Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [92]

Since Pela was dismissed from Qlipoth Fort and left her post in the intelligence division, she was absorbed into the External Security Guards under Gepard's command. This shift caused a visible deterioration in relations between the External Security Guards and Qlipoth Fort.

The situation reached its peak when Gepard repeatedly refused to participate in the suppression of riots within the city.

Rumors spread that Gepard had brought the entirety of the Landau family into the army to ensure his family’s safety in preparation for a potential rebellion. As a result, Qlipoth Fort deployed multiple spies to monitor the movements of the External Security Guards around the clock, fearing a sudden coup.

Fortunately, the army of over ten thousand soldiers showed no signs of advancing into the city. They continued their daily battles against the Fragmentum, defending Belobog's land.

For Pela, her career had entered a second spring. She was now responsible for training elite scouts among the Guards, focusing on psychology, interrogation and counter-interrogation techniques, reconnaissance, and anti-reconnaissance—fields that were once exclusive to the intelligence division but had now been introduced into the army by Pela.

Early that morning, Pela gathered her hand-picked elite scouts on the training grounds, drilling them relentlessly in these disciplines. These soldiers were destined to operate at the front lines, gathering intelligence on enemy movements and, if necessary, leading infiltration missions deep into enemy territory. The danger they faced was self-evident.

Thus, the reconnaissance unit was composed of the most elite troops in the Guards, ensuring a higher survival rate for the team.

“After physical training, there will be a weekly exam on infiltration and stealth. Take it seriously—anyone who fails will have their physical training doubled for the next two weeks!” Pela, clipboard in hand, stood amidst the towering Guards. Her petite frame made her seem insignificant.

Yet, no one underestimated Pela because of her stature. After all, everyone in Belobog’s Overworld knew that Pela wasn’t just the secretary to Bronya, the heir to the Supreme Guardian, but also someone who had frequent contact with him.

The loss of that individual had been a source of regret for many, but the respect he commanded remained deeply rooted in their hearts. That reverence naturally extended to those close to him, including Pela.

If that man trusted Pela, she must be remarkable as well.

“Yes, Commander Pela!” the soldiers responded in unison.

The training grounds operated in an orderly manner. Pela was the type who planned everything meticulously and executed her plans without deviation.

Before long, a soldier from another team jogged over to Pela and whispered, “Commander Pela, Miss Serval is here. She’s waiting outside.”

“I see. Thank you for letting me know.” Pela closed her clipboard, gave instructions to a few squad leaders, and headed out of the training grounds.

Outside, Pela spotted Serval, who waved at her with a grin. “Yo, Pela, busy as ever. What’s the matter? It must be important if you needed me to come in person.”

Both women had smartphones gifted by Chen Lin, which they usually used to communicate conveniently and discreetly, avoiding the eyes of Qlipoth Fort’s spies.

This morning, Serval had barely woken up in the family housing area when she saw Pela’s message, sent in the dead of night, asking her to come to the military base for a discussion.

If it weren’t important, Pela would have detailed everything in the message. The fact that she didn’t meant the matter was serious.

Pela glanced around before gesturing toward her dormitory. “Let’s talk inside. Too many ears around here.”

“Alright.” Noticing Pela’s grave expression, Serval nodded and followed her.

As a senior officer in the External Security Guards, Pela no longer simply held a title. She had been assigned a relatively private single dormitory as her primary workspace shifted away from Qlipoth Fort.

During the day, the dormitory building was mostly empty, as everyone was busy leading their units. Once inside, Pela locked the door, pulled out her smartphone, and handed it to Serval.

“I contacted the boss last night. This is what he discovered in the Underworld. I think we need to confirm if this intelligence matches up with what you know.”

“Let me see…”

Serval frowned as she scrolled through the information on the phone, the cold wind from the window brushing past her face. The more she read, the deeper her frown became, and by the end, her hand trembled slightly as she held the device.

“The boss also mentioned something about a ‘Stellaron.’ I don’t recall anything about it. You worked in a research institute before. Have you heard of this?” Pela asked, her tone tinged with concern. “I have a bad feeling. It seems the boss might have uncovered something monumental…”

“I know it!” Serval bit out through gritted teeth. “I know this damn thing all too well!”

As one of Belobog’s top scientific researchers, Serval had access to information far beyond what Pela, as a special officer, could obtain. She began recounting her past experiences.

After graduating, Serval joined Belobog’s most prestigious research institution. Her outstanding abilities and Cocolia’s deliberate grooming saw her promoted almost annually. At one point, she was even promoted twice in a single year.

As her status rose, Serval gained access to classified research sealed away for centuries—studies tied to the planet’s eternal frost.

Following Serval’s persuasion, Cocolia secretly reopened the project, appointing Serval as the team leader and head of document analysis. Bit by bit, the long-sealed data was decrypted and reorganized.

It was no small matter. Serval’s research revealed that Belobog’s eternal frost wasn’t a natural phenomenon but was tied to a mysterious substance. With government approval, she assembled a team of the planet’s top scholars to tackle the problem.

Their efforts shocked everyone involved. They all swore to eradicate the frost that had plagued Jarilo-VI for centuries.

The project spanned years. During its early stages, Serval’s team received full government support. Old research data was unearthed and analyzed, guiding the team’s work. Eventually, all eyes turned to one source: the Stellaron.

Before Jarilo-VI’s calamity, the planet had been a bustling hub, connecting multiple star systems. Alien powers had established offices and trade ports here, including the renowned Interastral Peace Corporation. Jarilo-VI thrived.

But prosperity didn’t last. The Stellaron’s arrival brought ominous rumors, triggering a mass exodus of Jarilo-VI’s population. Alien forces withdrew their offices, leaving only the Interastral Peace Corporation to seal the Stellaron with advanced technology before departing.

The exodus opened Pandora’s Box. Strange occurrences followed, culminating in the invasion of the Antimatter Legion.

The outcome was well-known. Belobog lost the war.

A snowstorm buried both the Antimatter Legion and 99% of Jarilo-VI’s cities.

Through her research, Serval theorized that the frost was directly linked to the Stellaron and the First Supreme Guardian.

But the key issue wasn’t history—it was how to seal the Stellaron and end Belobog’s suffering. Her team simulated Stellaron energy using Fragmentum and its creatures, discovering certain metals capable of isolating the energy. This breakthrough was a beacon of hope for the scientists.

Their relentless work eventually produced a special alloy that significantly blocked the Fragmentum energy. It was then that Qlipoth Fort issued an order:

Cease all research on the Stellaron and destroy all related data!

For the scientists, this was a betrayal and an insult. They had poured their hearts and countless sleepless nights into their work. Some even declared, “I live and die with this research!”

Serval, as the leader of the project team, immediately sought out Cocolia after receiving the devastating order. Yet, when she stood before her, the woman she once knew seemed like a stranger—cold, unfeeling.

“Ms. Landau, effective immediately, you are stripped of your noble title and dismissed from the research department. Guards, escort her out!”

Serval was imprisoned. Months later, when she was finally released, she learned that every colleague who had endured countless sleepless nights alongside her—both her seniors and juniors—had been executed or exiled.

She alone had survived.

The only reason she had been spared was that the Landau family controlled Belobog’s military, and Cocolia had hesitated to act against them directly.

This nightmare had haunted her ever since, becoming the secret she least wanted to confront.

Pela’s eyes widened, her small mouth opening as though to speak, but no words came out.

All Pela knew was that Serval’s research team had violated Belobog’s taboos and faced accusations of treason, leading to her demotion to a commoner.

She never imagined there was more to the story.

“Little Pela didn’t know about this, did she?” Serval gave a bitter smile. “Not even my dumb brother knows about this.”

“It’s too heavy…”

Pela’s adorable face scrunched up, her eyes brimming with disdain. “As a leader, she’s utterly unfit—both inept and corrupt. The palace is a den of filth, the people are full of grievances, and her actions blatantly violate the Supreme Guardian’s oath to Belobog…”

“Maybe she’s no longer whole,” Serval mused, gently patting Pela’s head. As her friend, she couldn’t resist the urge to ruffle the earnest and serious girl’s hair. “It could very well be connected to the Stellaron. What Chen Lin discovered in the Fragmentum—a creature with real memories—might be part of an even greater secret we don’t know about.”

Pela looked out at the snow-covered landscape and murmured, “If only the boss were here, he’d know what to do. Unfortunately…”

BOOM!

Before she could finish, an earth-shattering explosion rocked the building, the deafening sound echoing in waves. The entire structure trembled violently, and a succession of blasts followed, leaving their ears ringing.

Serval was the first to react. She grabbed the stunned Pela and bolted outside.

By the time they reached the dormitory courtyard, many others had already gathered, realizing something was amiss. Guards on duty shouted commands through megaphones, attempting to organize the chaos.

Minutes later, the soldiers stationed in the camp assembled on the training grounds. However, the frequency and intensity of the explosions made it difficult for the commanders to relay orders clearly.

Thankfully, a headcount confirmed no casualties, but the ground continued to quake violently.

Serval, upon entering the training grounds, immediately spotted her brother and dragged Pela over. “What’s going on?!” she asked anxiously.

“Big sis…?” Gepard was taken aback to see the two of them together. Relieved that his sister was unharmed, his expression quickly darkened. “There’s been an explosion outside the city. Look over there.”

He pointed toward the sky. Through the swirling snow and dense clouds, a massive, dark silhouette hovered ominously, barely visible in the distance.

“What is that?!” Serval exclaimed.

“I don’t know, but they’re not here with good intentions. Everyone, prepare for battle!” Gepard shouted, his voice hoarse as he issued orders. The soldiers promptly rushed to the armory to retrieve their weapons and equipment.

Gepard clenched his teeth and turned to Serval. “Sis, don’t run around. It’s dangerous here. There’s a chance…”

“A chance of what?”

“That it might be the Antimatter Legion… from centuries ago,” Gepard said grimly.

While the siblings conversed, Pela narrowed her eyes, staring intently at the dark mass in the sky. Her glasses weren’t just decorative; they were a cutting-edge tool modified by the research department, allowing her to see objects at great distances for reconnaissance purposes.

Using this, Pela spotted countless conical objects raining down from the shadowy figure in the sky. The explosions, she deduced, were caused by these falling devices.

“No, it’s not the Antimatter Legion,” Pela suddenly interjected. “I’ve studied their records extensively. The Legion primarily relied on infantry. Even the largest Legion constructs weren’t one-fifth the size of that thing. It’s unlikely to be them. Besides…” She gestured toward the distant mountains. “The bombardment isn’t targeting Belobog; it’s hitting the desolate mountains outside the city.”

Serval’s eyes widened. “So… they’re not trying to kill anyone?”

“Exactly.” Pela nodded. “But we still need to prepare for the worst. My assessment might be wrong. If they aren’t our enemies, then there’s an even more terrifying possibility…”

“What do you mean?” Gepard asked, his tone urgent.

“If it’s not the Antimatter Legion, then we might be facing something far worse. Against the Legion, we’d still have a fighting chance. But against a colossal aerial war machine like that, we wouldn’t stand a chance. The ground would collapse, and even retreating to the Underworld wouldn’t save us.

“Everything on the surface would be destroyed. No one would escape unscathed.”

Pela bit her lip and, under the intense gaze of the Landau siblings, whispered, “This is what the young mistress has feared all along. It’s the power behind the boss—those who have now come looking for him.”

“They’ve discovered the boss is missing. And they’ve come to settle accounts.”

“This is likely a show of force—a warning and a threat of violence.

“And we… we’re probably being targeted because of certain tyrannical actions, actions that have provoked their hostility.”

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T/N: hehehe

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!