Inside the town of Puente Antiguo.
The sun was setting, leaving a few remnants of crimson in the navy-blue night sky, while the night had quietly descended upon this western town situated on the outskirts of the wilderness.
The local residents, having worked throughout the day, were gradually returning home. Households were illuminating with soft lights, and the bars and restaurants catering to the locals were becoming livelier, with many people gathered together to eat, drink, and be merry.
In a bar that also doubled as a restaurant, Kyle and his companions sat around a square table near the window, beer mugs and small plates of peanuts already on the table.
At first, Jane and Darcy were skeptical of Kyle's identity, but due to Professor Erik's introduction and verifying Kyle's personal information online, they accepted him as their visitor.
"Well, the food hasn't arrived yet. I'll just run to the restroom. Jane, and your friend, please take care of Mr. Carl," Erik said as he left the table in a hurry, heading towards the bathroom outside the bar.
He had been in need of a bathroom break for a while but had hesitated because he didn't think it was appropriate to leave this meeting between his students and a guest. But now, he couldn't hold it any longer.
After Erik had gone a little far, Darcy pouted her lips and, in a hushed voice that only Jane and herself could hear, muttered in annoyance, "I also wish someone would serve me in this godforsaken place."
Jane glanced at her friend casually and nudged her in the side with her elbow. Darcy exclaimed with a feigned cry of pain and then sulkingly began munching on peanuts.
'Youth is great.' Kyle pondered this thought quietly and took a sip from his beer glass, filled with foamy beer.
This scene surprised Jane, and she exclaimed, "Mr. Carl, you're drinking beer? I thought upper-class individuals..."
"A few hundred-thousand-dollar red wine and a few-dollar beer are no different when they go down your throat. Expensive ones are just for raising one's status and worth," Kyle replied, his face displaying an elegant and gentle smile.
Since the encounter with the mysterious individual at the Club half a year ago, he had integrated seamlessly into human society on Earth, adopting a more normal and sociable demeanor rather than being cold and distant.
From his appearance to his genetics, soul, and temperament, the aristocratic air and intimidating presence that had set him apart from ordinary people had all been concealed.
Now, both inside and out, Kyle was just an ordinary Earthling.
This was the result of mastering his card control, not only recovering his normal state of mind but also making significant progress in his pyrokinetic abilities. The cluster of red hair in the middle of his silver hair served as a testament to this progress.
Kyle didn't display any arrogance and quickly closed the gap between the people at the table.
Darcy took a sip of her beer and boldly said, "Hey, Carl, right? It's nighttime; why are you still wearing sunglasses?"
Jane stared intently at Kyle from across the table, feeling equally skeptical. If he was a researcher who observed celestial bodies, wearing sunglasses at night was something that made no sense.
"I forgot. Alright, I'll take them off," Kyle nodded and, after setting aside his beer glass, voluntarily removed his sunglasses.
The sunglasses fell onto the tabletop below, where they immediately adhered to his left wrist and swiftly underwent a mechanical transformation, integrating silently with his original digital wristwatch.
Darcy stared at Kyle's face with wide eyes. In a soft voice that only Jane and herself could hear, she muttered, "This is incredible."
Jane also focused on Kyle, perplexed. "You look so young and quite handsome."
Kyle: "..."
"Many people say that," Kyle chuckled and lightened the mood with humor.
He suddenly remembered that before leaving New York, to avoid being recognized, he had Venom make slight adjustments to his appearance. His goal was to make sure no one would recognize him at first sight. Additionally, over the past six months, Kyle had indeed grown a year or two younger, regressing to his early twenties.
Even members of the Avengers would have a hard time believing it. Others either remained the same or aged, while Kyle not only retained his youthful appearance but also seemed to reverse age, exuding health and vitality.
"You're so young. I think I can call you 'little brother.' Don't worry, your big sister has got you covered," Darcy said with a seductive smile, giving Kyle a teasing glance.
Just as Erik had returned from the restroom and overheard Darcy's comment, he was so shocked that he almost stumbled but managed to catch himself by grabbing onto the chair and table.
Jane quickly got up and helped Erik, asking, "Professor, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine," Erik waved his hand and sat back down. He looked at Darcy and cleared his throat, saying with solemnity, "Mr. Carl is my friend. Why are you calling him 'little brother'?"
Darcy pouted, looking at Kyle with eyes that were growing increasingly passionate. She said, "I was just making a joke."
Jane pinched Darcy a few times in secret, to no avail.
To be honest, if it were any other time and she hadn't experienced her first crush yet, even this scientific researcher would have believed in love at first sight. After all, the young man who went by 'Carl' in front of her seemed flawless— gentle, amiable, and giving people a sense of security.
Coupled with his perfect physique and appearance, as well as his wealth and status, he seemed like the prince from a fairy tale.
However, it was precisely because he seemed so perfect, too perfect to be real, that Jane couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
Her mentor, Erik, also held an attitude of politeness and respect toward Kyle, with an underlying sense of awe.
Once the sizzling barbecue arrived, conversation among the group waned as they began to devour the food on the table, preparing for their late-night field exploration.
Kyle had integrated into this small circle, playing the role he had designed for himself. He occasionally gazed at the sparkling night sky outside the window.
If he were to deal with an enemy, he wouldn't bother disguising his identity and building friendly relationships with three ordinary people.
This time, he came here to meet a special friend.
"Odin, that old man, always finds ways to make me do this job," Kyle thought helplessly. He finished his portion of meat without losing his composure.
After finishing their meal, the group boarded the travel van, with Jane behind the wheel, and left the small town for the pitch-black wilderness.
In the deep night, the starry sky sparkled, and the darkness fell upon the earth.
Two bright headlights cut through the thick darkness as the travel van's engine roared, racing swiftly through the flat and uninhabited desert.
Kyle sat on the passenger seat with his eyes closed, refreshing himself, while in the back seat, Darcy and Erik held surveying instruments, providing real-time reports.
"The radiation levels are rising significantly, significantly stronger than yesterday, and we're getting closer to that area. The direction is correct!"
"Then hold on tight!" Jane reminded, stepping on the gas pedal to increase the speed.
No one noticed, but in the night sky directly above the travel van, the dark clouds parted, and the stars spun together into a brilliant, colorful halo of light.
Kyle suddenly opened his eyes and muttered to himself, "It's about time. Welcome To Earth."
(End of this chapter)
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