Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [107]

The sky was dark and gloomy, with faint, eerie light flickering from the hanging lanterns around the military camp.

Outside, the cold wind howled. Inside, Bronya gripped the latest intelligence report, her eyes wide with shock and fury. The fire in her sharp gaze burned so intensely that even Pela, who had just handed her the still-sealed document, flinched in fear.

Chen Lin is dead!

Her most respected mentor, dead?!

Bronya clenched her fists as searing anger consumed her mind. Her trembling voice carried venom as she raised her command token high.

"Relay my orders—assemble all troops in full combat formation immediately! Prepare to march into the city!"

"Understood!"

Pela didn't dare ask questions, but it was clear to her that something catastrophic had happened in the city to make the young lady so desperate.

The fiery determination in Bronya's eyes shattered Pela's image of her. The former heiress had always been serious but never showed such a ruthless and bloodthirsty expression. Pela could feel the murderous intent radiating from her, unmistakably genuine.

After Pela left to deliver the orders, Bronya walked to the window and opened it slightly. A frigid gust of wind swept in, biting her face like a blade. But she made no effort to close it, instead standing with her hands behind her back, letting the cold help clear her chaotic thoughts.

"Hah..."

Taking a deep breath, the pale-haired girl calmed her racing mind. But as clarity returned, so did a trace of doubt.

Upon learning of Chen Lin's death at the hands of scheming noble families in Qlipoth Fort, Bronya had felt a sharp pain in her chest, almost fainting from the sheer shock. Her immediate reaction was a burning rage, a thirst to annihilate the clans responsible for her mentor's death.

But now, something seemed off.

Bronya had warned Chen Lin of potential ambushes before he left, but her mentor had remained unbothered, as though he didn’t care about those power-hungry nobles.

And the strangest part? How had news of Chen Lin’s death spread so quickly through Belobog, reaching the ears of even the common folk? It didn’t align with what she knew of her mentor’s meticulous nature. He was not the type to make such a careless mistake.

Mentor, what exactly… an ambush… wait!

Bronya’s eyes lit up as a possibility struck her.

Chen Lin had mentioned giving the border troops a legitimate excuse to march into the city—a justification for a coup. A coup was inherently dishonorable, even if successful, as it only replaced the leader while leaving behind lingering infamy and rumors. Worse, it couldn’t root out the deeply entrenched corruption within the palace.

He must have deliberately concealed his plans to preserve morale and public trust.

If the beloved mentor of both the troops and the citizens died, it would give Bronya the moral high ground to deal with internal threats before external ones.

It all makes sense now!

“Mentor, your foresight is truly unparalleled!” Bronya muttered, finally piecing it together.

Her mentor—a figure capable of handling even Stellaron disruptions—was no ordinary man. And as Sampo had once mentioned, Chen Lin wasn’t skilled in close combat, but that didn’t mean he was weak.

Bronya recalled Seele’s stories: how Chen Lin could fall hundreds of meters into a ravine and emerge unscathed. How could someone like that be so easily tortured and killed, with no one discovering his body overnight?

Even if medical reports confirmed he had no signs of life, Bronya believed, without a shred of doubt, that her mentor was alive.

This was no ordinary setup—it was a masterfully orchestrated trap!

He had sacrificed so much for her, creating a way to justify their cause and ensure their actions were seen as righteous. Yet here she was, unable to even see him at the palace.

"…"

Bronya’s eyes welled with tears. She bit her lip, catching a snowflake on her hand as she whispered, her voice trembling, "Mentor… why would you go to such lengths? I… I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you."

Regaining her composure, Bronya immediately contacted the airship in orbit, discreetly informing them of her suspicions.

Their response was simple.

"The ones beyond the walls are friends; those within are enemies."

Bronya, no longer naive, instantly understood. The “outside” referred to the border troops, while the “inside” meant Qlipoth Fort.

The airship would support her plan.

After months of preparation and training, the border troops were more disciplined and focused than ever. Upon receiving Bronya’s orders, they followed their drills, swiftly gathering their equipment and forming ranks.

Within ten minutes, a thousand troops were ready—a feat nothing short of miraculous.

During this time, Seele, along with March 7th and Stelle, joined Bronya at the assembly point. Bronya didn’t withhold the intelligence, as it had already spread like wildfire through the city.

Seele’s reaction was the most intense. She grabbed her weapon, ready to rush into the city alone. But she froze upon noticing March and Stelle standing still, their expressions calm.

That’s when it hit her—something wasn’t right.

Seele, more than anyone, knew how absurdly resilient Chen Lin’s body was. Torture wouldn’t kill him, and even a boulder weighing several hundred kilograms wouldn’t crush him.

Realizing the discrepancy, she quickly calmed down, surprising Bronya. The young leader shared her deductions with the group but urged them to keep it confidential.

Thud, thud, thud!

Knocks echoed at the door, breaking the momentary silence.

Knocking quickly followed, accompanied by Gepard's voice.

"Lady Bronya, the troops are assembled. Awaiting your orders!"

Bronya stepped onto the platform of the training ground, her posture resolute. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment before snapping them open with fierce determination.

"Brothers and sisters of the border guards! You come from different districts and joined this unit for various reasons, but today, we are united by a grave and urgent cause that demands immediate action!"

"Within the administrative district, inside Qlipoth Fort, a threat greater than the icy storms has emerged!"

"Corruption and greed have taken root among our officials, poisoning the governance of our city. These parasites have manipulated the Supreme Guardian, altering decrees before they even leave Qlipoth Fort. These are no mere bureaucrats—they are traitors!"

"And now, they have taken the life of the one man who gave everything for Belobog—Mr. Chen Lin, captured from the lower district and murdered by these vile conspirators within the palace walls."

"These traitors seek to destroy Belobog, to tear down all that the Builders and the people have achieved."

"For the people, for Belobog, and for our beloved Mr. Chen Lin…"

"Our mission is clear: eliminate the traitors, purge the palace of corruption, restore peace to Belobog, and retrieve Mr. Chen Lin's body."

"The time has come—rise up and march into the city!"

The troops roared in unison, their voices echoing through the camp.

At the same time, high above the clouds, several warships began descending, their imposing silhouettes casting shadows over Qlipoth Fort.

Chaos erupted in the city. The families rumored to have orchestrated Chen Lin's assassination found themselves surrounded by angry mobs wielding makeshift weapons. Citizens hurled insults and accusations, their fury like a wildfire consuming the streets.

"You lapdogs, you scum!"
"Mr. Chen fed my family when we were starving! How could you do this to someone who saved so many lives?!"
"My home—Chen Lin led the troops that reclaimed it from the tyrants. He saved my wife and daughter! I, Nicholas Two-Dog, swear to tear you apart if it’s the last thing I do!"
"Skin these animals alive and offer their hides to honor Mr. Chen's spirit!"

Twang!

Someone struck first, breaking the tense standoff. The mob surged forward, wielding wrenches, cleavers, and any weapon they could find.

"Stay back—stay ba—ahhh!"
"My hand—my hand! Gah!"

The private guards, despite their leather armor and sharp weapons, were no match for the sheer numbers and ferocity of the enraged citizens. Some fought with bare hands; others bit and clawed, refusing to yield even when wounded.

In no time, the guards were overwhelmed, their screams fading into silence. The mob stormed the estates, dragging out the family members accused of conspiring against Chen Lin.

One of these families, the Mikhailovs, had sent secret messages through the Furnace Core the previous night, seeking aid from the lower district. After receiving confirmation, Mikhailov patriarch, Old Mikhail, rejoiced, celebrating late into the night.

But the morning brought an unexpected nightmare. Over a thousand angry citizens had gathered outside his mansion, demanding justice for Chen Lin.

"Chen Lin is dead?! That youth… dead?!"

Panic-stricken, Old Mikhail ordered his guards to hold back the mob, even authorizing lethal force against intruders. Meanwhile, he and over a hundred family members retreated to a hidden chamber, hoping Qlipoth Fort would send reinforcements.

Yet it was not long before the sound of heavy footsteps echoed outside the chamber. The thick stone door was smashed open, and the Mikhailov family was captured.

In the lavish courtyard of their estate, the bound family members knelt on the ground. A group of teachers, law students, and lawyers stood before them, publicly reading out their crimes. The charges spanned hundreds of pages, listing every sin committed by the family.

Save for a few innocent infants and uncharged individuals, the rest of the Mikhailovs had oppressed the people and abused their power for decades.

The impromptu tribunal included Professor Charlie from Belobog's Law School, Student Council President Bogornash from the School of Commercial Law, and lawyer Anastasia from the Sunshine Law Firm.

"We grant you the right to defend yourselves. If you dispute these charges, speak now."

Old Mikhail considered threats and excuses, but his private guards were all stationed at Qlipoth Fort, leaving him powerless. As for denying the charges? Unfortunately, every accusation was true, leaving him no room for argument.

"…"

"No objections?"

The tribunal members exchanged glances before delivering the final verdict.

"With the authority vested in us by the people of Belobog, we sentence all guilty members of the Mikhailov family to death—excluding nine infants and four proven innocents!"

In the midst of screams and cries, the 136 members of the Mikhailov family, including Old Mikhail, were executed by the enraged citizens.

Old Mikhail, his body riddled with cuts, heard triumphant cheers as his vision faded. His bloodshot eyes widened in disbelief.

How dare these commoners defy the law and kill me?! I’m the third most powerful person in this nation, with wealth and influence unmatched by any of them…

"You have no right to—"

"Shut it, you scum! We’re the people, and we’re your masters!"

"Gah… ugh…!"

Wracked with fury and blood loss, Old Mikhail let out one final scream before his world went black.

Cheers erupted from the crowd.

"The old bastard is dead! The dog who kept raising our taxes is finally gone!"
"Good riddance!"
"Sniffle… Mr. Chen… we avenged you!"

Scenes like this unfolded across the administrative district. Teachers, students, and intellectuals organized impromptu votes to identify the most hated families, then led the people in storming their homes. Arrests, trials, and executions followed in swift succession.

After eliminating the oppressive elites, the mob turned its attention to Qlipoth Fort, which was heavily guarded by palace soldiers and private guards.

Some retired Iron Guards, disguised as civilians, donned armor and wielded weapons looted from the noble families. Leading the charge, they began assaulting the palace’s defenses.

These "retired" Iron Guards were definitely not affiliated with Chen Lin or Dan Heng.

Right?

Despite their zeal, the palace guards retaliated fiercely, slaughtering many citizens who tried to breach the perimeter.

As the loyalists celebrated their temporary victory, believing the crisis averted, gunfire erupted. Bullets pierced their helmets, cutting them down in an instant.

The source? A massive, organized force—the border guards—had arrived, led by Bronya and her Gunblade Squad.

Bronya surveyed the fallen citizens, her jaw clenched in anger.

"This area is now under the control of the border guards. Everyone, fall back!"

With a wave of her hand, her troops sprang into action, firing on the remaining palace guards with unrelenting precision.

From the ranks of the border guards came a deafening roar:

"AVENGE MR. CHEN!!"

The battle cry shook the air, and the people's spirits soared.

In their minds, only one thought echoed:

Lady Bronya and the border guards are avenging Mr. Chen too!

---

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!