Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [129]

On the surface, Chen Lin appeared calm and relaxed, but inside, he was a bundle of nerves.

Unlike Belobog’s relatively straightforward leadership, Luofu’s governance and its stakes were far more complex. Even a seemingly casual mention by Jing Yuan of “The Shackling Prison” was enough to raise his hackles. This restricted zone wasn’t just an ordinary forbidden area—it was a closely guarded Xianzhou secret, inaccessible and unknown to ordinary citizens.

Jing Yuan had revealed this to him, and while Chen Lin still didn’t fully understand why such places were designated as restricted, he now carried knowledge of one of Luofu’s secrets.

Even shallow secrets are still secrets.

Since Jing Yuan had taken this step, Chen Lin knew he had to offer a suitable response. It wasn’t just about maintaining appearances; it was about safeguarding Jarilo-VI, which was still in its infancy as a player on the galactic stage.

Caught in this delicate situation, Chen Lin had no choice but to exude an air of confidence, despite his inner turmoil. If I’ve built an empire-sized facade, then I’ll just have to keep layering the lies—or scare the wolves with a tiger’s roar.

He knew Jing Yuan was a master of feigned ignorance, capable of detecting even the smallest inconsistencies in a story. Hence, the best approach was to earn his trust through consistent behavior.

Still, a little nerve-wracking wouldn’t hurt, he thought.

“Brilliant! Simply brilliant!” Jing Yuan exclaimed after a moment of silence, his earlier nonchalant demeanor vanishing. “Governor Chen, your insight is unparalleled. With such limited information, you deduced so much. I must admit, it took me far longer to grasp the same issues—your brilliance puts me to shame.”

You’re kidding, right? Chen Lin thought bitterly. Even I don’t understand how my brain calculates this stuff. It’s like a supercomputer going rogue.

He maintained a composed expression, offering a polite smile and shake of the head. “I merely built on the foundation laid by the critical information General Jing Yuan provided. There’s no comparison.”

“Ah, how careless of me,” Jing Yuan suddenly said, turning to his apprentice. “Yanqing, prepare some tea for Governor Chen. Use the special reserve from Mao Yuan Peak.”

“General Jing Yuan, there’s no need to trouble yourself—”

“Nonsense. If word got out that I didn’t serve tea to a guest of your stature, wouldn’t I be a laughingstock among the Cloud Knights?”

Jing Yuan’s tone, firm yet light-hearted, conveyed his unyielding stance.

Chen Lin’s heart skipped a beat at Jing Yuan’s determined expression. What’s he planning this time?

When the tea was served, Jing Yuan finally spoke with renewed interest. “Governor Chen, I’ve heard that you’re here in a private capacity…”

“Yes, General Jing Yuan, you needn’t worry. I carry no political mission, though for confidentiality reasons, I must remain with the Astral Express.”

“Haha, understood, understood! That’s a relief,” Jing Yuan said with a hearty laugh. “In that case, formal titles seem unnecessary. Let’s keep things simple…”

Jing Yuan stood abruptly, clapping his hands. “Since Governor Chen is here privately, I, as a humble general of Luofu, will treat you as a private guest. And given how well we’ve connected in this short time, I feel a brotherly bond forming between us. You are young, talented, and bright—if I may, could I call you my younger brother?”

Though Chen Lin couldn’t discern Jing Yuan’s true motives, he decided to play along. After all, there’s no harm in going along with this… for now.

Despite Jing Yuan’s youthful appearance, Chen Lin knew from Tingyun’s earlier explanations that Xianzhou’s people lived far longer than most. A seemingly young child could be decades—or even centuries—old. With 200 years being the norm for adulthood, Jing Yuan calling him a younger brother was more of a compliment than a jest.

“In that case,” Chen Lin replied with a polite smile, raising his teacup, “I’ll boldly call you elder brother.”

Years of exposure to high society had left Chen Lin well-versed in tea culture. He had spent countless hours with his former mentor, who had been a connoisseur of fine teas. From his mentor, Chen Lin learned not just leadership skills but also the subtle art of reading people and situations over tea.

“Ah, this tea is remarkable,” Chen Lin said after taking a sip. “Its simplicity belies its depth. At first sip, it’s slightly bitter, but it transforms into a lingering sweetness that remains long after.”

“If my younger brother enjoys it, Yanqing can pack the rest for you later,” Jing Yuan said with a wave of his hand, casually offering a gift.

Though Chen Lin had tasted many fine teas before, he could tell this was no ordinary brew. Jing Yuan’s gesture, coupled with the newfound brotherhood, put him on high alert.

Every gift from fate comes with a price.

While the tea was a present, Chen Lin couldn’t ignore the underlying cost. What’s the price here?

Noticing Chen Lin’s hesitation, Jing Yuan sighed. “If I don’t explain myself, my younger brother might not accept anything from me.”

He leaned back and continued, “You see, as the general of Luofu, I must contend with countless forces eyeing us from the shadows. Governing a realm adrift for millennia is no easy task. I need allies, wisdom, and strategies.”

“That much is clear. Elder brother, you have my admiration for shouldering such burdens.”

“But Luofu’s principle of peace and recuperation complicates matters. The stellaron crisis has drawn the attention of numerous outside powers, each waiting for a crack in our defenses to pounce. If that happens, chaos will follow, and while Luofu may ultimately prevail, the cost would be unimaginable.”

Jing Yuan’s words hinted at a desire to forge an alliance.

Chen Lin’s eyes narrowed slightly. So that’s his aim?

“I understand this might be difficult for you,” Jing Yuan added, his tone softening. “But a partnership between Luofu and the Empire would give outsiders pause. They’d think twice before acting, and we’d only need to focus on our internal issues.”

“Victory is born of preparation,” Chen Lin responded, quoting an old proverb. “I understand your intentions, elder brother, but the Empire does not form alliances with other nations. It’s a principle of governance.”

Jing Yuan’s reasoning was clear, but Chen Lin couldn’t accept it.

Empire? What Empire?

The so-called Empire was little more than a façade—a name flashed in interstellar communication to mask the truth. In reality, Jarilo-VI was its entirety, still striving to catch up technologically. Entering an alliance would be akin to placing a fragile mask over a glaring vulnerability.

Not to mention, Chen Lin’s public identity as a mere governor left him without the authority to promise such agreements.

With a slight smile, Chen Lin sipped his tea again and concluded, “Elder brother, I hope you understand my position.”

Not just Jing Yuan—anyone with even a rudimentary understanding of politics and diplomacy could see the underlying implications of this situation.

It was easy to slip up and reveal one’s true motives.

However, Chen Lin wasn’t acting without foresight. The main reason he had chosen to climb Jing Yuan’s proverbial ladder was simple: Jarilo-VI was desperate for money.

Energy credits, food, consumer goods—all useful on his homeworld—were utterly useless in this galactic economy. They couldn’t be exchanged for the interstellar currency used by the rest of the galaxy.

After much thought and research, Chen Lin concluded that the solution lay in establishing an interstellar trade network. Only by setting up trade markets and activating the corresponding systems could his planet’s resources gain tangible form for trade.

Until then, Chen Lin had no choice but to sell ore for credits.

What he truly sought was to establish a trade connection with Xianzhou and expand a trade network starting from this powerful civilization.

Jing Yuan, meanwhile, seemed thoroughly impressed by Chen Lin’s earlier strategic musings. His insightful analysis, though couched in the language of military theory, had significant political implications.

“An alliance may be off the table,” Chen Lin explained, “but we could sign a trade agreement instead. Don’t underestimate the importance of trade agreements—they’re highly valued by the Empire.” He paused before asking, “Brother Jing, have you ever heard of the L-Gate?”

“L-Gate?” Jing Yuan’s brow furrowed slightly. “The Xianzhou has extensive records on interstellar phenomena, but this is new to me. Please, enlighten me.”

Chen Lin nodded, his expression grave. “The L-Gate was discovered millions of years ago. According to the Empire’s ancient records, it was a relic of a long-lost civilization, part of an interstellar network connecting to a mysterious region known as the L-Cluster. However, the gate was sealed for reasons unknown.”

“The Empire, at its zenith, decided to break the seal and investigate. After unraveling the L-Gate’s mysteries, the Empire triumphed over all hostile entities within the L-Cluster, relocated its inhabitants, and concealed the gate’s existence. Following this, the Empire adopted a policy of isolation, governing its people under a philosophy of contentment and seclusion.”

Chen Lin’s tone deepened. “But the Empire, through its psionic abilities, foresaw an apocalyptic calamity that would devastate the outer star systems. Although the Empire could endure this catastrophe at great cost, it could not bear to see the destruction of all life beyond its borders. Thus, it dispatched me to expand its territory, seeking suitable worlds as staging grounds for resisting the foretold disaster.”

He paused before adding, “The Empire’s intentions are not violent or imperialistic. These staging grounds are defensive in nature, and their development hinges on trade. I’ve been granted full authority to manage this initiative.”

Chen Lin leaned forward, his expression earnest. “Jarilo-VI is the cornerstone of the Empire’s external territories. Hindering its growth would mean opposing the Empire’s plan to face this calamity—an affront not just to the Empire but to its people. Surely, you understand the significance of this, Brother Jing?”

Even with his thick skin, Chen Lin felt a twinge of guilt. This is shameless. I’m spinning an imaginary empire to secure Xianzhou’s trade market and established networks.

That said, he wasn’t entirely deceitful. Chen Lin intended to repay any favors tenfold once Jarilo-VI prospered. Development on his planet was progressing at breakneck speed, with resources being poured into every project imaginable. He believed it wouldn’t be long before Jarilo-VI became a shining star in the galaxy.

Unlike other rising stars that might require centuries or millennia to achieve prominence, Chen Lin’s trajectory was vertical. With his systems in place, success was a matter of inevitability.

From this perspective, his claims weren’t entirely false. Once wealthy, Chen Lin had no qualms about sharing resources with allies. But anyone who stood in his way? Well, his fleet would settle those disputes.

You can’t take what I’m willing to give, he thought. And you definitely can’t rob me.

Chen Lin’s pitch laid the groundwork. Now, it was Jing Yuan’s turn to decide whether to lend him a hand. If he did, they could become firm allies. If not, Chen Lin wouldn’t take offense—he’d simply find another way.

After all, Xianzhou had its own challenges. He wasn’t a robber who took what wasn’t his.

Jing Yuan’s brow furrowed as he considered Chen Lin’s words. For once, the subtle game of mutual probing was set aside. Jing Yuan had always planned for external threats, but the sudden arrival of the Empire—and Chen Lin—had disrupted his strategies.

Now, he contemplated whether external help could mitigate future losses for Xianzhou.

After a long silence, Jing Yuan’s expression softened into a smile. “Then I’ll leave it to you, my dear brother.”

Chen Lin beamed. “The Empire owes Xianzhou a great debt for this kindness. When the time comes, the Empire will repay this favor in full.”

This is a win-win, Chen Lin thought, barely containing his excitement.

The two quickly moved on to discuss the specifics of a trade agreement. Chen Lin found Xianzhou’s policies remarkably fair—minimal tariffs, a modest handling fee, and low import taxes. When Jing Yuan personally guaranteed that all tariffs on trade with Jarilo-VI would be waived, Chen Lin couldn’t help but marvel at his generosity.

Of course, who would suspect that a backwater planet had little to trade in the first place?

Once the details were finalized, Jing Yuan immediately ordered his staff to draft the agreement.

While waiting, Chen Lin leaned back in his chair, pretending to contact his superiors.

The scribes worked efficiently, completing the agreement in under half an hour. Xianzhou, renowned for its commerce, clearly had extensive experience in these matters. After double-checking the document, Chen Lin signed and stamped it with the seal Bronya had prepared for him back on Jarilo-VI.

With the formalities complete, a notification appeared in his peripheral vision:

[Xianzhou Luofu: Trade]

As the Empire re-establishes itself in the galaxy, its first diplomatic partner, Xianzhou’s Luofu, has emerged. Following successful negotiations, Luofu has agreed to a trade agreement, accelerating the Empire’s growth at minimal cost—a single announcement.

Options:

What a stroke of luck! Announce it immediately!
(Luofu gains +5 trade value per node; Luofu’s favor +400; unlock trade interface with Luofu. Jarilo-VI gains casus belli against entities interfering with Luofu trade routes: "Clear the Obstacles.")

The Empire thrives without outside help. (+114,514 Unity)

Naturally, Chen Lin chose the first option.

Seconds later, the announcement went live, sending shockwaves through the galaxy.

The news sparked widespread discussion:

Xianzhou’s Luofu had become the first nation to establish contact and formal agreements with the mysterious Empire.

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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!