Fishing Pros Never Get Skunked

Azure Dawn's star, "Xisu," hung high in the sky, generously pouring fierce light and abundant warmth across the glittering sea.

Several consecutive days of complete relaxation had worked like a powerful cleansing agent, washing away the rust of war and Warp dust accumulated deep within Chen Xi and his companions' souls.

Even Sergeant Titus's face, usually as hard and cold as a steel relief, seemed to soften slightly beneath the starlight—though he still habitually swept his tactical gaze across the horizon, assessing the wind, currents, and every potential sniper position.

They were aboard a spacious local fishing boat, its wooden hull specially treated to withstand the winds and waves at sea.

The prow bore a weathered carving of an aquatic deity, its cult affiliation long lost in the historical tide of the Adeptus Ministorum's unified faith. Now, it served only as a silent ornament.

Gutierrez and Mai Mai leaned against the rail, competing over the size of the fish they had caught. Their rough laughter burst out from time to time and drifted away on the sea breeze.

Twilight wore a wide-brimmed hat and rapidly sketched the outlines of distant islands and the strange winged flying fish in the sky.

Auregana did not join the fishing. She sat quietly in the shade, a slender data probe extending from her fingertip to connect with the boat's navigation and detection systems.

Though she appeared to be resting, she was still silently monitoring the surroundings, analyzing seawater composition, sonar echoes, and biological signals—an ingrained habit by now.

The mechanical kitten on her shoulder showed intense interest in a freshly caught silver fish that was still flopping wildly. It extended the tips of its metal claws and cautiously touched the shimmering scales.

Chen Xi was enjoying this rare tranquility.

Barefoot on the warm deck,