Ignoring the awkward atmosphere between Inomata Naoki and Minami, the ne finally arrived in the Maldives after flying for more than ten hours.


    The Maldives is located in the Indian Ocean, and it is a tiny ind country, as small as can be. The entire nation isposed of small inds and coral reefs, making it the smallest country in all of Asia.


    However, situated in the tropics and constrained by its limitednd area, the Maldivescked the foundation for developing industries and modern cities. It wasn''t until thete 20th century that the ind nation gradually gained a modern vibe through the development of tourism, shedding its former image as a primitive ind tribe.


    The capital of the Maldives is called Malé, a small city devoid of its own airport. On and area of less than two square kilometers, nearly 300,000 people reside, making it the most developed ce in the Maldives. Most of the country''s majormercial facilities are built here.


    However, the ne Chen Yu was on did notnd here. Instead, it flew past Malé and continued its journey for another ten minutes, finally reaching their destination.


    This was an ind that appeared to be rtivelyrge, featuring beaches, forests, and a small, low hill.


    At first nce, it seemed rather ordinary. Compared to other inds in the Maldives, this ind merely seemed better developed.


    Buildings were constructed on the small hill, though they were not very clear from the ne. Still, Chen Yu could tell that most of the structures were embedded into the hill—his newboratory, he presumed.


    Beyond theboratory, there was also a beautifully designed vi on the ind. It even included a swimming pool and private dock.


    As for the supporting facilities, they were situated on the opposite side of the ind from the vi. ording to the information he had seen earlier, there should be a seawater purification station there, conveniently shielded by the ind''s hill, ensuring it wouldn''t interfere with the vi''s view.


    In addition, the shallow waters and reefs near the ind housed an artificial airport and a dock connected to it. Though the dock appeared to be not yet fullypleted, signs of ongoing construction were visible.


    Viewed from above, the entire ind looked like a lush green emerald set amidst the light blue of shallow waters. Surrounding the shallows, the deeper sea transitioned into a vibrant cornflower blue, creating a scene that was exceptionally pleasing to the eye.


    The ne slowly descended,nding precisely on the runway.


    Given the limited space, the runway wasn''t particrly long, presenting a moderate challenge for the pilot''s skill.


    Of course, pilots who can fly private nes are hardlycking in expertise; otherwise, they wouldn''t have this job. Thending was exceptionally smooth, with not a hint of turbulence.


    After the ne hadnded, Chen Yu and his group disembarked, each carrying their luggage. Those who had been waiting to wee them wasted no time in stepping forward.


    "Wee to Star Sea Ind, esteemed Dr. Chen Yu!" The person greeting Chen Yu was a slightly overweight white man. Perhaps due to prolonged exposure to the Maldivian sun, he had a reddish hue, resembling a boiled lobster. He wore a casual beach shirt and shorts.


    Although his outfit seemed a bit informal, given the Maldivian climate, Chen Yu didn''tment on it, merely nodded in acknowledgment.


    "My name is Mackie, Mackie skey. Please just call me Mackie. I''m in charge of theboratory''s construction, and I''ll handle the eptance and transition for you," Mackie introduced himself, while hisckeys hurriedly took the luggage from Chen Yu and the others.


    As Mackie briefly introduced himself, he led them out of the airport. Outside, two white electric cars were parked by the roadside.


    Mackie''sckeys stowed the luggage away, and once everyone had climbed into the cars, Mackie leaned closer to Chen Yu and asked, "Dr. Chen Yu, would you prefer to visit theboratory first, or would you rather head to the vi to rest for a while? I''ve already arranged tonight''s dinner. I believe you and your family must be exhausted from such a long flight—why not take a break first?"


    To Chen Yu, Mackie''s suggestion didn''t matter either way. But after ncing at his parents, he nodded at Mackie and said, "Let''s head to the vi first. Is it ready for use?"


    "The vi has always been ready. We just renovated it to better match your status," Mackie replied with a smile. His round, chubby face carried an air of genuine reliability.


    Chen Yu nodded nomittally, signaling for the driver to proceed.


    Receiving Chen Yu''s approval, Mackie sat beside the driver and gestured for the car to start.


    The two cars quickly navigated along a paved road, crossing the shallows and arriving at the ind, stopping at the entrance of the vi Chen Yu had previously spotted.


    The ind was rtivelyrge. ording to the information Chen Yu had perused earlier, the ind spanned a full square kilometer, which, for the Maldives, was considered sizable—especially since its capital was less than two square kilometers.


    "Star Sea Ind was one of the private inds auctioned off by the Maldivian government in the 1980s. While it may not be as renowned as the most famous inds, its natural scenery is still stunning. The previous owner refrained from carrying out any destructive development, constructing only this vi, supporting facilities, and expanding the airport," Mackie exined. Having spent several months on the ind, he was quite familiar with its details.


    Leading the way for Chen Yu, Mackie guided him into the vi while continuing his introduction: "The vi has a total of nine rooms. Upstairs, there are four bedrooms: one master suite and three guest rooms. On the ground floor, there are three guest rooms. The remaining two guest rooms are located underground, where there is also an underwater lounge."


    "An underwater lounge? One of those rooms surrounded by ss, with seawater outside, like an aquarium?" Jounouchi Hiromi seemed very intrigued. Holding the sleeping Little Yixi, she hastily asked.


    Mackieughed heartily and nodded in affirmation. He enthusiastically borated, "Yes, ma''am. It''s a beautiful lounge reminiscent of a scene from a fairy tale. Because the water is shallow, we cleared the surrounding sand, creating a space that is a stunning cornflower blue. The sunlight there is neither ring nor dim. You can lie back, listen to music, and watch the fish in the sea—it''s the ultimate rxation!"


    Hearing Mackie''s description, Jounouchi Hiromi''s interest was visibly piqued. She turned to Chen Yu and said, "Darling, let''s go take a look!"


    "No rush. Let''s settle down first. Moreover, my parents and Little Yixi were on that long flight—you should let them rest a bit first!" Chen Yu replied with a smile to Jounouchi Hiromi.