Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [57]

From midnight onward, a strange tension pervaded the ranks of the Silvermane Guards.

The soldiers didn’t know the specifics of what had happened, only that their commanding officers all seemed unusually grim. No one dared to ask questions outright, leaving the men to speculate in hushed conversations.

“Hey, what do you think’s wrong with our captain? He’s been looking so gloomy all morning. I mean, he’s not high enough up the ladder to get seriously punished just because we haven’t found the Supreme Guardian, right?”

“I heard from an older guy in another unit,” one soldier whispered, glancing around to make sure no officers were nearby. “Apparently, the captain just had a baby. Maybe he’s worried about affording formula.”

“That’s Lovich from logistics, you idiot! Our captain isn’t even married. How could he have a kid?!” another soldier cut in. “I’m betting he’s just been stuck in the camp too long without leave.”

“What’s there to get pent up about? It’s not like we’re stuck with women,” someone muttered, only to be met with a collective groan.

“Get away from us. You’re scaring everyone.”

“…”

While the chatter went unnoticed for the most part, the camp’s periphery steadily filled with more Silvermane squads from other units, all gathered for the same purpose—finding the missing Supreme Guardian, Cocolia.

Even among the soldiers grouped under different commanders, speculation was rife. None of them had been told much, other than that their top priority was to search for Cocolia’s whereabouts.

At the camp entrance, Gepard stood with a few lieutenants, his brows furrowed so tightly it seemed his face might collapse in on itself.

“This has to be a coincidence…” he muttered to himself.

The night before, Gepard had a nightmare—one so vivid it still sent chills down his spine. In the dream, Cocolia had deceived her loyal Silvermane Guards, luring them into the Fragmentum-controlled zones before slaughtering them without mercy.

Had it ended there, Gepard might have dismissed it as an idle manifestation of stress. He would have shaken it off, reminding himself of the Landau family’s duty to protect Belobog, and continued fulfilling his responsibilities.

But…

The guards he had seen massacred in his dream were the very ones reported missing today.

The Silvermane Guards prized quality over quantity. Even so, the unit still numbered over a thousand strong, and Gepard prided himself on remembering every soldier’s name, face, and voice.

What he had witnessed in his dream matched the missing soldiers exactly. The memory left a cold sweat running down his spine.

He kept the nightmare to himself, telling no one—not even Serval. The thought of such accusations spreading and damaging his family’s reputation was too great a risk.

Serval often called him stiff or dense, and he didn’t mind. But that didn’t mean he was naive. The Silvermane Captain’s position was highly coveted, and there were plenty of families eager to exploit any slip-up to climb the ranks.

Lost in thought, Gepard sighed deeply.

Before long, a fully armed detachment approached, escorting three young figures: Bronya, Pela, and Chen Lin. Gepard immediately snapped to attention.

“Miss Bronya, Deputy Pela… Chen Lin,” he greeted with a stiff bow.

“Captain Gepard, where did you find the lead?” Bronya asked anxiously.

Gepard gestured toward one of his senior officers, who stepped forward and motioned politely.

“I’m the officer in charge of this camp. Miss Bronya, please follow me for the details.”

The professional led Bronya and Pela toward the investigation site. Chen Lin, meanwhile, opted to stay behind, standing next to Gepard at the camp’s edge.

“My apologies, Mr. Chen, for you having to witness this mess,” Gepard said once the others had left.

“It’s nothing. I’m just as concerned for the Supreme Guardian’s safety as anyone. That’s why I came along,” Chen Lin replied, patting Gepard’s shoulder lightly. “You shouldn’t look so burdened. Finding a lead is a good thing. If you keep wearing that face, it’ll only worry your men.”

“Am I really that obvious?” Gepard asked, startled.

He touched his face, realizing for the first time just how deeply the dream had affected him. After a brief pause, he sighed. “Maybe I’m just too worried about the country… By the way, my sister…”

Having left Serval’s workshop in a rush earlier, Gepard seized the opportunity to bring her up.

Through their conversation, he finally pieced together how Chen Lin and Serval had met.

“She still clings to what happened back then,” Gepard said, shaking his head. “I’ve told her it’s fine to admit she made a mistake—there’s no shame in that. But she’s so stubborn, insisting she did nothing wrong. I hope you don’t take her words to heart.”

He sighed again, clearly frustrated. Despite his efforts to mediate between Serval and Cocolia over the years, he had always hit a dead end.

In his view, Serval had erred, and Cocolia had shown leniency in reducing her punishment out of respect for the Landau family. But Serval’s refusal to compromise had driven a wedge between her and the family.

Chen Lin chuckled knowingly but shifted the topic. “You should take care of yourself too. You’re responsible for protecting Belobog, after all. Don’t wear yourself out. And if there’s anything troubling you, feel free to talk to me. Who knows? I might have a solution.”

“…” Gepard hesitated, his expression conflicted. After a few seconds, he finally spoke. “Actually, I do have a question.”

“Go ahead,” Chen Lin encouraged.

“Belobog might seem primitive compared to where you’re from, but… has your nation ever studied dreams?”

“Dreams?” Chen Lin asked, intrigued.

“I had a troubling one recently. It didn’t match what I know of reality, yet there were too many coincidences for comfort,” Gepard explained, carefully choosing his words.

“Dreams often reflect our subconscious thoughts,” Chen Lin began. “Sometimes they’re just random nonsense, but occasionally, they can be influenced by external energies. Have you ever heard of ‘visitation dreams’?”

“Yes,” Gepard said. “When I was a child, I dreamed of departed relatives. They even gave me advice that later turned out to be true…”

“Exactly. It’s similar to that. If you dream of a specific scene, it could stem from a deep yearning. If it involves someone who’s passed, it might be their lingering attachment to you. And of course, some dreams are just meaningless imaginings.”

“I see…” Gepard nodded, though his brow furrowed even more tightly. “Thank you for the explanation.”

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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!