Two people and two horses galloped freely across the vast expanse of the Mengliang Grassland.
After riding for a full hour, they gradually slowed their pace, stopping beside a pavilion next to a clear lake.
A service robot stood quietly nearby.
It skillfully boiled water and brewed tea, the faint aroma of tea soon permeating the air.
Qin Bei Wang and the woman beside him each took their seats.
This exceptionally beautiful woman was none other than Tang Jiuxiao's own elder sister, Tang Wanci.
Qin Bei Wang was actually somewhat surprised; he and Tang Wanci had never had much interaction.
He never expected that she would invite him out alone for a leisurely outing.
He picked up his teacup, took a gentle sip of the hot tea, his gaze open and natural as it settled on the woman before him.
Her face was a soft, rounded oval, her features so exquisite they seemed meticulously carved by an angel.
Her nose bridge was high and sharp, her lip line clear and gentle.
Whenever she smiled faintly, shallow dimples would appear on her cheeks, warm and captivating.
To be honest, in the highly advanced Interstellar Era, high attractiveness was no longer anything rare.
Whether through convenient facial reconstruction surgery or remarkably effective beauty-enhancing agents, handsome men and beautiful women could be produced in batches.
Those from top-tier families who had received injections of High-grade Gene Optimization Agents.
Their descendants all possessed outstanding appearances comparable to celebrities.
But the Tang Wanci before him was far more than just stunningly beautiful.
She carried a unique, ethereal, and untainted aura about her.
Even standing among countless beauties, she could be recognized at a glance, unforgettable.
Tang Wanci keenly noticed Qin Bei Wang's gaze, a slight smile curving the corners of her lips.
Then she spoke, breaking the leisurely atmosphere in the pavilion.
"What's wrong? Do you think my hobbies are a bit unusual?
In your view, someone like me, a researcher, should prefer more indoor, home-based pastimes, right?"
Qin Bei Wang chuckled lightly upon hearing this, his tone straightforward and without pretense.
"I really didn't expect it. You're quite different from the researchers I had in mind."
Tang Wanci stretched lazily, her full curves becoming even more pronounced under the outline of her riding jacket.
Her tone carried a touch of casualness.
"Staying cooped up in a sealed research lab all the time would eventually lead to frustration.
Honestly, besides horseback riding, I also enjoy mech battles and fighter craft racing.
Next time there's a chance, I'd really like to see.
How our Federation hero's skills fare in these areas."
As she spoke, she looked up at Qin Bei Wang, her gaze holding a hint of playfulness, yet also concealing a touch of seriousness.
Qin Bei Wang met her eyes, instantly understanding that these words were not merely casual banter.
A cup of hot tea was soon finished. Tang Wanci set down her teacup, her smile deepening.
Then she asked softly.
"Vice Admiral Qin, is our R&D department's new toy working smoothly for you?"
Qin Bei Wang was slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting her to suddenly pose this question.
After a moment, his expression relaxed slightly as he spoke.
"Just call me Beiwang, no need to be so formal.
Your R&D department's equipment is all very effective. The new anti-air weapons can completely intercept Tier 4 Imperial Space Fighters, with an interception rate almost reaching one hundred percent.
And the Titan's Grip on the Zhen Yue has exceeded all our expectations."
"Last time we faced pursuit by an Imperial Duke-class Fleet, a single strike destroyed over half of their warships.
Without the Titan's Grip, we likely wouldn't have made it back to Federal territory safely."
Qin Beiwang shifted his tone, carrying a hint of regret yet concealing genuine anticipation.
"However, that Titan's Grip malfunctioned completely after just one use.
The Constraint Ring burned out, the cooling system collapsed entirely, and even the Hull Structure suffered severe deformation.
If possible, could you enhance the material strength?
If continuous firing could be achieved, this would absolutely become our Federation's superweapon!"
Hearing this, Tang Wanci gently shook her head.
Her expression bore the meticulousness unique to research personnel, her tone calm yet firm.
"Given the current technological level, continuous firing is still likely unattainable.
However, to meet the demands of sustained combat, we could directly equip you with two Zhen Yue vessels.
As for your current damaged Zhen Yue,
our R&D department will retrieve it, collect combat data, and proceed with further optimization and improvements."
"Two Zhen Yue vessels?"
Qin Beiwang's eyes lit up, instantly overjoyed, the delight in his tone impossible to conceal.
He understood well that demanding continuous firing from a superweapon of the Titan's Grip's caliber was already far-fetched.
But if they could possess two Zhen Yue vessels, the Tactics they could employ would multiply.
Immediately, a flicker of curiosity flashed in Qin Beiwang's eyes as he leaned forward slightly.
He then asked,
"Have your research department examined that seized Empire Stargate?
Is there any way to replicate it?"
The functionality of a Portable Stargate aligned perfectly with their Pluto Fleet's operational style focused on stealth and Surprise Attacks.
Because of this, Qin Beiwang had previously inquired with the Command Headquarters about the whereabouts of that Portable Stargate.
But the reply he received left him somewhat disappointed.
That Portable Stargate had been destroyed by Imperial forces, leaving only a half-intact wreckage.
Qin Beiwang privately surmised that the Imperial Fleet, initially focused on a safe retreat,
had not dared to destroy the Stargate immediately, still hoping to take it back.
But unexpectedly, they were relentlessly pursued by the Federation Fleet, and in their panic, acted hastily, failing to completely obliterate the Stargate.
That remaining Portable Stargate wreckage was then swiftly transferred to the Advanced Technology Research Bureau.
The goal was to master the core technology of the Empire's Portable Stargate through Reverse Engineering, securing it for the Federation.
Qin Beiwang understood that Reverse Engineering such advanced Imperial technology was inherently no easy task.
Moreover, with only a half-destroyed Stargate wreckage remaining, the difficulty of development was compounded.
Yet, whenever he envisioned the scene—
his Pluto Fleet, equipped with Portable Stargates, silently infiltrating the Imperial Hinterland,
and the panicked, utterly stunned expressions of those Imperial Commanders when the Federation Fleet swarmed out—
he couldn't help but feel an irrepressible surge of excitement.
Just as his emotions stirred, Tang Wanci parted her lips lightly, her tone carrying a hint of nonchalance.
"Oh, you mean that Stargate wreckage? The Reverse Engineering project happens to be under my responsibility."
"What?"
Qin Beiwang's eyes widened instantly, his face filled with surprise and delight.
His previous thoughts were abruptly pulled back to the present moment.
Seeing this, a faint smile curved at the corner of Tang Wanci's lips as she added in a relaxed tone.
"Fortunately, the Stargate wasn't completely destroyed—the core components are still intact.
Otherwise, even if we wanted to reverse engineer it, we'd have nowhere to start."
Suppressing the urgency in his heart, Qin Bei Wang quickly pressed further.
"How long would it take to reverse engineer and master the Empire's Portable Stargate technology, then replicate one?"