Inside room 420, Kai and the others finally had the time to relax and began their research about Easter Island.
Of course, everything came from a legitimate source. After getting the president's permission, he received a special rank to get the secret information about the island, including the past research conducted there.
The information blew their mind away.
"Hmm… There is something strange about this island." Evan looked at the group.
"True. Most of the statues should be around the edge of the island, watching over its land. And yet, half of the statues had moved and gotten destroyed. From the research alone, they seemed to be destroyed by something instead of a natural process or disaster," Sofia added.
"Yes. At first, I thought it was the works of magical beasts. However, I could see that wasn't the case. The magical beasts wouldn't be able to move these statues due to its weight." Ayaka agreed and said the part she just read.
"No. You should look at this. There is something wrong with this. There should be people on this island, but from the report, there was not a single person to be seen, not even their remains. In other words, these people had disappeared mysteriously." Michelle narrowed her eyes, focusing on this part.
"Do you mean there is a possibility they are still alive?" Tasha realized the hidden meaning in Michelle's words.
"Possibly. Although the chance is low, it's not zero. This might also be the reason why Teacher wants me to investigate the area. I can simply search around the island to check whether there is still a living being there. Still, look at these statues… I mean, the background." Kai looked at the green scenery around the statues.
"Now that I think about it, it looks like a battle took place there. From my point of view, the military in the past had troubles in fighting against these magical beasts, let alone these people. And to produce this kind of aftermath…" Michelle looked at a few giants craters around the scattered statues.
Kai thought for a moment and asked, "I wonder… If these statues actually moved themselves there. According to the legend, they were ancestors of the Rapa Nui people, right? And they existed to watch over the land to protect them…"
"!!!" The group widened their eyes for a second before making a weird expression. "That's not a bit scientific…"
"Well, the appearance of magic power alone is already unscientific. In fact, no matter how much I rely on science to use my magic, it's only due to magic power and my hearing ability that I could make my magic. And again, it's magic." Kai sighed. "I don't want to accept it, but that's the only thing I can see from this."
"Then our first target is these statues then? We will search around the intact statues before looking at the shattered ones." Michelle asked for his confirmation before taking a note about it.
"Yes. I think we should mark those in the center of this island. The ones that are under the foot of the Terevaka Volcano." Kai nodded. "How about the Volcanoes? Do you know anything about it? There are two volcanoes here. Terevaka and Puakatike."
"We don't know anything about it, and the research also said nothing extraordinary around the volcanoes. We could check it later. Is there a time limit for this?" Sofia shook her head and asked.
"No. But I don't want to stay too long in that place. Seven days at most," Kai thought for a moment and answered.
"Fair enough. Unless something extraordinary is going on, I think it's the best for us to not stay there for too long." Michelle agreed with his decision. "Besides…"
"Hm?" Kai stared at her, confused.
"Nothing. I will say it to you later."
"Alright." Kai nodded.
"We still have two weeks to prepare, so don't rush everything. Take your time and see whether there is something wrong about the island from the report. There might be some uncertainties on the island, but I will take a dramatic measure in case we need to escape from there… So, you don't need to worry about your safety."
"Yes."
The girls already knew about Tasha's ability and knew that Kai could make a teleportation magic father than her, so they knew everything was under control.
After the meeting ended, Michelle whispered something to Kai before the two stepped outside the room. He looked around and found that there wasn't a single person in the corridor, so he thought they could talk there.
"Do you need anything?"
"Kai… Can you help me?" Michelle asked with a guilty face. She fiddled her finger and looked left and right.
Kai could see her anxiety, wondering if this request is a bit something. Still, Kai offered his best smile and asked. "Do you need anything?"
"Actually, I want you to be my training partner."
"Oh? I thought you were going to ask something excessive… I have been training Evan recently, and since he has some progress, I think I can let him train alone for the time being." Kai nodded. "But I can't believe you to be someone who wears this kind of expression with a request like this. Is there something wrong with you? Maybe your family?"
Michelle looked down for a few seconds. After that, she looked up and came to his ears, whispering something.
Kai's face turned from normal to shock to serious. The matter she just told him might be a bit troublesome to take care of. He might even ask Nathan and Ria to take care of the aftermaths. Luckily, he already got ranks from the military, and Brent Joseph seemed not that bad.
With all of these cards in his hand, he should be able to protect Michelle for some time. And he would receive a general rank by that time.
'Well, the matter is not more serious than Tasha unsealing her Space Magic.' Kai thought and nodded. "Alright. It should be fine to do that. I will help you with your training."
"Thank you." Michelle smiled brightly and hugged him outside the room.
…
Two weeks had passed. There wasn't a big movement from the army or the magical beast, so Kai and his group could do their own things undisturbed. It was a precious peaceful time that Sanae loved so much. At the same time, she didn't need to follow them to Eastern Island.
One day before their departure, Tasha and Michelle grabbed his hand and took him away from the room as soon as the school ended.
"We are going!"
"Obviously to the supermarket to buy our supplies for a week."
The two girls seemed to be pumped up to show their cooking skills since both of them had the best skill in the group. Unfortunately, they simply only had a few opportunities to show that skill to him because they ended the mission too fast. The one that was the most memorable was the previous raid mission when Kai was tired after working hard with Via.
Suddenly, Ayaka rose from her seat and followed her. She never slacked off her training about this too, since the scene in United Asia reminded her about her uselessness.
Tasha banned Kai from entering the kitchen to show her ability, so this was one of the few things that they could do to impress Kai.
And yet, there was a single someone who just realized their biggest weakest. It was Sofia. Acting like a princess and having everything she needs were her daily occurrences. However, she realized if she didn't have any other qualities, she couldn't be compared to the other girls. In that case, how could she finish her job?
"Are you not going Evan?" Kai even asked only Evan instead of both of them.
"No. This is their competition. As long as I get the same portion, I won't have any complaints. It's delicious anyway." Evan shook his head.
"Is there anything you can't eat?"
"They already know it. Just don't bring cheese, Isabelle doesn't like it."
"Oh, as expected from the husband… I am impressed." Kai clapped his hand before leaving the room.
"…" Evan twisted his eyebrows and turned to Sofia, who remained in her seat. "You are not going?"
"…" Sofia gritted her teeth and looked away.
"Oh! So, you can't cook. Well, I think cooking is a basic necessity, especially since we are often dispatched to the frontline. It's only because of Captain's girls that I can slack in this area…" Evan shrugged before commenting. "Well, I think you better—"
Before he could finish his words, Sofia already screamed at him. "I know!"
"I know that I need to learn cooking. Evan Young! You must have researched me, right?" Sofia gritted her teeth. "Kh!"
"I have no complaint about food… Just make sure you don't say cooking is about feeling. As long as you love someone, the food will be good. It's a bullsh*t. I am saying this because I will surely need to heal myself in case that happens."
"…" She snorted and looked away.
…
The next day.
Kai and the others went toward the military base. Kai almost forgot to mention it to them, but Ria had asked for their bodyguards to send them safely. And when the girls saw how the fighter jets followed them, they simply had no word.
On one hand, they thought Ria Ross was playing around about this mission, but it turned out she was dead serious. If not, there was no way for her to send all these people just to escort them.
Luckily, it seemed they had no problem in the first meeting. After escorting the plane, the other planes turned around and returned to the base since they would escort them again on their way home.
He and the group then finally stepped outside the plane.