[I also think they're scared. If this Enhancement Serum is real, tomorrow's military exercise will be a total dimensional strike. Is Russia planning to run away?]
[Bullshit! The great Russian army has never known fear. If we were afraid, we would have canceled the exercise. Just wait and see tomorrow!]
[Fine! Then don't run tomorrow! Whoever runs is a coward!]
The online flame wars intensified, and the name Steve, riding this storm, truly entered the vision of countless people worldwide for the first time.
The Fortress, Steve's bedroom.
The changing winds of the outside world did not affect the two people inside the room.
Steve and Muriel remained sitting cross-legged opposite each other, immersed in their training.
Hum!
Suddenly, an unprecedentedly massive surge of power of faith, like a river bursting its banks, descended out of thin air and poured directly into Steve's body.
"This..."
Steve snapped his eyes open, his entire body glowing with intense golden light, even dyeing the entire room gold.
"Steve?"
Muriel also opened her eyes across from him, looking at the person in front of her in surprise.
"Your aura has become so large and so warm."
Steve took a deep breath, feeling the power surging like an ocean within him, and nodded.
"Yes, I feel it. This is faith from the people, converging upon me frantically."
Through the perspective of the heart of faith, he seemed to see countless specks of light floating toward him.
Those were the admiration, gratitude, and trust generated by countless citizens after seeing the news; every speck of light represented a form of recognition, he was being turned into a superstar.
"It must be Randy and the others taking action."
A smile curled at the corner of Steve's mouth.
"Is this the power of the state machine? Just the beginning, and it already has such a terrifying effect."
He could clearly perceive that his physical body, under the washing of this power of faith, was strengthening at an astonishing speed.
He seemed to be truly just one step away from breaking through to a fifth-order physical body.
"Steve, are we still training?"
Muriel asked with her head tilted, her eyes full of concern.
Steve thought for a moment and shook his head.
"Better not. There's too much power of faith; my current absorption speed can't quite keep up. I'll find some time to digest it slowly later."
He glanced at the time.
"Besides, Mom and Dad will probably be back soon. It wouldn't be easy to explain if they saw us like this."
After speaking, Steve stood up and patted his clothes.
"Also..."
He hesitated for a moment, looking at Muriel.
"Don't always call me Steve. It sounds a bit distant."
"Eh?"
Muriel blinked her eyes, thinking with an adorable expression.
"Then what should I call you? Husband? Or Darling?"
She had read about terms of address for human couples in the books of the Church of Light; there seemed to be many kinds.
Steve almost lost his footing and quickly waved his hands.
"No, no, no, we aren't married yet."
"Then I'll call you..."
A flash of inspiration hit Muriel's mind as she thought of how her mother addressed her.
"Then I'll call you honey. Mother often calls me Murie; it sounds very affectionate that way."
"Honey..."
Hearing this somewhat childish name, Steve felt a bit strange. Being called honey by a girl who looked about his age made him feel like he was being treated like a younger brother or a son.
However, seeing the expectant look in Muriel's eyes, he couldn't bear to refute her.
"Alright then."
Steve smiled helplessly.
"Then from now on, I'll call you Murie, or whatever you like."
"Mhm, mhm!"
Muriel nodded vigorously with joy, a smile blooming on her face.
"Let's go, Steve, let's head out."
After saying that, like a child who had received candy, she turned and led the way out of the room.
Looking at her back, Steve touched his chest. Although the heart of faith was no longer throbbing wildly, that warm sense of connection had become increasingly clear.
The bedroom door opened, and Steve and Muriel walked out side-by-side.
Stephanie, who had been pretending to watch TV in the living room, immediately cast a meaningful look their way, a sly grin hanging on her lips.
"Yo, Brother, Sister-in-law, finished so soon?"
Steve's face darkened. He walked up and gave her a light flick on the forehead.
"Ouch!"
Stephanie clutched her forehead, looking at him pitifully.
"What did you hit me for?"
"What are you thinking about all day long?"
Steve said irritably.
"Your sister-in-law and I were training inside."
"Brother, I know it was training."
Stephanie rubbed her forehead and dropped her joking expression.
"I just wanted to ask what that golden light was earlier. I absorbed a little bit through the door and felt warm all over, very comfortable. I only looked toward your room after the golden light stopped."
"That was the power of faith."
Steve explained.
"The faith of the people is converging toward me. When your sister-in-law and I were training, it created a resonance, and the overflowing energy turned into that."
"That's so magical?"
Stephanie's eyes lit up, then as if thinking of something, she lowered her voice and asked.
"Brother, is that Director Steve everyone's talking about online really you? Didn't you mention before that you were a director?"
"Yes, it's me."
Steve nodded. Through the connection of the power of faith, he could even vaguely sense the pride and admiration in his sister's heart at this moment; that, too, was a strand of extremely pure faith.
"Dinner's ready! Dinner's ready!"
Nicole's loud voice drifted from the kitchen.
The family of six soon gathered around the dining table.
Tonight's spread was an all-out American feast—racks of ribs, roasted chicken, buttery mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, and a stack of burgers and fries. Stephen had even brought back a few special items from the base canteen, and the food completely covered the table.
At the table, the atmosphere was particularly lively.
Steve sat between Alex and Muriel, while Nicole sat on Muriel's other side.
This future mother-in-law liked this daughter-in-law, who looked like she'd stepped out of a painting, more and more. Not only was she beautiful, but her personality was also so simple and well-behaved—she was practically the perfect template for a daughter-in-law.
"Muriel, eat more of this; it's good for your health."
"This one is good too, try my cooking."
Nicole kept piling food onto Muriel's plate, and soon the bowl in front of her was stacked like a small mountain.
Muriel didn't refuse either, obediently nodding and saying thank you, Auntie, then eating in small bites with such elegant manners that no fault could be found.
After they had eaten and drunk their fill.
Steve looked at Muriel, who was sitting on the sofa looking a bit bored, and suggested.
"Want to go out for a walk?"
"Okay."
Muriel immediately nodded, a flash of anticipation in her eyes.
Beside them, Alex, who was munching on some post-meal fruit, perked up her ears. Just as she was about to raise her hand and say she wanted to go too, she was pulled back by the quick-witted Stephanie.
"Alex, can you accompany Sister for a walk?"
Stephanie winked at Alex, her meaning perfectly clear.
"Sister hasn't been out in a long time. Can you protect Sister?"
Although Alex was young, she was precocious and immediately understood.
"Okay."
She changed her half-raised hand into a chest-patting gesture.
"Leave it to me. I'll definitely protect big sis."
After saying that, Stephanie gave Steve a smile.
Steve nodded in understanding, then took Muriel's hand and walked toward the door.
Although undercurrents were surging in D.C with many enemy spies lurking, it would be a miracle if anything happened to a combination of the strongest human at the peak of the fourth stage and a seventh-stage angel going out shopping.
With the sixth-stage Alex protecting Stephanie, she was also as secure as a fortress.
D.C., near a local mall.
Using his spatial abilities, Steve teleported directly with Muriel to a deserted corner on the outskirts of the Capitol, then they strolled into the downtown area like an ordinary couple.
"Let's go. I'll take you to buy some clothes first."
Steve said as he looked at the white gown Muriel was wearing, which was beautiful but somewhat vintage and complicated.
"When in Rome, do as the Romans do. You can't keep wearing this all the time, right?"
"Okay."
Muriel replied obediently.
The two walked side by side on the brightly lit street.
Looking at the rows of skyscrapers, flickering neon signs, and the crowds of people who, though in a hurry, showed no signs of fear, Muriel's eyes were full of novelty.
"Does it look good?"
Steve asked.
"Yes, it's beautiful."
Muriel sighed softly.
"It's really different from our world. The humans here seem so peaceful, without the constant worry of being hunted by other races."
Just as they were chatting and arrived in front of a high-end clothing store.
Steve was about to push the door open.
"We're here. Let's go in."
Suddenly, Muriel paused in her tracks.
Steve keenly sensed her abnormality and immediately used his Spiritual Power to shield the space around them, cutting off the view of passersby.
"Muriel, what's wrong?"
Instead of answering, Muriel abruptly turned her head and looked toward a skyscraper in the distance.
Her originally clear and simple gaze now became as sharp as a blade, as if it could penetrate the barriers of steel and concrete.
"There are evil thoughts."
Her voice turned cold.
"They are directed at you honey. Someone wants to spy on your information and take you back to Russia?"
Through the heart of the angel's extreme sensitivity to good and evil, she clearly captured a wave of nauseating malice and greed coming from that direction.
"Russia? Spies?"
Steve's eyes turned cold.
The next second, Muriel directly grabbed Steve's hand.
Boom!
Eight massive black and white wings instantly unfurled behind her, with sacred and fallen auras intertwining.
She took Steve and soared into the sky, turning into a streak of light and flying straight toward that building.
Steve didn't stop her, only sighing inwardly.
She looked like a simple girl-next-door just a moment ago, but as soon as she sensed evil thoughts, she changed immediately.
Inside a luxury suite of a five-star hotel.
"Yes, Minister, I understand."
Anthony held the phone, nodding and bowing incessantly like a lapdog.
"I'll go investigate that Steve right away. I guarantee the mission will be completed."
Beep!
The call ended.
"Fuck!"
Anthony's face instantly became distorted, and he kicked the cabinet next to him hard.
"Investigate Steve? How am I supposed to investigate when there's not even basic information? These stupid pigs who only know how to sit in their offices and drink coffee."
He was an ace spy for the Russian Intelligence Agency, the FSB. His original mission was to investigate that mysterious Anomaly Zone, but his colleagues went missing one by one, leaving everyone in a state of panic, only able to hide in the capital on standby.
Now, a death order had been issued from above to dig up Steve's background by any means necessary.
"Steve, Steve..."
Anthony paced back and forth in the room anxiously.
"There are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people named Steve in America. Am I supposed to go through a roster and check them one by one?"
Distraught, he walked to the large floor-to-ceiling window, wanting to look at the night view to calm himself down.
Suddenly, he saw a speck of golden light in the distant sky rushing toward him at extreme speed.
"What is tha—"
Before he could finish, the golden light rapidly expanded in his pupils.
Crash!!
The solid tempered glass instantly shattered into countless fragments.
A gust of wind poured in, and a figure with eight wings descended like a god of death.
Before Anthony could react, a cold hand had already tightly gripped his throat, lifting him into the air.
"Ugh... cough, cough..."
Anthony's feet kicked wildly as he looked in terror at the beautiful woman before him. Her eyes were cold, the gaze of someone looking at a dead man.
"Is it you... who wants to kill Steve?"
Muriel's voice was devoid of emotion.
"God... forgive me..."
Anthony was scared out of his wits. What the hell was this? An angel with wings?
At this moment, a calm voice came from the side.
"He's probably a spy lurking in America, here to investigate me."
Anthony struggled to turn his eyes and saw the young man standing behind the angel.
"Investigate you? You are... Steve?"
A storm of shock surged in his heart.
The target he was supposed to investigate was actually a superman who could fly and tunnel through the earth.
Moreover, the pressure emanating from this winged female monster was so strong that he felt like an ant that could be crushed at any moment.
"That's right, it's me."
Steve nodded with a smile, which seemed even more terrifying than a demon's to Anthony.
"Honey, should I kill him?"
Muriel turned to look at Steve, her tone flat.
"No need."
Steve waved his hand.
"Keep him alive for now. I'll call someone to take him back later and see if we can interrogate some useful information out of him."
Saying this, he took out his phone and dialed Fred's number.
"Hello, Fred. Come to the Marriott Hotel. I've caught a spy and accidentally broke some glass. Come handle the aftermath."
Just then, Muriel frowned slightly and looked toward a certain direction outside the window again.
"There's more?"
Steve understood and added a sentence to the phone.
"Bring more people, preferably the entire Action Team. We might have to do a major cleanup tonight."
"Yes! Director! We'll be there right away."
Fred's serious yet excited voice came from the other end of the line.
The call ended.
Muriel casually threw Anthony onto the carpet. A golden chain of holy light appeared out of thin air, directly sealing his meridians and mobility.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Anthony slumped on the floor, coughing violently, his eyes filled with despair.
"Russia sent word? They want information on me?"
Steve looked down at him from above.
Although Anthony had undergone professional anti-interrogation training, his psychological defenses had already collapsed in the face of such supernatural power that was completely beyond his comprehension.
"Hah! Doesn't Russia have enough problems on their plate?"