Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [312]

"Argh—cough, cough!"

The moment she heard the word rebels, Fia's chest burned with fury. She instinctively prepared to spit out a few choice Sterbian curses, only to remember that she was sitting across from none other than the governor of the empire himself…

That realization was like a bucket of cold water dousing her flames of rage. She quickly composed herself, trying to uphold the dignity befitting royalty, and covered her mouth with a cough to stifle any further outbursts.

Chen Lin could tell exactly what was going through her mind just by looking at her expression. With a slight smile, he remarked casually,

"To be ungrateful to one's ruler, to surrender at the mere promise of foreign gains… If you say you're disappointed, then why bother hiding it? If I were in your place, my reaction would probably be even stronger."

"So, say what you really think. This isn’t some official setting where you have to watch your words—no reports will be written on this conversation. No need to hold back, don’t you think?"

Fia let out a long sigh and gave a slight nod.

"I have always admired Governor Chen’s forthrightness. Since you've given me permission, I won’t mince words. Those treacherous, ungrateful bastards will suffer punishments worse than death."

In Sterbe's native culture, shaped by millennia of tribal rule, there had always been a strict hierarchy built on strength and loyalty.

A tribe was the personal property of its chieftain, who held absolute authority over all its affairs. Extending from this, a chieftain also had absolute power over the lives of their people.

Similarly, the position of chieftain was not hereditary but decided through open challenges among the strongest warriors of the tribe. These duels were held publicly, witnessed by all members of the tribe.

A chieftain could not refuse a challenge. To do so was to be labeled a coward, a disgrace to Sterbian tradition. Any chieftain who refused a duel without extreme justification would be stripped of their legitimacy, their authority rejected by their own people.

Thus, whenever a challenge was issued, the leader was obligated to face it head-on. The winner would take the chieftain’s place, leading the tribe to greater strength.

The weak had two choices: die or be cast out.

Under no circumstances could a tribe be led by a weakling!

Even after Fia's great-grandmother established Sterbe’s first autocratic empire, officially abolishing tribal customs, these traditions remained deeply ingrained beneath the surface—just on a civilizational scale rather than a tribal one.

By law, all of Sterbe was the private property of the Peris Royal Family.

In theory, everyone outside the royal bloodline—be it officials, nobles, or local governors—were still nothing more than subjugated subjects, their lives at the mercy of the monarchy.

If anyone resented Peris rule, they were free to issue a formal challenge under the old traditions.

The royal family despised this practice, but as it had become a deeply embedded cultural expectation, they never refused such duels.

Yet these treacherous provincial rulers had not challenged the monarchy through the proper rites.

Instead, they had secretly conspired with outside enemies, gathered their forces in the shadows, and launched a sudden ambush!

In tribal terms, this was the equivalent of a warrior from Tribe A secretly colluding with a rival Tribe B, enlisting their aid without officially declaring a challenge, only to lead an armed attack on their own tribe, ambushing and killing their chieftain.

Such an act would be seen as shameful and dishonorable, condemned by every other tribe. Even if Tribe B managed to escape unscathed, they would hastily sever all ties with the traitor, or even send their own warriors to hunt them down to prove their innocence.

If the traitor failed, they would suffer an agonizing execution—publicly disemboweled and strung up, kept alive just long enough to be torn apart by wild beasts.

Regardless of the outcome, betrayal was the ultimate crime in Sterbian culture.

And now, the Peris Royal Family—who had not even ruled with oppression or tyranny—had been betrayed despite implementing welfare policies that had no place in a typical autocracy.

Policies such as:

• Land grants for farmers who lost their fields, ensuring they could still make a living.

• Free medical treatment at imperial-funded clinics for those suffering from severe illness.

• Repopulation stipends for herders who lost their livestock due to unforeseen circumstances, including six months' worth of rations to prevent starvation.

A primitive autocratic empire implementing what was effectively a social safety net?

When Chen Lin first received intelligence about these policies, even he was genuinely surprised.

So, the company’s colonial rule had managed to spread a few progressive ideas after all…

That said, one couldn’t ignore the Peris Royal Family’s practical governance skills either. Given Sterbe’s limited industrial and technological capabilities, establishing a welfare system tailored to their specific circumstances was far from easy.

Brute strength and strategic intelligence weren’t mutually exclusive.

After listening to Fia outline her people's history and traditions, Chen Lin nodded in agreement.

"Traitors deserve to die."

Fia clenched her teeth. "The traitors and their entire damned families will suffer the same fate!"

"Good! Good! Excellent!"

Suddenly, Chen Lin clapped his hands in approval, startling Fia.

For a brief moment, she panicked—had she overstepped?

Had her harsh stance been too barbaric in the eyes of the Empire?

Was Governor Chen using sarcasm to rebuke her?

She hurriedly prepared to explain herself, but then… she saw the way Chen Lin was looking at her.

There was no disapproval in his eyes.

Instead, there was recognition.

Admiration.

"You have taste. I appreciate people with taste."

Fia: "…?"

She had met many leaders from other civilizations before.

Given Sterbe’s cultural and technological backwardness, it was common for advanced civilizations to dismiss them as mere barbarians.

Some refused to even speak with her.

Others—leaders of civilizations that were only slightly more developed than Sterbe—were polite at first, but after learning about Sterbe’s violent customs, they would politely excuse themselves and leave.

To them, associating with Sterbe was akin to tainting their own status.

Naturally, Fia assumed Chen Lin felt the same way.

After all, many civilizations had abolished the death penalty entirely. Even for the most heinous crimes, the worst punishment was a life sentence—imprisonment as a means of atonement.

By contrast, Sterbe was too poor to maintain lifelong prisoners.

Given their long lifespans—an average of 600 years—imprisoning criminals for life wasn’t just pointless, it was financially unsustainable.

It was far more practical to execute them outright.

Not only did it satisfy public outrage, but it also served as a deterrent against future crimes.

So while Fia disagreed with the idealistic principles of other civilizations, she never argued against them—different cultures had different values, and debating them was pointless.

And yet…

Here was the Empire, a colossus among civilizations, agreeing with her views?

What had Governor Chen just said?

He had praised her.

And judging by his expression, it wasn't sarcasm!

Fia’s wolf-like ears twitched slightly downward, and she hesitantly asked,

"Governor Chen… I just said we would execute the entire families of the traitors."

"Yes, exactly," Chen Lin said patiently. "That is the proper judgment of a competent ruler."

He continued, elaborating on the economic benefits, stability factors, and political advantages of such a policy for over ten minutes.

"In short—traitors should be exterminated to the third degree."

"Uh… exterminated to the third degree?"

Chen Lin chuckled. "Simple. It means killing the traitor's parents, spouse, and all direct blood relatives."

"…Huh?"

Fia's entire body tensed.

Her fingers twitched, as if she wanted to argue… but in the end, she lowered her hand.

She had meant executing only the immediate family, perhaps three or four dozen people at most.

But Chen Lin?

His version of "family execution" could easily involve hundreds—if not thousands—of people.

…You’re even more ruthless than us.

Shocked as she was, Fia couldn’t deny that Chen Lin’s logic made sense.

After all, any crime severe enough to warrant extermination of an entire family would be one with massive social repercussions—such cases were so rare that centuries could pass without a single occurrence.

Given the wild and warlike nature of Sterbian culture, Fia felt no sympathy for such criminals. She wouldn’t just applaud their execution—she would gladly carry it out herself.

And now, finding this unexpected shared understanding with the man before her, Fia felt a strange sense of kinship toward the imperial governor.

"By the way," she asked curiously, "what do you need those criminals for?"

Chen Lin shook his head. "Not convenient to say just yet."

"Take them, then. Alive or dead, makes no difference to me." Fia dismissed the matter as if she were merely getting rid of unwanted clutter.

Her voice had barely fallen when her expression turned serious again.

She had not yet given her answer.

"Governor, I understand that our civilization is seen as a potential threat to the security of Jarilo-VI in the eyes of the empire."

"You could have found us an eyesore, or even wiped Sterbe out completely—and with the empire’s power, it wouldn’t have been difficult."

"But you chose not to."

Her golden eyes darkened slightly.

"And so, before anything else, let me first express my gratitude, on behalf of all nine hundred million Sterbeans, for your mercy…"

"Thank you for sparing us."

With those words, Fia rose to her feet and gave a deep bow.

From a Sterbean perspective, an empire that had the power to destroy them but chose not to do so was a benefactor.

After all, their culture dictated that the weak had no right to negotiate—let alone bargain with the victors.

If not for the imperial military parade, if the Lord Ravager, Phantylia, had not driven the company away from Sterbe-I, if Fia had not come to Jarilo in person for the ceremony—then should the Peris Royal Family lose the war, they would have immediately submitted to the victor, resigning themselves to whatever fate awaited them.

But if that was the case… why hadn’t they surrendered to the company?

Why had the Peris family chosen to fight instead?

The answer lay in their historical archives.

By unifying Sterbe and consolidating ancient tribal records, the Peris royal family had uncovered the true cause of their civilization’s fragmentation—

The Interastral Peace Corporation.

For decades, corporate policy had drained Sterbe dry with its exploitative economic practices, keeping the people on the brink of starvation.

Whenever a natural disaster struck, the emergency aid from corporate headquarters would be looted and withheld by local company officials and tribal leaders before the common people ever saw a scrap of it.

The growing scarcity of resources intensified tribal rivalries, splitting united factions into warring clans.

Raw materials sold to the company fetched lower and lower prices, while imported goods became more and more expensive.

A single famine could kill millions, and news of these catastrophes would be buried by the company's local branch. Headquarters would never hear the truth—only sanitized reports of "stabilized conditions" and "thriving communities".

After all, the Interastral Peace Corporation had countless mining worlds under its control.

Why would it care about one insignificant planet?

And so, those aware of the truth—the Peris Royal Family and its allied provincial rulers—had long opposed corporate expansion.

And when the company demanded a binding population contract, reducing every Sterbean to a lifelong indentured laborer, the Peris monarchy had made their choice.

They refused to submit.

If the company had been able to access diplomatic relations data, they would have seen Sterbe’s stance toward them at a blood-red -9999—

With permanent debuffs like "Victim of Civilizational Fragmentation," "Oppressive Exploitation," and "Betrayal by Foreign Powers."

This was thanks to the Peris open archive policy—every Sterbean citizen could freely access the historical records detailing the company’s crimes.

Of course, had the company won, they would have erased these records, and in a few centuries, those permanent debuffs would have disappeared on their own.

Because by then, no one alive would remember the truth.

"Sterbe has been cut off from the stars for a long time," Fia said quietly.

"The Interastral Peace Corporation sought to turn our people into a commodity—something to be bought and sold."

"The Peris family was not strong enough to protect its subjects."

Then, with a heavy thud, she fell to one knee, bowing her head low.

"I know we have no right to negotiate with you."

"But if you could spare our people—if you could grant them a fate better than the company’s chains…"

"Then in my mother's name, in the name of the reigning Empress Luna Kedeqin Peris, I offer our allegiance."

"We, the Sterbian people, pledge ourselves to the empire."

A long silence followed.

Then, Chen Lin's voice rang out.

"I can grant your royal family a place of honor—equal in status and power to Jarilo’s Supreme Guardians."

"What do you say?"

Fia shook her head.

"The Peris family does not need such kindness."

"All we ask… is that you spare the rest of our people."

"Give them a life—one where they are not livestock, not slaves."

"That is our only request."

Chen Lin raised an eyebrow, seemingly displeased.

"Why?"

"The Peris family has ruled for generations, sustained by the sacrifices of our people.

"It is only right that we bear the cost of their survival."

Chen Lin smiled faintly. "No regrets?"

"None."

Silence filled the chamber.

Fia remained kneeling, eyes closed, her body trembling slightly—not out of fear for her own fate, but out of desperation for her people's future.

She knew Sterbe had no leverage to negotiate with the empire.

But if there was even the slightest chance to secure a future without hunger for her people—

Then even if it meant humiliating herself,

Even if it meant sacrificing her status,

Even if it meant giving up her own life,

She would not hesitate.

This was the dying wish of the former Empress Silvia.

This was the sacred duty of every ruler of Sterbe.

To rule was to bear responsibility.

If a ruler cannot bring prosperity to their people…

Then what is their worth?

A long pause.

Fia did not see the look in Chen Lin’s eyes shift—did not notice the flicker of approval in his gaze.

She had no idea that, in this moment, she had just pulled the Peris royal family back from the brink of extinction.

Then, at last, she felt his hands lifting her from the floor.

Chen Lin met her eyes and spoke, enunciating each word clearly.

"Miss Fia, remember this:

"From this day forward, there will be no more Sterbians, no more Lupu (wolf) clans, no more Rusha (cat) tribes.

"In the empire, there will only be one people—newly joined citizens, bearing full and equal rights, fighting for the liberation of the entire galaxy.

"You and your people are no longer outcasts.

"From this day forward… you are citizens of the Interstellar Rift Empire."

---

T/N: BRINK OF EXTINCTION? WAS HE ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING???

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!