Chapter 116: The Goal—Beyond the Divine

“Kyle. Who is this child?”

In the master conference room, Luxi's gaze fell on the figure seated to Kyle’s right—the calm and indifferent Yutong lounging on a soft sofa.

Since entering, Yutong had not moved an inch away from Kyle, as if instinctively glued to him. Though Luxi wasn’t the jealous type over a mere child, she couldn’t help but feel a flicker of surprise.

In fact, she wasn’t alone; even Logan was somewhat puzzled. After all, Kyle wasn’t the type to casually bring a child along.

Just moments ago, Logan had been quietly observing Yutong, who sat directly opposite him. His keen, lone-wolf instincts told him that this adorable little girl, hooded and wearing a sweater, was far from the harmless appearance she projected.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” Kyle suddenly recalled, rubbing the small head of Yutong beside him. “Yutong, say hello to Luxi and Logan.”

“My name is Yutong Karl. I’m eight years old. Big Brother found me in Tokyo, Japan,” Yutong said softly, her voice losing the earlier pretense of aloofness. Luxi immediately smiled.

“Kyle, you really know how to ‘pick up’,” Luxi teased, sticking out her tongue playfully, casting a sideways glance at Kyle. She herself was somewhat like a pet, having been ‘picked up’ on the battlefield.

Wait a moment. Could this also be a ‘child bride’ situation?

Luxi thought privately, her gaze toward Yutong subtly shifting under her womanly instincts.

There was no denying it—the girl was truly adorable, petite and delicate, her face exquisitely sculpted, her skin smooth and fair. Even Luxi felt an urge to cradle her like a plush doll.

Yutong frowned slightly and shifted closer to Kyle’s side. Noticing her odd behavior, Kyle asked curiously, “What’s wrong?”

“She’s hostile toward me,” Yutong said bluntly, her gaze indifferent as it met Luxi’s.

The room fell silent.

Kyle and Logan exchanged strange looks, both turning to Luxi simultaneously. Flushed with embarrassment, Luxi covered her beautiful face and muttered, “I’ll go get some drinks,” before hastily leaving the conference room.

Logan reacted quickly, sensing something, his sharp eyes locked onto Yutong as he gravely asked, “Boss, can this girl read minds?”

“I can’t hear your thoughts, and I can’t hear the boss’s either,” Yutong said indignantly, this time speaking through a buzzing telepathic wave that made Logan instinctively cover his ears.

Kyle seemed unsurprised, as this was still one of the abilities controlled by mental willpower.

From controlling spatial movement of physical objects to transcending reality itself—probing the thoughts and minds of living beings—this telepathic ability only worked on ordinary people with weak mental strength. It was ineffective against extraordinary wills like Kyle’s and Logan’s.

Telekinesis, telepathic communication, psychic barriers, mind reading—these were the manifestations of enhanced psychic power.

“Logan, this child is the same kind as you. I simply call them ‘mutants,’” Kyle smiled.

Unlike the vast mutant population of the X-Men universe, this world had no information on mutants, so he decided to define them as such.

“Boss, aren’t you a mutant too?” Logan asked curiously, having always thought Kyle belonged to the same category.

“I do possess abilities far beyond normal humans, but there’s a fundamental difference between me and you two,” Kyle explained.

“You and Yutong are born with genetic mutations—species traits that grant innate supernatural powers, which manifest naturally with growth, often triggered by stimuli in childhood. These innate genetic instincts include things like your claws and healing factor, Logan, or Yutong’s telekinetic control. Some can even race light speed and time, manipulating metal, fire, and water.”

Kyle paused, then continued, “I’m different. My body had no innate genetic mutation at birth and was no different from any normal child. It was later, through military research and the super-soldier serum, that my genes were artificially modified, granting me a perfected human physique. This kind of ability, acquired after birth through drugs and radiation, I call ‘mutates.’”

His Super Soldier ability card was copied directly from Steve, bypassing the injection process of the serum.

“I see,” Logan nodded thoughtfully. Having lived more than half a century, this was the first time he heard such a novel classification of powered individuals.

“Mutants represent a secondary evolution of the human species, akin to the leap from apes to modern humans. Mutates, on the other hand, result from chance, breaking the original genetic framework, standing on equal footing with mutants,” Kyle said, a hint of emotion creeping into his voice. “Whether mutant or mutate, both walk a lonely path at the forefront of human evolutionary history.”

Some godlike races in this Marvel world, capable of traversing the heavens and the earth, spanning galaxies via the Rainbow Bridge, are also once fragile beings. Through endless racial evolution, they acquire divine powers like thunder and godly strength, solidifying their divine thrones and building their realms.

Gods are merely the apex races standing at the forefront of cosmic evolution.

Viewed this way, it’s no wonder the future Hulk could thrash gods with ease.

“If we can continue evolving and strengthening ourselves, arming with advanced technology, perhaps our family will one day replace the domain of the gods,” Kyle’s words struck like thunder, causing even the usually unshakable Logan to tremble slightly.

Logan smiled wryly. “Boss, whether gods exist in this world is still uncertain. The universe beyond Earth may well be devoid of other life.”

“You haven’t seen beyond Earth’s skies, so how do you know there are no alien races? Perhaps there’s even a Galactic Alliance and a divine realm where gods dwell,” Kyle smiled, withholding further details.

Humans on Earth remained like frogs at the bottom of a well in knowledge. Only he, like a soaring eagle, had long left that well behind, gazing far into the ocean and stars beyond.

“One day, you will understand the meaning behind my words.”

Snapping back to reality, Kyle smirked, “For now, let’s focus on the early plans for the Karl family. In a few days, I’ll be heading out with Howard to inspect a turtle-shaped island in the Atlantic, to establish our family’s exclusive base.”

“So I stay here?” Logan scratched his head, realizing he was becoming a babysitter.

“You can start teaching the kids here combat training,” Kyle said thoughtfully, his eyes gleaming coldly. “When I return, the three of us—Yutong, you, and I—will make a trip to the Soviet Union.”

“The Soviet Union?”

“Yes, the Soviet Union.”

Kyle smiled knowingly, not forgetting the covert operations behind the Soviet-era Red Room organization’s spy training bases during wartime.

If there’s an account to settle, then it’s time to collect the debt in person!