet," Kyle said hesitantly.

"Hahaha. If military merit or battle records alone were enough, then even if I worked for fifty years, I would at most reach the rank of four-star general." General Chester laughed, then enlightened Kyle. "This is World War II. Everything has exceptions!"

That was true. America had only produced a Five-Star General during World War II, and there had only been one.

Kyle nodded thoughtfully.

General Chester continued, "The military rules of peacetime do not apply here. As long as it can better guide the war toward victory, forget Major General—even the position of Five-Star General could be yours!"

"It’s only Major General. There’s no reason for me to be afraid to take it." Kyle nodded confidently, then voiced his final concern. "It’s just that on the battlefield, compared to commanding soldiers, I’m better at fighting enemies alone. Isn’t giving me the status of Major General a little extravagant?"

"Not extravagant at all." General Chester smiled and explained, "With your current fame and prestige as a War Hero, even if you are exceptionally promoted to Major General, every soldier on our side would only support it wholeheartedly."

"More importantly—the upcoming campaign against Germany will be an Allied operation led by our forces. As a heroic figure representing our nation in this expedition, remaining only a Major would inevitably cause some officers from other countries to look down on you."

Hearing this, Kyle quickly understood.

General Chester’s exceptional promotion of him to Major General was not only for Kyle himself, but also for the dignity of the entire nation and military.

A hero symbolizing the nation’s strength and conquest, merely a Major? That would not do. Only a general-level rank had enough prestige!

General Chester finally said slowly, "The portion of the army under your command can be entrusted to officers you trust enough to command in your place. If you have no other questions, then from this moment onward, you are a Major General. The corresponding rank insignia can be transferred to you now. I will also submit and complete the relevant paperwork for you. News of this promotion will spread before our army joins the Allied forces."

"You’ve already arranged everything, General. What would I even refuse for?" Kyle spread his hands. They were forcing a Major General rank on him—there was no reason not to accept it.

Five minutes later, Kyle left the command room looking somewhat speechless.

Fury had been waiting not far outside the command room. When he saw Kyle emerge, he immediately came over. "Hey, Kyle. What’s wrong? Why do you look so down?"

"See for yourself." Kyle expressionlessly lifted his left shoulder.

"Hm? Your Major insignia, why has it become two stars…" Fury’s words abruptly stopped. He rubbed his right eye, widened it, and said bitterly, "Is something wrong with my other eye? Why do I see the insignia of a Major General?"

"You’re not seeing things. It’s the Major General rank." Kyle said listlessly.

A promotion was a good thing. The problem was, being promoted to Major General just like that really gave him no sense of accomplishment!