Shen He heard the young woman’s cheerful cry, but she ducked cautiously behind the door the moment she saw him.

This was the first time they had seen each other since she returned from the treatment facility.

Shen He had intended to go straight to his room, but on some strange impulse, he found himself standing before the young female. "The ship is tomorrow?"

The man’s tone was impassive. Yu Zhizhi nodded softly.

Her feelings toward Shen He were complicated. ’On the one hand, I’m genuinely a little scared of this Big Shark. On the other hand, he’s the father of the shark baby in my belly...’

Shen He, for his part, noticed that the little rabbit’s attitude was a bit strange.

’It was as if she had a guilty conscience.’

He didn’t dwell on it.

’It must be because of their one-night stand.’

’Her attitude made it seem like she was afraid he would try to get entangled with her.’

’She was really overthinking things.’

’Was he that kind of person?’

Shen He said nothing more and walked toward his room.

’There was too much happening in the Deep Sea Empire right now, and the investigation into Chelsea Territory also required his attention. Everything else would have to wait until the little rabbit and Yusen returned from Chelsea Territory.’

’The Mermaid Clan was already rare, and the fact that she was carrying a Mermaid Baby was a joyous occasion for the Deep Sea Empire.’

’While he was happy to see the Mermaid Clan flourish and prosper—and it would be even better if they produced a few more Glacier Ability Users...’

...a sudden thought flashed through his mind.

’What if the little rabbit were pregnant with a shark baby instead?’

The moment Shen He became aware of his own thought, his first reaction was to suppress it.

「The next day.」

Yu Zhizhi, Yusen, Buli, and the Undersea Steward traveled together to the Seven-star Station.

They traveled in disguise, dressed in everyday clothes. They didn’t take one of the more luxurious lines, instead choosing a common, more crowded steam-powered airship.

The station was packed with people, and Yu Zhizhi couldn’t shake a sense of unreality.

The enormous steam-powered airship docked at the platform.

Everyone boarded in numerical order. Following behind Yusen, she quickly found their seats.

「As night fell.」

Inside the steam-powered airship’s inner hold, a small tavern was open for business. Travelers from all walks of life enjoyed chatting here.

When Yu Zhizhi was on her way to the restroom, she saw a familiar figure.

It was Mimi, dressed in exotic clothing, smiling and waving at her.

"Zhi Zhi, over here!"

The Dolphin Clan girl lifted her veil. "Well? Are you surprised to see me here?"

"Are you traveling far, too?" Yu Zhizhi was very happy to see her.

Mimi replied, "My third uncle is going to Lin City to pick up some goods, and I had to beg him for ages before he agreed to take me. We’re getting off in three days. I was hoping I could spend more time with you."

The Dolphin Clan girl seemed to have something more to say, but she hesitated.

Yu Zhizhi remembered her side quest and whispered, "Buli is here. Want me to help you ask him to the small tavern for a couple of drinks?"

Mimi nodded eagerly.

When Yu Zhizhi returned to her group, she suggested they all go to the small tavern.

Yusen, also in casual attire, was wearing a gray knight’s tunic. He looked just like a young master from a typical wealthy family.

He agreed.

And so, the group made their way to the small tavern on the steam-powered airship.

Warm, yellow light filled the room, accompanied by melodious piano music and the endless sounds of clinking glasses and conversation. Nearly every round wooden table was full. From a corner, Mimi waved her arms cheerfully. "Here! Over here!"

Buli’s pace faltered for a moment when he saw Mimi.

They all sat down at the round table, and a server quickly brought over a large pitcher of beer.

Since arriving in the Deep Sea Empire, Yu Zhizhi had spent most of her time in the Royal Palace. She had occasionally wandered around the Imperial City, but this was her first time truly "traveling far."

"Did you hear? More Beast cubs have gone missing at the border!"

"How many times does this make? Are the border guards completely useless? Can’t they do anything right?"

"SHH! Keep your voice down! You want to get a beating?"

"The old King just passed, so the Empire is in turmoil. Of course all the riff-raff at the border are going to take the chance to stir up trouble. That’s not the worst of it. The most worrying thing is the growing number of pollution sources. How is anyone supposed to live like this?"

Pollution sources took on many different forms.

It could be the corpse of an infected person, the air, the seawater, or even a piece of fruit growing on a tree.

It was impossible to guard against.

The Spiritual Energy of the Beast World Planet was fluctuating, and the taint of pollution was becoming more and more apparent.

Many residents were now living in a state of constant anxiety.

In the lively small tavern, no one paid any mind to the table in the corner. If anyone happened to glance over, they would only see a group of handsome men and beautiful women, a pleasant sight for the eyes.

Yu Zhizhi didn’t drink any alcohol.

She ordered juice instead.

At one point, a shy traveler from the Beast Clan approached and asked for the lovely Miss Rabbit’s contact information.

They were all scared off by the glare from the young man sitting beside her.

Mimi and Buli were sitting very close together.

She chattered away animatedly, telling him about everything that had happened at the academy that month. The brown-haired young man listened quietly, taking an occasional sip of his drink, his eyes constantly scanning their surroundings.

’This trip...’

’He had to investigate the new Lord of Chelsea.’

’And he had to ensure Miss Rabbit’s safety.’

’Otherwise, he would have no way of answering to Lord Shen He when he returned.’

Suddenly, a dispute broke out in the tavern.

Near the bar, two figures in their Beast Forms seemed to have started a fight.

One of them suddenly leaped up, looking like a glowing, eight-limbed lightbulb, and fell from the ceiling with its tentacles flailing.

’Hm? Why does that look familiar?’

Yu Zhizhi took a closer look. It was the Little Octopus she had fought with that night...

This time, it was clashing with a Sea Dog cub.

And without a doubt, it was getting thoroughly thrashed.

The Little Octopus was furious, wrapping its tentacles desperately around its opponent, only to end up yelping as it was bitten.

The crowd just assumed it was two youngsters roughhousing.

They went back to their drinking and joking.

But just then, the little sea dog’s body began to swell, growing larger and larger as if it had lost control, and it bared its fangs.

Buli, who was holding his drink, was the first to react.

In a flash, he was in front of the little red octopus.

Yu Zhizhi thought her eyes were deceiving her.

She rubbed her eyes and murmured, "Isn’t that a cub from the Sea Dog Clan?"

’How did it suddenly get so big?’

Yusen’s expression darkened.

The Little Octopus was cursing furiously as Buli dragged it away from the bar.

As the sole successor to the Servant God Race from the Beast God’s Homeland, Buli still had to look out for its safety.

"Where are your clan’s elders?" Buli asked.

The Little Octopus snorted. "I’m out here to get experience! Why would I bring an elder!"

Buli’s tone was diplomatic. "This airship’s final destination is the Empire’s border, right next to the Chelsea Territory. I don’t think you’ll want to meet *them*."

The Octopus Clan had split into two branches long ago and had no contact for a thousand years.

The Little Octopus’s tentacles wrapped around a beer mug as it began to drink. GULP. GULP.

It was about to retort when it caught a glimpse of the little female rabbit sitting nearby, staring at it in a daze. It sniffed the air, then suddenly shouted, "It’s you!"

She was the little rabbit it had fought so fiercely with that day!

When enemies meet, old hatreds burn brightest.

The Little Octopus clutched the beer mug, its tentacles beginning to tremble uncontrollably.

But he quickly became aware of an icy gaze from the side.

...Hmph. The Little Octopus hugged his beer, turned away, and refused to look at them anymore.

Just then, a series of system notifications sounded in Yu Zhizhi’s mind—

[Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have received 100 Points!]

[Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have received 200 Points!]

[Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have received 300 Points!]

Yu Zhizhi was a little stunned.

’Why did the system suddenly award points three times?’

’What happened...?’

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