Symbol of Peace

It was midmorning. Gentle sunlight fell over the forest, dispersing the white mist as light and shadow intermingled hazily.

Kyle wore a long-sleeved casual outfit and sunglasses, reclining comfortably on a sun lounger on the lawn of the grand estate. Venom’s true body sprawled on the grass beside the chair, restlessly rolling back and forth.

Three days had passed since he returned to New York. Having shed the identities of War Hero and major general, he was far from the chaos and slaughter of war, and his leisurely days were comfortable and unhurried.

"Venom, do you feel like my body has undergone a slight change?" Kyle muttered with a frown. He was not referring to the relaxed, lazy state of mind he had fallen into, but to his Perfect Physique, now at the peak of a Super Soldier.

He had begun sensing this change after withstanding the lingering aftermath of the nuclear blast in Tokyo, Japan.

While symbiotically bonded with Venom, the sensation had not been especially strong. Once separated from Venom, however, he could faintly sense a latent change occurring within his body.

Inside Card Space, he had carefully sorted through the Ability Cards that altered his physique, focusing on Super Soldier and Healing Factor, yet he had failed to find the cause of this underlying change.

Was it the radiation from the nuclear blast, affecting the genetic structure in my body that had originally been stabilizing?

Kyle pondered in secret. The change was too slight to his body, and for the moment, he had no idea whether it was good or bad.

Just then, an extended black-and-gold luxury car emerged from a road cut through the forest and came to a stop in the open space before the estate building.

Two suited bodyguards got out first and respectfully opened the door for Lucy and Yutong to step out. Only afterward did they begin carrying supplies from the trunk.

The forest where the estate was located was still some distance from town. Procuring supplies often required driving more than five kilometers out, and both the car and bodyguards had been recruited and arranged in advance by Howard.

That old gentleman Howard did everything in an orderly fashion, and Kyle trusted him greatly. After so much had happened, the two were now the closest of partners—well, in both life and work.

"Kyle, we’re back." Lucy, wearing a sunhat, waved toward the lawn in greeting. She held the hand of Yutong, who was several sizes smaller than her. For some reason, the two had overcome their age gap and become friends over the past few days. (Those with mind-reading abilities naturally inspired fear and awe among children their own age.)

Still, with Yutong serving as a genuinely capable hidden bodyguard, Kyle felt even more at ease about Lucy going out.

A rolled-up black-and-white newspaper floated from the bag hooked over Lucy’s arm, flew over like a bird, and landed on the small table beside Kyle.

"Boss, today’s paper," Yutong transmitted telepathically.

Still lying down, Kyle nodded. He picked up the newspaper and swiftly skimmed through it, then tossed it onto the table after reading it at a glance.

The main story on the front page of the New York Times was no different from the previous two days: an entire spread revolving around him alone. Even the report that Stark Industries would hold the World Technology Expo several months early to unveil a world-changing new product had been pitifully squeezed onto the second page.

The return of the War Hero, remnants of the terrorist organization Hydra lurking among America’s upper ranks, the clash between the nation’s ruling powers and civilian Superheroes, the youngest major general applying for retirement and relinquishing his post, the new president replacing officials and military officers after Kyle’s cleanup—such news had bombarded the American mainland day and night.

A War Hero might have retired, but the symbol representing the nation’s conquest and strength remained. The media had collectively given Kyle another title—

‘Symbol of Peace’!

When Kyle first heard the new title two days ago, he had been stunned and nearly sprayed out the red wine he was drinking.

How had a war maniac like him become a Symbol of Peace?

The problem was that the general public also overwhelmingly approved of the title. It was far more accepted than his previous labels of ‘Demon,’ ‘God of Slaughter,’ and ‘Tyrant.’ Some had even raised funds to build Symbol of Peace statues in public squares, while the Norwegian Parliament was discussing a vote to award him this year’s Nobel Peace Prize…

It had reached the point where even Kyle himself had nothing left to mock.

But regardless, ever since he decided to build his family’s power, he had intended to fade from the public eye and patiently prepare for the future Alien Invasion.

Even now, within Earth itself, Kyle did not dare claim to be invincible. Many mysterious organizations, large and small, lurked in corners of the world, not to mention the vast extraterrestrial universe beyond Earth.

What I have that is most reliable right now, aside from the Card Draw Ability, is decades more preparation time than other heroes, as well as advance knowledge of the major future events to come—this is my greatest advantage as a transmigrator!

In just one year, I have reached the highest level of a Super Soldier, stood at the pinnacle of humanity’s fame and prestige on Earth, and grasped inexhaustible wealth rivaling that of a nation!

After several decades, just how far will the Karl family and I have come? Even I cannot predict it!

Kyle mused to himself, his heart filled with sufficient confidence and assurance.

Gods are strong? Just wait until I climb up step by step!

Thanos’s Infinity Gauntlet set is practically unbeatable? Who says I have to let him slowly gather all six gems?

With preparations that seized the initiative and trump cards to deal with anything, Kyle would naturally stand undefeated and become an even greater mastermind behind the scenes, calculating and controlling everything.

"Right now, at this very moment, is only the first step."

Kyle sat up from the sun lounger. A tall bodyguard in a suit came to the edge of the lawn, lowered his head respectfully, and said, "Mr. Kyle, the boss said he has flown over to pick you up for a trip out to sea."

"Alright. Tell Lucy not to wait for me for lunch." After Kyle gave the order and the bodyguard withdrew, he glanced at Venom, which had sprung up excitedly beside him. "Are you coming?"

‘Rumble—’

Venom’s black liquid body bounced up and wrapped around him, transforming into a hooded jacket draped over Kyle.

An hour and a half later.

Over the vast outer Atlantic, beneath the brilliant noon sun, the helicopter’s rotors hummed as it held steady several hundred meters in the air.

"Kyle, are we really almost at that Turtle Island you mentioned?" Howard asked in surprise from the pilot’s seat.

Kyle, seated in the copilot’s seat, glanced down at the sea and nodded. "Yeah, more or less."

"You remembered wrong, didn’t you? There isn’t any island marked on the map in these waters," Howard said with certainty.

"You’ll find out soon enough." Kyle smiled mysteriously. After the helicopter flew another ten miles farther into the open sea, he judged that they were close enough and said to Howard, "Next, follow the procedure I tell you."

"No problem." Howard nodded. He did not believe Kyle could conjure an island out of thin air.

"Now, give me this helicopter," Kyle said abruptly.

"Huh?" Howard froze for a moment, then quickly agreed. "No problem. If you want it, it’s yours. I’ll just build another one later."

"Then this helicopter belongs to me now." Kyle pondered as he saw that its card information was still in an unextractable state. He continued, "Unfasten your seat belt and stop controlling the helicopter."