Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [266]

The young girl at the doorway glanced back, her delicate charm completely unrestrained. The two fluffy ears atop her head twitched slightly, and her pale cheeks, tinged with pink, carried an air of fragile beauty.

If not for the fact that the high-quality counterfeit relic she had brought shattered instantly under the girl’s pressure, Topaz might have mistaken her for someone born with a naturally bewitching allure. In another civilization, she would undoubtedly be a devastating beauty, capable of bringing down empires.

However—

This girl, whom she had initially assumed to be nothing more than the Governor’s personal plaything, possessed strength nearly on par with an Emanator. Beneath her delicate and pitiful exterior hid a terrifying existence, one powerful enough to single-handedly throw any Tier 2 civilization into chaos.

What is she doing here? Topaz thought, her mind racing. She had kept close watch on all the company employees operating within the Empire’s borders, ensuring they never overstepped their bounds. There was no way she could have offended this woman.

The Chief Guard of the Governor, coming to see an outsider without prior official notice—this was unlikely to be a friendly visit.

Wait!

Could it be that the Empire was finally planning to make a move on those two planets?

Pressing herself against the wall, Topaz tensed as she speculated about the Empire’s motives. Meanwhile, the approaching Phantylia walked with an unhurried, rhythmic gait, her steps alternating between light and heavy. She gently closed the door behind her, her smile laced with a seductive charm that made even another woman’s heart race.

Phantylia, however, showed no rush to get to the point. Instead, she leisurely surveyed the room, taking in its layout as if she had all the time in the world.

“This potted plant is quite lovely,” she remarked casually. “Placed on the windowsill like this, I imagine that when you lift your head from work, it must bring you a moment of peace and joy, does it not, Director?”

Despite her fear, Topaz refused to let herself be thrown off balance. They had already lost enough ground. If she allowed herself to be rattled just because a Chief Guard was here to tease her, she would only end up at an even greater disadvantage.

Besides, she was still a ranking officer of a well-established corporation. The Empire had its own reputation to uphold—so long as she didn’t cross any critical lines, they wouldn’t dare act against her. If word got out that they had moved against a corporate director without cause, it would be a major scandal.

Moreover, while Governor Chen Lin had barely spoken to her in their two brief meetings, Topaz could tell that he wasn’t the kind of leader who would make foolish decisions.

There was no reason to panic.

With this in mind, Topaz steadied herself and stepped away from the wall, a newfound calm settling in her gaze. Without a moment’s hesitation, she asked, “Chief Guard Phantylia, what brings you here? If any of my subordinates have acted foolishly and violated your country’s laws, I will ensure they are dealt with appropriately.”

Phantylia feigned distress, placing a delicate hand over her chest. “Director, do you truly see me as some kind of dreadful monster? With your fine leadership, your subordinates are naturally well-behaved. I have no doubt they wouldn’t risk damaging the relationship between your corporation and our Empire.”

Topaz sank back onto the sofa, taking a sip of soda. As she reached for the mini-fridge beneath the coffee table to grab a drink for Phantylia, she suddenly heard the woman’s airy voice—

“Your employees are quite polite, actually. When I was coming upstairs just now, I picked up a few documents they had dropped, and one of them even complimented me on my kindness and beauty.”

“Pfft—”

Caught completely off guard, Topaz choked on her soda, spraying liquid onto the floor. Embarrassed, she hurriedly tried to cover up her reaction. “S-Sorry, I’ve been feeling under the weather these past few days… just had a little cough…”

Phantylia’s smile remained gentle. “Oh? In that case, I shall summon a few doctors to tend to you. It was my oversight not to consider whether the Director might be unaccustomed to our environment.”

“There’s no need. It’s just a minor cold. Our company has its own medical supplies, so there’s no need to trouble you over such a small matter.” Unwilling to let Phantylia continue this meaningless back-and-forth, Topaz cut straight to the point. “Chief Guard Phantylia, what exactly is your purpose in coming here?”

If possible, Topaz wanted to get this walking nuclear warhead out of her presence as soon as possible. While she had a few means of self-defense, none of them were effective against an Emanator-level opponent.

Back in previous assignments, dealing with foreign territories had never been this troublesome. All they had to do was notify the local authorities, and then they could conduct their value assessments as they pleased. Even when cooperation was necessary, their corporation’s immense financial power and advanced weaponry ensured that negotiations always took place on equal footing.

But the Empire was a different beast entirely.

When she first took on this assignment, everyone—including her superiors—had assumed that, even if the Jarilo sector changed hands, nothing significant could possibly develop within just a year. At worst, they might lose some leverage, but securing an equal footing in negotiations should have been easy.

And yet, upon arrival, Topaz and her subordinates had suffered setback after setback.

Forget about the warships with engines far beyond anything their own fleets could match. Forget about the sheer number of talented individuals within the police force and military. The most absurd part was that even the ordinary civilians walking the streets—completely unarmed—possessed physical capabilities roughly equivalent to half a company employee clad in power armor.

A nation with universal military readiness was already daunting enough, but these people also adored their current way of life. The entire country was like a utopia—strong-willed, unwavering in belief, and internally stable.

Even when small-time criminals did appear, they rarely lasted long. It wasn’t that the police were slow—Topaz had personally witnessed multiple incidents where officers arrived within three minutes of an emergency call, sometimes even within a single minute. But more often than not, by the time they got there, the perpetrators had already been subdued by enthusiastic bystanders.

There was no black market for precious metals. No market for luxury goods. The company’s usual methods of coercion wouldn’t just fail—they wouldn’t even make a dent.

If things had been different, Topaz wouldn’t have had to lower herself and practically beg for an audience. She had never suffered such humiliation before.

Now, sitting across from Phantylia—the woman’s red dress as vivid as fire, her beauty intoxicating and her gaze bewitching—Topaz dared not look too closely for fear that, if she stared too long, she might question her own sexual orientation.

Vixen… Topaz cursed inwardly.

The little fox blinked her bright eyes and spoke softly, “My lord is hosting a banquet tonight to welcome guests. When the esteemed Director first arrived in our nation, my lord was away on a diplomatic visit. This is his way of making up for the lack of proper hospitality.”

Topaz was momentarily stunned before she came to a realization. I’ve been here for two damn months, and now you suddenly decide to throw me a welcome banquet? Do I look like an idiot?

Then she heard Phantylia continue, “Oh, and it’s also to welcome the envoys from Xianzhou Luofu.”

Topaz: “……”

I’m just an afterthought, aren’t I? Of course, she couldn’t say that out loud. Otherwise, the rare opening she had managed to secure for discussions would slam shut again—perhaps even tighter than before. And if that happened, any hopes of negotiating a partnership would become even more distant.

She raised her head, staring at the ever-smiling Phantylia without speaking. By now, she had a pretty good grasp of the personalities of this master and servant duo—both of them had smiles that didn’t necessarily mean friendliness.

Phantylia smoothly shifted the topic, casually commenting on the room’s layout. Her words, both overt and subtle, praised Topaz’s refined taste, her delighted expression a far cry from the sharp, intimidating presence she had exuded earlier.

Topaz’s instincts told her there was more to this visit.

Sure enough, Phantylia let out a soft sigh and spoke again.

“Ah… Before I met my lord, I was all alone. My lord is indifferent to fame and fortune, disdains luxury, and barely cares for appearance. As a mere servant, there are many things I can’t remind my lord about, so over time, even my own quarters have become just as plain. They could never compare to the esteemed Director’s exquisite residence~”

Although this was a hotel room, many of the furnishings and decorations were brought in by Topaz’s team—ornate embellishments, gleaming sculptures, all clearly expensive.

In contrast, the palace where Topaz had attended negotiations had been… astonishingly spartan. It was as bare as an IPC employee dormitory—besides essential furniture, there was practically nothing extra.

So… she’s here to ask for money?

The thought crossed Topaz’s mind, but she kept her smile intact, feigning curiosity. “When did the esteemed Chief Guard start working under Governor Chen? Just wondering—if the Empire has someone as skilled as you watching over it, I can’t even begin to imagine the sheer scale of its power…”

“Not that long ago,” Phantylia sighed, her voice suddenly pitiful. “I was once a helpless slave, sold from place to place by traffickers… wuwuwu…”

Her delicate features shimmered with moisture, as if she had just recalled her tragic past. It was a sight designed to invoke sympathy.

Topaz wrinkled her nose, surprised. “A Chief Guard with such an origin?”

With perfect timing, Phantylia began reciting a well-rehearsed tale, hiding her sniffles behind a tragic narrative. She wove a story of once being the daughter of an esteemed family, only for her planet to be ravaged by war when it was attacked by a Legion force. Reduced to a refugee, she had barely survived thanks to the protection of her family’s loyal guards. But ultimately, she was captured by slavers and sold from one corner of the galaxy to another, enduring unspeakable hardships along the way…

The existence of interstellar slave trade wasn’t surprising. It was a business that operated in both legal and illegal shades of gray. Topaz had heard rumors, but she hadn’t realized the conditions were this brutal.

Phantylia’s sorrowful account painted a picture of her repeatedly escaping, only to be recaptured by slavers time and time again. The sheer misery of it all nearly overturned Topaz’s understanding of the galaxy’s darker side.

Of course, Phantylia’s tale was crafted with impeccable precision—it could withstand scrutiny. She hadn’t fabricated it out of thin air; she had simply taken the real-life experiences of a tragic soul she had once possessed and rebranded them as her own. In a twisted way, she had been sold by slave traders before…

“One time, I managed to escape again, begging for scraps along the way to gather enough money for passage off-world. But just as I thought I was safe, I encountered one of my former captors on a ship… I had lost all hope.” She turned her gaze toward the direction of Clipper Palace, eyes filled with reverence. “And then my lord appeared, like a hero descending from the heavens, and saved me. From that moment on, I swore my unwavering loyalty to him. The power I wield now—I owe it all to my lord.”

Phantylia quickly returned to business. “A few days ago, I was accompanying my lord on official matters. Upon returning, I heard from the guards that the esteemed Director has been sending people every day to express sincerity…” She let out a pleased sigh. “It moved me deeply. Just as it happened, my lord entrusted me with the task of delivering this invitation. And since I don’t think you’re the kind of corporate scoundrel the galaxy makes you out to be, I figured I’d give you some inside information. Can’t have an honored guest feeling left out, after all.”

That’s one hell of a backstory…

No wonder she was so breathtaking yet showed no interest in dressing up. Logically speaking, someone in her position—serving directly under a high-ranking leader—should have access to wealth beyond measure. Yet, aside from a simple beaded bracelet on her wrist, she wore no other adornments.

Her quarters were likely just as bare as her lord’s. To repay her savior, she had trained herself to resist all material temptations, forsaking the love of beauty that any young woman her age would naturally have. Her loyalty was absolute.

And the way she had been glancing around the room earlier, her gaze filled with longing—it wasn’t greed. It was envy.

And I actually thought she was here for a bribe. I’m such a terrible person!

If Governor Chen Lin had been present, Topaz was sure she would have sent a private message to demand answers. Where the hell did Phantylia learn this level of emotional manipulation?!

With a heavy sigh, Topaz admitted, “I’ve heard about the interstellar slave trade before. The company once tried to regulate it, but in the end, the tide was too strong to resist. We had no choice but to pull out. I never imagined the reality was so much darker… And those bastards actually have the audacity to advertise it as ‘helping displaced survivors find a warm new home’?!”

You actually believe that marketing nonsense? Phantylia shook her head, pretending to be distraught. “Even the Empire can only regulate the refugee populations within its reach, ensuring proper oversight where possible. The company is vast, but enforcing galaxy-wide reform is difficult… Director, there’s no need to get so worked up. I’m just a lowly servant—hardly worth your anger.”

“Yes, the Empire can only manage what’s within its borders. And as for IPC… our reach spans the stars, but we can’t afford to divert resources toward any single cause. Some powerful figures at the top only care about profit. As long as the numbers remain within acceptable margins, even cases of missing persons barely register as an issue.”

Topaz let out another deep sigh. “Technically, some of these transactions are legitimate—just middlemen earning commissions while helping victims survive. But the majority? Coercion, deceit, outright kidnapping… And it’s not just a moral failing. Even the company suffers financially because of it.”

She listed a few examples, recounting past cases she had handled personally—instances where planetary terraforming projects went wrong, leaving entire populations stranded. The wealthy could afford relocation, but they were always a minority. Most were left with two choices: wait for death or find some way—any way—to make enough money for their families to escape.

And the fastest, most accessible way to get that money?

Sell yourself. Or worse—sell your loved ones.

And in the face of such tragedies, the only thing bystanders like her could do… was watch.

Phantylia, still covering her face, was quietly taken aback. She hadn’t expected this corporate executive to have such a strong moral compass.

This wasn’t part of the plan… Looks like I’ll have to adjust my approach.

After a moment of silence, Phantylia met Topaz’s gaze.

“I’ve long known that the esteemed Director is a woman of great wisdom and a heart full of noble ideals. That’s why I’m giving you this inside scoop.” Her lips curled into a subtle smile. “My lord is interested in working with your company. But what he values isn’t money… It’s energy.”

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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!