The battle that Kyle and Steve fought to rescue the hostages ended in a resounding victory.

  After submitting the battle report and intelligence map to General Brandt, Kyle didn't have time to personally verify his military aplishments. He quickly ged into a formal dress shirt and joined Howard, Agent Carter, and the others.

  After all, before the hostage rescue, Howard had promised to treat them to a cheese hot pot, and Kyle couldn't let him off the hook so easily.

  Knowing Howard's wealth and sophistication, they khey were in for a special experiehe group boarded a Stark phat day and headed to the city for a ba and dinner.

  Howard, being the man of means that he was, had selected araordinary venue for the occasion.

  The hotel entrance was adorned with dazzling golden lights, and a red carpet covered the floor. Security personnel dressed as gentlemen in suits greeted them, while attractive receptionists in short skirts weled them with charming smiles on their faces.

  "Howard, you really know how to live the good life," Kyle ented, and Howard maintained a smile without responding, leading the three of them into the hotel.

  Howard was clearly a regur visitor here. The receptionists didn't even bother to check their identities. As soon as they saw Howard, they approached him to provide various VIP services.

  Ihe grand hotel, the ground-floor dining hall exuded a more uated elegance. Cssical deliers cast a warm light in the surroundings, while a violinist pyed in the er, creating a pleasant ambiance.

  The guests dined gracefully to the soothing music. Most of the people present were not exceptionally wealthy or noble, but they seemed detached from the worries and s of the ongoing war.

  As Howard was about to ask the receptionist to find a table for four, Kyle interjected and requested two separate tables for two.

  A smile crossed Howard's face. "A table for two? Sed Lieutenant Kyle, you uand me well. Let me have dinner with the lovely Agent Carter tonight."

  "You're jumping to clusions," Kyle rolled his eyes and g Agent Carter, who was seated beside Steve. Tonight, she had forsaken her military uniform.

  Agent Carter wore an off-the-shoulder gowing the occasion. With a touakeup atuating her already stunniy, she looked even more radiant and captivating. The perfectly fitted red dress highlighted her mature figure.

  "As promised, I brought Steve back safely. I keep my word," Kyle said to Agent Carter, not waiting for her response, and patted Steve on the shoulder. "You take Agent Carter to dinner first."

  "Ah!" Steve excimed in surprise, then quickly nodded. "Oh, I see."

  'I'm giving you an opportunity, so make the most of it, buddy.' Kyle chuckled to himself as he thought of this. He didn't harbor any particur feelings fent Carter, so there was no sense ret.

  However, tonight's purpose extended beyond a vish dinner.

  "Please follow me, gentlemen," The receptionist spoke courteously aured towards the dining area, leading Steve and Agent Carter to their seats.

  "Ah, so Agent Carter just left like that?" Howard's face dispyed a hint of disappoi on it as he g Kyle aated. "Should we, two grown men, diogether? Or should we also have a table for two?"

  "Whether you want to eat or not is up to you. Holy, I have something else to discuss with you," Kyle shrugged.

  "Something else?" Howard looked at Kyle with curiosity.

  Kyle spoke with significe, "Let's find a pce to sit first, and then I'll give you the details."

  They desded to the underground floor of the hotel.

  This area had a different ambianpared to the main dining hall. Dim lights illumihe se, and people of various backgrounds dao the music, losing themselves in the moment.

  The serving staff, holding wine gsses, donned revealing outfits resembling bunny maids, their exposed chests and long legs appearing quite alluring.

  Howard and Kyle settled at the bar in the drinks area. Along the way, Howard even openly pihe buttocks of a few passing bunny girls, exhibiting a blend of debauchery alemanly charm.

  Kyle couldn't help but silently remark on the pyboy nature of the Stark family. He ordered a gss of vodka from the bartender, while Howard opted for a cocktail.

  "Well the's raise sses and toast to World War II," Howard elegantly raised his gss, making an ued statement.

  Kyle looked at him with a surprised expression on his fad asked, "Are you actually happy about the war?"

  "Of course. As someone who studies strategic sce, deadly ons, and cutting-edge teology, I 't fulfill my potential without a war," Howard replied, maintaining his smile as he looked at Kyle. "And the same goes for you. Without this war, it would have been impossible for you to rise from a new recruit to a Sed Lieutenant in just a few weeks."

  "I have to admit, you have a strong sense of self-i," Kyle chuckled, raising his gss to k it with Howard's.

  War had its pros and s. It provided unpreted opportunities for those with skills and abilities, while for those without, it was a detestable catastrophe.

  Taking a sip of his drink, Howard said, "Let's get to the point. Tell me what you want to discuss. Otherwise, I might as well go chat with the beautiful dies."

  Kyle nodded a straight to the point. "Alright, I'll be direct— I want a stake in Stark Industries."

  "You want to bee a partner in my pany?" Howard seemed a bit surprised but he sidered it and spoke. " you expin why?"

  Kyle tinued drinking and stated, "It's simple. I believe in the i potential of Stark Industries. I'm vihat it will bee the top strategid stifiufacturing pany on this p. And most importantly, I believe in you. You're an undeniable genius."

  "I must say, you have good judgment," Howard responded, satisfied with the answer. He was already a genius and had enough pride to back it up.

  "During the war, my focus is still on the try's teological strategic research. Although Stark Industries hasn't made signifit progress yet, it has already achieved results ii-gravity projed will expand into more stific fields iure. If the war ends, Stark Industries will experience rapid growth!"

  As Howard spoke, he looked at Kyle early and said, "I don't want to uimate you. I've seen your file, and you don't have many assets to your name. Even as a issioned officer, your sary wouldn't amount to much. So, how exactly do you pn to i in Stark Industries?"

  Kyle khat his newfound friendship alone wouldn't secure him shares in Stark Industries, so he had prepared enough leverage to discuss shares with the proud genius, Howard.

  "What I'm iing isn't money, but the future," Kyle said as he reached into his pocket and pced a thiangur devi the bar ter.

  The device sisted of a nearly seamless tempered gss s with tiny cameras embedded in it. The back was a smooth metal g with a promi cutout Apple logo.

  Yes, it was a smartphone! An iPhone!

  (End of chapter)