The reason Kyle had extended a direct invitation as the head of the family was that Lorna’s abilities alone qualified her for this opportunity, much like Raina’s in the beginning. Despite her young age, Lorna’s potential was beyond that of ordinary children.
Furthermore, it was a chance to establish an emotional connection early on. Not only Lorna in the present but also the future Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, Kyle wanted to bring them all into the family!
The Carl Family had numerous mid to low-level operatives, but they were still lacking a high-level combat force. With Lorna and her siblings, who were Mutants, joining them, it would be like adding wings to a tiger!
At that point, they would not only be the strongest family on Earth but arguably the most powerful force on the planet.
“It’s still not enough; I need to prepare more contingency plans,” Kyle thought as he looked up. He drank the wine from his glass in one go. His thoughts were not just on Hydra’s current misdeeds but also on the future, directed at the Mad Titan sitting high on his throne in some part of the galaxy.
No matter how strong he became, he could only be the God of Earth. The real universal ruler would be the future enemy. Kyle felt the pressing sense of time, and the crisis of doomsday drew nearer.
The stronger one stood at the peak, the more one could sense the looming danger from outer space. Perhaps that’s why someone as formidable as the Ancient One, a Sorcerer, still pondered constantly despite her powers.
Lorna watched Kyle, who had fallen into silence, and emotions welled up within her. She suddenly had an urge to get closer to him. However, when she saw Raina sitting next to him, all her emotions and fantasies were suppressed, and her actions came to a halt.
Lorna bit her lip, made a decision, and pretended to be relaxed. “Well, I’ve thought about it. I’ll give it a try.”
“Are you sure?” Kyle looked at her skeptically while feeling a little surprised. He hadn’t expected her to decide this so quickly. But her agreement made him feel relieved; he could skip many of the family initiation rules and rituals for her.
“What, are you going to change your mind?” Lorna rolled her eyes and asked with her arms crossed.
“I won’t take back what I’ve said,” Kyle replied with a smile and continued seriously, “Family members often use code names instead of their real names when operating outside. You can choose a code name now. Afterward, Raina will enter your personal information into the family butler, God’s database, and send a notice to all Card Members about the new member joining.”
“A family code name?” Lorna pondered for a moment, and a faint blush appeared on her cheeks. She waved her hand nonchalantly. “Then let’s go with ‘Polaris’.”
At first listen, the name seemed ordinary, but upon closer inspection, its profound meaning became apparent. Polaris, the northern star, and something that symbolized the Aurora.
Raina, observing Lorna’s dignified demeanor, couldn’t help but show a hint of concern in her eyes.
“Polaris, that’s a good name,” Kyle commented without much thought as he gestured to Vis, and Lorna’s family privileges as a Red-Rank Card Member were activated.
Lorna looked at Raina, her gaze lingering on the black uniform. She blinked and asked, “So, do I have to wear clothes like Raina in the future?”
“You?” Kyle furrowed his brows as his eyes scanned Lorna from head to toe, making her feel uncomfortable. He shook his head and bluntly stated, “No, that style won’t suit you. You can wear leather like Natasha’s, taking on the role of a pure sidekick.”
Lorna’s expression froze, and she raised her delicate eyebrows, her beautiful face showing an uncertain, enigmatic darkness.
Kyle stood up from his seat and looked at her seriously. “Remember, from now on, you are a member of the Carl Family. You will never be able to escape this title, no matter what, for the rest of your life.”
Lorna’s heart trembled, and she subconsciously nodded. She stood up, bent her waist slightly, extended her right hand awkwardly, and said, “I understand, Big… Brother.”
Kyle smiled and, this time without hesitation, gently touched her fair palm with his fingertip. In that fleeting moment, a brilliant aurora burst forth and then quickly dimmed.
After Kyle returned to his room to rest, only Raina and Lorna remained in the top-floor office lobby.
Lorna’s expression seemed somewhat distant as she sipped her wine, occasionally glancing furtively at her palm, her thoughts hidden from view.
Watching this, Raina’s gem-like eyes filled with increasing concern and she used her abilities to send a few thoughts to Lorna.
Lorna’s face paled, and she nervously placed her glass back on the table. She offered a somewhat forced explanation, “Raina, you’re overthinking it. I just want to be by your side to protect you from his clutches…”
‘Isn’t this a “buy one, get one free” scenario?’ Raina merely rolled her eyes and chose not to expose the truth as she was genuinely worried for Lorna.
Her Boss, despite his pursuit of perfection in everything, had a severe deficiency in a certain aspect— his emotional coldness and heartlessness as a human being.
Once you stepped into that abyss, there was no escaping, just a lifetime of endless descent.
“One day, you’ll understand that we’re not inadequate; it’s just that we were born half a century too late, missing the best times.” Raina’s parting thought to Lorna through her telepathy left her without any further persuasion.
Unbeknownst to Raina, this had ignited a sense of competitiveness within Lorna.
Kyle napped until evening.
When he awoke refreshed, and as he left his room, Raina received a new message regarding SHIELD:
“This afternoon, Captain America and SHIELD Deputy Director Natasha entered SHIELD Headquarters together. Half an hour later, a large number of SHIELD agents were mobilized to pursue and capture the two of them, and the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. issued an official wanted order.”
Kyle, while washing his face, inquired, “What’s happening now?”
Raina reported, “SHIELD agents haven’t captured them yet. Additionally, our sources have provided intelligence indicating that Steve and Natasha have already left New York City, heading towards New Jersey.”
“New Jersey?”
The name sounded familiar to Kyle, and he pondered, “Vis, open up a map of the United States, I want to see the general location of New Jersey.”
“Of course, Master.” Vis, seemingly materializing from thin air, hopped over to the washstand. His mechanical eyes projected a digital map onto the surface.
Kyle cast a quick glance at the map and thoughtfully said, “I see, New Jersey is very close to a new recruit training base.”
“New recruit base? Master, there are no military bases in that area.” Vis reminded him.
“Of course not. After all, it was a new recruit training base back in 1944. Steve and I both started there; I can’t be mistaken about that,” Kyle said with a smile.
Now, in hindsight, it was the place where it all began, the birthplace of their rebirth.
“Prepare the jet; we’re going to take a look,” Kyle said, his interest piqued.
“Yes.”
Raina and Vis answered in unison.
**[End of Chapter 275]**
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