Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [297]

Fu Xuan furrowed her brows slightly, turning her head at the sudden shift in the conversation. She couldn’t understand why Chen Lin had taken such an abrupt turn, completely shattering her logical expectations of his response.

It was like chewing a mouthful of rice, only for someone to suddenly order you to spit it out.

Suffocating.

Jing Yuan, too, hadn’t anticipated Chen Lin’s sudden detour. He felt as though he had stumbled upon some vague, elusive issue—one he struggled to articulate into words.

Under Fu Xuan’s scrutinizing gaze, he sighed in resignation and said, "I must ask my dear brother to enlighten me."

Chen Lin swirled the tea in his cup, speaking with a meaningful smile. "Brother, do you truly believe that my view of this starry sky aligns with the one you assume I hold?"

His words might have been somewhat abstract, but they undeniably provoked deeper contemplation in Jing Yuan about the nature of this universe.

If Jing Yuan truly followed the train of thought that Chen Lin’s story suggested, then the initiative in their conversation would no longer rest in his own hands. Instead, it would become a process where Chen Lin subtly guided his perspective—leading him towards an interpretation so seamlessly aligned with common sense that it would feel entirely natural, even logical.

And yet, the opposite was just as true.

Once caught in this way of thinking, no one would realize they had completely lost sight of their own understanding.

The point Chen Lin wanted to convey was simple: he wanted Jing Yuan to break free from the confines of conventional knowledge when considering the answer he was about to give. He didn’t want him to remain shackled by preconceived notions when evaluating the future.

No one had ever set foot in the future. No one knew what it would hold. People could only speculate based on what they already knew.

But Chen Lin possessed technology capable of overturning everything known in this universe. His frame of reference was vastly broader than anyone else's. Before his arrival, did anyone truly understand what it felt like to remain in hyperspace for extended periods? Did anyone have a deep understanding of psionic powers? Did anyone know that integrating psionic technology into an engine could enable direct warp travel?

Absolutely not.

The very concept of warp travel had already been solidified under the domain of Akivili, the Aeon of Trailblaze. Only the Astral Express left behind by Akivili was capable of short-range warping, making warp technology synonymous with the Aeon of Trailblaze.

Yet even before joining the Astral Express, Chen Lin himself had never conceived of such an Aeonic power.

Now, if a player from Stellaris and a passenger aboard the Astral Express were to discuss warp travel, they might both acknowledge its existence. But their respective understandings of the concept—shaped by their individual experiences and the limitations of their worlds—would inevitably be compromised by their own frameworks of common sense.

So then, when they agreed on something, were they truly agreeing on their own understanding or accepting the other’s perspective?

"Do you truly know what you think you know? A single distortion in perception can lead to a chain reaction of misconceptions."

Chen Lin’s smile deepened as he added, "I want to explain myself as clearly as possible, to avoid misunderstandings like—if I say, ‘I don’t usually drink Immortal’s Delight Tea,’ my brother mistakenly concluding that I hate Immortal’s Delight Tea. When in reality, the reason I don’t drink it is simply because—here in Belobog, I can’t even buy it in the first place."

"…?"

Fu Xuan suddenly felt as though she had been subtly called out by her junior.

But before she could retort, Jing Yuan's entire expression froze, his face shifting through a series of complex emotions.

Of course…

The Empire’s technology and experiences naturally shaped their worldview in ways fundamentally different from the current, relatively harmonious universe. When these perspectives collided, discrepancies in perception were inevitable.

Jing Yuan turned to Chen Lin with a contemplative gaze.

This was Chen Lin’s way of reminding him to abandon his current assumptions—to analyze the situation from a neutral, third-party perspective rather than risk misunderstanding or projecting biases onto the Empire. More importantly, he was warning him not to unconsciously align himself with the Empire’s ideology, lest he become someone who was neither fully Imperial, nor truly Xianzhou, nor even neutral.

Chen Lin blinked, then leaned in.

"Brother, before you even asked me that question, I imagine you already had an answer in mind—one derived from your existing knowledge and assumptions about the world."

"…"

Jing Yuan had no response.

Chen Lin had hit the mark exactly.

"In my eyes, this starry sky appears harmonious on the surface, each civilization coexisting in peace. Yet beneath that facade, each faction schemes in its own interest. Though they all exist under the same heavens, their hearts are divided, their ambitions clashing for millennia—yet none have ever reached a true resolution. It’s nothing more than a farcical struggle…"

His tone had been casual at first, but suddenly, it grew sharp and unwavering.

"Which is why—I will redefine this starry sky!"

Fu Xuan’s expression changed drastically.

Forgetting her previous irritation, she shot up from her seat in alarm. "My dear junior, while such grand aspirations are admirable, you must not speak them so openly! Words like these will only invite disaster!"

She genuinely feared that if Chen Lin’s declaration spread, it would incite the hostility of countless civilizations. If handled poorly, it could even spark a coalition war against the Empire.

Regardless of the exact outcome, the Empire’s position would become extremely precarious. She had to correct her junior’s wording immediately.

But before she could press further, Chen Lin chuckled and gently took her hand, squeezing it twice to soothe her. He spoke in a soft, reassuring voice.

"Brother, Sister—do you think I consider you outsiders? I told you, I will hold nothing back. If I do not speak my true thoughts here, in this moment—then when?"

"Ah…"

It was as if Fu Xuan had been struck by lightning. A faint blush crept up her face as she sat back down in a daze, nodding numbly.

Jing Yuan sighed, rubbing his forehead.

That’s it—Fu Xuan, the next Arbiter-General, has completely fallen into the Imperial Governor’s grasp.

But perhaps that was for the best. Jing Yuan had anticipated this outcome long ago and had already begun preparing for what must come next.

Through the window, the sky stretched out in a boundless sea of blue, clear and pure. The garden in the outer courtyard brimmed with life—birds chirping, flowers swaying in the breeze.

Jing Yuan had originally planned to ask another question, but now, after hearing Chen Lin’s answer, he realized he would have to rethink it entirely.

His goal had simply been to gauge Chen Lin’s ambitions. As for the Empire’s strength?

Jing Yuan saw no reason to doubt the growth of a monster.

And as far as ambitions went—this answer satisfied him completely.

He exhaled deeply, his mind clearing.

"Very well, my dear brother. My next question—what do you think of Luofu?"

"Luofu?"

Chen Lin pondered for a moment before replying, his words slow but deliberate.

"A ship infested with qu."

"If no one exterminates the qu, the ship will inevitably become a qu nest."

"Qu?"

A qu was a parasitic organism unique to the Xianzhou. It fed on the very structure of star chariots, and workers from the Sky-Faring Commission regularly purged them from docked vessels to prevent damage.

Chen Lin was clearly using "qu" as a metaphor—referring to a massive internal threat within the Xianzhou. And yet, the Xianzhou Alliance had no way to deal with it, because there were no "exterminators" to cleanse the infestation.

"Beyond that…"

He continued, his gaze drifting slightly.

"Luofu’s architecture and cultural elements remind me of my homeland. When I first arrived, I often mistook it for home. If possible, I would like to consider Luofu my second homeland."

Jing Yuan let out a short laugh, spreading his hands toward the sky.

"And why not? The Xianzhou could very well become your second homeland."

He emphasized the words "the Xianzhou" deliberately.

Under the joint economic agreement between the two nations, the Luofu’s currency, the Strale, would be exchanged at a 1:1 ratio with the Belobog Shield, with both sides minting currency in perfect parity.

This meant that any Luofu citizen relocating to the Empire could seamlessly exchange their Strale for Shields—or even use it directly. The Empire, in turn, would pour vast resources into transforming Luofu into another Jarilo-VI.

Once the agreement was fully enacted, the Strale’s exchange rate with the galactic Credit Point would plummet, making it far more advantageous to convert it into Imperial currency instead.

And within this coded exchange, Chen Lin’s phrase "second homeland" was actually a veiled question—an inquiry about whether Jing Yuan was ready to move against the IPC.

If Jing Yuan nodded, the plan would proceed.

With the data Chen Lin had on hand, supporting a single Xianzhou ship-world was trivially easy.

A single agricultural district could feed every resident of the Luofuwhile simultaneously fueling a booming light industry.

A single mining district could completely supply the Luofu’s heavy industry.

His daily resource production amounted to an entire month’s worth of in-game output, yet the maintenance costs remained static, calculated per month as always.

Under these immense economic pressures, even minor policy adjustments would be enough to eradicate the IPC’s influence over the Luofu.

And the best part?

Chen Lin didn’t even need to transport the goods. They were instantly teleported.

There would be no evidence linking anything back to the Empire.

If Luofu altered its trade routes just slightly, increasing IPC import costs, then their industries would collapse overnight.

And once the Empire opened its borders, Luofu’s housing crisis would be solved instantly. Countless Xianzhou citizens—who could never afford a home under Luofu’s sky-high property prices—would relocate to the Jarilo sector, where housing, food, and transportation were all free, just like for Imperial citizens.

The only price?

Renouncing their Xianzhou citizenship to join the Empire.

But if they ever wanted to return to the Xianzhou, they could leave at any time.

And just like that—

The IPC’s vast real estate holdings on Luofu would become dead weight.

And the best part?

No one could blame either the Empire or the Xianzhou.

After all, the two nations had signed the agreement long before the IPC was even aware of it—it had simply never been publicized or implemented.

In the end, it would all be chalked up to "poor corporate management."

And as for the price Luofu would have to pay?

It would never again be free from the grip of the Empire.

But Jing Yuan considered this a fair trade.

Who in the galaxy wouldn’t envy the paradise that was Imperial citizenship?

Chen Lin smiled.

"An honor beyond measure."

Jing Yuan grinned.

"When?"

"Anytime."

"Then we begin as soon as I return."

The two men exchanged a knowing nod, leaving Fu Xuan utterly bewildered.

She had assumed this meeting was about negotiating food aid to win over other Xianzhou ships.

Yet now, they had somehow reached an agreement—without once mentioning food.

The more she listened, the less she understood.

But Jing Yuan wasn’t hiding anything from her, was he…?

As if reading her thoughts, Jing Yuan smirked, resting his chin in his hand.

"Diviner Fu, if you have questions, why not have a private chat with our dear brother here? No need to glare at us like that—you’re making us both nervous!"

Fu Xuan huffed, clearly displeased.

"Who said I don’t understand? I understand plenty!"

"Of course, of course—our dear Fu Qing, ever-wise and all-knowing."

Jing Yuan turned back to Chen Lin, his tone shifting.

"Brother, your military parade is making quite the stir. Mind telling me what’s going on?"

So far, no civilization had ever staged a military parade on such a grand scale.

Jing Yuan had already caught wind of some rumors—three nations that had declined Chen Lin’s invitation had, within a week, succumbed to uprisings or coups. Their original governments had collapsed almost overnight, and the newly established regimes had turned into staunchly pro-Empire administrations.

If this was part of a territorial expansion strategy, it could be seen as highly reckless—such a move would almost certainly provoke other civilizations into taking defensive measures.

Yet, despite being on different sides, Jing Yuan now found himself thinking from Chen Lin’s perspective—as if they were already in the same camp.

Chen Lin, however, simply shrugged.

"Just making a statement, that’s all. Brother, do you remember the disaster I mentioned before I left Luofu?"

"I remember. Don't tell me..."

"Ever since our collaboration with the IPC, my intelligence network has expanded significantly. Last month, an entire star system containing a gateway was completely swallowed by a nano-cloud. The IPC sent a vessel to investigate, but it vanished without a trace. No one knows what happened inside."

Leaning on his armrest, Chen Lin dropped a bombshell.

"The Empire’s research on the gateway is nearing completion. We can open it at any time. And based on our findings, we have confirmed that this crisis is exactly what was recorded in the Imperial archives—The Nano-Plague."

"A galactic disaster that once wiped out ninety percent of an ancient civilization."

"…I see."

Jing Yuan’s expression darkened as his brows furrowed deeply.

Ever since Chen Lin had warned him, he had never stopped gathering intelligence on the [Nano-Plague]. Naturally, he was well aware of the strange transformations reported among the IPC researchers who had first investigated the nano-cloud.

If the nano-cloud housed an unseen, undetectable form of life, one capable of infecting and transforming intelligent beings from within, then it was a threat on par with, if not worse than, the Annihilation Legion’s past purges.

At least the Annihilation Legion fought with their own armies.

How was one supposed to fight a nanite swarm that couldn’t even be seen—a foe that took control of its victims before they even realized they were compromised?

It now made perfect sense why Chen Lin had chosen to stage the military parade at this moment.

It was a show of force before war—a declaration of readiness, meant to rally his people and deter opportunists.

"I refuse to be caught off guard when the time comes," Chen Lin continued. "Given the circumstances, I believe the best course of action is to strike first and seize the initiative."

Jing Yuan’s gaze sharpened.

"And how do you plan to prevent nano-cloud contamination?"

It was the greatest concern on his mind.

An enemy that couldn’t be seen, couldn’t be touched—there was no way to effectively guard against it.

If they were truly planning to launch an incursion, there had to be precautions in place. Otherwise, it would be nothing short of suicide.

"Psionic shields can block the contamination. That won’t be an issue."

Chen Lin reached for his tea, intending to take a sip, only to find his cup empty. He casually set it down.

"Besides," he added, "there’s another interesting discovery I plan to investigate during the parade. If it proves to be an actual threat, I’ll deal with it accordingly."

Jing Yuan narrowed his eyes.

"What discovery?"

"A civilization suspected of being an exterminationist regime. The Empire classifies it as a xenophobic purist state."

Jing Yuan’s expression changed slightly.

"Xenophobic… purists?"

"In the Imperial Wars, the Machine Emperor’s faction was also a xenophobic exterminationist state."

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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!