Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [282]

The Belobog Grand Hotel overlooked Misty Wave Lake, a massive artificial reservoir. The hotel itself catered primarily to wealthy merchants and high-ranking visitors, serving as one of the city’s official reception venues.

Situated near the heart of the commercial district, its exterior and interior were both exquisitely designed. Guests only needed to glance to the side, and they could admire the shimmering lake and the bustling crowds through the vast one-way floor-to-ceiling windows.

No one would have expected that in such a place—with its semi-official background—a scene of unspeakable darkness was unfolding.

Degradation, destruction of dignity—

A few simple words, yet they concealed countless vile methods.

Especially for someone like Topaz, who had enjoyed a smooth and successful rise in her career, the sheer brutality of it all had left her mind blank.

For most people, not even slaves would endure oppression to such an extent. After all, many civilizations that permitted slavery still established basic protections for them, imposing certain limitations on their owners.

And so, if an outsider were to witness this scene, their first reaction would undoubtedly be sheer, visceral shock.

---

Hours later.

The cold, mechanical orders carried no warmth, yet they came from a mouth that still held a faint smile.

Commands were issued, only to be retracted and altered midway. The relentless psychological torment had long since left Topaz unable to think clearly—her once-sharp mind now sluggish and unresponsive.

Chen Lin shook his head in feigned regret. “Stop crawling on the floor. Get up. If you’re thirsty, pour yourself a cup of tea.”

“…”

Topaz immediately stood up, keeping her gaze locked on the ground. She didn’t dare look up—afraid that the next thing out of his mouth would be something like, ‘If you enjoy looking, then don’t blink for ten minutes.’

Her hands trembled, but her movements were swift, following his command without hesitation.

She poured herself a cup of tea and downed it in one go, even though it was still scalding hot.

Chen Lin watched the dull emptiness in her eyes and leaned forward slightly. “Why are you being so obedient?”

The tea moistened her dry lips, restoring some semblance of life to her expression.

Compared to her initial hesitation—the faint glimmer of pleading in her eyes—her responses now came far more naturally.

“Because you ordered it, Your Excellency…” Topaz murmured.

Chen Lin chuckled, eyes filled with contemplation. “Just because I gave the order, you have to obey? You’re not even a citizen of my Empire. And even among my people, not all of them follow my commands without question.”

Topaz froze for a split second before answering submissively, “Ensuring the well-being of the majority has always been my guiding principle—it’s my duty. I have no complaints about it.”

Chen Lin suddenly stood up, frowning. “Ensuring the well-being of the majority, huh…? Funny, that’s exactly my goal as well. I can’t help but marvel at the coincidence.”

“Ah, how I, too, wish for fewer conflicts among the stars. That everyone could live better lives. That when faced with crises, we could all stand together as one.”

He picked up the bathrobe that had slipped onto the carpet and draped it over her shoulders.

“Sit down. I noticed you barely ate last night, and this morning’s breakfast went untouched. That’s not good for your health… When I checked in, the concierge told me you have a fondness for Winter Pine Berry tarts?”

Topaz, who had been bracing herself for yet another torment, was caught completely off guard.

She had expected the worst—perhaps another cruel trick, another humiliating order. Her entire body tensed when she saw him approach, her mind steeling itself for whatever was to come.

Yet all he did… was return the fallen bathrobe to her.

The sheer surrealism of it made her feel like she was in a dream.

Hearing his question, she hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly. “Yes… That tart’s sweet-and-sour taste, with that hint of woody aroma… I really like it.”

“Then I’ll have them bring you some dessert—something to fill your stomach. Belobog’s weather is pleasant now, but you should still take care not to catch a chill.”

“…Thank you.”

She soon heard his footsteps fading into the distance—probably heading to the next room to use the communicator and contact the kitchen.

Still wrapped in the bathrobe, she sat stiffly on the sofa, her numbed mind stirring back to life.

She couldn’t stop thinking about what he would do next.

Up until now, it had been verbal degradation, psychological attacks. Would the next stage involve physical torment? Beatings? Fire? Ice?

Was he offering food just so she could watch him eat while she starved? Or would he force her to eat, only to strike her until she vomited it all back up?

Having worked on projects across various civilizations, Topaz had seen many things. Even if she hadn’t personally endured it, she was well aware of the methods used by some regimes to break their captives.

She once visited a horrifyingly authoritarian civilization, where the dictator had invited corporate representatives—including her—to witness what he called a “welcoming ceremony.”

The “ceremony” consisted of high-ranking military and political officials seated in a grand viewing gallery, watching as prisoners were subjected to unimaginable torture before being executed.

Executioners competed to see who could devise the most sadistic methods—who could keep their victims alive the longest under the agony. The more brutal the spectacle, the louder the cheers from the elite audience. Those with poor luck were merely showered with gifts; those with good luck would see their ranks and fortunes rise overnight.

That night, Topaz had barely endured half the event before making up an excuse—pretending to take an urgent call about work just to escape.

She had spent the following hours vomiting in sheer horror. For days, she could barely eat. Even now, she still had nightmares—dreams of flesh being carved open, of prisoners screaming in agony.

The memories alone turned her face deathly pale. She curled up on the sofa, shivering.

Because she understood better than anyone—

If this governor wanted her dead, if he wanted tens of thousands of lower-ranking company employees to die alongside her—

As long as he was willing to formalize the deal, the company wouldn’t even hesitate to agree.

Hell, they’d probably even fabricate some “conspiracy” to justify it—perhaps something about an underground faction plotting against the Empire-corporate alliance.

In the face of such overwhelming interests, nothing else mattered.

Her life was disposable. So were the lives of others. Every person was just another currency to be traded.

For the first time in her life, the woman who had always prided herself on being in control—who had always had the upper hand in negotiations—realized just how powerless she truly was.

How small.

How helpless.

But, oh, how valuable...

After realizing this, Topaz tried to focus on the positives.

If everything she had lost could become the fuel that improved the living conditions of other civilizations… perhaps it would be worth it.

If, after retirement, the people from her hometown could use the wealth they had accumulated over years of hard work to travel between planets on Empire-engineered ships—visiting places they had never dreamed of, enjoying cheaper food, using more affordable technology, and living in better housing…

Then maybe… that wouldn’t be such a bad outcome.

As Topaz drifted into these thoughts, a familiar voice spoke from behind her.

"Sigh… You really are stubborn and foolish. Put this on. Don’t actually catch a cold."

"Yes." She didn’t fully understand what he meant by that, but the three-second rule was etched into her mind more than anything else—she had to respond.

After answering, she carefully glanced up, still not daring to meet his eyes.

A set of neatly folded clothes had been placed on the armrest of the sofa where she sat—her uniform, which she had taken off before bathing and hung up properly. It should have been in the wardrobe outside the bathroom, yet somehow, it had ended up here.

It was unexpected.

Topaz immediately grabbed the clothing, instinctively wanting to look up at Chen Lin’s expression to figure out where she was allowed to change. But halfway through, she caught herself and quickly lowered her head again.

Still, in that brief moment, she had caught a glimpse of his expression.

There was a trace of concern, a hint of regret… as if the man who had orchestrated the most terrifying atmosphere mere hours ago was an entirely different person.

Of course, Chen Lin knew exactly what she was afraid of. He spoke gently, "Go to the room and change. Take your time—no need to rush."

"Yes."

With each barefoot step she took toward the room, her heart clenched tighter, fearing that at any moment, the man behind her would call out and issue another order. After all, in those long, grueling hours, such moments had been far too frequent…

But he didn’t say a word.

From the sounds behind her, she could tell that Chen Lin had returned to his original seat, leisurely sipping tea, making no move to interrupt.

As she reached the doorway, she silently prayed that he wouldn’t call her back. And, as if the heavens had granted her wish, she successfully stepped inside and shut the door.

With a thud, Topaz leaned against the door and slowly slid to the floor, unable to believe what had just happened. Her mind was blank, her emotions tangled, and for the first time, a strange sense of gratitude began to creep in.

She clutched the uniform and undergarments in her hands. These were clothes that she owned—clothes she had worn countless times before—yet now, she no longer even had the freedom to decide when to put them on.

She sat there in a daze for several minutes before jolting back to reality. Springing to her feet, she changed and accessorized herself at record speed, then sat at the dressing table, meticulously fixing her disheveled hair.

Before long, she had returned to her usual neat and professional appearance. Only this time, her eyes had lost their usual brilliance—her gaze, once sharp and determined, had dulled.

---

Outside, Chen Lin stood by the window, gazing at the scenery.

For a fleeting moment, a shadow passed over his expression.

Was his mood affected because he found this difficult? Because it weighed on his conscience?

No.

People’s principles and beliefs were shaped by their environments.

If this had happened when he had first arrived in this world, perhaps he would have cursed himself for being inhuman. But now? The thought didn’t even cross his mind.

Women and children could afford to make mistakes—but a leader could not.

The vast expanse of the cosmos was open, mysterious, and full of wonder.

At the same time, it was treacherous, enigmatic, and riddled with peril.

In the peaceful era he once lived in, he had studied history, sought knowledge, and prided himself on understanding the world. Even when he immersed himself in historical conflicts through imagination, he had never truly grasped what it meant to live in a world ruled by the law of the jungle.

He had never understood what it truly meant to have no control over one’s own fate.

But after orchestrating a coup, navigating the political intrigues of the Xianzhou, witnessing Phantylia’s greed and betrayal, and enduring the countless civilizations and corporations coveting what he had—only then did he truly comprehend the essence of the Dark Forest Theory.

His foul mood had nothing to do with guilt.

It was simply regret.

Regret that Topaz had chosen the wrong side, and that her fate had been sealed because of it.

Nothing more.

"Your Excellency Chen Lin… Is this acceptable now?"

Not even ten minutes had passed before Topaz reappeared before him, fully dressed.

She stood stiffly, her every movement steeped in submission. The way she carried herself, the way she spoke—every word and gesture was laced with subservience.

And with his ability to perceive emotions, Chen Lin could confirm it beyond any doubt—her spirit had been utterly broken.

Right at that moment, the doorbell rang.

The chef had arrived with the meal.

When the door opened, the chef’s expression flickered briefly—evidently surprised that it was the Supreme Governor himself who had answered.

A second later, the man stiffened, switching into a robotic professionalism as he recited the standard greeting: "Please enjoy your meal."

After handing over the food, the chef left swiftly—his steps noticeably faster than normal.

Topaz trailed behind Chen Lin, instinctively wanting to help, but he showed no interest in letting her. Left with no other option, she followed silently, shutting the door behind them.

Regardless of species, when the brain was pushed to its limits—forced into a state of constant high alert—it burned through energy at an astonishing rate.

Topaz had barely eaten in over a day, and after enduring hours of relentless pressure, her body was already running on empty.

This time, instead of returning to the single-seater sofa, Chen Lin took a seat on the larger couch and motioned for her to sit beside him.

With her heart pounding, she obeyed.

Then—something happened that she never could have imagined.

He picked up a small cake, cut it into pieces, and lifted a forkful to her lips.

His expression was no longer the artificial smile he had worn before. It was natural.

"Hungry?" he asked. "Try this Moewitz cake. Take small bites—it used to be the most popular dessert in Belobog. Nobles and commoners alike loved it."

Without saying a word, Topaz obediently took a bite. As the sweet flavor spread across her tongue, her rusted mind finally began to function again.

He’s not going to hit me… right?

No… He’s not hitting me.

Why is he being so nice?

Just a while ago, he was as cold as a demon, a complete madman—why is he suddenly treating me well?

Each bite of cake heightened her anxiety. She braced herself, convinced that the next moment would bring some kind of torment.

Yet, as she swallowed down more than half the slice, nothing happened.

"Slow down," he said lightly. "I’m not going to take it away from you. Oh, by the way, try this—take a bite of the cake and then a small sip of milk. The contrast in texture is quite the experience."

With both milk and cake in her mouth, the smooth richness of it coated her tongue. It was a strange yet delightful sensation.

And suddenly—she wanted to cry.

Her eyes, searching, turned to the man beside her, as if hoping to find some kind of answer.

He sighed, reaching out to smooth her disheveled hair, his voice carrying a trace of regret.

"This wasn’t my intention," he murmured. "Yelena, you’ve served the company for so many years, and you’re a person I greatly respect in terms of both ability and principles. So, in my mind, I assumed the company would never offer up someone like you in a deal. But they did. It was… unexpected. I acted too hastily…"

Topaz froze.

And in that instant, she remembered—the look of regret and pity in his eyes when she had finished drying her hair.

So it hadn’t been her imagination.

He truly hadn’t wanted to do this.

He had been forced into it.

---

T/N: like Eurylochus said, if you want all the power... you must shoulder all the blame ALSO WHAT THE GRIFF GASLIGTINGkDGAD HFA

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!