Superheroes

"General Chester, the House members have called again to press us. They say the public campaign has done enough, and it is time for Major General Kyle to depart."

Inside the supreme command office, Chester stood by the window with his back to the door. After hearing the soldier’s report, he nodded heavily. "I understand. Then have Captain Fury lead a convoy to pick him up."

The communications soldier froze, then hesitantly reminded him, "Have you forgotten? Captain Fury resigned the day before yesterday. You personally approved it, and he has long since left the main base."

"I was mistaken." General Chester let out a weary sigh, then pulled himself together and said with authority, "Send my personal armed convoy to Harlem Street. Once they have him, drive straight to the main base airport. When the vehicles arrive, report to no one. The transport aircraft is to take off within ten minutes. Major General Kyle must be delivered safely to Tokyo, Japan."

"Yes, sir! I’ll arrange it immediately!" The communications soldier accepted the order and withdrew.

The office fell silent again. After a long while, General Chester’s murmur faintly sounded within the room. "Heroes make success, and heroes bring ruin…"

Half an hour later.

Five reinforced, bulletproof armored vehicles were parked outside an ordinary villa. An elite force of dozens of armed soldiers stood in neat military formation, facing the tightly shut front door of the residence as they waited patiently and respectfully for something.

Creak—

Before long, the door opened in response.

A handsome young man in a Night Suit slowly stepped out, a one-handed sword strapped to his back and Energy Pistols holstered at either side of his boots. His striking blond hair gave him a cool, fierce air.

The instant his tall, straight figure appeared, the soldiers outside—former members of the Howling Commandos, as well as convoy soldiers who obeyed only the Five-Star General—instinctively straightened their backs. Their eyes focused with solemn intensity as they saluted in unison. "Greetings, Major General Kyle!"

The man before them was a superhero on American soil! And in the eyes of every soldier, he was a benchmark, a symbol, and a legend!

Kyle swept a cold glance over them without saying much. He was still dressed as the lone combatant who had always operated on the battlefield, but the integrated suit no longer bore any American military insignia or badge.

This battle was not for America, but for himself!

"Destination: Tokyo." Kyle’s face was icy as he climbed into the back seat of the armored vehicle in the middle.

Soon, the five armored vehicles formed a single line and sped down the streets toward the military main base airport in a grand procession.

On the second floor of the villa, Lucy pulled open the curtains and watched through the window with lingering reluctance, until the entire convoy vanished around the street corner.

When the armed convoy left Harlem Street and smoothly entered New York’s main thoroughfare, the sight along both sides of the road instantly changed.

Unlike the deserted, desolate scene on locked-down Harlem Street, the bustling main roads were packed with countless thousands of civilians.

Many of them held homemade signs and shouted excitedly at the passing armed convoy. Some begged him to stay, some offered support, and some prayed.

"Major General Kyle!"

Even inside the modified armored vehicle, with its powerful bulletproofing and soundproofing, the cries of the civilians by the roadside could still be faintly heard.

"Why do they know I’m leaving today?" Kyle was stunned. Looking out through the reinforced window, he saw innumerable civilians packed along both sides of the road as far as the eye could see.

It was as if half the people remaining in New York had come to see him off.

"Not today—these past few days." The driver spoke with some hesitation. "Ever since people learned that you were going to Japan alone, and that nearly half of Harlem Street had been sealed off by military forces, they have been waiting here morning and night, along the only route from Harlem Street to the main military base."

"What was the need for this…" Kyle fell silent, his gaze still fixed outside.

The main road stretched for miles, passing several intersections in New York’s busiest districts.

Yet no matter how long or broad the route became, the sidewalks were packed with civilians full of anticipation and gratitude. They held up signs and shouted, nearly rushing into the roadway. As a result, every ten meters required large numbers of traffic officers and police, using police cars and human barricades as protective lines to desperately contain the overwhelming crowd.

"Major General Kyle, please make sure you return victorious!"

"Hahaha! The general will definitely teach those Japanese samurai a brutal lesson!"

"When you return, the world will surely be at peace…"

Countless civilians shouted from the bottom of their hearts. This time, they no longer blindly sought help from the military. For the first time, they had placed their grand wish for world peace upon a single person.

As Kyle watched and listened, he suddenly realized something—perhaps this was the unique appeal of superheroes.

Heroes transcended the rigid laws and rules of reality. Whether or not they conformed to inflexible regulations, as long as they did what was just, they would be crowned with enduring glory and admiration.

Heroes accomplished what ordinary people could not, and could not accomplish what ordinary people could. Every action they took could change the structure of this world, stirring the admiration and respect of countless people.

In a sense, superheroes in this Marvel world truly were the embodiment of "gods."

And while praying day and night to gods or God was futile, superheroes could personally act and fulfill what people sought!

"Unfortunately, I only act for myself. I have no desire to become some superhero worshipped by millions." Kyle muttered, shrugged, and closed his eyes, half-reclining in the soft rear seat of the armored vehicle.

Only after the armed convoy left the main road did the civilians’ cheers finally fade from his ears. As if afraid to linger too long, the driver accelerated and drove the armored vehicle into the military main base.

The personnel at the main base had long been prepared. They set up a security perimeter, allowing the convoy to travel without obstruction until it stopped at the base airport, where it was handed over to the transport aircraft preparing for departure.

Rather than arranging for someone to leave on a mission, it looked more like escorting a prisoner.

Kyle kept a faintly cold expression throughout, silently following the procedure as he boarded the rear hold of the transport aircraft under the watch of armed soldiers.

A few minutes later.

America’s newest transport aircraft, capable of flying farther and higher than any before it, officially took off from New York’s military main base carrying War Hero Kyle Dove.

As the aircraft vanished into the high clouds, all personnel at New York’s military main base stopped what they were doing and stared emptily at the blue sky.

At the same time, Congressman Ivan, who received the news near the White House, secretly breathed a sigh of relief. So long as Kyle left and entered enemy Japan, he had already stepped halfway into the realm of victory.

As for whether Kyle could return, Ivan was not worried in the slightest. Did that even need asking? No matter how strong one person was, how could he fight the power of an entire nation?

Ivan smiled in satisfaction, locked his office door, took out a telegraph machine from a safe, and tapped out a coded message:

"The target aircraft has just departed New York. Immediately relay this intelligence to Japan…"