Chapter 56: Forming Teams

Kyle figured Peggy and Steve was right about finished with dinner so he, along with Howard, left the underground bar and went to the ground level.

"Kyle, won't you pay for tonight?" Howard teased. After a brief conversation, the two men were now in their early stages of building their business relations and forming a budding friendship.

"Of course." Kyle blinked then smiled. "But as you know, I'm a poor man. The officer hasn't paid me yet. I wonder if the big boss can pay me a dividend of Stark Industries' profits in advance..."

"You are really..." Howard shook his head, somewhat speechless. He felt as if he had dug himself a hole that he could not get out of, but nevertheless, he drew out a delicate gold card from his wallet and placed it on Kyle's hand. "This here is a VIP card. There's a $20,000 deposit in there. Use it however you like. Ah, also, here's a check of over $100,000. Withdraw it whenever you like from the central banks in major cities... though it is best you make an appointment first. Otherwise, they would not be able to come up with that kind of money in a short amount of time.

Kyle's mouth twitched. The average annual household income of a family in this day and age was around $3,000. The filthy rich really...

Kyle was not polite and accepted the sumptuous funds. He coughed and said, "I did not expect the bonus to be so... high. Thank you, boss."

"No need," Howard waved his hand, "Just send the second investment early. I'll have my lawyer work out the contract of agreement and transfer the shares to you. When you sign the paperwork, you'll become an official partner of Stark Industries."

"No problem." Kyle nodded. He had the second item for investment with him, but he thought it inconvenient to pull it out so soon and in front of so many people. But what was the second item? It was a program chip of a supercomputer — a green product card that Kyle thought was far more useless than the mobile phone. But if someone wanted to develop an artificial intelligence, the program chip would be considered a valuable piece.

When Kyle and Howard returned to the main hall located on the first floor, they saw Peggy trotting over with flaring eyes.

"You finished dinner already? Where's Steve?" Kyle asked in surprise.

"Steve went looking for you." Peggy glared. "Where have you been?!"

"Well..." Kyle muttered, but before he could answer, Howard cut in and said, "Don't ask. Men naturally have to go to a place to spend money for pleasure and entertainment."

"That sounds wrong," Kyle complained inwardly.

But Peggy did not think too much of it. "Just now," She said lowly, "General Chester sent a command. We're to go back to the training base."

"I guess it's not a good time to relax." Howard patted his forehead. "Looks like I have to go back to work."

"It's about that map, right?" Kyle wore a thoughtful look. He knew that after reporting in the intelligence map, he would be given an instruction, but he did not expect for the higher-ups to make a decision so soon.

"Kyle!" Steve's voice echoed from behind. "I found you...!"

Kyle turned around and smiled. "Well, since everyone's here, let's go." He casually handed the VIP card to the hotel staff. "I'll pay for our meals tonight."

Though snobbish, he felt a booming confidence with money feasting on his pockets.

"Kyle, I didn't know you were rich." Steve was surprised, even more so when he looked at the price on the menu. The average person would not be able to afford those sort of meals regularly.

Peggy was more surprised. She read Kyle's profile... so where did the money come from? What exactly were the two men doing just now? She turned her head and looked at Kyle and Howard suspiciously, unable to think of a reason.

***

The plane flew out of the city and returned back to the training base within the same day.

"Kyle and Steve, the two of you running as leaders, are to select soldiers from the training base to form an armed team and attack the six German factory bases one by one. When those factories fall, they'll no longer be able to supply further weapons. By then, the enemy will no longer pose a threat to Europe." While in the plane, Peggy briefed the trio regarding General Chester's command. "Steve, you've been promoted to corporal." Then her fell onto Kyle. "As for you, your accolades will continue to accumulate, but were unable to promote you for the time being."

"It doesn't matter." Kyle smiled. Accolades and ranks mattered not to him, only the card extraction.

Peggy continued. "Stark, you'll arm the two super soldiers with scientific strategies."

"Oh?" Howard replied casually while controlling the plane. But soon, he realized something and turned back in surprise. "Two super soldiers?!"

"Yes, Kyle became one too." Steve replied and informed Howard the military reports acquired after the rescue mission.

Peggy looked at Kyle and said, "Next, I'll supervise, record, and collect information about the super soldiers."

"Ok..." Kyle replied feebly, muttering in a low voice, "I am a second lieutenant and to be supervised by a woman... ah, I mean... it would be nice to have Steve as your guinea pig instead."

Peggy acted as if she did not hear his complaints and maintained a cold and elegant demeanor.

"If were going to form an armed team, we should recruit the soldiers we rescued last night. They've been fighting on the front lines for a long time and they have experience using the new energy weapons." Steve suggested.

"That's no problem. I'm sure they're waiting for a chance to fully vent their anger," Kyle pondered, "However, on this basis, I'd like to transfer a talent from the 102nd Regiment."

"Who?" Peggy asked.

"His name's Nick Fury and he's a very intelligent staff sergeant." Kyle smiled. It was a good chance to form a relationship with Fury.

*** *** ***

"Achoo!" In a makeshift tent on the frontlines, a sergeant with an eye patch sneezed. He rubbed his bald head in surprise. "It's not cold but do I have a bad feeling?"

There was an inexplicable wintry chill shadowing his back.