Half a month later.
Inside the Glutton supply transport ship, in synchronous orbit around the Ice Giant.
To maintain the strength of their muscles and bones, Hope and Hansent were training in the simulated Gravity Chamber as usual.
"Hope, when do you think we'll start our second mission?"
Hansent made idle conversation as he worked out.
Hope rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"Come on, man. When we were inside the Ice Giant, you couldn't wait to get out. Now that we're out, you keep going on about the next mission every day."
"If I remember correctly, this is the forty-seventh time you've asked me that."
"What exactly is going through your head?"
With a sheepish smile, Hansent put down his dumbbells and scratched his head awkwardly. "It's just that having this mission hanging over me feels awful."
"...Whew!"
Hope set down his exercise equipment and let out a long breath.
"You'll have to ask the Academy of Sciences about that."
"Didn't Professor Lü already tell us?"
"We can only start the next mission once they've successfully deciphered the Amino Giant Fish's language."
"Unless you want to get kicked around like a ball again?"
At that, Hansent shook his head vigorously. "No, no, no. Don't even joke about that."
"I never want to see those giant fish again."
"These past few nights, every time I went to sleep, I dreamed a giant fish crawled out from under my covers and rammed into me over and over. That scene..." Hansent shuddered violently. "Just thinking about it now gives me the creeps."
Hope shrugged and turned his attention back to the exercise equipment in front of him. "Then just be patient."
"Who knows? Professor Lü might tell you to go looking for giant fish in the Liquid Ammonia Ocean any second now."
As