Armament and Team Building

Chapter 32: Armament and Team Building

Kyle figured Carter and the others were almost done with dinner, so he left the basement ballroom bar with Howard.

"Kyle, after closing such a big deal tonight, you're treating, right?" Howard teased Kyle. After this brief negotiation, the two had established a preliminary partnership, becoming much closer.

"Sure," Kyle replied with a smile, blinking. "But you know I'm still broke, and I haven't even received my officer's salary yet. I wonder if the big boss can advance me next month's Stark Industries dividends."

"You really are—" Howard shook his head speechlessly, feeling like he'd dug his own grave. Still, he pulled out a golden, exquisite card and a check with proof of funds from his wallet and handed them over:

"This card is a permanent VIP card for the Charming Hotel here, with a $20,000 deposit. You can use it for now. Also, here's a $100,000 check. You can cash it at major city banks, but it's best to make an appointment first, otherwise, they might not have that much cash on hand."

Keep in mind that the average salary for a regular American soldier at the time was only about $60 a month. This casually offered $120,000 was a truly massive sum.

Kyle didn't stand on ceremony and accepted it, adding a jibe, "I didn't expect a month's dividend to be this high. Thanks, boss."

"No need for thanks," Howard urged. "Just send me the second investment item as soon as possible. I'll have my lawyers prepare the stock transfer agreement for you. Once you sign it, you'll be a partner in Stark Industries."

"No problem," Kyle nodded. He had the second item with him, but it wasn't convenient to take it out in front of people.

What was the second investment item? It was actually the system program chip for a supercomputer.

It was the useless green Item Card Kyle had drawn, more useless than a phone, just a scattered set of parts. But if one wanted to develop and step into the field of Artificial Intelligence, it would be the best stepping stone.

As Kyle and Howard returned to the hotel's first-floor lobby, they saw Carter walking towards them with a hurried expression.

"Finished dinner? Where's Steve?" Kyle asked in surprise.

Unexpectedly, Carter glared at him and retorted, "Where did you two go? I asked Steve to find you, but he couldn't."

"Well..." Before Kyle could answer, Howard chuckled and said, "Don't ask. Men have their own places for entertainment and spending."

That answer could easily lead to misunderstandings.

Kyle grumbled inwardly, but Carter didn't think too much about it. She said seriously, "General Chester just sent a directive message for you guys. Let's head back to the training base."

"We haven't even relaxed properly yet, and we have to go back to work," Howard said, patting his forehead in frustration.

"It's about that Intelligence Map, isn't it?" Kyle said with a thoughtful expression. He had expected the authorities to issue orders after the Intelligence Map was reported, but he hadn't expected the decision to come so quickly.

"Kyle!" Steve's voice came from behind, and he returned at that moment.

"Everyone's here, let's settle the bill and go," Kyle said with a smile, casually handing the VIP card in his pocket to the hotel staff. "Tonight's bill for the four of us is covered by this."

With money in his pocket, he felt much more confident.

"Kyle, I didn't expect you to be so rich," Steve said in surprise. Without even looking, he knew that the hotel's expenses were not something ordinary people could afford.

Even more surprised was Carter. She had seen Kyle's personal file, so where did this hotel VIP card come from?

What had these two been doing just now?

Carter looked at Kyle and Howard suspiciously, unable to figure it out.

That day, they flew out to a big city for dinner and returned to the training base the same day.

On the plane, Carter seriously explained General Chester's directive mission to the three of them.

"Kyle and Steve, you two will be team leaders. Select soldiers at the training base to form an armed team and launch attacks on the six factory bases of the German Army in the War Zone Area, one by one. Once the factory bases providing weapons and supplies are taken down, Germany will pose no further threat to Europe!"

"Steve, from now on, you are a Corporal," Carter said, then her gaze fell on Kyle. "As for you, your combat merits will continue to accumulate. There won't be any promotions this time."

"It doesn't matter," Kyle nodded. His Second Lieutenant certificate was still fresh, and he was accustomed to and enjoyed the rhythm of rapid promotions through accumulating military merits.

Carter continued sternly, "Stark, you will provide scientific strategic armament for the two Super Soldiers."

"Oh," Howard replied casually while piloting the plane. Soon after, as if realizing something, he turned back in shock. "Two Super Soldiers?!"

"That's right, Kyle has also become a Super Soldier," Steve replied. This information was something he had specifically reported after returning from the battle.

Carter stared intently at Kyle and said seriously, "From now on, you will also be under my supervision and recording to collect data on Super Soldiers."

"OK," Kyle replied listlessly, muttering under his breath, "I'm at least a Second Lieutenant. Being supervised by a woman, don't I have any dignity? Isn't it enough to have Steve as your guinea pig for research?"

Carter pretended not to hear, maintaining her cool elegance.

Steve immediately suggested, "For the personnel needed to form the armed team, we can just gather those soldiers we rescued last night. They've been fighting on the front lines for a long time and have experience using New Energy Weapons against the German Army."

"No problem. As prisoners, they must be itching for a fight, and they didn't fully vent last night. However, on top of that, I also want to transfer one talented person from the 102nd Regiment," Kyle mused.

"Who?" Carter asked. She had the authority to transfer just one person from the front lines.

"His name is Nick Fury. He's a Sergeant with a lot of brains and command ability," Kyle said with a smile.

This was an opportunity to quickly earn military merits and combat achievements, and he was also looking out for Fury.

Achoo!

In a temporary tent on the front lines, a one-eyed black officer sneezed. He touched his bald head in surprise, somewhat puzzled.

"It's not cold weather, why do I have a premonition of something ominous?"

Fury muttered to himself. Although there were no major battles on the front lines where he was, he inexplicably felt a chill down his spine.