"Ten centimeters is still too thick," I said. "A laser sword made like this won't be convenient to carry."

Ximen Yan pouted slightly, "Then tell me if it meets the requirements. If it does, just make do for now. Wait until we get back to Earth and you retrieve your own laser sword, then you can return this one to us."

"Alright, that's the only way," I replied. "But manufacturing a laser sword involves very profound optical and mechanical engineering techniques. I'll need everyone's full cooperation. After all, the enemy hasn't given us much time. Finishing even a day sooner means one more advantage in our hands."

Ximen Yan and Xiao Yu'er said in unison, "That's absolutely no problem, we'll support you fully!"

Fortunately, my creative and intellectual capabilities were astonishing. I could recall the knowledge from Earth without the slightest error. I wrote out pages of technical data and handed them to the subordinates to execute. Considering the production conditions here, I wasn't planning on making this laser sword too aesthetically pleasing. As long as it could emit a laser powerful enough for me to have a handy weapon, that would suffice. The workers operated in two shifts, working day and night without stopping, everyone hoping to get the job done before the aliens launched their attack.

What puzzled us was why the two alien warships still hovering in space hadn't attacked Gemini Star. Were they afraid?

As the laser sword manufacturing entered its final stages that day, Ximen Yan and Xiao Yu'er, who had been constantly by my side, grew restless. This was because I had mentioned taking the newly forged laser sword into space to 'dedicate' it against the aliens. They were keen to accompany me and personally experience space travel.

I was inside the spacecraft modifying the cooling system, preparing for the next atmospheric transit, when Xiao Yu'er quietly slipped into the cabin and covered my eyes from behind.

I chuckled, "Stop messing around. Smelling your scent, I know it’s the Mermaid Lady."

Xiao Yu'er removed her hands, "Zhao, do I smell fishy? Is that why you’ve always seemed distant to me?"

A cold sweat broke out on my brow. Xiao Yu'er didn't smell of fish at all; she had a normal woman's fragrance. Besides, when had I ever been distant to her? If things got any more intimate, I wondered how Ximen Yan would take it.

I explained, "How could a beauty smell fishy? That’s a fragrant, subtle scent! You Merfolk and fish are entirely different species. Don't look down on yourselves anymore. I’ve been too busy lately, unable to even attend to my wife at home—chuckle—of course, that might make you feel neglected as a friend. I’ll treat you to a meal another day to offer a small apology."

Xiao Yu'er smiled sweetly, "Who cares about your meal? It wasn't cooked by your own hands."

Ximen Yan chimed in, "Oh, Xiao Yu'er, you want to eat food cooked by our husband? I heard very few people ever get to enjoy that. Even the earliest acquaintances, the Zhao Fen and Zhao Fang sisters, haven't! Back then, this fellow helped someone with a cold and then comfortably enjoyed Sister Zhao Fen’s cooking. His audacity is truly unparalleled."

These were matters from lifetimes ago; I was surprised Ximen Yan had managed to dig them up from others. I smiled and returned to my work. Xiao Yu'er asked, "Is it not finished yet? With this new laser cooling system, can we safely traverse the atmosphere? We’d love to help with the testing when the time comes."

I finished the last few procedures and activated the cooler to test its effect, saying, "This cooling system must guarantee normal operation even if all other instruments fail. Furthermore, it’s only for protection during our return journey. Currently, I have no way to solve the control failure issue when breaking out of the atmosphere. To return to space, I’ll still need to go outside the ship to give it a boost."

Ximen Yan shook her head, "It really is troublesome. Could the problem of the ship's hull being too thin definitely be solved? Otherwise, how did the aliens’ ships enter and exit before?"

"You’re right," I conceded. "Perhaps the alien warships' hull design's abnormal thickness was also for traversing wormholes. It’s just that we don't have much time right now for research. We'll have to make do with what we have."

Xiao Yu'er suddenly crossed her arms, "Oh, it’s too cold! I can’t stand it; I’m going out first."

Ximen Yan also felt the temperature inside the craft drop significantly within a short time, so she followed Xiao Yu'er out of the ship. I closed the hatch and repeatedly tested the cooling system before confirming it was fine. While the intense heat wouldn't be lethal, it would definitely damage skin and hair, and my wives are all delicate; I didn't want them to lose their beautiful looks.

Stepping out of the ship, I saw Xiao Yu'er and Ximen Yan standing by the hatch, looking at me with knowing smiles. I asked, "What has made you two so happy?"

Ximen Yan said, "Guess."

"Could it be that your brother is finally getting married?" I ventured.

Ximen Yan shook her head. Then I asked, "Is it your father getting a wife?"

Xiao Yu'er stood with her hands behind her back, looking anxious, "Why do you only think of those things? This is big news, great news!"

I laughed, "Oh, I get it. So, Xiao Yu'er has found a boyfriend she fancies and is getting married."

Ximen Yan playfully kicked my leg with her small foot. "Xiao Yu'er has been with us these past few days; where would she find a boyfriend!"

Xiao Yu'er’s eyes became slightly moist, as if my joke had hurt her feelings. In truth, I had sensed what she was hiding behind her back all along: the laser sword named Netherworld's Light! I supposed someone must have delivered it during the inspection.

"Hehe, don't take it seriously, just joking with you. The laser sword is finished, right? Let me test if it handles well."

Xiao Yu'er brought her hands from behind her back. Sure enough, it was a sword with a completely transparent hilt. Why just the hilt? Because the laser emitter only activated when the switch on the hilt was engaged, and that was when the laser blade would appear. Xiao Yu'er said, "You're smart. If you joke like that again, I won't talk to you."

Compared to the materials used by ancient Human Dwarves, this radiation-proof material was super advanced. This sword weighed less than one-thousandth of my previous one; even the delicate Xiao Yu'er held it with no strain. Moreover, the radiation-proof material was highly transparent, unlike the previous one which was oily black and strained the eyes. Looking through the transparent layer of the hilt, one could see every minute detail of the internal design, feeling quite exquisite and novel, much like a transparent mouse from Earth.

In the center of the hilt held in my palm was the Netherworld's Light super-mutated energy crystal. Even encased in over ten centimeters of radiation-proof material, it still emanated a faint azure smoke. This tangible and intangible smoke was completely unable to escape the confinement of the shielding layer. Where my thumb rested on the hilt, there was a slide switch combined with a safety lock. Only when the safety lock was disengaged was the slide switch effective. I gently pushed it upward, and a low wum sound resonated.

A slight vibration traveled through my palm, and a surge of azure light-flame instantly sprang from the hilt. The more the slide switch was pushed open, the longer and thicker the flame became. I held the laser sword, which felt slightly awkward to grip, and swung it lightly. The azure light-flame flashed, and it seemed the very air was sliced in half.

I truly hadn't expected this energy crystal to ignite such an eerie, mysterious, and utterly pleasing azure laser. Although I hadn't tested its power yet, based on the radiation level of that energy crystal alone, I knew its destructive capability wouldn't be much less than my old one. I must find a way to convince Ximen Tian to gift this thing to me. To marry both the beautiful sword and the beautiful lady—that would be success.

Due to the tight schedule, some minor details of this laser sword remained incomplete, but I couldn't worry about them now. As long as its excitation system functioned normally, a slight leakage of radiation wouldn't harm me. After successfully cycling the power on and off several times and observing the working components within the hilt without finding any issues, I deemed the sword successfully manufactured.

I had been so engrossed in playing with it that I forgot to check with Ximen Yan. "How is it? It was built entirely according to your specifications. Are you satisfied? Are there any areas needing improvement?"

I replied, "Please thank everyone for me. I like it very much. I hope to use it to slay a few more aliens, preferably scaring them off so they never return."

Xiao Yu'er sincerely praised, "Zhao, the excitation system you designed is both simple and practical, and its compact size far exceeds our imagination. I admire you so much. Even the most talented old scholars in our Merfolk Kingdom don't measure up to one-hundredth of your ability."

Ximen Yan chuckled, "Xiao Yu'er, you admire our husband so much, do you want to marry him? So that's why you cut open your legs—you had an agenda! I must tell the others about this when we get back."

Xiao Yu'er panicked, "Oh, Yan-yan, don't speak nonsense! I have respected talented people since I was young, and I’d prefer to stay by his side to learn. Is that also wrong of me?"

Recalling the kiss between Xiao Yu'er and me, I thought this princess might genuinely have feelings for me. Fearing she would be 'reprimanded' by Ximen Yan, I interrupted their exchange, "Stop fooling around. Since the spacecraft's cooling system modification is successful, and the laser sword is finished, we should leave. Five days have already passed; why haven't those aliens made a move? I want to see what they are actually doing, and incidentally, test the laser sword’s power."

The two women's eyes lit up. "Great! We'll go to space together!"

I vetoed immediately, "No, it's too dangerous. You two must dismiss this idea right away."

Xiao Yu'er retorted, "Dangerous? You went with Linglong and Yun Yao last time! I think you are biased and don't have enough affection for our Princess Yan."

"This has nothing to do with how much affection I have," I said. "I don't want to be lectured by everyone again. You two stay here; I'll go scout for intelligence alone. Don't breathe a word about this when I return, or I won't talk to you."

Ximen Yan countered, "If you want to be perfectly fair, you should take me and Xiao Yu'er to see the outside of space as well. Since you’re set on being sneaky this time, we won’t tell anyone when you get back. Besides, aren't you going to test the power of Netherworld's Light? Someone has to pilot the ship for you, and then you can take this precious sword out into space for a demonstration."

"It seems what you're saying has merit," I admitted. "What are the consequences if I don't agree?"

Xiao Yu'er piped up, "Of course, we’ll spread malicious gossip to the others. I’ll just say you molested me and sneaked into my room last night to steal a kiss..."

"Enough," I said. "If you say that, they'll absolutely believe you. Fine, you two can come along, but you must follow all commands."

The two women happily agreed, "No problem."

After getting ready, the three of us piloted the spacecraft out through the secret passage used when we first infiltrated the underground city. In truth, hiding this from the other women would be somewhat difficult. Although an early warning system for outer space couldn't be established, many electronic warning stations had been built within the atmosphere. Radar wasn't hard to manufacture, and the computer systems the Merfolk and Dwarves already possessed made it simple to set up an air defense system. Even though my ship had radar-dampening coating, I worried the aliens might also evade radar scanning. All warning stations had electronic telescopes constantly searching. I figured this matter would eventually lead to a scolding session from them anyway, but fortunately, I’m thick-skinned enough not to fear their criticism then.