The next day,

Colorado, US Base Main Military Base,

Kai walked out of the cargo plane.

"We surely have done a hard mission this time…" Michelle walked beside him while stretching her body as if she was tired from this mission.

"Indeed. Some time off would be nice." Tasha appeared in the opposite direction of Michelle, glancing at Kai with a hidden intention.

Kai closed his eyes for a few seconds before nodding his head with a smile. "Maybe some days off would be nice."

"I agree." Michelle and Tasha answered at the same time.

Kai smiled before turning around to inform Evan, albeit…

"Huh? What did you say? You were lucky that my group was around your place. If not, you would already die," Isabelle snarled.

"My Leader's shield is not easily broken! Even without your help, we can get out of the way pretty quickly." His eyebrows twitched as he shouted back. "You already saw how powerful his shield was in the group battle."

"Kh!" As if it was a good counter, Isabelle couldn't rebuke that claim. Even with her full power, Kai's shield was still intact. She gnashed her teeth and changed the topic. "Then, what about when your leader asked me to help him defeat the lobster and other magical beasts?"

"He just used the most efficient way to end the battle. By the look of the battle state, we could just buy time for a little longer until the reinforcements arrived." Evan shrugged.

Meanwhile, Michelle glanced at Kai with confusion while watching these two. "Why are they fighting?"

"It's nothing special." Kai shook his head with a smile. "Did their family have any relationship or whatever?"

"No. I never heard about it. Isabelle's family is around our Graham Family level. On the other hand, Evan's family is one or two levels lower than our family. From what I know, there is no relation between these two families." Michelle closed her eyes as if she recalled a piece of memory. "Though I know that these two are from the same school before transferring to our school."

"Heh…" Kai was amused as he grinned. "This is interesting."

"Oh. Now that I think about it, it's really something hilarious. I can see why you thought Evan was interesting back in Prince Rupert and asked me to investigate his background." Michelle chuckled.

Tasha silently observed the fight between Evan and Isabelle as if she was watching a soap drama between a couple.

"Though I am not sure about it. I will just let them have their time." Kai smiled.

"Still, you haven't answered my question. Why would they fight like this? Who instigated it?" Michelle asked.

"It started last night. Isabelle came to Evan and bragged of her achievement. Even with Evan's patient, he could no longer hold it and snap, resulting in this fight." Kai shrugged. "As for why she would brag to Evan… I don't think I need to answer the question. Surprisingly, Evan also answered her."

Michelle and Tasha chuckled before noticing that Kai already walked away.

"Let's go home first," Kai said as he was wondering where the vehicle to take them home.

A few minutes after the landing of their cargo plane, the next plane also landed. Michael came out of this place and quickly walked to Kai.

"Kai, come here first." Michael stopped a few meters from them before calling Kai to come.

Kai exchanged looks with Tasha and Michelle before walking toward Michael.

Michael grabbed him before whispering, "I am sure you already know about the secret… but don't talk about it to anyone. Even if you want to ask your teacher, ask her when you are alone with her.

"With how mysterious they are, the fewer people know, the better. After all, we can't let others know that there are legends like mermaids or talking animals."

"Don't worry. I know the weight of the information. I won't easily blabber such a thing." Kai nodded, assuring him.

After getting a nod from Kai, he sighed. "Anyway, with this mission, your group would surely enter the top 100 and get your personal helicopter. Just don't break it for a dangerous mission because the state has concentrated its resources on military transportation. We can somehow build that many, but if one is destroyed, it would still give a powerful blow to our pocket."

"I am wondering where you could find money to build those many helicopters…"

"As you already knew in the fight against Magical Beasts, we would need mobility as our top priority. That's why we are not making any tanks or other similar things. Instead, we focused on transportation since it would be the best one… And since when I said money?" Michael smirked.

Kai tilted his head in confusion before slowly realizing his meaning. "Resources?"

"Haha… it seems you have gotten the answer. That's right. With the condition of our planet right now, we can easily grab other countries' resources. Of course, it would also be hard missions for the soldiers, but the gain is still worth it… It can be said we have been centering the resources from the countries around us to build a giant base. I am sure other bases also did it like that.

"Let's talk about United Asia. They must have gathered many things from Korea and China. Even though they were fighting on the China border, if you closely observed them, there would be some small scale invasion to acquire resources. They would transport it with cargo planes or military helicopters.

"This can be another reason why we don't build many tanks." Michael grinned as patted Kai's shoulder. "Anyway, go back first and rest. Go to the first gate of this base; my butler is waiting for you there. As for Evan and the Eagle Group, their respective families are waiting in the second gate."

"Alright." He nodded.

"Then, see you later. I still need to see the reports. Ah, it sucks to be a family head like this… too many jobs." Michael walked away while complaining.

After watching him leave for a few seconds, Kai turned around and walked to Tasha and Michelle. "Our transportation is waiting for us at the first gate."

Tasha and Michelle exchanged looks and nodded.

Then, Kai shouted to Evan and Isabelle. "I don't 'know' why you keep fighting with each other like a couple, but your respective families are waiting for you in the second gate."

"We are not!" Evan and Isabelle rebuked him at the same time.

"Whatever." Kai shrugged before looking at Evan. "I am sure we wouldn't have a mission for the time being… or at least until the middle of December. So, you can do whatever you want. Whether you still want to hang out in our usual camp or having a date. You are free for a month."

"Understood." Evan nodded.

"Heh… How about you start training your physical ability? That way, you wouldn't become a hindrance to your group." Isabelle smirked as she teased him once again.

"I have been training." Evan snorted.

"Then, why don't you show it? You are still a hindrance on the battlefield."

"Tch. I shouldn't heal your teammates." Evan gnashed his teeth.

On the other hand, Isabelle's teammates could only smile, understanding this word fight. They knew about Isabelle's little backstory and could relate why she would become like this, so they just watched them from the side.

Kai shrugged. "Anyway, I have told you, so I am going now."

Without waiting for them to reply, Kai already slipped away and grabbed Michelle and Tasha.

They walked toward the first gate, searching for Michael's butler, albeit with such a butler, a car suddenly arrived in front of them.

The butler came out to open the car for them. "Please."

They nodded.

The journey to Kai's house was less than fifteen minutes. Tasha observed his expression and said, "I will prepare the bath for you."

"You can use it first."

"Nah. I still have something to do. Besides, mom and dad aren't here, so I need to call them first." Tasha waved her hand.

A few minutes later, she told Kai that the bath was ready.

Kai entered the bathroom, taking off the clothes before entering the bath. Feeling the relaxing hot bath, his mind found peace.

He looked at the ceiling. The memory from the battlefield couldn't help but resurface at this time. The focus was not on how he brought four thousand people to the victory against all the odds, but how he led more than a thousand soldiers to their death.

"A path of sacrifice…" Kai raised his hand like he wanted to grab the sky. "I didn't put a thought in this because I was occupied with the battle, but those who died would surely have a family…"

His hand started shaking. Even though he was a bit indifferent to a matter like this, it still shook his mind. After all, no matter how big his achievement was, he was only a student. Even with a world like this, a normal high school student would surely have a doubt in their heart after sending more than a thousand people to their death.

Then, another memory flashed in his mind. He muttered to himself, "Is this why the protectors said we are foolish? What is the planet's shrill? Have we done something wrong this whole time? And… should I believe what they said?"

Kai held his hands, seeing them shaking. Michelle's dream also entered his mind.

"A hero, huh… in a path of sacrifice, could that still be called a hero?" Kai paused for a minute before muttering, "I shouldn't think about this. Just like how she supports me, I will also support her wish. If everything turns out to be wrong, then I will be there for her to receive the punishment."

In the bath, Kai thought many things and not until one hour passed did he finally come out.