Amid the vast expanse of space, countless stars shimmered, twinkling across the endless sky. Among them floated a white spaceship, shaped like a van, drifting aimlessly after departing from the planet Terra. Eugene, piloting the ship, muttered to himself:
"This spaceship is too old… it doesn't handle well at all. And the warp system is tricky to operate. Rese, set a course for Siw Venus, will you?"
Rese, keeping an eye on Kai, who was still unconscious, replied with a calm, slightly teasing tone:
"Hmph… Hmph… It's not that the ship is hard to handle—it's more about the pilot. My dear captain never complains, not even once." She crossed her arms, her expression brimming with confidence.
Eugene's voice softened as he responded, a hint of amusement in his tone:
"Alright, alright. So… what coordinates, my adorable glasses-wearing navigator?"
Hearing this, Rese's face flushed bright red. She stammered softly, her voice trembling:
"Coordinates 4862… for Siw Venus, Captain."
Eugene entered the coordinates into the ship's navigation system to initiate the warp jump.
"Three… two… one… initiating warp!"
Wooooooom… Swoooosh… Whood…
The warp completed, and the ship now hovered at the edge of Siw Venus's atmosphere.
Kai, who had been lying unconscious in his bunk, suddenly woke up in a foggy, dreamlike place. A man emerged from the mist—short black hair, wearing a blue shirt and black pants—looking steadily at him. Startled, Kai jolted awake.
"Aaah!" he shouted, throwing his hands up, before blinking and realizing he was back in his bunk aboard the spaceship.
Rese's eyes sparkled as she smiled sweetly, softly saying:
"You're awake, my lord." She brought her fingertips together delicately.
Sitting up on the bunk, Kai looked around, noticing the bandages wrapped around him. "So I fell asleep… and I'm all bandaged up… And… 'my lord,' huh? Does that mean I'm the lord now?"
Rese gave an awkward smile and scratched her cheek. "Well… I was just feeling inspired by a novel I was reading, so I wanted to try saying it… hehe."
Eugene, still controlling the ship, commented lightly:
"Don't mind the glasses-wearer—she's a bit ditzy and loves to tease."
Kai, maintaining a neutral expression, replied:
"Fine… 'Captain' it is. I like it better that way."
Rese nodded. "Alright, Captain it is… And by the way, I'm not ditzy! I actually have a medical certificate from the Guardians Organization to prove it!"
Eugene chuckled. "Alright, alright, Doctor of the Organization."
"Are you mocking me? I'll get mad!" Rese shot him a playful glare.
Kai looked on, smiling softly. "You two are getting along nicely… I like seeing you like this. It makes me genuinely happy."
Both Eugene and Rese's faces flushed red, leaving them momentarily flustered.
Eugene spoke again, serious now: "We've reached Siw Venus. We'll be descending into the atmosphere soon, so everyone, get ready." He pressed his lips together and furrowed his brows, fully focused on the task.
As the spaceship entered Siw Venus's atmosphere, the small planet revealed itself: a desert world, its surface a shade of brown, seemingly barren.
The first thing visible was a massive dome, towering over the city like a transparent glass shield, protecting the settlement within the endless desert. Sunlight reflected off the dome, sparkling like stars in the daylight. Beyond the dome, small settlements dotted the sandy landscape sporadically, scattered across the vast wilderness.
Kai peered out the window, speaking softly: "Why does this planet look so empty? It's completely dry and barren."
Rese responded, her voice informative yet gentle: "That's because it's a transit planet, Captain. We come here to stock up on supplies for our journey. From what I've heard, Siw Venus is a hub for trade—a planet frequented by travelers."