Chapter 117: Symbol of Peace

It was mid-morning. The gentle sunlight filtered through the forest, dispersing the white mist and creating a dreamlike interplay of light and shadow.

Kyle, dressed in long-sleeved casual wear and sunglasses, lay comfortably on a sun lounger on the vast estate's lawn, basking in the sun. The Venom symbiote was sprawled on the grass beside the chair, rolling back and forth restlessly.

Three days had passed since his return to New York. Having shed the titles of war hero and general, and distanced himself from the chaos and bloodshed of war, his leisure time felt both comfortable and long.

"Venom, do you feel like my body has undergone some subtle changes?" Kyle frowned, speaking to himself. The changes he referred to were not related to his relaxed state of mind, but to his perfect physique, which was currently at the peak of the Super Soldier level.

This sensation of change had begun to emerge after he withstood the aftermath of the nuclear explosion in Tokyo, Japan. While merged with Venom, the feeling was less intense, but whenever he detached from the symbiote, he could faintly perceive a latent transformation occurring within his body.

He had carefully combed through his ability cards in his card space, focusing on "Super Soldier" and "Healing Factor," but he had failed to identify the cause of this potential change.

"Is it the radiation from the nuclear blast affecting the genetic structure that was already tending toward stability?" Kyle wondered. These changes were so subtle that he couldn't yet determine if they were beneficial or harmful.

Just then, an extended black-and-gold luxury car emerged from the path carved through the forest and came to a stop in the open space in front of the manor. Two bodyguards in suits stepped out first, respectfully opening the doors for Lucy and Rain-Pupil to alight, before they began unloading supplies from the trunk.

The forest where the manor was located was some distance from the town, and purchasing supplies usually required a trip of over five kilometers. The car and the bodyguards had all been recruited and arranged by Howard.

Howard, that old gentleman, was methodical, and Kyle trusted him deeply. After everything they had been through, the two were now the closest of partners—at least in life and work.

"Kyle, we're back!" Lucy, wearing a sun hat, waved at the lawn. She was holding the hand of Rain-Pupil, who was quite a bit shorter than her. Somehow, the two had broken through the age gap to become friends over the past few days. (To children of her own age, someone with telepathic abilities was often viewed with innate fear and awe.)

However, with Rain-Pupil serving as a true latent bodyguard, Kyle felt much more at ease with Lucy going out.

A rolled-up black-and-white newspaper floated out of the bag on Lucy's arm, flying like a bird toward the small table beside Kyle.

"Boss, today's paper," Rain-Pupil transmitted via telepathy.

Kyle, still reclining, nodded, picked up the paper, flipped through it rapidly, and tossed it onto the table after a quick glance.

The front page of the New York Times was no different from the past two days; it was entirely filled with reports about him. The news that Stark Industries would hold a World Science Expo several months early to release products that would change the world was pitifully relegated to the second page.

Reports on the war hero's return, the remnants of the terrorist organization Hydra lurking within the upper echelons of the U.S. government, the clash between state power and civilian superheroes, the youngest major general applying for retirement, and the new president reshuffling officials and officers for Kyle—these stories had been bombarding the American public day and night.

With the war hero retiring and no longer representing the state's military might, the media had collectively given Kyle a new title: "Symbol of Peace"!

When he first heard this new title the day before yesterday, Kyle was stunned; he nearly spat out the red wine he was drinking.

How did he, a war maniac, become a symbol of peace?

The problem was that the general public largely approved of this title—it had far higher acceptance than his previous labels like "Devil," "God of Slaughter," or "Tyrant." Some were even raising funds to build "Symbol of Peace" statues in various squares, and the Norwegian Parliament was currently discussing a vote to award him this year's Nobel Peace Prize.

It had reached a point where Kyle was beyond speechless.

Regardless, ever since he decided to build a family power base, he had intended to fade from the public eye and patiently prepare for the future alien invasion.

Even within Earth, Kyle did not dare call himself invincible; many mysterious organizations, both large and small, were hidden in the corners of the world, to say nothing of the vast alien universe outside.

"What I rely on most, aside from my card-drawing ability, is the decades of preparation time I have over other heroes, and my foreknowledge of the major plot events to come—that is my greatest asset as a transmigrator!"

"In just one year, I have reached the pinnacle of the Super Soldier level, stand at the peak of human reputation and prestige on Earth, and hold unimaginable wealth!"

"Decades from now, where will I and the Kyle family stand? Even I cannot predict that!"

Kyle mused, harboring sufficient confidence and conviction.

Are gods powerful? Just wait for me to climb up step by step!

Is Thanos's Infinity Gauntlet set unsolvable? Who said I'd let him slowly collect all six stones?

By seizing the initiative and preparing his trump cards, Kyle would be inherently invincible and could act as the ultimate mastermind, manipulating and controlling everything.

"Now, this very moment, is only the first step."

Kyle sat up from the sun lounger. A tall bodyguard in a suit walked to the edge of the lawn and said respectfully, "Mr. Kyle, the boss said the helicopter is ready to take you out to sea."

"Fine, tell Lucy not to wait for me for lunch," Kyle instructed. After the bodyguard retreated, he glanced at the excitedly leaping Venom beside him. "Are you coming?"

*Squelch—*

Venom, in its black liquid form, sprang up and wrapped around Kyle, transforming into a hooded coat.

An hour and a half later, over the vast open Atlantic, the helicopter's rotors hummed as it hovered at an altitude of several hundred meters under the brilliant noon sun.

"Kyle, are we really almost at that turtle-shaped island you mentioned?" Howard asked from the pilot's seat, sounding surprised.

Kyle, in the co-pilot's seat, looked down at the sea and nodded. "Yes, just about."

"You must have remembered wrong, right? There are no islands marked on the map in these waters," Howard insisted.

"You'll see in a moment," Kyle said with a mysterious smile. After the helicopter crossed another ten miles into the open sea, he deemed it sufficient and said to Howard, "Now, follow my instructions."

"No problem," Howard nodded, though he didn't believe Kyle could conjure an island out of thin air.

"Right now, give me this helicopter," Kyle said inexplicably.

"Huh?" Howard paused, then quickly agreed. "Sure, if you want it, it's yours. I'll build another one later."

"Then, as of now, the ownership of this helicopter belongs to me," Kyle mused. Seeing that the card information for the helicopter remained in a state where it could not be drawn, he continued, "Undo your seatbelt and stop controlling the helicopter."