Karl Family Supreme Meeting

Of the hundreds seated in the conference hall, most were Americans, with a small number of Asians as well. The genders were roughly evenly divided.

The oldest was nearly sixty, with graying temples and a face covered in wrinkles or scars. The youngest were only around fourteen—young girls and boys whose undeveloped faces and figures still radiated childishness.

Some wore full suits, some wore leather combat gear, some were dressed in simple casual clothes, while others wore luxurious long robes with strange and distinctive designs.

Upon receiving notice of the Karl family’s supreme meeting, most Card Disciples living throughout the world had immediately gathered and returned to the island base through the nearest spatial teleportation portals within twelve hours.

At this moment, all three generations of Card Disciples cultivated over the past sixty-odd years had returned to the third-floor conference hall. Not a single person was absent.

Their expressions were tense and solemn. Each of them sat upright in their chairs, quietly waiting while suppressing their excitement.

Among the three generations of Card Disciples, aside from the few Black Tier elites of each generation who could freely return to the family base and receive one vial of Infinite Formula serum every year—

Most of the remaining Card Disciples would leave the family base after their terms expired. Possessing abilities and knowledge far beyond those of ordinary people, they would be elites wherever they went. Some established forces affiliated with the family, some became heads of mercenary groups or officials in the upper ranks of major nations, and those with better opportunities even became nobles or royalty in certain countries.

As long as they used legitimate means, the money and valuable items acquired by Card Disciples outside the base could be exchanged for family contribution points, which could then be used to obtain Infinite Formula serum, advanced equipment, Creature Cards, and more from the base.

Through this virtuous cycle, the Karl family had been quietly growing almost every year. From 1945 until today, perhaps not even the Card Disciples within the Karl family knew just how vast the main family’s enterprises and influence had become!

The Karl family’s foundation had continued expanding like an endlessly growing snowball. Precisely because of this, the betrayal of a single Card Disciple would likely bring pursuit from every other Card Disciple. As a result, there had never been a precedent of betrayal among them!

Furthermore, the first generation of Card Disciples had all received Ability Cards from Kyle and had long regarded him as a god. As for the second and third generations, even if they had never met Patriarch Kyle, the warnings and teachings of the first-generation Card Disciples had instilled loyalty to the Karl family and Kyle deep into their bones from childhood…

Tap, tap!

Footsteps sounded from outside the door. At once, the hundreds of Card Disciples straightened their backs, their burning gazes falling in unison upon the entrance.

A silver-haired young man in a fluttering black trench coat walked indifferently into the hall, with Yutong following closely behind him. Amid the focus of countless eyes, the two slowly approached the seats of honor at the round table.

There were five chairs there! One main seat reserved for the Patriarch, along with four secondary seats on either side!

The silver-haired young man sat directly in the main seat, while Yutong took the secondary seat to his right.

As soon as they sat down, the hundreds of Card Disciples rose in perfect unison and greeted them together. "Greetings, Patriarch! Greetings, Overseer!"

"Sit." Kyle raised both hands and pressed them lightly downward. The Card Disciples immediately sat back down.

Kyle looked around at the otherwise occupied seats. Only three secondary seats beside him remained empty, and he let out a quiet sigh.

Howard and Logan were one thing, but he had not expected Lucy to board that Interstellar Ship as well. The three of them had left Earth together, heading into outer space to search for him.

Now, more than twenty years had passed. Kyle had returned, yet the three of them had become the ones whose whereabouts were unknown.

An inventor, a Wolverine, and a girl with Elf’s Blessing. What a bizarre combination.

Kyle sighed inwardly, but his tightly furrowed brows soon relaxed.

Thinking about it, their combined combat power was certainly not weak. In the universe of the Human World, as long as they had not been unlucky enough to enter some death planet, there was still a strong chance that they had survived.

I can ask Heimdall to help find them.

Kyle quickly settled on a plan, calming himself as he swept his gaze across the hundreds of Card Disciples before him. With a faint smile, he said, "The main reason I gathered every Card Disciple for the family’s supreme meeting is to tell you one thing clearly…"

"I have returned." Kyle’s words were calm, yet they carried an indescribable power that made the hearts of the hundreds of Card Disciples tremble. Tears already glimmered in the eyes of some elderly first-generation Card Disciples.

No matter how large the Karl family had grown, even if several core members left, it could still maintain its strength and prosperity. But without its Patriarch, it was like a body without a soul—developing blindly, yet unable to find a purpose for its future.

Kyle’s return was like the switch that started the Karl family’s aircraft carrier. Only he could command every Card Disciple and make them willingly devote their lives and efforts.

"There is one more matter, and it is equally important." Kyle tapped the tabletop lightly with his fingers and said decisively, "The Karl family has remained hidden for over half a century. Now that the times have changed, it is time for part of our strength to emerge into the open."

The moment those words were spoken, every Card Disciple’s eyes widened, revealing expressions of longing and immense anticipation.

They had waited far too long to hear those words!

Whether they remained at the base or went out to establish their own forces, the Karl family’s Card Disciples were forbidden from revealing their identity as "Card Disciples" to outsiders.

A small number of people in the world knew of Card Disciples, but they only believed it was the codename of Zero Organization’s professional assassins. They had never known that Card Disciples were actually members of the Karl family!

Almost no one knew what Card Disciples represented—or what the Karl family truly represented!

"The family’s island base will remain as it is. In New York, I will purchase another building to serve as the Karl family’s gateway for dealing with the outside world, and have some Card Disciples stationed there." Kyle considered it, then looked at the gathered Card Disciples and said in a deep voice, "As for your identity as Card Disciples, there is no longer any need to conceal it from the public."

"But remember this: do not use your identity as Card Disciples to do filthy or evil things. Otherwise, do not blame me for cleaning house."

As Kyle spoke that final sentence, his golden eyes gleamed, and faint golden flames rose over his body. The oppressive aura of a God of Fire swept across the hall, raising the indoor temperature by several degrees in an instant.

The Card Disciples were no ordinary people; their senses were exceptionally sharp. Looking at Kyle as he revealed the aura of a godly race, they felt as if they were facing a vicious dragon baring its fangs. The unbridgeable gap in combat power filled them with profound helplessness.

Cold sweat drenched them as they nodded reflexively in response.

This was the Patriarch. So strong! Terrifyingly strong! His level of evolution was far beyond theirs!

The Karl family’s supreme meeting ended briefly and simply. As the Card Disciples gradually departed, the third-floor conference hall became quiet and empty.

Kyle, seated in the main seat, turned to look at Yutong beside him, who maintained her noble and aloof demeanor. With emotion in his voice, he said, "Yutong, you have worked hard."

Howard, Logan, and Lucy’s departure had placed nearly the entire burden of the Karl family upon Yutong’s shoulders. No wonder Yutong had become the lofty Black Queen she was today.

Overseeing and controlling the family’s internal and external forces alone for more than twenty years, it would have been difficult not to become the Black Queen.