Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [190]

Jing Yuan’s expression shifted to one of exaggerated disbelief. “Brother, you must talk some sense into Lady Fu! Do I seem like someone who resorts to traditional manipulative tactics—dangling empty promises and feeding false hope? How could I insult Lady Fu in such a way?”

His tone was so wounded that Chen Lin almost believed him.

Just then, a procession escorting Kafka approached, with Qingque and the Express crew trailing at the rear.

“They’re here. Why not settle the interrogation first and discuss the rest later? Besides, I noticed quite a few odd disturbances around the array’s base. Shouldn’t we do something about those?”

Jing Yuan chuckled. “Agreed. But as you can see, I’m merely a projection. I’ll have to rely on the two of you to handle it.”

“Give my friends a chance to contribute,” Chen Lin added. “Otherwise, they might feel left out.”

As he exchanged a glance with Fu Xuan, Chen Lin’s gaze flicked toward Kafka, who stood in the center of the Cloud Knights’ formation. She returned his look with a faint, knowing smile.

The Cloud Knights, following Fu Xuan’s prior orders, did not obstruct Qingque and the others as they ascended the platform.

“Lady Fu, I’ve brought the guests. I hope we’re not too late?” Qingque said, bowing slightly as she entered the array’s core. Despite her frequent complaints about Fu Xuan docking her pay, her tone carried a genuine respect for the young Diviner.

Fu Xuan placed one hand on her hip, her expression neutral as always. Years of dealing with Chen Lin’s antics had taught her to mask her reactions well.

“This is the heart of the Matrix of Prescience. Ordinarily, access here is strictly prohibited. However, given the current situation, protocol must be set aside. If this treatment seems inadequate, I’ll ensure you’re compensated later.”

Welt studied the array and the gathered Cloud Knights. “The array appears intact, yet the interrogation hasn’t begun. Is there another reason for the delay?”

“Yes, is there anything we can do to help?” March 7 asked eagerly, stepping forward. After their rough welcome to the Xianzhou, she was eager to make amends and prove their sincerity.

“Hmm. If you’re willing, I’ll be direct,” Fu Xuan replied. “Restoring the array has left the Divination Division severely short-staffed. My younger brother has expended considerable energy recalibrating its foundational systems. Additionally, the residual Stellaron energy has attracted corrupted entities near the array’s base. I need your help to eliminate them and assist in restarting the array.”

“So that’s where you’ve been, Chen Lin—helping fix the array?” March 7 exclaimed. “No problem! Leave these small tasks to us!” She puffed out her chest, brimming with confidence.

Fu Xuan nodded approvingly but then noticed a certain someone edging toward the periphery, attempting to slip away.

“Qingque, stay here. I have tasks for you as well.”

“Uh…” Qingque froze, caught in the act. She scratched her head awkwardly. “What kind of tasks?”

“I’ll explain later,” Fu Xuan said decisively. “For now, stay close and assist wherever needed.”

“But I’m not qualified for these technical jobs…”

“You are now. Help where you can, and stand by to assist elsewhere.”

Qingque sighed. “Fine, fine…”

Qingque wandered around the area, attempting to find a task suited to her abilities. However, every team she approached was either fully staffed or required specialized skills she didn’t possess. Defeated, she eventually returned to the platform and leaned against the railing beside Chen Lin.

“Hey, Chen, I noticed something interesting during lunch today. Want to hear it?”

“Sure.”

“Tingyun—Miss Tingyun, I mean—knows so much about obscure history. Do you think traveling with trade caravans gives her a broader perspective?”

Chen Lin raised an eyebrow at the seemingly random question. Still, he didn’t mind humoring her and replied with a grin, “Absolutely. Remember that story I told you about the frog in the well? If you don’t get out and see the world, you’ll never understand what lies beyond… Wait, what exactly did she tell you?”

“Oh, just some obscure tidbits about the origins of a famous adventurer’s name and other quirky stories,” Qingque said, recounting the tales Tingyun had shared in the rest area.

Fu Xuan, who had initially paid little attention, perked up upon hearing the name of the renowned adventurer. She casually moved closer to eavesdrop.

Qingque detailed the black humor surrounding the adventurer’s name and recounted several of their peculiar exploits. Stories that had once seemed disjointed now connected in a way that painted a coherent—if somewhat amusing—picture. Even Fu Xuan, with her disciplined composure, struggled to suppress a laugh.

If I laugh out loud here, my reputation as a serious leader will be ruined, Fu Xuan thought, her shoulders shaking slightly as she tried to maintain her dignity.

Clearing her throat, Fu Xuan finally spoke. “I didn’t expect someone from the Sky-Faring Comission to be so knowledgeable. Tingyun… That name has come up before. I wonder which family she hails from. She’s quite talented and quick-witted.”

Chen Lin glanced at Fu Xuan and thought, You really have a soft spot for people who can entertain you, don’t you?

Fu Xuan glanced toward Tingyun, trailing behind the Express group. For a moment, she couldn’t recall where she had heard her name mentioned before.

Her own family, the Fu Clan, was far from ordinary—a prominent lineage in the art of divination. While Fu Xuan was the only one stationed on the Xianzhou Luofu, most of her relatives served aboard the Yujue Xianzhou. The reason?

Fu Xuan had sought to escape certain responsibilities and perhaps even alter her own destiny.

“As someone who travels with trade caravans, it’s no surprise Tingyun meets many people and encounters numerous extraordinary events. Her wit and eloquence are unmatched; people likely find her easy to converse with. Learning rare and fascinating stories would come naturally to someone like her,” Chen Lin explained casually.

In truth, Chen Lin had his own theory about why Tingyun—no, Phantylia—knew so much. It was likely because she had previously invaded the minds of individuals connected to those stories.

After all, she is a Lord Ravager. Nothing she does should come as a surprise.

Qingque nodded, no longer puzzled by Tingyun’s extensive knowledge. Though following a trade caravan might seem exhausting, her sharp tongue and natural charm made her uniquely suited to the role.

Fu Xuan smirked inwardly. What a timely assist, dear brother.

“Qingque, tell me—have you ever thought about working outside the Division?” Fu Xuan asked suddenly.

“Eh?! No, never! Absolutely not!” Qingque protested, waving her hands. “The Divination Division is like my second home, and you, Lady Fu, are like family. If I ever left, I’d no longer be Qingque—I’d be a ‘White Bird’!”

She assumed Fu Xuan thought she was envious of Tingyun’s lifestyle, but nothing could be further from the truth. Traveling constantly and dealing with endless trouble sounded like a nightmare. Without a dependable superior to back her up, it would be nothing but endless chaos.

“Heh. Is that so? Then pretend I never asked.”

Fu Xuan folded her arms, her expression unreadable. Her gaze drifted toward the array’s base, where Stelle was dismantling a massive automaton with her bare hands. Fu Xuan’s brow twitched slightly.

The Astral Express… Truly fitting for those following Akivili’s legacy. Even their rookies display this kind of strength. And then there’s my brother, an Imperial Governor.

What a complicated group.

Before long, the communication crystal lit up. Jingzhai, one of the Divisional clerks, reported that the array’s foundation had been fully restored, and all corrupted automatons influenced by Stellaron energy had been eliminated.

“Algorithm uploaded to the jade sigil. Indicators are green. Lady Fu, when shall we activate the array?”

A small girl with a neatly tied bun strode forward confidently, handing over her report without hesitation. Despite her age, her demeanor exuded professionalism, as if she’d spent decades in her position.

“Once our guests are back, we’ll activate the array. I’m eager to see what role the Stellaron Hunters truly played in this incident,” Fu Xuan instructed, unbothered by the sight of a child taking on such responsibilities.

As the girl departed briskly, Chen Lin couldn’t help but stare after her.

Qingque noticed his gaze and whispered, “That’s Hui Xing, one of our Divisional clerks. She oversees the daily operations of the Matrix of Prescience and handles calculations. Super reliable, I assure you.”

“I don’t doubt her capabilities,” Chen Lin replied, frowning slightly. “But the Xianzhou always gives me the feeling that you’ve legalized child labor…”

Qingque chuckled awkwardly. It was true that many Xianzhou citizens looked younger than their age due to their extended lifespans, but the disparity could be jarring to outsiders.

“Xianzhou people don’t age as quickly—it’s just how we are. Besides, age isn’t that hard to discern if you pay attention,” she replied.

“You all must have some sort of sixth sense,” Chen Lin muttered.

As they chatted, the jade sigils around the array began to glow. Countless rings of varying sizes interlocked and rotated in a mesmerizing pattern. Chen Lin could feel a powerful, suppressed energy emanating from the array, like a fuse waiting to be lit.

By then, the Express crew had reassembled at the array’s heart, ready to begin.

“All preparations are complete,” Fu Xuan announced. “Bring the suspect to the center!”

The Cloud Knights escorted Kafka into the array’s core. She glanced briefly at the glowing rings above her, then sighed lightly.

“I already told you—I’ll answer any questions you have. Was all this effort truly necessary?”

Fu Xuan’s expression hardened. She regarded Kafka with a mixture of disdain and caution.

“You, Kafka, are a master manipulator—a criminal who twists words and clouds judgment. I have no interest in anything you say. Speak if you wish, but Divination Division relies on divination, not words, to uncover the truth.”

“Such prudence,” Kafka remarked with a faint smile.

“The Matrix of Prescience will extract every truth you’ve concealed. Its findings will be far more accurate and comprehensive than any confession you might offer,” Fu Xuan stated coldly.

It was clear that Fu Xuan intended to lay bare every secret Kafka held about the Stellaron incident. The array’s precision was unrivaled, with a margin of error so small it could be dismissed outright.

“What a shame,” Kafka said with a resigned shrug. “I could’ve saved you some effort. Well then, proceed.”

Fu Xuan gave a curt nod to her subordinates, and the Cloud Knights swiftly withdrew from the array’s core to avoid being caught in its activation.

“The array’s influence will affect anyone within its radius during the interrogation,” Fu Xuan warned. “Are you all prepared?”

The group nodded. Satisfied, Fu Xuan turned back toward the array. She clasped her hands together, her flowing white ribbons weaving through the air like dancing sprites. Though her movements appeared graceful, they carried immense precision and purpose.

From a distance, Jing Yuan suppressed a sigh, muttering to himself, Why does she add so many unnecessary flourishes…

The Astral Express crew, however, watched in awe. To them, Fu Xuan’s actions were a stunning display of skill and elegance.

With a final flourish, Fu Xuan infused her power into the array. The intricate formation roared to life, its overlapping layers radiating brilliant light.

At its center, Kafka stood, a serene smile on her face. She observed the unfolding spectacle with detached amusement.

Everything I know, I already know. And what I don’t, Elio has ensured I’ll never learn.

As the array’s energy intensified, Kafka thought to herself, I wonder… What expression will she make when she sees the limits of her vaunted divination?

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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!