The Magician of Sound

After several days of planning, the time for the mock battle had come. Despite having Sanae's promise to be his navigator, the battle was still one versus five.

They finished their work for the last day first before driving to Michelle's house, borrowing the personal training room.

Of course, Michelle had prepared everything. From six training capsules to the necessary data. When they entered the mansion and arrived in front of the house, an old man suddenly pushed open the door and leaped toward them.

"Oh! My granddaughter has brought my grandson-in-law home." The target of his hug was obviously Kai.

Instead of dodging, Kai decided to use his Oscillation Shield to stop him, and Nathan ended up crashing into it.

"You must be so shy." Nathan pouted.

"I am not. Please act according to your age."

"Why do I need to do that when it's not necessary? It won't give me money or anything. Instead, there is this research that if you are acting like a certain younger age, you can live longer. I am planning to live long enough until I see my great-grandchildren."

"…" Kai couldn't rebuke him again as he only let out a sigh. "Anyway, I think you have read the report, right?"

"Are you talking about the fight or the intelligent beasts? If you are talking about the latter, I have sent the order for investigation…Or Michael has! If it's the former, I am wondering why you are so cruel to want to kill your own wife?" He sobbed.

"Quit your acting." Kai scratched the back of his head. "It's just a mock battle. It's not like we are fighting for different reasons?"

"Oh?! Are you talking about family fights that end up in divorce? Wait a minute. Don't tell me you are the guy who will answer the question 'What is the reason for a divorce' with 'Marriage,' right?"

"The answer is true, though. But no, I am not that kind of person. Why are you even asking right now? Haven't you seen enough already? I am not going to change drastically in a short period of time."

"Ahem!" Suddenly, someone's voice was heard from behind as Michael showed his appearance. "Father, you should stop bothering him. What if he becomes too bothered with your action and ends up leaving your granddaughter?"

"I will chase him to the end of the world and tie him up. After that, I will use an aphrodisiac and make them do the deed." Nathan answered with a serious expression as if he would do that for real.

"I shouldn't ask that." Michael was completely speechless to face this old man. "And I somehow can't picture you bringing our five thousand soldiers that are scattered all around the base to chase him down."

"You are truly my son. You can even know my exact thought."

"Anyway, I think the kids can't really stay for too long because they are not going to stay for the night. That's why it's better to let them finish their battle first before talking like this."

"Aiya. Now I am taking back my words from earlier. Are you really my son?"

"Yes, I am. I know you are planning to buy time long enough until it has become too late for them to go back to their home and end up staying for the night." Michael twitched his eyebrows, starting to become irritated.

"I am taking back of me taking back my words."

"Are you not tired talking like that, Father?"

"Nope!" Nathan stuck out his tongue playfully. "What? I am not dignified? It's fine. I don't care about my personal image anymore. As for the image of the Graham Family? You are the one who needs to keep it."

"Ugh!" Michael was hopeless to fight this shameless old man. Even Kai could only shake his head, not knowing how to help him. At the same time, Michelle had been fuming inside this whole time as she suddenly grabbed her grandfather's collar from behind and dragged her. "I am going to talk to this old man. Give me fifteen minutes."

"Oh, my granddaughter. How can you do this to your grandfather? Look at your cousins! They respect this grandfather of yours."

"I will be leaving this household when I am married!" She gritted her teeth and complained as she kept dragging him inside.

"I will keep visiting you! I need to play with my great-grandchildren. Even Kai has become 4-Star generals, the great-grandchildren can't escape from me!"

"You are the bad influence!"

After that conversation, their voices couldn't be heard anymore. Michael Graham looked at them awkwardly.

"I apologize for his behaviors. He is just a family man back in the home, so you will see it every now and then." He let out a long sigh. "Anyway, waiting for my daughter to correct my own father, it's better to make the last preparation for your mock battle. What do you think?"

"Sure." Kai nodded. Even though they had yet to fight, his energy was already drained.

Meanwhile, the one who got shocked the most was none other than Sofia. Kai, Ayaka, Tasha, and Sanae had gotten their share of a surprise last year while Evan had seen him every now and then before Sofia came.

When Sofia found how he acted, she compared it to the one she met this whole time. Nathan Graham would surely throw some sarcasm to her every time he got a chance. That was why this transformation completely blew her mind.

Kai and the others entered the room. Evan patted her shoulder, smiled weirdly and shrugged his shoulder, telling her that she didn't need to mind that much.

She ended up switching her brain off and just forgot about the earlier Nathan, so she could keep her focus on the battle.

"By the way, I have inserted every single data that you need in the main computer. And Shirotsuka Sanae can help you by giving you navigation about the terrain and such." Michael led them through a few corridors. "You don't mind if we are watching, right?"

"Yeah. It's fine." Kai nodded.

At the end of the door was a thick wooden door. Even though it looked like a wooden door, when Michael opened it, its true appearance was revealed. It turned out to be a thick two meters metal door.

As soon as they entered, they found a white room with some sort of machinery. In the corner of this spacious room were ten capsules. "We have a mock battle five versus five sometimes."

"Yeah. He is telling the truth." A woman suddenly walked in and headed toward one of the machines.

"Aunty." Kai immediately bowed politely when he saw her appearance.

"It's been a while, dear. We haven't really met each other since you are dealing with this formal guy or that idiotic father." She smiled.

"Ahaha…Both of them have their own quality."

"Indeed. This formal and stiff guy is cute in a sense. He is smart as well." She smiled before explaining. "I will be handling all the necessary support and data assessment during the fight. You don't mind, right?"

"Now that you mention it, I almost forgot that Aunty's job was an operator."

"Yeah. I used to support this guy who always used the tactic in the book and never showed any unique and daring strategy. Well, it was easier to recap anyway."

"Can you not tell them that?" Michael scratched his head again, not wanting the kids to know as he would get embarrassed.

"Fine. Good old days. Anyway, your teacher can use that screen to understand the terrain when it's built. I can't really give you the picture yet since the match has yet to officially start." She pointed her finger toward a machine.

"I understand." Sanae nodded politely and headed toward her station.

Daisy Graham then activated the capsules before glancing at the two people that just entered the room. It was Michelle and Nathan. To their surprise, Nathan had this big tape on his mouth, preventing him from talking while he was walking with rope circling his body, so he wouldn't create a mess.

One thing that appeared in their mind was the fact that there were ropes in their house. It raised a question in their mind. 'Where does she get the rope?'

"Bondage?" Tasha was the first to comment.

"No! It is my grandfather's prevention measure."

"It's fine, Michelle. I have known that you have a heavy taste. From our first meeting alone, you have warned me to change unless I want you to kill me." Ayaka corrected her as if trying to pity her.

"But won't that target us?" Tasha glanced at her with teasing eyes.

"No, no. It's probably for this guy…" Ayaka pointed her finger at Kai.

"That's if you can beat him in this match first, right? He won't accept to do it voluntarily." Tasha smirked as she shook Ayaka's hand and said, "Let's go then."

"Yes." The two then entered the capsules without waiting for Michelle to correct their words.

Evan patted Kai's shoulder and immediately entered the capsule without a word, while Sofia only shook her head disappointedly and did the same.

"I will accept everything about you." Kai looked at her weirdly before walking to his own capsule!"

"NO!"

"Dear. It's your loss. Just accept it and get inside there." Daisy smiled.

"Ugh!" Michelle looked down—dejected—and slowly made her way toward the capsule.

After that, Daisy activated the machine and informed them. "Here we go. You will be teleported in three…two…one…and go!"

Kai heard it and closed his eyes.

As soon as the count reached zero, he was teleported inside the realm they created. A chill breeze brushed his body as his mind was jolted by the coldness as he immediately looked at his surroundings.

It was a forest that was covered in snow. The snow itself wasn't really that deep, but for him, who had Sound Blast shouldn't be a problem since he could simply walk above the Sound Blast instead of having his feet buried by snow.

As for the time setting, it was obviously at dusk. Michelle would soon have the advantage, and they could still have their sight for a period of time. Still, this type of environment never appeared even in his wildest dream, and he couldn't help but shout.

"Seriously?"