Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [335]

“Oh?”

Phantylia lowered her hand, her interest piqued. She looked at Sampo and asked, “Alright then, how do you plan to prove you’re a good guy?”

Seeing that he had caught her attention, Sampo was inwardly delighted, but he kept his face troubled. With a sigh, he said, “Ah, miss, look—I’ve been locked up here for nearly thirteen hours without even a sip of water. How about you give me a drink first? After that, I’ll slowly tell you about all my good deeds."

“Otherwise, if I die of thirst, wouldn’t that just be bad PR?”

Phantylia rubbed her smooth chin, blinking her starry eyes a few times before flashing him a mischievous smile.

“But I don’t have anywhere to fetch water from~”

“Then how about this?”

Sampo’s lips curled into a harmless, innocent smile. He murmured, “I’ll wait right here for you to come back. Right now, I’m completely restrained, haven’t eaten or drunk anything in hours, and have no strength left at all…"

“You can rest easy. Sampo Koski is a man of his word—if I say I have a message for Governor Chen, then I must deliver it. No way I’d run.”

“The problem is…”

Phantylia grinned, her gaze pure and innocent.

“…I am not a woman of my word.”

Sampo’s blood pressure spiked.

Damn it.

He chose the wrong opponent.

Seeing no way out, he collapsed onto the floor, wailing dramatically.

“Oh, woe is me!

“Sampo Koski is hungry, thirsty, and exhausted! After enduring countless hardships to return to Belobog, I was hoping for a warm, hospitable welcome!"

“Instead, I get locked up and tortured… Truly, no good deed goes unpunished. If I’d known this would happen, I wouldn’t have even—”

“…Wouldn’t have even what?”

At the dimly lit cell entrance, Chen Lin stepped inside, scanning his terminal.

A young girl followed behind him, lingering at the doorway, her curious gaze sweeping over the surroundings.

After Luofu’s warships departed from Tamz Star, Chen Lin had bid farewell to Fu Xuan and returned to Belobog with Li Sushang via The Shroud.

He had actually been observing from outside for quite some time, waiting for the right moment to enter.

Now was as good a time as any.

With a displeased expression, Chen Lin glared at Phantylia and scolded her:

“Is this how you handle things?"

“Do you even know who Sampo Koski is? He’s a former collaborator—a friend to the Wildfire!"

“When I told you to treat him properly, I didn’t mean like this!”

Sampo’s eyes lit up the moment he saw Chen Lin.

His entire demeanor shifted in an instant—his face beaming with flattery.

“Ah, Governor Chen! As generous and righteous as ever!"

“If you ever need anything done, just say the word, and Sampo Koski will handle it personally!”

Phantylia pursed her lips, lifting her head to meet Chen Lin’s gaze.

Their eyes locked for just a brief moment.

Yet in that fleeting breath, her once-playful expression suddenly shifted to unease.

“I-I wouldn’t dare, my lord!”

“The Border Security Bureau and the Public Security Department couldn’t find a single record of this man."

“And he was acting suspiciously, sneaking around like a spy."

“I was merely being cautious—who knows if he had ill intentions…”

Phantylia muttered under her breath, “Besides, what does it matter to the Interastral Empire if he’s a friend of the Wildfire?”

At that, Sampo froze.

Chen Lin’s smile vanished.

He studied Sampo for a moment, his gaze softening slightly.

“…Oh, right."

“Didn’t you say someone reported Sampo Koski as a Masked Fool?”

Chen Lin let out a casual sigh.

“Well, then—I’ll vouch for him as Governor of the Jarilo Sector."

"There are no bad guys here.”

Sampo teared up.

“Governor Chen, you truly have the eyes of a hawk!”

“I’m just an honest businessman, after all."

“And this time, I actually came to deliver some important information—”

He paused, looking at Chen Lin expectantly.

But Chen Lin simply listened in silence.

The air between them froze.

Logically, shouldn’t he be freed first?

Wouldn’t he be escorted to a proper meeting room, served a nice meal, and treated as a VIP guest before being asked about his intel?

Why am I still in chains?

Why am I still sitting in this cursed cell?!

Sampo’s suffering was endless.

After a long ten seconds, Phantylia shot him a meaningful glance before leaning in to whisper into Chen Lin’s ear:

“My lord, what if he’s a fake?"

“Should I just… kill him and incinerate the body?"

“He looks shady as hell—definitely not trustworthy.”

…Sampo heard everything.

She had whispered so quietly that any ordinary person wouldn’t have caught it.

But Sampo was not an ordinary person.

Chen Lin’s brow furrowed in thought.

Sampo hesitated, then forced a relaxed tone:

“Governor Chen, please, hear me out!"

“Sure, in the past, Sampo Koski might have dabbled in a few… less-than-legal ventures."

“But I have many friends from all walks of life!"

“And my reputation as a loyal and charitable man is known far and wide!"

“When Belobog finally embraced your rule and found peace, I happened to receive an urgent request for help—so I left in a hurry, without telling you."

“I hope you won’t hold it against me!”

Chen Lin’s eyes narrowed slightly, his smile returning.

“Oh? That explains it."

“No wonder I couldn’t find you when I wanted to thank you.”

“……”

Sampo was speechless.

Since when did this man talk like this?!

Nothing he said followed any of Sampo’s expectations.

He forced a smile, shifting uncomfortably under the psionic runes swirling around him.

“Haha… So anyway—I recently attended a, uh… private marketplace?"

“A gathering place for all sorts of… chatter-prone individuals."

“The kind of place where secrets are traded, rumors mix, and whispers run deep.”

“Oh, an intel black market?”

“Ah—exactly!”

Sampo clapped his hands, laughing nervously.

“And while I was there, I happened to overhear something—something about a certain dangerous individual…"

“They’re very interested in the Jarilo Sector you built, Governor Chen."

“And even more interested in that mysterious gate on your territory.”

Chen Lin raised an eyebrow.

“Oh? And how interested?”

“…The kind of once-in-a-thousand-amber-cycles opportunity that someone would kill for.”

Sampo sighed heavily.

“I’m worried, Governor Chen."

“Belobog has suffered for centuries—only now has it begun to thrive under your leadership."

“I couldn’t just stand by when I learned this."

“And that individual—the one eyeing your gate?"

“She’s from the Masked Fools."

“They call her Sparkle.”

While casually chatting with Sampo, Chen Lin’s mind split off a portion of his attention to inquire within The Shroud group chat.

Chen Lin: “Have you ever heard of someone named Sparkle?”

Phantylia pondered for a moment before shaking her head internally.

Phantylia: “I have a vague impression, so she should exist… but I have no idea what she looks like. Actually, no one really knows what the ‘Masked Fool’ members truly look like. Their identities are ever-changing, their methods vary wildly, and their priorities are all over the place.”

Chen Lin glanced sideways at the little fox beside him and asked:

"Would you say her level of ‘any-means-necessary’ is on par with yours?"

Phantylia flinched slightly before lightly dabbing at the corner of her eye, her expression feigning a sorrowful, delicate look.

"How could I possibly be that ruthless? All I care about is whether my lord has eaten well and whether I can ease your troubles..."

…

When the hell did she become this shamelessly manipulative?

Chen Lin sighed internally.

If Sampo’s intel matched Phantylia’s vague recollection, then there was no doubt—the Masked Fools was indeed interested in the L-Gate he was about to open.

But there was another problem.

Phantylia herself had received the blessing of the Aeon of Destruction. If she could tell that Sampo was an Emanator of Elation , then it was highly likely he was a Masked Fool—

Even if he wasn’t carrying a mask at the moment.

Which led to an even bigger question:

If Sampo was an Emanator of Elation, shouldn’t he be standing on the Masked Fools’ side?

Why the hell was he suddenly running over to warn him?

Chen Lin had suspected Sampo’s identity long ago—back when he was still in Belobog’s Underworld.

Seele, Natasha, and many of the Fire higher-ups had all said the same thing:

One day, Sampo Koski simply… appeared.

He wasn’t part of any known faction.

Even after Bronya took control of Qlipoth Fort and conducted a full census, there was no record of Sampo anywhere.

That alone was extremely suspicious.

Belobog had survived by counting every head to the last digit—there was no way an Upper District resident had simply slipped through the cracks.

And in the Underworld, where everyone knew everyone, it wasn’t hard to see why people claimed Sampo had popped into existence out of thin air.

If neither district had records of him, then didn’t that mean Sampo wasn’t even from Jarilo-VI?

Yet his appearance matched Jarilo natives perfectly.

Which meant…

It might not even be his real face.

In a universe like this, there were far too many ways to alter one’s features.

Regardless, one thing was certain—Sampo was connected to Elation.

And when it came to Elation’s followers, Phantylia’s instincts weren’t wrong.

So then, what was his goal?

Was he simply out for revenge against Sparkle?

Was he trying to use Chen Lin to get rid of a personal enemy?

That… actually seemed very possible.

But at the end of the day—

Open threats are easy to counter. Hidden schemes are another matter.

He couldn't just abandon the L-Gate project just because some Elation-aligned freaks had taken an interest in him.

That would be ridiculous.

Chen Lin sighed.

So many damn problems.

And getting targeted as someone’s personal amusement was starting to annoy the hell out of him.

Fine. If someone was playing games with him, then he’d just make note of it—so that when the opportunity arose, he could return the favor.

Who doesn’t know how to be a troublemaker?

Sampo continued rambling about his “travel experiences”—whether true or fabricated, who could say.

Chen Lin simply patted him on the shoulder, causing the surrounding psionic runes to dissipate.

The shackles on Sampo’s wrists clicked open.

Sampo froze.

He had fully expected to spend the next few days sweet-talking his way out.

Why was he suddenly free?

For once, he was too stunned to speak.

His confused gaze drifted toward Chen Lin, who simply waved his hand and began walking out.

Without turning back, he spoke to the two girls accompanying him:

“If your intel is good, then maybe we can talk business next time."

“But for now? I’m busy.”

Then, as he reached the doorway, his voice suddenly slipped into Sampo’s ears—

A whisper, yet perfectly clear.

"Sampo. Or should I call you something else?"

"Either way, you have my contact now. That’s all. No need to see me out."

Sampo blinked.

He watched as Chen Lin and the two girls disappeared down the hallway, their figures fading from sight.

Then, slowly—

A delighted grin spread across his face.

He pressed his feet together, stood upright, placed his hands in front of his stomach, and bowed deeply toward Chen Lin’s retreating back.

And with a cheeky wink, he called out:

“Sampo Koski’s services are among the best in the industry!"

“Known for integrity!"

“If you can think of it, I can make it happen!"

“I look forward to you becoming a returning customer—price is always negotiable~!”

He received no response.

But he didn’t mind.

His goal had been achieved.

And in the process, he’d even gained something extra.

"Hahhh… scared me half to death."

"At least this trip wasn’t for nothing—I thought I was gonna die in that creepy hellhole."

Sampo stretched his limbs before casually stepping forward—

His figure flickered—

And vanished.

---

Amidst the asteroid belt of a desolate star system, a lone rock drifted along its gravitational orbit.

Buried within its core was a crude micro-station, once used as a temporary hideout by space pirates.

Everywhere, there were signs of former inhabitants—

Oil-stained floors.

Scarred metal walls.

Broken chains piled in a corner.

And at the center of those chains—

Several shattered skeletons.

The stench was overpowering.

The air purifiers had long since failed, leaving the entire station reeking of death.

It was not a place fit for the living.

A young girl slowly awoke.

Her hazy eyes scanned her surroundings, her mind a chaotic blur.

Her head throbbed violently—her memory a gaping void, as if she had blacked out during a drinking binge.

After a long while, she gradually regained clarity.

That was when she realized—

She was bound.

And locked inside a tiny cage.

Upon seeing how she was tied up, her eye twitched.

What the hell is this nonsense?

Thankfully, it wasn’t enough to hold her.

Within moments, she was free.

But her eyes remained filled with confusion.

“…Weird. Where the hell is this place—”

Her voice caught.

“…Huh? Why does my voice sound weird?”

She frowned, turning toward a cracked floor-length mirror.

At first, she walked past it—then froze.

She quickly backpedaled.

She turned left.

She turned right.

Her reflection mimicked every movement perfectly.

Then—

She fell completely silent.

Her breathing grew ragged.

Her fingers clenched tightly.

And soon, her enraged voice echoed through the room.

“WHO… WHO THE HELL DID THIS TO ME?!”

---

T/N: uh oh also why is sampo kinda... bites lip

This is a fan translation of 在星穹铁道点群星科技树真的没问题吗? by 杏雨诗韵 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!