Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [116]

Everyone was immersed in their dreams. After a day of hard work, rest had become the most beautiful moment of the day.

The light of the night sky spilled over Belobog, the silvery glow illuminating the frozen rivers and icy seas, making them look like something out of a fairytale.

It was close to sunrise, yet some still hadn’t gone to bed.

On the towering observation deck of Qlipoth Fort, Chen Lin stood with Bronya and Seele behind him. They waited quietly in the night, as if anticipating the arrival of a miracle.

“Ugh…” Seele rubbed her eyes and yawned. “Brother Lin, how much longer are we staying here?”

As a staunch advocate of healthy living, Seele had maintained a rigorous sleep schedule even before meeting Chen Lin. Unless there was an immediate threat from Fragmentum creatures invading the city, she would always go to bed on time.

Lately, she had been busy with numerous tasks, so staying up late like this was a bit of a challenge for her.

Glancing at the countdown timer on his interface, Chen Lin said softly, “Soon.”

“Then I’ll take a nap…”

As soon as she said that, Seele leaned back against a chair and fell asleep almost instantly, her breathing becoming light and steady before the other two even had time to react.

Thinking about his once seemingly endless stockpile of minerals, now reduced to fewer than 3,000 units, and his other resources plunging into deficit, Chen Lin couldn’t help but feel bitter.

Who would’ve thought that someone as wealthy as him would one day find themselves deep in debt? Life was truly unpredictable. If the returns weren’t well worth it, he wouldn’t have put himself in such a dire financial state.

“Sigh, for Jarilo-VI, this is a day that will go down in history,” Chen Lin said, his tone tinged with melancholy before shifting to a teasing one. “Bronya, if I run out of money for food, how should I live?”

“...Huh?”

Bronya was momentarily stunned. She thought about how her mentor always seemed to be using her private funds, but then again, given his esteemed position in the empire, he should have plenty of resources. Surely, he wouldn’t actually be broke, right?

“Qlipoth Fort can still afford to feed you, so there’s no need to worry. If it comes to that, I… I still have some money.”

“Then you can just take care of me in the future. I don’t want to try so hard anymore.”

“You’re joking again,” Bronya replied, her voice hesitating for a moment. “But if you really don’t mind…”

“Waaah! As expected of my precious student. I truly didn’t misjudge you!”

Bronya’s face flushed bright red. Never before had a man dared to joke with her in such a way—if it was a joke at all.

“Mentor, what do you mean you’re out of money?” Bronya asked, finally processing the earlier part of his statement.

Chen Lin chuckled awkwardly. “I had a feeling Belobog would join the fold eventually, so I reached out to a few connections and, well… I may have accidentally spent all my savings investing in Jarilo-VI. Its development required massive resources, and environmental restoration isn’t cheap. If we just relied on aid, it would’ve been far from enough, hahaha…”

“H-How much did you invest…?”

“About the equivalent of a few hundred destroyers’ worth of resources.” Chen Lin pointed at the sky and diverted his gaze. “I was really just waiting for the construction teams to start work. I figured you might not have seen something like this before, so I called you to watch.”

“…”

Bronya stared at the young man in shock. Just one of those destroyers would have been far beyond Belobog’s reach, even if the entire nation pooled its resources. To think that her mentor had poured such vast wealth into Belobog’s development…

This…

“I just didn’t want the people here to continue suffering,” Chen Lin said with a sigh. “It’ll take anywhere from months to years for the permafrost to thaw completely. Even with the Stellaron dealt with, the climate’s internal regulation will still take a long, long time to recover. Not to mention restoring vegetation and wildlife.

“But I know a few friends. As long as I can provide enough resources, they’re willing to help with environmental modifications, accelerating the growth of flora and fauna. This way, Jarilo-VI can return to normal as quickly as possible. It’ll benefit Belobog, and it’ll benefit you, too. That’s enough for me.”

“Money is just a material thing. I have more than enough for my own needs, but if it can save Belobog decades—or even centuries—of time, then it’s money well spent!

“Besides, this will reduce the workload for you, Seele, and everyone else. It’ll also alleviate the social tensions hidden within Belobog, shifting the citizens’ focus toward broader horizons. For you all, a little hardship on my part is worth it.”

He gazed toward the sky, as though looking into the endless universe beyond.

To Chen Lin, or even to the empire, a single planet might be insignificant. Yet he had chosen to dedicate so much effort and wealth to revitalizing Belobog.

It was impossible for Bronya’s heart to remain unmoved.

She even felt that calling Chen Lin the “founding father of a new era” for Belobog would be completely justified. Who else in the world could possess such vision and magnanimity besides him?

Bronya bit her lip, her eyes growing misty. She silently resolved to live up to his expectations and propel Belobog’s development forward at an unprecedented pace.

Seele, still leaning against the chair, quietly opened her eyes. Watching the figure in front of her, a faint smile curved her lips.

Brother Lin is amazing!

“It’s here!!”

Another ten minutes passed. Above the skies of Belobog—or rather, all of Jarilo-VI—a dramatic transformation unfolded. The pitch-black night sky was enveloped by a dazzling array of radiant hues, as clouds of various colors erupted like fireworks in the heavens.

Countless beams of light descended from the sky, scattering across every corner of Jarilo-VI.

Before their very eyes, ice and snow melted at an astonishing speed. Rivers, lakes, and streams formed as water was guided by an invisible force. The once rock-hard permafrost softened, and lifeless land began to sprout tender green shoots. Verdant greenery burst forth and grew wildly, spreading like a wave across the terrain.

From within the newly flowing waters, previously unseen creatures began to appear—some so ancient that they could only be found in the aged illustrations of Belobog’s museum archives. Across the newly revitalized wilderness, herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores quietly emerged.

Even the once inhospitable, frozen terrain of Jarilo-VI underwent radical changes, transforming into environments more suited for human habitation.

The quiet streets of Belobog suddenly erupted into a cacophony of excitement. Countless citizens poured out of their homes to witness what could only be described as a miracle.

Within Qlipoth Fort, the elderly historians, still in their nightclothes, trembled as they hastily scribbled records of this momentous event in their journals.

[Year One of New Belobog]
The day New Belobog merged with the Galactic Empire, the heavens displayed a divine omen. Holy light bathed the land, the ice melted, the fields turned green, and life thrived.

On the towering observation deck, Seele to the left and Bronya to the right stood with Chen Lin, all three bearing witness to this so-called “miracle.”

They knew the cost of this wonder—Chen Lin had emptied all his resources and wealth to make it happen. From this moment onward, every drop of water drunk, every grain of wheat eaten, and every garment worn on this planet would be thanks to him.

In mere minutes, the miraculous power had turned a hostile, recovering frozen wasteland into a paradise resembling Gaia itself.

But it wasn’t over yet. Belobog’s city walls suddenly expanded dozens of miles outward. Mountains were flattened, and countless buildings inexplicably materialized within the city, perfectly planned and constructed to a level of sophistication that surpassed even the most ambitious designs of Belobog’s previous guardians.

Chen Lin froze, stunned. He was certain this wasn’t his doing. Taking advantage of the two astonished girls beside him, he hurriedly began tinkering with the UI interface in front of him.

As a seasoned player, he was well-acquainted with the UI’s layout. Within moments, he found the designation for his home planet, “Jarilo-VI,” and noticed something odd. The capital building was no longer the initial “Planetary Capital” but an imposing structure named “Heart of the Empire – Belobog,” standing alone amidst several empty building slots.

Checking the available constructions, Chen Lin’s mind went blank.

Most of the buildings listed were completely unfamiliar to him!

Forget it. Let’s just say I built it.

Faced with so many options, Chen Lin shrugged and casually queued a few agricultural and mining districts. He even threw in an industrial district for good measure.

Don’t ask how these changes happened. If anyone asks, just say I did it!

[Habitable Planet Event Chain Completed: Obtained Home Planet “Jarilo-VI.” Permanent Modifier Added: “Imperial Capital.” Population of Jarilo-VI +10.]

We are exceptionally fortunate. This will be our starting point, but it will never be our end!

Our journey is to the stars and the sea!

After dismissing the pop-up that appeared, Chen Lin noticed the UI in his vision had expanded significantly. Resources were no longer limited to minerals, energy credits, and alloys. Consumer goods, food, and even a variety of unidentified rare resources were now visible.

Previously grayed-out options such as “Policies” and construction queues for “Engineering Ships” and “Science Vessels” were now fully operational. Similar changes were scattered across other interfaces.

Even the intelligence log had been updated, containing a new message.

[Empire’s Return]

“Countless years have passed since our ancestors left Earth and the Solar System, yet the foundation of our empire remains Earth. Our leader and people constantly yearn for our true homeland, hoping to tread upon the land of our forebears once more. Each leader, before their passing, has wished to find our homeland and rest their bones in their ancestral soil."

“Though our empire faces countless unknowns and crises, with death and sacrifice ever-present, no petty opposition will stop us from returning."

“Crush the enemies before us, and consign the old empires that hinder us to the annals of history."

“History belongs to us!”

[Locate the Solar System 0/1]

All of this effort was clearly worth it. Watching as the entirety of Jarilo-VI transformed before his eyes, with the night illuminated like daytime, Chen Lin felt deeply satisfied.

If nothing else, the sheer spectacle was worth all those resources!

Not to mention the absurd buffs that came with this planetary modifier.

“So beautiful…” Seele stared, wide-eyed, at the radiant starry sky.

For the first time in her life, she felt the vastness of the universe and an overwhelming desire to explore it. Not even her first encounter with Chen Lin had left her as astonished as she felt now.

Had Chen Lin not mentioned his plans to transform the planet earlier, she would have assumed this was a divine blessing bestowed by the Aeons themselves, a gift for Belobog’s rebirth.

She realized how small and narrow her worldview had been.

Then again, it was understandable—words and language could never match the visceral impact of witnessing such a scene with her own eyes.

Belobog had become livelier than ever before. The deep night felt like daytime, a festival atmosphere permeating the air as people gathered in the streets and squares to celebrate their newfound happiness.

This night, no one would be able to sleep.

---

Several days later, Belobog had been utterly transformed, its city expanding over a hundredfold from its original center.

A grand celebration was held in Belobog’s central district.

It was Bronya’s coronation, marking her ascension as Supreme Guardian and the day Belobog signed its unification agreement with the “Empire’s Representative.”

That representative was none other than Chen Lin himself. He had casually drafted two copies of the agreement. Initially, he hadn’t planned on bothering with such formalities, but Bronya had insisted on signing it during her coronation.

In the palace dressing room, several brightly dressed women were preparing Bronya at the vanity. Her flawless features needed no concealing, only a touch-up to enhance her already striking appearance.

As they finished their work, Chen Lin pushed open the door. Bronya immediately stood from her seat, her eyes lighting up. The makeup artists, recognizing him as both the Empire’s representative and Bronya’s mentor, tactfully excused themselves.

Bronya raised her arms slightly and sighed. “The robe is too long and terribly inconvenient to move in, but it’s the ceremonial attire worn by all past Supreme Guardians. There’s no changing it.”

“Let me see.” Chen Lin approached and gave her a once-over. “Not great. Probably because the person wearing it is so much more stunning, the robe’s charm is completely overshadowed.”

“Mentor!!” Bronya stomped her foot, flustered.

In the past, strict education had suppressed her emotions. Even when she first met Chen Lin, all she could manage was a curt nod, her face stoic. Anything more expressive would have been deemed inappropriate.

But now, she had changed. She understood that a leader didn’t always need to maintain a stern facade, especially around loved ones.

“So, the most beautiful thing here is you.”

“If you’re satisfied, then I’m happy…”

Bronya lowered her head, but the redness of her ears betrayed her inner feelings.

“Come on, everyone’s waiting for the new Supreme Guardian to make her appearance. Let’s not keep them waiting.”

---

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!