Famous Across the Nation

Chapter 37: Famous Across the Nation

Over a month later.

New York, Brooklyn District, Harlem Street.

The pedestrian streets, now in winter, gradually grew bustling beneath the morning sun. Christmas had just passed, and the New Year was close at hand. Though World War II was underway, New York, a major economic city, had not been touched by the smoke of war.

On a winter morning, people wrapped in overcoats hurried along the streets, busy working to make a living.

From time to time, hooded children could be seen clutching stacks of black-and-white newspapers, weaving quickly through the crowded streets as they shouted:

"Latest New York Times! Major Kyle and Lieutenant Steve led their troops to wipe out another German fortress base!"

"Wall Street Journal! Two great American Heroes triumph again! The German front line has retreated twenty miles due to insufficient supplies!"

"Undefeated in a hundred battles, the iron-blooded officer who turned the tide of war! Today, learn about the glorious rise of the One-Man Army—Major Kyle!"

Newspapers during this period were essentially rushed into print with battle reports from the front, especially reports of victories. Once published, they were quickly snapped up by eager citizens.

Sure enough, the newspaper boy with rosy cheeks reddened by the cold had sold two stacks of newspapers on the howling, freezing street in barely half an hour.

It proved that even though World War II had not visibly affected New York, people still worried about the American troops at the front and hoped and prayed they could end the war soon.

"Could I have one?" A blonde girl in a purple scarf called out with a smile, gently waving at the newspaper boy running down the street.

The boy immediately jogged over, took her change, and placed the last daily paper in his hands into the girl's grocery basket.

His eyes widened as he looked at the girl's delicate, angelic face, and he could not help praising her. "Big sister, you're really pretty."

"You certainly have a sweet mouth." The blonde girl's beautiful eyes curved with a smile. Her warm smile seemed capable of melting the snow around her, causing countless gentlemen passing by on the street to walk straight into lampposts.

"Time to go home." Lucy breathed out a cloud of white air, elegantly holding the basket of groceries and newspapers as she began walking home.

Calling it home was not quite accurate. It was merely the house Kyle had once lived in. Located at 199 Harlem Street, it was a classic European-style duplex villa with a balcony garden.

Lucy took off her boots and entered. There was a fireplace inside, making it far warmer than outside, so she removed her padded coat as well, revealing a graceful figure that her sweater could not conceal.

After setting the basket on the table, Lucy shed the elegance and poise she had displayed outside. Her little face bright with excitement, she quickly pulled out several newspapers from the basket and smoothed them open across the tabletop.

Every newspaper had a headline and photo section, and the protagonists in the headline photos of these papers were strikingly similar. They were either a stern young man holding a round shield and raising an arm to command, or a cool young man dressed in black combat gear, gripping a longsword as he charged at enemy troops.

Detailed biographical notes were printed beneath the newspaper photos.

'Steve Rogers, 23 years old, Captain America, lieutenant officer.'

(Captain Steve's first battle was joining Major Kyle in infiltrating the third enemy rear zone, destroying the Factory Base, rescuing five hundred imprisoned American soldier prisoners, and successfully breaking out.

Calling himself Captain America, he always charged at the forefront with shield in hand. Within one month, he led teams of soldiers to capture five German factory bases while keeping friendly casualties to a minimum.

He was a patriot, a Super Soldier, and a heroic embodiment of American justice!)

Lucy swiftly skimmed through Steve's profile, then eagerly shifted her gaze to the longer, more elaborate biography on the other side.

'Kyle Dove, 23 years old, the youngest major officer in history.'

Seeing this, Lucy revealed a sweet, satisfied smile. Her lips parted slightly as she began reading Kyle's following biography aloud:

"Major Kyle was the youngest person in American history to receive the rank of major. During the first counterattack operation, facing a hundred-to-one numerical disadvantage, he infiltrated an enemy base and wiped out the German commander and the main force, successfully creating an opportunity to turn the tide on the front line.

To this day, every campaign led by Major Kyle has ended in complete victory. He has often performed extraordinary feats of fighting an entire enemy squad alone. According to incomplete statistics, the number of enemies killed under his name has exceeded ten thousand. He is a true One-Man Army!

He is a hero representing the symbol of American strength! He is a war maniac who strikes terror into the Germans, nicknamed 'Devil' and 'God of Slaughter.'

Latest news: the President of the United States has awarded Major Kyle a Medal of Honor."

After reading it all in one smooth breath, Lucy's face flushed even more brightly with happiness. Although such reports lavishly praising Kyle had appeared frequently in the newspapers during this time, she bought every one of them and read them again and again, day after day.

"Just a few months ago, he was only a rookie who barged into enemy bases. Now he's already a major officer. A hero representing American strength, huh? Hmph!"

Lucy puffed out her pink lips. She was under tremendous pressure now. Not just in New York, but young women across all of America were infatuated with the cool young man in the newspapers before her.

After all, movie theaters in some major cities would occasionally screen battlefield documentary propaganda films.

Kyle and Steve could be said to have been the main characters of those war documentaries over the past few months. Their perfect figures as they bravely killed enemies and charged into battle, their formidable individual strength against multiple foes, and their young, handsome faces had all been captured on film.

On the screen, a single gesture of raising an arm to command or looking toward the camera was enough to trigger frenzied screams from lovestruck girls.

"No matter what, I knew Kyle first."

"Little Lucy, you need to keep your spirits up. There's no way you can lose to those women."

Lucy silently encouraged herself. Curled up on the sofa, she looked somewhat like a wife waiting for her husband to return. Finally, she murmured resentfully, "The New Year is almost here. I wonder when Kyle will come back..."

At that moment, several hundred miles from New York, within a glacier mountain range behind enemy lines.

A rugged railway track stretched from the waist of the snowy mountains below into the distance. Snow-covered peaks stood everywhere, the wind was biting, and snowflakes drifted through the air.

On the summit of one snowy peak, a squad of several dozen American soldiers wrapped in military coats lay in ambush, using listening equipment to receive intelligence transmitted from the rear base.

Fury said with certainty, "It has been confirmed. On the train about to pass through, there is an important member of Hydra—a newly appointed middle-aged German scientist, Warner Turs."

"Fine, then let's board the train. This time, we only need to capture a prisoner, so not too many people need to go." Kyle spoke quickly, glancing toward Steve beside him.

Steve nodded. "Just you, me, and Bucky. The three of us are all skilled solo fighters. No matter how many guards are on that train, we won't be afraid."

"OK." Kyle nodded in agreement. In truth, even if he went alone, he would not fear any danger.

Kyle, Steve, and Bucky.

The three made their preparations and stood side by side at the edge of the wind-swept summit. Looking down at the drop of several hundred meters below, they patiently waited for the enemy train to arrive.