Su Yaoyao was awakened in the early morning by a soft knock on the door, her consciousness slowly returning from a sweet dream.

She groggily opened her eyes and heard an attendant’s voice from outside the door: "Your Highness, the Holy Female, the Second Prince of the Sea Clan requests an audience with you in the reception hall."

Su Yaoyao gently rubbed her eyes. Pani, who was beside her, had also been woken by the sound.

He looked at Su Yaoyao gently and said softly, "It seems Noah has come looking for you so early. He must have something on his mind."

As he spoke, Pani thoughtfully got up, took Su Yaoyao’s clothes from a nearby rack, and carefully helped her dress.

With Pani’s help, Su Yaoyao quickly got ready, and the two of them walked toward the reception hall together.

Stepping into the reception hall, they saw Noah already waiting. The moment he saw Su Yaoyao, Noah immediately came forward to greet her, his eyes full of anticipation.

"Sister, I want to go to Snake Scale City with you all. I know Mingye better than you do. With me there, the negotiations will be no problem."

Noah had his own little scheme. He wanted to use this opportunity to make a good impression and secure a more important place in Su Yaoyao’s heart.

Upon hearing this, Su Yaoyao couldn’t help but feel delighted.

Just last night, she and Pani had been discussing this very issue. Noah’s willingness to help voluntarily couldn’t be more perfect.

She barely hesitated before nodding and saying, "Alright. I could really use your help. Let’s go together."

Having received Su Yaoyao’s consent, Noah’s face broke into a radiant smile. "Don’t worry, sister. I definitely won’t let you down."

Afterward, Su Yaoyao told Bai Lian and Reg that Noah would be accompanying them. Although both of them worried that Noah might be up to something, they still supported Su Yaoyao’s decision.

Then, everyone began making their final preparations for the trip to Snake Scale City in a flurry of activity.

Before the Flying Ship departed, the atmosphere on the Imperial Palace’s launchpad was solemn, yet tinged with a subtle tension.

His Majesty Augustine had come personally to see Su Yaoyao and her party off. He was dressed in magnificent and formal royal attire, his every step steady and powerful, showcasing his kingly demeanor.

As Su Yaoyao was about to board the Flying Ship, His Majesty Augustine took a small step forward and gently took her hand.

His palm was broad and warm, his grip perfectly firm—possessing a sense of undeniable strength, yet tempered with careful gentleness.

Su Yaoyao froze for a moment and looked up at His Majesty Augustine. His gaze held a deep and complex emotion, an expression that could draw a person in and make them drown.

His Majesty Augustine slowly lowered his head, his movement as gentle as a breeze rippling across a lake, and placed a light kiss on the back of Su Yaoyao’s hand.

The kiss carried an indescribable ambiguity and deep affection. Time seemed to stand still at that moment.

A faint blush instantly appeared on Su Yaoyao’s cheeks. Her heart began to beat uncontrollably as a strange emotion quietly spread through her.

"Yaoyao, the journey to Snake Scale City will be fraught with peril. You must return safely." His Majesty Augustine’s voice was low and magnetic, as if carrying a bewitching power as it whispered into Su Yaoyao’s ear.

Su Yaoyao nodded slightly, trying to make her voice sound calm. "Rest assured, Your Majesty. I will do my utmost." However, the slight tremor in her voice betrayed the trace of panic in her heart.

Seeing this, Bai Lian, Reg, and Pani, who were standing to the side, had their expressions instantly darken.

A flash of displeasure and vigilance crossed their eyes as they stared intently at His Majesty Augustine, an inexplicable wave of jealousy surging within them.

Bai Lian, in particular, unconsciously clenched his fists. If not for his respect for His Majesty Augustine’s status and the current situation, he probably would have already stormed forward to confront him.

His Majesty Augustine seemed to notice the stares from Su Yaoyao’s Beast Husbands, but he ignored them. Instead, he leaned slightly closer to Su Yaoyao, his warm breath brushing against her ear as he said in a low voice:

"If Mingye gets greedy and makes some outrageous demands, Yaoyao, you absolutely must not compromise yourself."

His voice was extremely low, as if he intended for this secret warning to reach Su Yaoyao’s ears alone.

In truth, what His Majesty Augustine was really worried about was that Mingye would covet Su Yaoyao herself. After all, Su Yaoyao was far too exceptional, whether in terms of appearance, ability, or her interstellar influence. He feared Mingye would use this opportunity to make some unreasonable demands involving her personally.

Su Yaoyao tilted her head slightly, her gaze meeting His Majesty Augustine’s for a moment before she smiled lightly and said, "Don’t worry. I don’t think Mingye is that kind of person."

Her tone carried a hint of trust in Mingye, and it seemed she hadn’t fully grasped the deeper meaning behind His Majesty Augustine’s words.

In her mind, she was more focused on how to reach a peace treaty through negotiation and end the conflict. She didn’t give much thought to the concerns His Majesty Augustine had implicitly expressed.

His Majesty Augustine frowned slightly, wanting to say more, but seeing Su Yaoyao’s determined yet somewhat relaxed expression, he ultimately swallowed his words.

He gave Su Yaoyao one last deep look, his eyes filled with concern and helplessness.

Then, Su Yaoyao quickly turned and boarded the Flying Ship with her Beast Husbands and Noah.

The Flying Ship slowly ascended. His Majesty Augustine remained standing in place, his gaze following the ship intently until it disappeared into the vast expanse of the sky.

Inside the Flying Ship, Su Yaoyao’s heart couldn’t calm down for a long time. His Majesty Augustine’s ambiguous gesture and affectionate gaze kept replaying in her mind.

Moreover, she was also worried about whether the negotiations would proceed smoothly.

In a corridor of the Flying Ship, Su Yaoyao was about to return to her cabin to rest for a bit and think about the upcoming negotiation strategy.

"Sister, look here," Noah’s voice suddenly called out from behind her.

Su Yaoyao subconsciously turned her head. Before she could react, with a CLICK, Noah had already snapped a photo of the two of them together.

In the photo, Su Yaoyao had a dazed and cute expression—eyes slightly wide, mouth subconsciously agape—the perfect picture of someone caught completely off guard by a camera.

"Sister, you’re so cute! I’m going to treasure this," Noah said, looking at the photo with a happy smile spreading across his face, as if he had just obtained a rare treasure.

Without waiting for Su Yaoyao’s response, he turned and skipped away.

Su Yaoyao watched Noah’s retreating back, feeling a bit baffled. She shook her head slightly, simply thinking that Noah was just being too playful.

She collected her thoughts and continued toward her cabin.

Meanwhile, Noah returned to his own cabin in high spirits. The moment he entered, he eagerly raised a hand to touch the octopus-shaped brooch on his chest.

This was no ordinary brooch. It was a special communication device made in Snake Scale City, capable of connecting to Snake Scale City’s independent communication network.