Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [68]

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“The air down here is so chilly—it’s way colder than the overworld,” March said, stretching her arms out like a tightrope walker as she wobbled along, kicking her legs playfully. Her rosy cheeks glowed faintly, giving her the mischievous look of a carefree child.

The others knew better than to disturb Chen Lin while he was handling serious matters. Everyone could discern the importance of the situation, and since March wasn’t particularly fond of Sampo, she entertained herself just outside Natasha’s clinic.

Whenever March visited a new place, her curiosity always got the better of her. She would eagerly examine anything novel, whether it was the unique warmth of unprocessed geotherm stones, the architecture of the underground buildings, or the layout of the geothermal heaters.

Observation was a habit she had honed over time.

The streets bustled with activity. Passersby pushed two-wheeled carts selling snacks or local specialties. Life in the Underworld was undeniably tough, but it hadn’t yet reached the point of utter despair.

While it lacked the prosperity of the overworld, the relentless hustle for survival mirrored the struggles above ground.

“Hey! Who are you people? What are you sneaking around here for?”

March’s thoughts were interrupted by a sharp voice. She turned to see a spirited young woman standing at the corner of a side street. Her piercing gaze was fixed on March and her companions, her arms crossed in a defiant stance.

Nearby, Sampo, who had been lounging with a group of miners, immediately sprang to his feet, brushing off his pants as he hurried over. “Miss Seele! Miss Seele! These are my guests—really, I swear!”

“Sampo?” Seele frowned, her brows knitting. “What are you up to now? These people aren’t from the Underworld, are they? Look at those strange outfits—nobody here dresses like that. Don’t you dare break Wildfire’s rules.”

Seele’s daily patrols through the residential and mining areas had made her intimately familiar with every face and name in the district. Naturally, when she saw March and the others, she assumed they were intruders. Her suspicion bled into her tone, which wasn’t exactly friendly.

The hostility in her voice immediately soured March’s mood. She pouted and pointed at Seele’s dress.

“You think my outfit is strange? You’re wearing a dress too—what’s so normal about yours? It’s so bright and flashy it looks like a disco ball!”

Seele’s eyes narrowed. “You—!”

“Oh no, no, no!” Sampo darted between them, waving his hands frantically. “Ladies, please! Let’s not fight, alright? Just this once, give me some face, okay? Please!”

March opened her mouth to retort, but Stelle grabbed her by the collar and gently pulled her back, shaking her head.

Creak.

The door to Natasha’s clinic swung open, and Chen Lin emerged alongside Natasha.

The two had been discussing the availability of raw materials for medicine in the Underworld when the commotion outside caught their attention. Curious, they decided to step out and investigate.

“What’s going on here?”

Chen Lin and Natasha each pulled aside their respective acquaintances to ask for details. After hearing both sides, they couldn’t help but exchange amused glances.

What initially seemed like a serious confrontation turned out to be a classic case of “What are you looking at?” “What’s it to you?”

Before Seele could say anything, Chen Lin stepped forward with an apologetic smile. Extending his hand, he said, “Miss Seele, right? I’m sorry if my companion caused you any trouble. March tends to speak her mind—I hope you won’t take it to heart. Allow me to apologize on her behalf.”

Seele pursed her lips, her mind replaying Natasha’s earlier explanation.

The people in front of her weren’t intruders or troublemakers. In fact, they were guests who intended to help improve the Underworld.

The young man before her, with his sharp features and gentle demeanor, was even a scientist—an extremely rare breed.

When Natasha mentioned that this man had contributed significantly to the overworld, Seele’s initial reaction was irritation. The growing resentment between the two districts made her naturally distrustful of anyone who aided the overworld.

However, after learning that these visitors were from far beyond the stars, acting as guests who had come to assist Belobog out of goodwill, Seele’s hostility dissipated.

It turned out they weren’t Qlipoth Fort’s pawns but benevolent allies.

“I overreacted,” Seele muttered, hesitating briefly before shaking Chen Lin’s outstretched hand. “Sorry for the misunderstanding.”

Natasha smiled warmly. “I’m glad we cleared that up.”

Turning to March, Seele gave a slight bow. “I apologize for my attitude earlier. I hope you won’t hold it against me.”

“Uh…” March scratched her head. “I guess I could’ve been nicer too. It’s just that stupid Supreme Guardian—she’s got me in a foul mood.”

“All’s well that ends well.”

Chen Lin patted March on the shoulder with a grin. “Natasha, we’ve still got some materials to document!”

“Oh, right! Nearly forgot!”

Despite Belobog’s relatively small size, it had everything it needed. The Underworld, once the city’s industrial hub, had housed not only massive factories but also several research institutes staffed by scholars and pioneers.

After gathering information from Natasha about the Underworld’s resources, Chen Lin quickly identified which medicines could be synthesized with the available materials. Before the earlier commotion interrupted them, he and Natasha had been finalizing their plans.

The most urgently needed medicines were painkillers, followed by treatments for frostbite. Chen Lin immediately thought of two solutions: paracetamol, the first synthetic painkiller on Earth, and the universally recognized aspirin.

Both medicines could be synthesized using the Underworld’s materials, though the process would produce toxic gases that could pose serious risks if mishandled.

As for frostbite treatments, Chen Lin mulled it over and eventually landed on an unconventional but feasible option—nitroglycerin.

Of course, there was one glaring issue with that plan: if handled incorrectly, nitroglycerin had the unfortunate tendency to…

Blow people up.

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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!