As Yu Zhou looked doubtfully at Yuzare, who was speaking with someone on the island below, she suddenly turned her head toward the sky and waved at him.
It was as if she were greeting him.
"She noticed me?"
Yu Zhou was a little surprised — he didn't expect to be discovered so easily.
Then again, the sky was clear and bright, with not even a single cloud — he was the only one flying on a visible hover device. Of course, it was easy to spot him.
Since he had already been seen, Yu Zhou slowly descended toward the island.
"Is that the captain's friend? Or a member of the Defence Corps?"
The middle-aged man beside Yuzare glanced up at the sky where she was waving and spoke in a calm tone.
"He's a friend," Yuzare replied simply, her eyes never leaving the figure descending through the air.
"He actually came?"
Cain blinked in surprise, then gave his sister a big thumb-up.
"You were right again, sis!"
"It seems the captain really foresaw this," the middle-aged man chuckled.
Yu Zhou landed gently on the island's ground and withdrew his flying device into the space bracelet on his wrist.
Such flying tools and storage devices were not rare among people like Yuzare and her group — after all, with ultra-ancient technology, they could easily be made.
However, they were rarely distributed among civilians, so nobody reacted with much surprise.
Before Yuzare could speak, Yu Zhou stepped forward first.
"Why are you here? Didn't you say this was the advance team?"
"That's right." Yuzare smiled softly.
"As the captain, I should take the lead personally."
Yu Zhou was momentarily speechless at that answer.
"Young man," the middle-aged man beside them spoke, his tone steady,
"R'lyeh isn't a place just anyone can come to."
He had no intention of being polite to anyone attempting to sneak onto R'lyeh Island.
But since this was Princess Yuzare's friend, he decided to let it go.
"R'lyeh…"
Yu Zhou froze when he heard the name.
R'lyeh.
So this was R'lyeh Island?!
He had originally thought R'lyeh was somewhere on the mainland. After all, the continental plates had shifted drastically in the past thirty million years.
But now it seemed that R'lyeh was an island even back then — and a much larger one at that.
He took a closer look at the middle-aged man. The man stood about eight feet tall, with a sturdy, muscular build, his arms showing the strength of a trained warrior.
He had short hair, stubble along his chin, and wore a white lab coat — an odd match for someone who looked more like a soldier than a scientist.
Still, the coat said otherwise. He was clearly someone deeply involved in research — perhaps one of R'lyeh's leading scientific figures.
Yuzare then gestured toward him.
"Let me introduce you — this is Keshiva, the Chief Executive of R'lyeh's Science Research Institute and the island's governor."
Yu Zhou's eyes widened slightly.
So this was the island's ruler?
Yuzare continued, "And this—" she looked at Yu Zhou, "—you can call him… Tiga."
"Tiga?"
Keshiva raised an eyebrow, visibly intrigued.
"Isn't that the code name of that silver-and-black giant?"
"Just a coincidence," Yu Zhou said quickly, waving his hand dismissively.
Still, he couldn't help feeling surprised. From the man's simple attire, Keshiva looked nothing like an island lord. Sure, there was a certain commanding air about him, but no island governor dressed like this.
Then again — if he really was Keshiva, the island's ruler…
Yu Zhou's heart began to pound faster.
"Mr. Keshiva, if I may ask… do you happen to have a daughter?" he said nervously.
Yuzare, standing beside them, suddenly noticed how fast Yu Zhou's heart was beating. She was startled.
When she heard his next question, she was even more surprised.
Could it be… Tiga is interested in Keshiva's daughter?!
"Hm?"
Keshiva frowned slightly. "What's this about? We've only just met."
"But yes," he added, "I do have a daughter — about the same age as Princess Yuzare, if I remember correctly."
"I see…" Yu Zhou nodded, swallowing hard before finally asking the question that had been pressing in his heart.
"Mister Keshiva… is your daughter's name… Camearra?"
The air seemed to still.
Yu Zhou stared at Keshiva, eyes fixed on his lips, waiting for the answer.
"Young man… you know my daughter?"
Keshiva's brow furrowed slightly as he studied Yu Zhou's expression.
"You could say that," Yu Zhou replied carefully. "So, your daughter…"
"That's right," Yuzare cut in calmly, glancing at Yu Zhou.
"Keshiva's daughter's name is indeed Camearra.
If you'd like to meet her, I can help you speak with Keshiva."
Her face remained composed, betraying no emotion.
Yu Zhou, however, barely heard the second half of her words.
His mind went completely blank the moment he heard the name Camearra confirmed.
Camearra's father… was standing right in front of him!
That meant—
Wasn't this his father-in-law?!
Wait—no, technically, it would be Tiga's father-in-law?
No, that didn't sound right either!
Either way, Keshiva was half a father to him!
"Wait a second, young man, why are you looking at me with that affectionate expression? You're making me uncomfortable!"
Keshiva's voice snapped Yu Zhou back to reality.
"Ah—my apologies, Mister Keshiva!" Yu Zhou quickly bowed, his face red with embarrassment.
But why had he been looking at him so fondly…?
"If you want to meet my daughter," Keshiva said, folding his arms, "I'm afraid that's not possible right now. She left the island several months ago."
"She… left?" Yu Zhou's heart sank.
He had hoped to see the Camearra of thirty million years ago, but it seemed fate had other plans.
"Yes," Keshiva nodded. "She went traveling across the world. R'lyeh can be rather dull for a young woman. I've been buried in research most of the time and haven't had much chance to accompany her."
"I understand," Yu Zhou said quietly.
"Hey, Tiga!" Cain suddenly grinned, the kind of mischievous smile no prince should have.
"If you join the Earth Defence Corps, I'll help you out!"
"Oh?" Yu Zhou raised a brow. "Help me with what?"
"Of course—help you propose to Keshiva's daughter!"
Cain puffed up proudly, as if he had just seen through everything.