Chapter 136: Card Ranks and Evolution Points

In just over two weeks, five new Card Disciples had emerged within the Carl family estate.

Because the Carl family adopted the "Demon Card" as their totem, each child, once recommended by two instructors and the overseer and granted the [Super Agent] ability by the family head Kyle, received a personal ID card signifying their status as a member of the Carl family.

The back of these ID cards featured a consistent design: a black and crimson background adorned with elements of a sword-wielding winged demon and the starry cosmos.

The codenames on the front of the five new disciples’ cards were Red One, Red Two, Red Three, Red Four, and Red Five.

This naming convention would continue indefinitely; even a Red Ninety-Nine would be acceptable. It served as a basic entry-level label, indicating that the individual was recognized by the Carl family as a low-ranking member.

Above the Red tier was the Black prefix, representing the elite ranks of the Carl family. Currently, only Black Widow Natasha held this distinction, standing alone with the codename "Black One."

Above the Black tier was the Jack rank, collectively known as the three pillars of the Carl family: Logan, Rain-Eye, and Howard.

Howard was in charge of strategic technology and logistics, not a combatant of the family. Although he remained based at Stark Industries Tower, Kyle had established the first fixed teleportation portal in the basement of that very building.

Once the portal connected the estate in the suburbs of New York with the Stark Industries Tower in the heart of the city, Howard became known and recognized by all members of the Carl family.

The family members respectfully gave him the codename "The Great Inventor," placing him on equal footing with the Wolf King and Red Eye. Howard accepted the title gladly, which left Kyle feeling slightly awkward for quite some time.

Regardless, the Carl family’s rules, selection processes, and hierarchical structure had all fallen into place in less than half a month. Furthermore, the construction of the base on the Atlantic Dragon Turtle Island was mostly complete; in about ten days, the Carl family would officially relocate from the estate to the island.

Everything regarding the Carl family was developing rapidly in the direction Kyle had envisioned, which was the only source of comfort for him lately.

In recent days, Kyle felt the internal anomalies in his body growing increasingly severe.

Initially, he had merely lost the outward manifestation of his super-healing factor. However, as the two weeks passed, his superhumanly keen senses would occasionally fail him—this was certainly not a delusion born of excessive anxiety.

After all, even with a physique ten times that of a peak human, he would lose part of his functionality for a few seconds every twenty-four hours, reverting to that of an ordinary person.

On the morning of the fifteenth day after Kyle discovered his genetic mutation, he found a single strand of silver-white hair mixed into his brilliant, sun-like golden locks at his temples.

This was a harbinger of life fading, ignoring the natural lifespan.

The resistance of his internal healing factor seemed to be diminishing day by day. The genetic mutations caused by the nuclear radiation were beginning to subtly damage the extraordinary constitution of the Super Soldier, leading to the many side effects mentioned above.

Given this situation, Kyle deeply felt that his remaining time was far less than the "one year" initially diagnosed by Howard. Thus, he went for a second comprehensive physical examination.

In the third basement level of Stark Industries Tower, Howard had long since arranged for crews to work day and night, secretly converting the space into a medical isolation unit. Every medical facility inside was of world-class standard, specifically designed for Kyle’s diagnosis alone.

Because the news of Kyle suffering from a genetic disease due to nuclear radiation was of such monumental importance, if it were to leak, it would shock not only the United States and the Americas but the entire world.

Therefore, Howard was the only doctor performing the diagnosis; he had not even utilized a single trusted assistant.

In the brightly lit medical isolation unit, Kyle, wearing an oversized white hospital gown, looked slightly gaunt despite his golden-ratio, perfect, and robust physique. He sat calmly on a chair, patiently awaiting the final test results.

Before long, Howard, wearing a white lab coat over his shirt and suit, walked out of the examination room. Even through his mask, one could see the gravity on his face as he clutched the lab report.

"Do you have any liquor?" Kyle asked with a sudden smile, trying to use humor to break the heavy atmosphere.

"What liquor? Do you have any idea what your physical condition is right now?!"

Howard slammed the report onto the table. Even Kyle was momentarily stunned; it was the first time he had ever seen the usually suave and gentle old gentleman lose his temper like this.

"I apologize, I lost my composure." Howard took a few deep breaths and sighed, "I just feel useless, unable to help you at all in your current state."

"It’s alright." Kyle nodded in understanding and asked with calm composure, "Tell me, how much time do I have left?"

Howard slowly extended one palm and three fingers from his other hand.

"Eight months." Kyle fell silent. The time remaining was far too tight, as if Death were constantly urging him onward from the sidelines.

"Kyle, if you are truly certain, then you should leave Earth soon and head into the stars. We will look after the Carl family; it will certainly not decline." Howard gripped Kyle’s shoulders tightly, looking at him with pained eyes. "Look at yourself! You are the strongest god-tier hero! You could go through countless battles, big and small, without a single scratch, and yet now you are like a terminally ill patient. Are you sure you can still keep this hidden from the family?"

"I need at least two more months," Kyle said firmly. The number of Card Disciples was still far from enough, and the family’s development had not yet reached the stage required for departure.

Howard continued to urge, "Then how will you hide it from those in the family? Logan and Rain-Eye are not ordinary people; they will definitely discover the abnormalities in your body."

"I will hide it as long as I can." Kyle shook his head, holding his breath and exerting his strength. His muscles expanded and thickened, reverting to his original, perfectly healthy, and superior physique.

"I can't do anything with you."

Howard sighed helplessly. Knowing he couldn't persuade Kyle, he began to report on the latest scientific progress. "I have finished researching and solving the formula for the Infinite Formula. However, the cost of producing a single vial is as high as two hundred thousand dollars. It is feasible to produce enough to satisfy a few people, but if you want to cover dozens of family members, I fear even the current Stark Industries would struggle to support it."

Kyle already had a countermeasure. "The Infinite Formula reagents produced now only need to be provided to the core members of the Carl family. The disciples are still young; when they need the Infinite Formula to delay aging and extend their lives, they will have to earn it through their own efforts by exchanging Evolution Points."

"Evolution Points?" Howard blinked, confused once again by the new terminology.