Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 652 Vacation Plan
Back in the familiar city, after dropping Li Jingyi off at home, Chen Xi did not return to his own residence, but instead drove straight to the club.

The club's soundproof door opened, and a familiar scene came into view.

Uncollected chess pieces were scattered on the huge sand table, and the air was filled with the unique scent of pine resin, paint, and old books.

Guterres was working on the smoke-generating component of a Space Marine Dreadnought, while Mai and Twilight were arguing heatedly about a set of star map data at a terminal nearby.

"Seventeen is back?" Guterres looked up, his eyes showing obvious dark circles. He casually tossed his tools aside and rubbed his stiff neck. "How was your trip to the capital? I heard the military parade was quite grand."

"It's breathtaking," Chen Xi commented succinctly.

He walked to the sand table, his gaze sweeping over the simplified layout of the simulated Medusa Starfield and the area surrounding the Final Forge Plaza. "What's the situation over there?"

“Not so good.” Mai Mai replied irritably, pointing to a piece of data highlighted in red on the terminal screen. “The reconstruction progress of the eastern district of the Orbit Forging City is 47% slower than expected. Although the overall situation of the cleanup of the remnants of the Emperor’s Son has been settled, sporadic resistance is extremely stubborn, and even new mutants and fanatical believers have launched a counterattack.”

The casualty figures for the newly deployed Astronauts are not good; the soldiers' morale needs to be boosted.

Twilight added, "Sage Caul has urged us three times, asking when we can proceed with the next phase of research on the female version of Fugen... or rather, that 'newborn Primarch'."

He hoped to conduct a deeper study of that 'newborn Primarch,' particularly yearning to understand how the Emperor's power purified chaos and unified essence. He believed that current observations and data were far from sufficient.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xi's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

He spoke with almost no hesitation, his tone calm yet undeniable: "Reply to the Great Sage, the request to research the Emperor's power is denied. That is not a field we should delve into; the risks involved are far beyond our control."

Chen Xi did not intend to agree to Kaur's further research on this point, because some things were not suitable to be explored in depth.

All you need to know is that it's the emperor's power, and there won't be any problems.

Bad news and thorny demands followed one after another, and the room fell into a brief silence, broken only by the low hum of the terminal's fan.

The continuous high-intensity "operations" and battles brought a deep-seated mental exhaustion, even to veteran players who were already familiar with the Warhammer story. It wasn't just the mental and physical strain of dealing with complex situations, but also the direct experience of the oppressive atmosphere of that dark universe.

Guterres sighed, his voice tinged with undisguised weariness: "Seventeen, to be honest, it's not just about what's happening over there. We're nearing our limit here too. One thing after another, with no end in sight. Everyone's been on edge for a long time, and this isn't a sustainable solution."

Mai Mai put the data panel on the table, leaned back in her chair, and let out a long sigh: "That's right, now when I close my eyes, all I see are images of the battlefield and those whispers. I even dream about analyzing data and calculating probabilities. If this continues, we'll collapse before Slaanesh even comes to cause trouble again."

Dusk rubbed his temples and softly agreed, "We really need to catch our breath. In reality, even the slightest noise makes us instinctively alert."

Chen Xi looked at his companions' tired faces and understood.

Isn't he the same?
Traveling between the two worlds is exhausting, and the emperor's "gift" is not without its price.

The memories and experiences belonging to the Inquisitor Governor were subtly changing him, making him more calm and decisive.

He often needs to consciously remind himself to maintain the sense of everyday life as "Chen Xi" in the 3K era.

Mai Mai suddenly threw the data panel on the table, leaned back in her chair, and let out a long sigh: "Brothers, are we being too tense? Right now, when I close my eyes, all I see is the golden flames of the Emperor's Sword and the sweet whispers of the Slaanesh demon. I even dream about calculating the critical point of stasis field overload and the rate of erosion of chaotic energy."

Dusk rubbed his temples, his voice a little hoarse: "Indeed... I haven't slept well for a week. Last time, when I analyzed the subspace fluctuation data during the retreat of Sharasi the Demon, I almost mistook normal background radiation for a sign of the next invasion. In reality, I subconsciously want to touch the explosive bolt spear whenever I hear any unusual noise."

Even the most composed Guterres showed signs of fatigue: "Keeping our nerves constantly on edge isn't the solution. The post-war reconstruction of Medusa and the prevention of Slaanesh's retaliation cannot be resolved overnight; we need a protracted war. But it seems that before Slaanesh's great demons even come knocking again, we might collapse first."

He remained silent for a moment, then his gaze swept across the miniature steel world on the sand table, which had just been tempered by fire and blood, before looking at his friends who had fought alongside him in the real world.

A decision took shape in his mind.

“You’re right,” Chen Xi finally spoke, breaking the suffocating silence. “We’ve been too tense. This can’t go on.”

He walked to the center of the room, placed his hands on the edge of the sand table, and looked at the other three: "The reconstruction and defense consolidation of Medusa cannot be accomplished overnight, and monitoring and studying that 'newborn Primarch' requires long-term planning. We need to adjust our pace."

"Adjust? How do you adjust it?" MaiMai asked.

"Take a vacation," Chen Xi said clearly. "Give yourself a vacation. Whether it's here or there."

"A holiday?" Dusk paused for a moment. "With the situation so tense over there, can we really leave?"

“It’s precisely because the situation is tense that we need a clear head and a stable mindset,” Chen Xi explained. “General Gregory and Prime Minister Rachel can maintain the planet’s daily operations and basic defenses. Sage Olivia’s research won’t be delayed by a few days either. If we leave for a while, keeping the pieces’ consciousness in standby or low-intensity managed state, there won’t be any major problems.” He paused, then added, “Moreover, we don’t necessarily have to rest in the 3K world. I remember there’s a beautiful ‘Garden World’ in the Mariupol Sector? Perhaps we can find a safe Imperial world, temporarily escape the smoke and pressure of Medusa, and change our mood.”

This suggestion made everyone's eyes light up.

The allure of escaping the clamor of the battlefield, the chaotic whispers, and the endless political and military preparations, even for just a few days, is immense.

"That's a great idea!" MaiMai was the first to agree. "I've been wanting to try drinking a real Imperial Brew in a place that isn't the Forging World for a long time!"

Dusk was clearly tempted: "If we could find a world with beautiful scenery and not too much chaos and alien interference, it would indeed be a great way to relax."

Guterres considered the matter more comprehensively: "We need to ensure the absolute safety of our destination, and the round trip cannot take up too much time. We also need to have contingency plans in place..."

“These matters can be left to Hathor. I believe the Warlord can handle these issues well,” Chen Xi said decisively. “When I return this time, I will have Hathor temporarily manage the political affairs. As for the military, the Ash Knights are there to support us, so there shouldn’t be any major problems while we’re away.”

In terms of safety, I would prioritize agricultural or garden worlds with high ratings within the empire, far from the front lines, and with strong state religious influence.

Looking into his companions' eyes, which had regained some of their sparkle, he finally made the decision: "It's settled then. We'll arrange a vacation in the 40k world. Those who don't want to go can rest here for a week, and then we'll consider other options."

The oppressive atmosphere vanished, replaced by a sense of anticipation and ease.

Although the road ahead is still fraught with challenges, a short break is undoubtedly the best way to buffer our tense nerves.

After the party ended, Chen Xi returned home.

He sat alone in his study, the city lights streaming softly through the window.

He activated the servo skull, golden light flashing in his eyes, and a massive flow of information swept through his consciousness.

His gaze searched carefully under the relevant entries for "Garden World," filtering out those worlds that were ravaged by war, had harsh environments, or harbored unknown dangers.

Eventually, several agricultural and garden worlds labeled "tranquil," "abundant," "imperial model," and "low-risk" came into his view.

His finger lightly touched a garden world called "Vera's Spring".

According to the data, the area is famous for its pleasant climate, beautiful natural scenery, and abundant flowers and fruits. It is a well-known resort in the nearby star sector, with complete tourist reception facilities and a Royal Navy patrol stationed nearby all year round, making it very safe.

“Vera’s Spring…” Chen Xi murmured the name, but the image of Li Jingyi involuntarily appeared in his mind.

Sunshine, fragrance of flowers, tranquil lake... these seem to suit her perfectly.

A bolder, even somewhat crazy, idea sprouted in his mind—perhaps, during this vacation, he could try…inviting her to come along? In a relatively gentle way, to let her first touch the edge of that world?

The idea made his heart race, filled with both anticipation and immense trepidation.

He knew what this meant, and he knew the risks involved.

He stared at the introductory image of "Vera Spring" on the screen, a beautiful valley seemingly bathed in eternal golden sunlight, a stark contrast to the steel desert of Medusa.

Finally, he took a deep breath, his eyes hardening.

He needs this vacation, and so do his colleagues.

As for that crazy idea about inviting him... he suppressed it for the time being.

This requires a more comprehensive plan.

He closed the interface, and silence returned to the basement.

Outside the window, the city's neon lights flickered quietly, their glow mirroring the flames of war on another distant galaxy.

And at this moment, in this tranquility, a journey to another world, designed to soothe weary souls, is quietly brewing.

(End of this chapter)