Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [101]

In just a few months, the changes in Belobog felt as if a century had passed.

It had been over a month since Bronya was placed under house arrest and later made the resolute decision to escape the Qlipoth Fort.

Beneath the snowy white clouds, a thin mist rippled like gentle waves. Bronya, dressed formally, had arrived early with her entourage to wait at the predetermined cave entrance.

This area was once part of the Fragmentum's occupied zone. Back then, the Silvermane Guards' defense line was stationed over ten miles away, leaving this area surrounded by dilapidated buildings that evoked the phrase "decayed and neglected" at first glance.

The streets were pockmarked with potholes. In the past, countless Belobogians had spilled their blood here, along with the Silvermane Guards who sacrificed themselves to rescue and protect others during the retreats.

Years later, the Silvermane Guards reclaimed this area as part of their defensive perimeter, an incredible achievement attributed to a delicate yet striking young man.

The weapons he provided could easily wipe out hordes of Fragmentum monsters. These weapons were not only devastatingly effective but also supplied in seemingly endless quantities. Most of the soldiers in this zone had stood beside him on the battlefield two months ago, where they crushed what was once thought to be an invincible Fragmentum force.

The Silvermane Guards stood tall and disciplined. Their resolute faces under the helmets reflected their determination to welcome back the one they had long awaited with the highest honors.

Hunger, cold, and the exhaustion of standing motionless were minor hardships. To see him again made it all worthwhile.

At the forefront of the formation stood Gepard, his expression serious, while his sister, Serval, stood beside him. Despite her carefree demeanor and habit of wandering around instead of running her shop, Serval had her own history of military service. Even now, she retained extensive connections within the army and commanded respect from most of its members.

Many defense squad captains willingly addressed her as "Boss" whenever they encountered her.

Bronya stood in the center of the two lines, her expression calm. Pela followed closely behind, her face as stoic as ever. The elite squad trained by Pela was hidden in the vicinity, maintaining vigilance to handle any unexpected situations.

Time passed slowly. No one present moved or spoke, their eyes fixed on the ancient cave carved out centuries ago.

The reclaimed land from the Fragmentum was peculiar—colder than areas untouched by its corruption. Normally, the closer one got to the city’s outskirts, the weaker Qlipoth's protection became. As a result, the piercing cold winds left everyone stiff.

Bronya’s pale face was further drained of color by the freezing air.

Finally, there was movement in the cave. Everyone held their breath, listening intently to the sounds from within.

Footsteps...

After days of tense anticipation, a rare smile appeared on Bronya’s lips as her tightly wound nerves began to relax.

It’s been so long since I’ve seen him.
Ever since the day before yesterday, her mentor’s phone had lost connection. They could only exchange messages at short distances, making communication impossible.

At this moment, Bronya felt a weight lifted from her shoulders.

Figures emerged from the old cave, with the one at the forefront being the man they all knew so well.

“Attention!”

Gepard raised his right hand, his solemn voice ringing out. “Salute! Fire!”

Belobog’s firearms had been outdated for generations, limited to manually operated rifles. During Cocolia’s incapacitation, however, Chen Lin had helped upgrade them to semi-automatic rifles with more powerful and efficient ammunition designs.

This young man, whom Gepard had once escorted back to the city, had not only bolstered the Silvermane Guards' defenses but also contributed greatly to Belobog’s agriculture and commerce.

To honor him, Gepard arranged a seven-volley salute, the highest military honor in Belobog’s history. The tradition symbolized the seven great protectors whose monumental contributions were chronicled in Belobog’s annals.

Even during the inauguration of a new Supreme Guardian, only three volleys were fired for celebration. This marked the first time such a prestigious salute was recorded in Belobog’s ceremonial history.

It signified Gepard’s realization after the recent turmoil—the grim fate of Belobog, his own helplessness, and the truth that only this man could save their city.

As the ceremony concluded, Bronya hurried forward. She had prepared countless things to say, even staying up all night to rehearse them. Yet, now that she stood before him, words failed her.

“Mentor...”

“Mm, I’m back. You’ve all worked hard during this time,” Chen Lin said, noticing Bronya’s urgency but refraining from saying much in the presence of so many soldiers.

Pela, ever perceptive, suggested, “Miss Bronya, sir, the meeting room has been cleared. You could continue the discussion there after lunch. It’s quite cold out here, and the barracks have powered heaters for warmth.”

“Yes, let’s head back first,” Serval agreed.

Escorted by the main contingent, the group began their march toward the barracks.

Returning to the camp, Pela, Serval, and Gepard, all aware of the many things the mentor and student would want to discuss after such a long separation, quickly found excuses to leave.

Meanwhile, Stelle had discovered several trash cans she hadn’t rummaged through before and gleefully dashed toward them. March 7th, however, grabbed her leg and began a tug-of-war with the trash can, urging her to be mindful of her behavior.

By the time they reached the former residential building, now converted into dormitories, only Chen Lin, Bronya, and Seele remained.

Once inside, Bronya finally had the chance to ask Chen Lin about his experiences in the Underworld.

Such matters weren’t easily explained in a few sentences. Bronya only knew the general outline: her mentor had gone to the Underworld, contributed to its development, and returned with impressive results.

She knew the beginning and the end, but those details weren’t of much help. What concerned her were the dangers and hardships Chen Lin had faced during his time there. At the same time, she had a personal motive—she wanted to know everything about her mentor’s journey, as detailed as possible.

Since his cherished student had asked, Chen Lin didn’t mind sharing.

As a scholarly individual, and a voracious reader in his previous life, Chen Lin had a deep appreciation for stories. Combined with his now civilization-level knowledge reserve, he narrated the tale with vivid descriptions and thrilling twists.

When Bronya heard about the tragic conditions in the Underworld—where large numbers of homeless wanderers struggled to survive, and corpses of those who succumbed to hunger or cold could often be seen on the roadside—her eyes reddened. She could hardly imagine the immense will to survive and spirit of resistance required to live in such a hostile environment.

Chen Lin described how many of the towns established during the Underworld’s development were destroyed by Fragmentum monsters. People, short on food and clothing, could only focus on immediate survival. The exchange rates for resources from the Overworld grew increasingly unfair, and corrupt officials siphoned off supplies at every level. If conditions hadn’t improved, the Underworld might have become a wasteland within a few years.

“Mentor… Miss Seele… I’m sorry. All of this is a result of my inadequacy. I’m willing to accept any blame… and thank you for protecting my mentor so diligently,” Bronya said sincerely.

Through Chen Lin’s explanation, Bronya learned about Seele’s identity as a member of a grassroots security organization in the Underworld. She also realized that Seele had been protecting Chen Lin ever since his arrival there.

From both a personal and public perspective, Bronya felt she needed to apologize for the Underworld’s plight and express gratitude for Seele’s contributions.

“Pfft, you finally get it? Anyway, watching over Chen Lin is my responsibility, one I took on willingly. What’s it to you?” Seele scoffed, her tone sharp. She glanced out the window, her voice softening slightly but retaining a biting undertone. “What’s the point of blaming you? Besides, the Underworld didn’t end up like this because of you. You’re just some Overworld princess, far removed from these matters.”

“I still bear responsibility. I failed to persuade my mother to reconsider her policies. But I will break the blockade between the Overworld and Underworld. That blunder should’ve been corrected long ago!”

Chen Lin interjected, “Indeed, the blockade serves no purpose but to exacerbate problems. Two groups of people from the same city living drastically different lives—this disparity only fuels conflict. That’s precisely what the rebels want to see.”

Since Bronya believed the erratic decisions of Belobog’s leadership were influenced by corrupt officials, Chen Lin didn’t mind steering the conversation in that direction.

Supporting Bronya had always been part of his plan. As the saying goes, a new emperor means a new court. The Qlipoth Fort’s bureaucracy was undoubtedly chaotic. Under Cocolia’s leadership, competent figures from families descended from the city’s builders had been sidelined, leaving the administration filled with inept sycophants who spent their days scheming against one another rather than governing effectively.

Chen Lin had spent considerable time in the Overworld and met many capable individuals, but most were politically marginalized. Back then, before his fallout with Cocolia, he had simply found her tendency to alienate talent and favor incompetence puzzling.

He had assumed it was some kind of check-and-balance strategy under the Supreme Guardian’s governance system. However, preoccupied with building his rapport with Bronya, he hadn’t delved deeper into the matter until he awakened his psionic powers and noticed a peculiar connection between the Stellaron and Cocolia.

Subsequent events only confirmed his suspicions: Cocolia seemed to have made a deal with the Stellaron, possibly even falling under its influence.

Even so, Chen Lin didn’t rush to confront Cocolia or reveal his knowledge to Bronya.

He was waiting—for the outposts to be completed, for the shipyard modules to be operational, for his warship to soar out of its hangar. After all, Chen Lin knew he was ultimately just an ordinary person with slightly enhanced capabilities. His true strength lay in his starship and the mysterious galactic interface he wielded.

I’m waiting for warships. What are you waiting for?

The transition of leadership in Belobog was inevitable. Since Bronya had already pieced together a general narrative, Chen Lin only needed to fill in the blanks with subtle hints, allowing her to refine the story herself. She would smooth out any inconsistencies.

Just like now.

Chen Lin furrowed his brow and asked, “Did Pela tell you about what I found in the Underworld? Something related to a ‘Stellaron’—and to your mother.”

Bronya nodded lightly, her lips pressed together. Her eyes held a pleading look. “Mentor, may I see it?”

“Of course.”

With a snap of his fingers, a gem floated out of Chen Lin’s pocket.

Without needing to retrieve it manually, Chen Lin managed to look both impressive and save himself the effort.

The gem was crystal-clear, with a surface that seemed to shimmer with iridescent liquid. When touched, it rippled like water, its contained energy as vast and turbulent as the ocean.

Bronya carefully received the gem with both hands, her bright eyes filled with curiosity.

“Mentor…”

“You don’t know how to examine it, do you?”

“…No.”

“Before I show you its contents, Bronya, I need to tell you something,” Chen Lin said suddenly.

“Please go ahead.”

“The energy within this gem is extremely volatile. It contains vast amounts of memories, voices, and other data. But I must be honest with you,” Chen Lin paused before continuing, “My abilities allow me to alter its contents, showing you false information if I wished.”

“…”

Seele looked at Chen Lin in surprise, seemingly unsure why he would admit such a thing.

Bronya, too, was momentarily stunned. Then she shook her head.

“I trust you, Mentor. You’ve never lied to me.”

“You trust me that much?”

“To be more specific, I trust the facts,” Bronya said earnestly. “Everything you’ve done for Belobog is evident to everyone. Facts don’t lie. That’s something I’ve learned from you. I owe you so much, and so does Belobog—debts that could never be repaid in a lifetime. My previous tutors and my mother taught me that all human relationships are based on interests. I always felt something was off but accepted it anyway. Until I met you! That’s when I realized my bond with my mother isn’t like that, and neither is my connection to you—or to Belobog. Even if you hid something from me intentionally, I’d still accept it willingly.”

“?” Chen Lin blinked in confusion.

Sensing the silence, Bronya lowered her voice. “If you don’t like me saying that, I’ll stop.”

“Alright, alright…”

Chen Lin’s lips twitched. Anyone who understood the situation would see this as a moment of trust-building between mentor and student. To an outsider, it might sound like a heartfelt confession from a poetic girl.

“Brace yourself. You might pass out for a while.”

Chen Lin channeled his psionic energy into the gem. A fabric of light formed from the gem’s energy and surged into Bronya’s mind.

Boom!

An invisible wave expanded from the gem’s core. In an instant, a flood of images and sounds exploded in Bronya’s mind. Her vision went dark, and she collapsed.

As Chen Lin reached out to catch her, Seele, faster and seemingly prepared, swooped in first, pushing Chen Lin aside in the process.

“I’ll handle this,” Seele said coolly, though her tone carried a faint note of dissatisfaction.

Her gaze shifted to the tall girl in her arms, and her displeasure deepened. It was the kind of look that suggested she was ready to strike at any moment.

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T/N: oooh someones jealous

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!