War Landscape

With an awkward yet polite smile, the waitress said to Lucy, "The masked gentleman is right. Our restaurant’s dishes are renowned as some of the best in all of New York, and the prices are very ‘affordable and people-friendly.’"

Masked gentleman?

Kyle felt embarrassed. Then again, he had not even taken off his hat and sunglasses. Dining indoors dressed like this really was rather strange.

After thinking for a moment, he asked, "Do you have private rooms here?"

"Private rooms?" The waitress froze briefly, then quickly replied, "Sorry, while our restaurant does have several private rooms, they must be reserved a week in advance, and only VIP guests of this restaurant may make reservations."

"What a hassle." Kyle frowned slightly.

"It’s just lunch. As long as we can eat our fill, that’s enough." Lucy said gently and considerately.

The waitress beside them was speechless. Other customers came here for the atmosphere and romance, but these two had come to a top-class restaurant as though they were having an ordinary meal.

She could not help wondering whether the masked gentleman at this table could actually afford the final bill.

Lucy simply ordered a steak, while Kyle ordered several other Western dishes and a bottle of red wine. During this time, the waitress deliberately confirmed the names of the dishes, afraid that he might have misread the prices.

Only after the waitress left did Kyle shrug and remove the large cap from his head, revealing a head of brilliant, stylish blond hair.

"Masked gentleman…" Lucy covered her mouth and giggled, her eyes curving into crescents. Her already exceptionally beautiful face became even more enchanting, drawing the gazes of several gentlemen dining nearby. Yet under the cold reminders of their companions, they hurriedly looked away again.

Kyle said helplessly, "Look at you laughing. If you want to eat here in the future, I’ll get you a VIP card so you can come often."

"No way." Lucy refused firmly. If they had bought ingredients beforehand, she would have preferred to keep Kyle at home and enjoy the warm, private time alone with him.

If people knew that the man beside her was Kyle himself, the women dining elegantly in this restaurant would probably go crazy, perhaps even abandoning their male companions to flirt shamelessly with him.

Lucy was not exaggerating. Last year, Kyle had crushed second place, Steve Rogers, by three times the votes and been elected America’s No. 1 dream lover among women.

And this year, in less than four months, Kyle had already firmly claimed the top spot, becoming the perfect man New York’s young women and married women most wanted to have a one-night stand with.

Lucy also had a small social circle in her daily life. Among her female friends, whenever there were promotional films, magazines, or newspapers related to Kyle, they would always rush to buy them first and show them off.

One could only imagine how great Kyle’s personal charm was as a Superhero across the American continent, especially in New York, America.

As Kyle and Lucy waited for their food, a middle-aged man in a suit hurried into the dining hall and waved for the musicians to stop playing the violin. He walked to the center of the restaurant, immediately drawing the attention of many diners.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I sincerely apologize for interrupting your meal." The middle-aged man first bowed in apology, then said politely, "The newly published New York Times contains major news that affects the nation. This restaurant will provide copies of the newspaper free of charge, and we hope you will read it to learn the latest information."

"Boss Henry, no need to be so polite. What happened?"

"Didn’t Germany just lose the war? Our troops returned in victory."

"This morning, I heard someone even saw General Kyle on the streets."

"Really?"

The customers began murmuring among themselves. Boss Henry shook his head heavily and said to them, "See for yourselves."

With that, more than a dozen waiters each took a stack of newspapers and quickly distributed one to every customer.

Kyle also accepted the New York Times handed over by a waiter. Normally, a top-class restaurant would not casually interrupt its guests’ meals. This emergency news could only mean that its impact during wartime was far too significant.

On the front page of the New York Times was a photograph of German officials lowering their heads as they signed the surrender agreement. It signified that Germany, one of the main nations that had started World War II, would completely withdraw from the war.

The European battlefield had been fully pacified.

This was already settled fact in the war reports, so it did not surprise Kyle, the greatest contributor to this campaign. The news that had made the restaurant owner look so grave was clearly not this.

Kyle turned to the next page of the New York Times. The printing on the second page looked somewhat crude and hasty, as if it had been an emergency report added at the last minute.

The black-and-white cover showed an elderly man lying in a hospital bed, his eyes permanently closed in eternal sleep.

Around the bed stood more than a dozen senators, officials, and General Chester, all mourning with grave expressions.

The headline read: "Franklin Roosevelt Dies Suddenly This Morning at Age 62, Longest-Serving President."

At this, Kyle’s heart jolted. He finally understood why the restaurant owner had looked so grave and worried.

At the most critical closing stage of World War II, the sitting president had died of illness. The impact this would have on the nation, and even the global war situation, was simply too great!

"World War II must be ended as soon as possible. If it drags on any longer, something may happen…" Kyle narrowed his eyes, immediately identifying the crucial point in the news.

Even while allied with them, the Soviet Union had sent Super Agents to cause trouble in every possible way. Now that America had to deal with the president’s death, if the chaos of war continued, the balance of World War II might change once more because of it!

Kyle suddenly recalled General Chester’s hesitant manner when he had come to receive him at the New York military base last night.

"Kyle." Lucy set down the newspaper in her hands, her worried gaze falling on Kyle across the table.

"It’s nothing." Kyle smiled freely and said softly, "It’s just a shame. This rare vacation has barely begun, yet it’ll probably have to end already."

Only when the War Hero returned to the army could he inspire the morale of the frontline soldiers. It would also count as fulfilling his final duty as a Major General.

More importantly, he had to bring World War II to an end faster!

Because the world war continued, Kyle simply had no spare time. Only when the world returned to peace and stability would it benefit him to begin cultivating his family’s power.

Only after the war ended could all plans concerning the future be prepared and expanded.

"Miss, your steak. Please enjoy." The waitress placed the steaming steak on the table. Lucy lightly bit her lip, feeling that she had lost both her interest and appetite.

"Don’t worry. There’s nothing on the battlefield now that can truly threaten my life. After all, I’m Kyle!" Kyle reassured her with a smile, raised his wineglass, and tilted his head back to drain the red wine within.