"Are you an Explorer too?"

Having spent a few days on the ship, Miralina, who had adapted quite a bit, asked beside the Comet Dragon.

She was really curious, could such a gigantic creature become an Explorer as well? Wouldn't there be any inconvenience?

Just like how she moved on the ship now, relying on the surging waves to wrap around herself and move under her control.

Somewhat similar to the feeling of sitting in a wheelchair.

"No, I, like you, just recently arrived in this world."

Israel looked at the unfamiliar person who inexplicably appeared on the ship and replied.

Since the ship's sailing speed was not as exaggerated as that of an aircraft, Israel would usually hunt and fly around the sea recently.

Generally, he only returned to the ship during his rest time.

And today, just after waking up and before heading out to the sea, he met her, who reportedly boarded the ship a few days ago as part of the Ocean Race.

He then ignored her, jumping up forcefully.

Flapping his wings, blood-red flames shot out from his wings with strong momentum, transforming him into a red comet, piercing through the sky.

"Is that so? What a pity."

Miralina muttered to herself. In the past few days, she had been conversing with the Guild members on the ship.

She didn't ask any confidential matters, mostly inquiring about external conditions and things regarding Explorers.

Since her questions were relatively basic, the Guild members were more willing to answer them during their leisure time.

Coupled with Miralina's pleasant appearance and gentle tone of conversation, they weren't too averse to her.

So they had become somewhat familiar with each other.

After all, Kane had brought her on himself, so it wouldn't be too cautious, as that would be impolite.

And it would also seem as if they were disrespecting Kane.

After all, she was just curious about Mist World and Explorers.

Some of the natives of the Lantern Territory were similarly curious.

For instance, the Kingdom Sword Saint, who occasionally asked them these questions in the past.

It was then that Kane walked over, seeing Miralina, and said, "Miss Mermaid, perhaps it's time to part ways. We're about to land."

After nearly 12 days of sailing, they could now see the distant coast.

That's where they would dock and then proceed to their destination.

Which meant the sea voyage was coming to an end.

So Kane came over, as they couldn't let this Mermaid Maiden follow them forever.

Moreover, Kane felt she wasn't suited for combat on land.

Upon hearing Kane's words, Miralina turned her head, looked at the land on the horizon, knowing that Kane and his crew were preparing to disembark.

During these days, Miralina had learned a bit about Kane and his group's situation.

After thinking for a moment, she said, "Can I continue to follow you? You seem to have something to do this time. If it's not too secretive, could I join in?"

"Why? What we're doing isn't exactly safe; it involves life-threatening risks."

Honestly, Kane was really puzzled.

After all, the trust between them had just been established.

They were barely acquaintances, just at the level of a passing acquaintance.

He really couldn't understand why this Mermaid Maiden insisted on following them.

If she just wanted to understand the outside world and the Explorers, she had already gleaned most of the information from everyone over the past days.

This information would be enough for her or the local forces behind her to digest for a while.

Following them further seemed somewhat unprofitable, without much significance.

Listening to Kane's question.

After a moment of thought, Miralina said, "To formally introduce myself, I am the Princess of the Bihai Empire. The reason I pretended to be captured by that pirate was because I wanted to temporarily leave my country."

A runaway princess? How cliché.

Is it because of an undesired marriage arrangement? Or is the family too strict?

Kane silently mocked in his heart.

"The reason I chose this time to leave and explore the outside world is because I am the Empire's heir.

I need to truly broaden my horizons, understand my country's positioning, as well as the external forces and their norms and standards.

After all, this world has changed so drastically, and the ocean, which was once on the brink of destruction, has finally found a new habitat.

I must understand this world better.

Only then will I have the confidence to become a ruler, leading my people to prosperity rather than leading them to destruction."

...

Alright, a storyline I never anticipated.

Not a runaway princess but a royal undercover mission?

"Leaving on your own like this, aren't you afraid of encountering some deadly danger? Or excessive searching by your Royal Family?"

Miralina shook her head and said, "As the future heir, of course, I must personally venture out to see for myself. Every Empress has done so in the past; it's just that my way of leaving home was somewhat peculiar."

"And I'm not entirely ignorant of the outside world; I just want to experience it firsthand, to understand it personally. My strength is sufficient to guarantee my safety."