Chapter 112: The Hero's Return

At the end of the Second World War, in April 1944, the United States dropped two experimental atomic bombs on the Tokyo region of Japan.

They were weapons powerful enough to alter the course of world history. For the first time, a weapon capable of annihilating entire nations appeared on Earth. Its indiscriminate carpet of explosions and inhuman radiation far surpassed any natural disaster or plague known before.

The entire world was shaken.

Already on the verge of surrender after being driven to the brink by Kyle, Japan finally stopped delaying. Within a day of the atomic bombing, it announced to the world its unconditional surrender.

Japan’s withdrawal from the Asian theater marked the end of the Second World War in the history of humanity on Marvel Earth.

People everywhere erupted in jubilation. The era of peace they had long awaited had finally arrived.

Across every city and street in America, lanterns were hung, decorations adorned the roads, and fireworks filled the sky. The celebrations were more than ten times grander than Christmas, and most citizens partied for three days and three nights without sleep.

Yet throughout those celebrations, they had not forgotten the greatest contributor to world peace—the war hero, Kyle.

After the war ended, countless citizens waited expectantly for three days. Still, the military in New York had released no sign whatsoever that Kyle was returning.

The countless media outlets eager to interview him were turned away from the White House and military bases, and were strictly forbidden from asking about the matter. Amid their excitement and joy, the public finally began to sense that something was wrong.

“Why hasn’t General Kyle come back yet?”

“Even if the transport aircraft was delayed, he should have reached America by now.”

“My God, why hasn’t our superhero returned?”

“What about General Chester? Won’t the military give us an explanation?”

From the elderly to the youngest children, Americans waited anxiously day after day. Within only a few days, the subject of the peace that followed the war had been completely overshadowed by the question of why Hero Kyle had not returned. Other countries watched and speculated as well.

The American leadership realized they could no longer keep the matter hidden. They were preparing to discuss some sort of explanation to placate the public when, unexpectedly, a piece of intelligence began circulating from an unknown source.

“When the American military dropped two atomic bombs on Tokyo, Major General Kyle was still fighting there. No transport aircraft had been sent in advance to contact him or bring him home!”

As soon as the news began spreading through New York, the American leadership recognized the danger and attempted to suppress it. They had still underestimated the public’s intense interest in anything related to Kyle.

In less than half a day, the news exploded across the United States like a super-sized atomic bomb. Though many citizens remained half-convinced, the revelation caused an uproar everywhere.

“My God, if that’s true, then Major General Kyle couldn’t have…”

“War heroes can’t be killed! How could he have died at the hands of his own people?”

“His own people? I’m afraid the people at the top don’t consider him one of their own.”

“The White House hasn’t made any statement. Could that mean they’re admitting it?”

“We demand an explanation! The people deserve the truth!”

By the following morning, countless citizens flooded into New York in a frenzy. Local groups organized marches of their own, carrying signs of every size through the streets. The demonstrations paralyzed traffic throughout the city, while a sea of people surrounded the White House and the office buildings of nearby lawmakers, leaving no room to pass.

The American leadership panicked. It immediately mobilized New York’s police and military forces to maintain order and suppress the turmoil, only to discover that many soldiers and police officers had taken emergency leave. Some had simply submitted their resignations, thrown on brightly colored coats, raised signs demanding answers, and joined the marchers themselves.

Only then did the American leadership truly understand the extent of Kyle’s influence.

As the war hero who had brought the Second World War to an end and ushered in the dawn of world peace, his prestige had reached a terrifying height—one so immense that even gods and divine beings would have recoiled from it. With such an unbearable piece of news emerging at precisely that moment, how could millions of citizens not be driven into fury?

At the top of Stark Industries, Howard stood against the balcony railing in his well-tailored suit, gazing down at the densely packed crowds filling the streets below. In silence, he lit a cigarette.

“You achieved it after all—matching the gods through your own strength. But why did you vanish just like Steve, never to return?”

“I was even planning to make you my child’s godfather someday, once I had one.”

“And what about everything we agreed on? Drinking ourselves senseless after the war, creating artificial intelligence, developing new energy elements, building a commercial empire of weapons and technology… Are you going to break all those promises too?”

Howard muttered to himself, sighing heavily again and again. Alone, he lowered his head and smoked in silence, the drifting smoke scattering in the wind.

“Beep—”

At that moment, the telephone in his suit pocket rang.

“Can’t you give me a break?” Howard irritably crushed out his cigarette. Then, as though struck by a sudden thought, he froze beneath the ringing tone for half a second.

Wait.

Who else could call him now, apart from that man?

Howard jolted. He hurriedly pulled the old-fashioned mobile phone from his pocket and took a deep breath to steady himself before answering with trembling fingers.

“Howard?”

Kyle’s familiar, indifferent voice came from the other end.

“Kyle! It really is you!” Howard burst into laughter, his eyes growing slightly moist. He enthusiastically kissed the old-fashioned phone.

“Ugh, don’t be disgusting. Save that passion for your bunnies,” Kyle said with a shudder of revulsion. The old gentleman had somehow become more indecent after only two weeks apart.

“I’m just excited, man!” Howard replied, half irritated and half sorrowful. “The war ended more than a week ago, and you still hadn’t come back. I thought you’d really been hit by that atomic bomb!”

Kyle said, “Sorry. I actually was.”

Howard fell silent.

After hesitating for a moment, he cautiously asked, “Kyle, are you alive or dead?”

“What nonsense. You’re a scientist—why do you believe in ghosts and gods? I’m outside central New York right now. There are too many people here, and the traffic is completely jammed. I can’t get through. Send that private aircraft to pick me up.” Kyle sounded thoroughly annoyed.

The last time he and Howard had discussed the principles and structure of helicopters, Kyle had learned that, before leaving for Japan, Howard had already begun modifying the framework of a small transport aircraft. He had created the first compact and convenient hybrid helicopter to serve as Kyle’s personal aircraft.

There was no denying the advantage of having a friend who possessed a brilliant mind, forward-thinking ideas, and fully developed mechanical skills. It was being demonstrated perfectly now.

“The traffic in New York is paralyzed because the people are doing this for you,” Howard complained into the phone. Knowing that Kyle had returned safely, all his earlier gloom and sorrow had vanished without a trace.

Howard laughed. “I heard the new president, the lawmakers, and the military leadership have been driven by this unprecedented demonstration to gather in the square before the White House. They’re preparing to hold a press conference and publicly give everyone an explanation.”

“That intelligence was…” Kyle began.

Howard already knew what he wanted to ask. With a smile, he said, “That’s right. Nick Fury and I deliberately spread the information. We wanted to use the people’s power to pressure the American leadership and win justice for you!”

Warmth stirred in Kyle’s heart. After a brief pause, he spoke coldly into the phone.

“Fly the helicopter here. Take me directly to the White House square. It’s time to deal with a few rats who have been plotting in the shadows.”

Now that he had returned, why should he need justice?

In this world, whoever possessed the stronger fist possessed the only truth that mattered.