Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [113]

Without Chen Lin, it felt as if the team had lost its core anchor.

Now that Chen Lin had returned safe and sound, bringing the good news of the Stellaron's complete destruction, everyone's worries were finally put to rest.

Belobog, however, was in chaos after the recent upheaval. The workload at Qlipoth Fort was overwhelming, including Bronya’s ambitious purging campaign—a concept she had come to understand after studying under Chen Lin.

After a brief discussion with him, Bronya immediately set several standards for the purge and began implementing them. She also asked if Chen Lin could visit her residence later to discuss some important matters regarding Jarilo-VI’s future.

Chen Lin readily agreed.

Dan Heng took responsibility for preparing their return to the Astral Express and reactivating the boundary anchor that Akivili had left behind on Jarilo-VI. He had already learned the procedure from Himeko, as it was something he had handled during the final phases of previous planet explorations.

As for Stelle and March 7? Well, good friends should have their fun.

With everyone busy, Chen Lin decided to inspect the fleet of warships he had recently acquired. These were, after all, his first-ever major purchase as a “young emperor.”

The moment he stepped aboard a ship, even though he had mentally prepared himself, he was still taken aback.

Even the smallest corvette—a ship often jokingly called an "ant" by players—was at least 700 meters in length and width. As for destroyers, they were even larger. Based on his calculations, their lengths reached a minimum of 2.5 kilometers, with heights just over 1,000 meters.

Chen Lin also reviewed the crew composition. Each corvette carried about 90 personnel, most of whom were backup crew. On a regular day, only four people operated the ship.

Destroyers, on the other hand, had crews of over 300, yet fewer than ten people actively worked unless the ship was in a combat state.

This level of automation was astounding. Such massive vessels could be operated by only a handful of people.

The crew’s attitude toward Chen Lin was also intriguing. Their loyalty bordered on servitude, as if they would obey even a suicidal order without hesitation. They addressed him as "Your Majesty."

Oh no. My government system turned out to be a monarchy?!

After a cursory inspection of one destroyer and five corvettes, Chen Lin noted the sky darkening and returned to Belobog.

Before leaving, he issued an order to the warships to bombard the heavily Fragmentum-corrupted areas outside the city. The objective was to deplete the residual energy there and minimize casualties among the Silvermane Guards, who would otherwise be tasked with the cleanup.

As the "Emperor," Chen Lin had been neglecting his event chain for quite some time. With the end of the month approaching, he had to deal with it urgently.

Fortunately, the event chain wasn’t overly complex, mostly detailing the changes happening to Jarilo-VI. The most significant event revolved around the planet’s integration into a broader interstellar system. The event's support level was nearly maxed out, leaving only a choice-less notification option: "I understand."

After wrapping up his tasks, Chen Lin made his way to Qlipoth Fort.

The air inside was thick with the metallic tang of blood, a clear sign that Bronya and the Silvermane Guards had been busy.

The realization that this once-kind, delicate girl had been shaped into a decisive and ruthless leader under his guidance stirred a flicker of guilt in Chen Lin.

Only for about 0.3 seconds, though.

Declining the well-meaning Silvermane Guards who had offered to guide him, Chen Lin walked deeper into Qlipoth Fort. After a few steps, he spotted Bronya sitting by a fountain, staring absentmindedly at the flowing water.

Belobog was in turmoil—chaos reigned, countless individuals had been purged, administrative tasks were piling up, and Bronya had lost her mother. The weight of it all pressed heavily on the young girl’s shoulders.

Even for someone like Chen Lin, who had endured the grind of graduate school and half a year of relentless work-life struggles, such pressure would have been hard to bear. Let alone Bronya, who had been a sheltered noblewoman only months prior.

It was clear how much she was suffering.

“I can assist with Belobog’s reconstruction,” Chen Lin said, his tone even, “but you’ll need to address the internal conflicts yourself. Given your abilities, this shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Mentor!”

Bronya turned at the familiar voice, her silver-crystal eyes lighting up as her expression softened, the helplessness she had been carrying vanishing entirely.

“I’m guessing you want to talk to me about Cocolia, don’t you?” Chen Lin asked.

“You… you already know?”

Bronya’s pupils shrank in surprise, but a moment later, she realized it wasn’t so shocking. Her mentor was a man of uncanny insight, rumored to have lived for millennia. Her small concerns were unlikely to escape him.

“What’s your opinion, Mentor? About my mother?” Bronya’s voice faltered slightly, her earlier confidence giving way.

Though she had risen to leadership and taken control of the Silvermane Guards, whenever she stood before Chen Lin, she found herself instinctively shedding her defenses and the facade she wore in public.

Her grandfather had taken his own life, her mother was gone, and the only person she felt she could truly rely on now was her mentor. To her, Chen Lin wasn’t just a teacher—he was family, perhaps the only family she had left.

Seeing through her hesitance, Chen Lin offered his perspective.

“Belobog has always relied on the Guardians chosen by the Builders to maintain order. Each Guardian has been the spiritual pillar of this city and nation. Cocolia made mistakes, but if you hide the truth about her actions, the public might lose trust in their leaders entirely.”

“No, that’s not appropriate,” Chen Lin said, shaking his head as he stood beside her. “Concealing the truth sows the seeds of societal decay. Everything the historians have recorded has corresponding evidence to prove it. Being exposed is only a matter of time, and when it happens, the loss of trust will grow exponentially.”

He continued in a calm tone, “When people whisper about these things over tea, the government’s attempts to cover it up will only fuel their curiosity. The truth can’t be buried forever. When the veil is torn away, Belobog will descend into chaos, and the people’s trust, eroded by repeated deceptions, will be impossible to rebuild.”

“But Mentor… my mother…”

“No one is infallible. People make mistakes,” Chen Lin interrupted. “Belobog might not face external threats now, but once it steps into the stars, things won’t be this simple. There are countless nations in the galaxy—some friendly, some hostile, and some neutral. To navigate these dynamics, your people must be united. Do you understand what I mean, Bronya?”

Chen Lin placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice firm.

“Trust, once broken, is nearly impossible to repair. Building trust and national cohesion is an uphill battle, but it only takes a single lie to destroy it all. The people’s trust in their leaders doesn’t come from thin air. Once it’s betrayed, few will choose to believe again.”

“You’ve walked this path with me. You should know the people aren’t fools, Bronya. Don’t stay cooped up indoors, blind to the storm outside. Don’t consume the people’s resources without understanding the struggles of the fields that provide them.”

Hiding Cocolia’s mistakes? That’s like drinking poison to quench thirst.

Chen Lin couldn’t allow such a precedent to be set. If this behavior became normalized, future leaders could justify hiding critical truths from the public. And as someone who now considered Jarilo-VI his territory, he couldn’t ignore the risks of letting things spiral into chaos.

Some might argue that Bronya’s approach was pragmatic, but to Chen Lin, it was short-sighted. Lies would only erode the foundation of leadership, turning governments into hypocritical entities that suppressed their people with half-truths. And when the veil was too frayed to cover the ugliness beneath, everyone would laugh at the spectacle—but no one would know how to mend it.

Bronya lowered her gaze, nodding. As Chen Lin’s pupil, she had long since abandoned her old beliefs and could now grasp the dangers in his reasoning almost instantly.

“Understood…”

Looking up at her mentor’s stern expression, Bronya hesitated for a moment before softly saying, “I’m sorry, Mentor. I didn’t think it through.”

The realization sent a shiver down her spine. If the people had supported her in toppling her mother’s regime, what was to stop another Bronya from rising in the future to challenge her?

She had gone through so much in such a short time. Her shaken mindset and incomplete understanding of her new role had led her to ideas that, once dissected by Chen Lin, revealed layers of hidden dangers. Her back was damp with cold sweat.

The people had been driven to desperation, forced to rebel against Cocolia’s regime. Why were they pushed to such extremes?

Because of my mother and the former regime’s officials in Qlipoth Fort.

Imagine: if I had been starving just days ago, would I tolerate being told today that the one who caused my suffering was innocent and a “great leader” for the nation?

The thought was horrifying.

Seeing Bronya’s pale face, Chen Lin patted her head reassuringly.

Her hair no longer felt as silky as before—slightly rough, likely from stress and sleepless nights.

Chen Lin softened his stern demeanor and said gently, “Just tell the truth. No one is perfect. A leader with both merits and flaws is still a qualified one. Whether they are celebrated or condemned, history will make that judgment. Our role in the present is to uphold the facts, not let personal feelings distort them.”

He remembered that Cocolia had once been a diligent leader. She had governed Belobog with care, stockpiling resources, fostering education and academic research, and nurturing a generation of talented individuals.

Had the Fragmentum not encroached on Belobog, she might have created a golden era worthy of the history books.

But she had destroyed everything with her own hands. Manipulated by the Stellaron, she had pursued an illusory “new world,” sabotaged the Silvermane Guards’ strategies, caused countless deaths, and even exiled or executed scholars on flimsy pretexts.

Achievements couldn’t offset such transgressions. History would weigh her legacy, sparing future generations the farce of emperors rewriting history to escape blame, only to earn eternal scorn.

As Bronya watched her mentor, exhausted from guiding her through these difficulties, a sense of guilt surged within her.

He could have ignored all this—left this backwater planet and lived his own life, doing the work he loved. Instead, he gave everything to help me, his undeserving student. And I questioned him. I doubted his wisdom, forcing him to explain everything patiently while I failed to consider his burdens.

I’m so damn useless.

Her eyes reddened.

Splash!

Before Chen Lin could react, Bronya threw herself into his arms, her soft frame trembling.

“Mentor… if you weren’t here, I wouldn’t know what to do. I’m sorry… I’m so sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused…”

“…”

Since arriving in this world, Chen Lin’s enhanced physique—complete with some unexplainable “delicious” trait—had made him wary of physical closeness. After all, certain individuals aboard the train used it as an excuse to sneak a bite.

Yet Bronya had always maintained decorum around him, never crossing boundaries or making him uncomfortable.

For this diligent, thoughtful student of his, Chen Lin couldn’t deny a soft spot. But his focus had always been survival in this strange universe and the faint hope of returning home. He’d rarely acknowledged his personal feelings.

The endless dangers of the galaxy left him acutely aware of his insignificance.

Chen Lin wasn’t someone who sought joy for its own sake. At most, he had a touch of dark humor, using small amusements to dilute his fears.

If he were to evaluate the women around him, Bronya, Seele, and March 7 undoubtedly stood out as exceptional companions.

Seele, with her pure, unyielding heart, inspired a rare admiration in Chen Lin. Her unwavering sense of justice and resilience in the face of hardship had left a deep impression.

He recalled her bold declaration that night, pointing at him and vowing to fulfill her promise.

How many people could love so fiercely and without regret?

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T/N: LMAOO NO STELLE