The Magician of Sound

"So, what will be your answer?" 

"A Raid Mission can't be avoided, right? Kai let out a sigh. 

"That's why Top 100 groups have such a luxury like a Helicopter that will bring you everywhere and the chance to get more money." Ria shrugged.

"One more thing. There will be an award ceremony later, and you will be the star! Don't embarrass me, alright?"

"So, you do care about your reputation…"

"No. I'm just worrying that you will have an unforgettable moment in your life." Ria grinned.

Kai snorted. "I won't embarrass myself."

Ria nodded. "As for the details, I will send it to your emails. Besides, the Government will send their agent to inform you about the ceremonial stuff and the clothes that you wear. So, you only need to come there while being guarded by them."

Kai nodded. He didn't really mind about this, though. After all, he would be able to climb the rank faster. If it was like this, he would soon have enough prestige to stand toe to toe with Graham Family. 

"If you have understood, you can go. Rest properly and prepare yourself."

Kai bowed to her and walked away. However, he halted his footsteps before entering the door. "When do you want us to come to your house?"

"Ah!" Ria almost forgot this matter. "The work for the ceremony might need at least a week. You can come after that. Just inform me first."

"Alright." Kai then walked down the stairs.

Seeing his back, Ria let out a very long sigh. "A person who wants to live peacefully will soon be bothered by problems. The crying Earth, huh… Even if it costs my life, I will protect that kid. After all, he is my beloved student…"

A few minutes later,

*Clack!*

"I have finished my job." Kai entered his room, where everyone, except Evan, had been waiting for him. They were chatting earlier and turned their heads the moment Kai entered the room. 

Michelle quickly rose from her bed and greeted him. "Have we finished the job, or is there another one in this base? We are going home, right?"

"Yes." Kai nodded. "We can go home in two days… They need to do some paperwork because we are ahead of schedule." 

Michelle thought for a moment and nodded. "Two days won't be a problem since we don't have anything to do."

"Yeah. It's almost night anyway, so it's only a day or so." Kai shrugged before straightening his back and bowing his head. "Anyway, everyone has worked hard. Thank you."

"Michelle did a good job of defeating the enemies in the Middle Region. Ayaka and Sister also did an excellent job of defending the passage toward the Western Region. It's a shame that Evan is still occupied with his matter. Of course, Teacher Sanae also played a crucial role in this meeting. Thank you."

Michelle and the others couldn't help but scratch their heads, embarrassed. Michelle added, "Of course. Everything won't be possible without you, Kai. Let's not talk about this stuff."

"I agree." Tasha and Ayaka nodded.

Kai smiled…

…

Two days later,

There were many cargo planes, mostly carrying soldiers back to the US base. Kai and the others entered the first one with a few commanders to ensure the work they needed to deal after arriving.

Surprisingly, Michael came to the base and took care of all the progress. 

"Leave the rest to me. You students can go home and rest even if you were the strategist previously." He patted Kai's shoulders right after he walked down the plane.

"He was the Acting General previously." Michelle corrected her father.

"…" Michael was speechless, not because of Kai's rank but his daughter. He shrugged his shoulders and said, "Oh… Strategist, Insult. Acting General, Honor. Unfortunately, you need to know that both are Officers of the army, daughter."

"We are talking about your word, Dear Father!" Michelle smirked. 

"Fine fine. You win. I am too lazy to argue right now because there is a more important matter." Michael sighed before pointing far to the right. "Go there. The butler has been waiting for you and will send you home. All of you, including your teacher and Young Family boy." 

After finishing his business with Kai, he quickly ran off somewhere.

Kai looked at the others and asked. "So… let's go home?"

"Sure." Michelle nodded, followed by the rest. They started walking toward the direction and went inside the car. They dropped Evan first, then Sanae and Ayaka before going to Kai's house. 

They had school permission to have three days rest, and Kai used it to rest inside his house. Surpassingly, Michelle and Ayaka didn't come to his house. Even his sister didn't disturb him and decided to train herself in the garden.

The three days passed quietly as Kai rested his mind and focused on his research again. Only he knew that there would be another Raid Mission in a few months, and he believed Sound Levitation should be finished before that.

Kai and Tasha came to school. It was completely normal as they could enter and meet others like usual. 

However, everything changed when a knock echoed.

A door was opened, and Sherwin entered the room, surprising everyone. If they looked down, they could see Sherwin brought a document and a uniform. He had a serious expression at this time, slowly walking toward Kai. 

"Kai… This is your document and uniform for the ceremony in a week from now." Sherwin ripped the bag and took out his uniform, handing it to Kai. "Try the uniform first. I was using your measurement from the data you gave to the school, so if it was too big or too small, you could inform me, and I will adjust it later."

Kai took the uniform and saw Sherwin putting the document on his table beside his research paper before going to the bedroom. On the other hand, the others were completely clueless about what happened.

Michelle rose from her seat and furrowed her eyebrows. "What is this ceremony, Sir Sherwin?"

A flash of surprise was planted on his face. "He hadn't told you yet?"

Michelle looked at Tasha and the others, but none nodded their heads. 

"It's nothing big… Wait, it's a big ceremony since his name will be known… not only in this entire base, even the other bases too." 

"What? What kind of ceremony can make his name well-known?"

"We can wait until he comes back first and asks if he wants to tell you people…"

"Why do we need to wait? I mean, it will be soon well known if it's as you say." Michelle narrowed her eyes, looking at the closed door where Kai tried his uniform. 

"Well, he must be embarrassed…" Sherwin laughed out loud. He had been too busy in the past few days and finally got a good laugh.

"I wasn't embarrassed. I just thought I didn't need to tell you guys since you would know within a few days." Kai's voice suddenly resounded across the room.

All of them turned around and were surprised by his appearance. He didn't put on his headphones this time since it would be considered rude. 

It felt a bit refreshing to see him without putting a headphone or left it hanging on his neck. At the same time, the dark blue four-pocket coat with belted waist, drab blue trousers, white shirt, dark blue tie. It suited his black hair very much as Michelle, Tasha, and Ayaka was slightly stunned.

"How is it?" 

"Yeah. It suits my body, and I don't feel any discomfort or whatever." Kai nodded.

"Anyway, your ceremony is going to be held one week from now. The defense minister will be handing you the rank and medal."

"I understand." Kai nodded.

"The necessary information and documents you need are there. It should be clear enough for whatever you need to know. If you have any questions, you can ask your Teacher." Sherwin turned around and walked away. "I will go now, so you can explain it to them."

Kai nodded and grabbed the document. 

Michelle and the others looked at him, no, his documents. Michelle managed to peek on the document and saw the one gold stripe on the document. "Why could I see a military rank there? Students can't receive a military rank, right?"

Evan, who was the only native beside Michelle, nodded to back up her argument.

"Teacher said I needed it and I didn't have a problem with it. If I have a high military rank, I can protect my family anyway." Kai shrugged.

"It also means that EU Base and United Asia will know about it, right? I am talking about the Katsuragi Family." Michelle narrowed her eyes. 

"Yeah. I am prepared. If an assassin comes, I can use it as my reason." Kai smirked. "Of course, I need to increase my rank as soon as possible since I can move the army or base if they send an assassin. Besides, they need to settle with the Southern Family first."

"If you have a clear image, I won't have a problem." Michelle nodded.

"I'm fine as well." Tasha nodded. "I am still a bit sour with the treatment, so I actually want to kill some of those people from the Katsuragi Family."

"I have the same intention…" Ayaka clenched her hands, thinking about her grandfather.

"Still, you are going to be a second lieutenant in a week… And you are the only student who has this rank. I need to clear some vixen who will come later!" Michelle clicked her tongue.

Kai chuckled. "Do you think I will be swayed like that easily?"

Michelle rolled her eyes away.

"Anyway, It will be the weekend by then, so I don't need to take a day off from school." Kai shrugged and looked back to his documents, reading it carefully.