Stellaris Tech Tree HSR

This raised a critical question: why would the Supreme Guardian, Cocolia, choose to cripple her own city? Was it to hasten the Fragmentum's erosion of both the Overworld and Underworld?

When Bronya realized this possibility last night, it left her shaken. She initially thought she had miscalculated, that some step in her reasoning was flawed.

But after reanalyzing the chain of events, she was dismayed to find the conclusion remained the same no matter how she approached it.

This realization led Bronya to seek out a moment of quiet to pose her mounting doubts to Chen Lin.

After all, Pela's understanding of the situation was limited, and others were too intimidated by Bronya's status to engage her honestly. The only person she could truly confide in was this mentor she had known for less than two weeks.

Chen Lin, an outsider, cared little about her status as the future Supreme Guardian, just as she was unfazed by his identity as a member of a distant and advanced alien civilization.

With no entangling interests between them, their conversations felt natural and sincere.

Chen Lin nodded and said, "I can't comprehend how such actions could benefit Belobog. When facing a powerful external threat, it's nonsensical for those on the same side to deepen divides and create unnecessary conflict. Like you, I find this approach severely lacking—bordering on incomprehensible."

Thanks to his unique perspective, Chen Lin had long known there was a problem with Cocolia. In a way, his insights were akin to having a partial "omniscient view."

To others, his understanding of Cocolia might seem inexplicable, so he refrained from revealing everything to Bronya.

There was always a balance to be struck in such matters—too much information could be as harmful as too little.

After a moment of thought, Chen Lin spoke again.

"The Supreme Guardian system is the bedrock of Belobog's political structure. Though not elected, the position carries both sanctity and responsibility. The Supreme Guardian exists to ensure Belobog's survival against the Fragmentum, protecting its people. Do you recall what I told you before? Belobog's institutions may seem peculiar, but they are practical. Anyone who assumes the title of Supreme Guardian must fulfill their responsibilities, or their sacred status loses its meaning."

"So… you think the same way?"

Bronya sighed in relief, though her expression quickly grew hesitant. A flicker of uncertainty crossed her eyes, and Chen Lin caught it immediately.

"Is there something else you want to ask?"

"Mentor… if one day I impulsively did something wrong, would you help me?"

"Hm?"

Chen Lin was taken aback. Bronya's words seemed to carry deeper implications.

"That depends on what you did wrong."

After a moment of reflection, Chen Lin patted her shoulder. "If it's helping the oppressed, standing for ideological justice, or an act of moral righteousness, then, as your mentor in political and cultural understanding, I would naturally assist any student of mine in need."

He looked up at the train's ceiling. Above the deep concrete slab was Belobog's outskirts, and beyond that, the boundless expanse of the stars.

"Bronya, you must understand that the wheels of history roll ever forward. When the time comes, anyone can become a hero driving history's progress.

"Circumstances, policies, and the demands of the era are like a flood. Someone will inevitably rise to steer the current."

"No individual's strength alone can alter history, but when history calls for progress, the power of people becomes limitless."

---

Standing guard at the door to ensure no one overheard their conversation, Pela froze momentarily. Both she and Bronya had studied countless histories of alien civilizations, many of which detailed struggles for unity and survival.

Though born and raised in Belobog, Pela had witnessed the sacrifices and bravery of the Silvermane Guards. She found herself deeply moved by Chen Lin's words.

Lowering oneself in the face of oppression would never bring peace. True peace had to be earned.

In that moment, Pela's respect and admiration for Chen Lin soared to new heights. She thought of how his homeland, like Belobog, had once faced dire crises but had emerged victorious through sheer determination.

If his people could overcome such odds, so could Belobog. After all, Belobog had never surrendered to the Fragmentum or the unrelenting snowstorms.

The Silvermane Guards, many of whom were once ordinary citizens, willingly donned their uniforms to fight against the monsters of the Fragmentum. They bore the responsibility of protecting a homeland with no room for retreat.

Perhaps this was the "light of humanity" Chen Lin spoke of.

The train came to a halt at their destination: a massive, depleted mining vein buried hundreds of meters underground. The space was a testament to relentless human effort—scarred, dark, and vast.

The abandoned geothermal lamps hanging near the cave entrances had long gone out due to a lack of power. Yet the faint yellow glow of residual Geomarrow embedded in the walls illuminated the area with a soft, warm light.

The Guards quickly unpacked their tools, flooding the cavern with bright, artificial light.

Chen Lin picked up a piece of raw Geomarrow ore, its transparent crystal embedded with impurities. It was warm and comforting in his palm, a clear reminder of its value as an energy resource.

Even in a depleted vein, scattered bits of Geomarrow could still be found. But Belobog relied on manual mining methods, and once the main deposits were exhausted, the cost of extracting the remaining ore often outweighed the benefits. As a result, these scattered resources were left to languish, ignored and forgotten.

Chen Lin led the group through a thorough investigation, performing every sampling and surveying procedure meticulously. After two hours, he glanced at the Mining Station timer, which was about to hit zero, and turned to Bronya.

"Bronya, since this vein now belongs to me, can I transfer it to my research ship for analysis and extraction?"

"Yes, you can."

"Good."

Chen Lin smiled. "I'll contact the orbital research ship and have them establish a research pipeline here."

"A research pipeline?"

"Yes. Who knows? We might even synthesize artificial Geomarrow someday."

Chen Lin put his communicator away. "Let's head back to the train. They've given the green light, so the pipeline will be set up soon."

As his words echoed, the citizens of Belobog witnessed a stunning sight. A massive metal pipeline descended from the sky, piercing through the clouds to land on a distant mountainside. It effortlessly drilled into the earth, vanishing below the surface.

In Qlipoth's Fort, Cocolia, disturbed by the commotion, ascended to the palace's rooftop. The sight left her visibly shaken.

"What… what is this?"

---

T/N: heh science bitch!

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