Yuzare had returned — and she brought her entire fleet with her.
To be honest, it was rather embarrassing. So many ships had set sail across the ocean in search of the Source of Darkness, yet not a single team had brought back results.
Apart from running into a few dark monsters, there was nothing else to show for their efforts.
"Keshiva," Yuzare called as she approached, clad in her silver battle armour with Cain beside her. "I heard from the reports — Tiga's back?"
"Yes," Keshiva replied with a nod. "Tiga returned together with my daughter, Camearra."
"And," he added, "they were riding the vanguard of darkness — Zoiger."
"Zoiger?" Yuzare blinked, momentarily stunned. Then realization dawned on her. "Ah, Tiga being able to tame a dark monster doesn't surprise me anymore. I've seen him do it before."
"Oh? So, you already know about that," Keshiva said, relieved. Since Yuzare was already aware, there was no need to go into more detail.
"Not long ago, he tamed a monster capable of splitting the earth itself," Yuzare continued. "They called it Golza."
Keshiva exhaled slowly. "That's… impressive."
"..."
At that moment, Yu Zhou was at the newly built Zoiger nest, located inside a vast mountain cavern on Lulue Island.
He had just released the two Zoiger he'd tamed, while Camearra handed over the two large Zoiger eggs she had secretly taken earlier.
The cavern was enormous, its ceiling high enough for the Zoiger to stretch their wings comfortably.
"From now on, Camearra is your master," Yu Zhou said, standing firmly before the two creatures. "You'll obey her commands. Understood?"
The Zoiger cried out in response and lowered their heads before Camearra — a gesture of submission.
"Then your next task," Camearra said, stepping forward, "is to take good care of these two eggs and make sure they hatch safely."
The Zoiger understood her words and answered with several deep cries, promising to protect the unborn young.
"Miss Camearra! The Island Master wishes to see you!"
A voice called from outside the cavern.
"Hm? What for?" Camearra asked, puzzled. Then she turned to Yu Zhou. "Tiga, I'll go for a bit. I'll come back later."
"I'll be waiting," Yu Zhou replied with a small smile, watching her leave.
The moment she was gone, his expression turned calm and serious once more.
He turned back toward the Zoiger.
"Tell me — what exactly dwells within that dark realm?"
It was a question he'd been wanting to ask ever since he subdued the creatures of the dark domain. Back then, the timing hadn't been right, but now… he needed to know.
Surely, these monsters who lived in the depths of darkness would understand what lay hidden there.
"Gyii! Gyii! Gyii—!"
The two Zoiger began to cry out repeatedly, their tones urgent and varied.
"...Right."
Yu Zhou sighed. He couldn't understand a word.
"I forgot… I don't speak bird."
He slapped his own forehead, silently calling himself an idiot.
Still, it was clear they were trying to tell him something important. If only he could understand monster speech…
There was only one person he knew who might make that possible —
Charija.
"Looks like I'll have to go find Charija again," Yu Zhou muttered. "I wonder if that lazy guy's still in Akaru City."
Last he'd seen him, Charija had chosen to stay behind in Akaru rather than join Yu Zhou on his dangerous adventures — claiming he was going to "retire peacefully."
Who knew if he'd actually stayed there all this time?
"Father, you wanted to see me?"
Camearra arrived at the beach and found Keshiva standing there, staring out at the waves.
"Camearra," Keshiva said gravely, "about you and Tiga… I wasn't planning to interfere."
That opening line startled her.
"You and Tiga?" she repeated. "What about us?"
Wait—
Could it be that Hudra and Darramb had spread rumours about what happened in the dark realm?
Her face flushed red at the memory of Tiga holding her in his arms.
Now that she thought about it… that embrace had been warm.
Still, if those two gossips really went around talking about it, she'd make sure to teach them a lesson later.
"Father, it was just a hug!" Camearra protested, cheeks glowing crimson.
"What?!" Keshiva nearly exploded. "You two just met, and you're already hugging?!"
He said he wouldn't meddle, but the pain in his heart was unbearable.
His precious daughter — the one he had raised with care all these years — had been embraced by another man!
If they'd already hugged…, had they kissed too?
And if they'd kissed… what else—
No! Unthinkable!
The thoughts raced through his head, tormenting him. It felt as if his lovingly tended cabbage had been trampled by a pig — a pig from Orion, no less.
"Well, I guess I did only meet Tiga recently…" Camearra said thoughtfully, not realizing how that sounded.
But Tiga's hug… came even before they truly knew each other.
And there was something about him — a warmth, a kindness, a charm that made people naturally want to be near him.
He could be playful, yes, but he always made her laugh.
"That's it! I'm going to find that brat!" Keshiva suddenly roared, fists clenching.
Whatever dreamy look his daughter had in her eyes, it drove him over the edge.
He flexed his muscles — ones that didn't seem fitting for a scholar or scientist — and stomped off toward the island interior, fuming with fatherly rage.
"Father, where are you going?" Camearra asked, startled.
"Don't worry, daughter," Keshiva said as he patted her head lovingly. "Just doing what a father ought to do."
Then he marched away.
Camearra wrinkled her nose. "Ugh, still patting my head. I'm not a little girl anymore."
As Keshiva stormed through the island, people gave him a wide berth. His expression was dark, his steps heavy, and every soldier he passed could feel the anger rolling off him.
"Where's Tiga?" he demanded again, interrogating guards and staff.
"Mr. Keshiva, what's wrong?"
The voice came from ahead — Yuzare, who had just returned, noticed his furious demeanour and stepped in front of him.
"You seem… unusually intense today."
"Princess Yuzare, how could I not be angry?!" Keshiva snapped, voice trembling with frustration. "The cabbage I've been tending for years has just been eaten by someone else's pig!"
Yuzare blinked, then raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips.
She could smell gossip from a mile away.
Meanwhile, Yu Zhou stretched lazily as he stepped out of the Zoiger cavern, the sunlight spilling over him.
Completely unaware…
that in the eyes of one furious father, he had already become the ancient pig who stole an ancient cabbage.