Stellaris Tech Tree HSR

Morning came, casting a faint light across the city.

Led by Pela, Chen Lin and his group used the pretext of scientific research to tour Belobog.

"Chen Lin! Chen Lin! This cold… uh, cold fried scarlet fish is sweet and tangy. So tasty!"

Dan Heng corrected her calmly, "It's cold-eaten scarlet fish."

"Nope, sweet meat is blasphemy. I only eat savory and spicy," March retorted as she tried to shove another piece of fish toward Chen Lin's mouth.

Dodging the incoming meat, Chen Lin shifted his attention to the petite, intellectual-looking young woman beside him, steering the conversation away. "Miss Pela, may I ask how the city acquires its staple food supplies?"

"The city's temperature is just barely suitable for cultivating certain crops. After Belobog was founded, countless seeds were brought in. Through trial and error over generations, we developed crops capable of growing in such low temperatures."

Pela explained seriously. Despite wearing the Silvermane Guard's uniform, she lacked the martial aura of her peers. Instead, she carried a thick book under one arm and wore oversized round glasses, exuding a scholarly charm.

Her full name, Pelaegia Sergeyevna, carried an unmistakable Slavic air. When she had first introduced herself at the inn, Chen Lin had mused on how fitting her name sounded.

Through their brief interactions, Chen Lin found Pela to have a talent for art appreciation. As she guided them through the city's landmarks, her descriptions of the architecture's cultural significance were articulate yet easy to grasp, reflecting her erudite nature.

"I heard geomarrow is a heat source. Miss Bronya mentioned that the walls of Belobog's homes are insulated, meaning you've already mastered thermal retention. Why not construct greenhouses?"

"Greenhouses? What are those?" Pela asked, tilting her head in curiosity.

Chen Lin explained the basic principles of greenhouses, to which Pela shook her head.

"Geomarrow is already being mined to its limit. The amount being transported from the lower levels is dwindling, and the veins are gradually depleting. Decades ago, scholars proposed a similar idea, but the scarcity of geomarrow and insulation materials made it impractical. Even maintaining the current buildings is a struggle."

"Depleting veins…"

Chen Lin's mouth twitched. It's probably just the veins beneath the city, right?

Belobog wasn't even half the size of one of his hometown's cities. That this tiny area had produced so much geomarrow was already impressive.

There must still be plenty of untapped resources in other parts of the planet. Otherwise, the available mineral deposits wouldn't be as abundant as I've observed.

From Pela's explanation, Chen Lin gleaned a critical insight: Belobog was likely facing a mineral crisis.

Geomarrow was Belobog's lifeline, more crucial than food. While a person could survive 5-7 days without eating, they'd last no more than two days against the relentless cold without heat.

Ever since meeting Cocolia, the Contacts system had added a "Belobog" entry. Opening it displayed Cocolia's portrait. Initially, the heir's position was marked with a question mark, but after meeting Bronya, her portrait replaced it.

More intriguingly, Chen Lin noticed that the option to "Construct Mining Station" had become available.

However, because the planet was under Belobog's jurisdiction, a note indicated, "Requires consent from the local authority."

Building a mining station on a planet would yield 75 minerals and 85 energy as permanent resources—a godsend compared to any modded bonuses he'd seen before!

Chen Lin began pondering how to gain mining rights without straining their relationship with Belobog.

The restrictions in Stellaris could be frustrating—primitive civilizations barely capable of flight could bar you from mining in their territory! Thankfully, this system offered a workaround through diplomatic consent, sparing him the need to resort to less ethical methods.

As Chen Lin delved deeper into Belobog's operations through Pela, a Silvermane Guard approached them.

"Commander Sergeyevna…"

"Firstly, my name is Pelaegia Sergeyevna. Please use my full name, or just call me Pela—but get it right."

Pela rubbed her temples in exasperation before asking, "What's the matter?"

The guard nodded. "Commander Bronya is waiting outside the dining hall. She has something to discuss with you."

"Alright, I'll head over now."

Turning to Chen Lin, Pela apologized, "I'm sorry for the interruption. I'll return shortly to continue explaining the city's food production."

"Don't worry about it, Miss Pela. Please, attend to your duties first."

Chen Lin smiled as he watched Pela leave the dining hall. March sidled closer, lowering her voice.

"Chen Lin, the people here seem friendly enough. Shouldn't we just be honest about why we're here?"

The night before, Chen Lin had held a brief meeting with the trailblazers, summarizing the known and unknown variables before deciding to maintain their guise as a research team.

"No. It's better to be cautious."

Dan Heng added, "Chen Lin's right. Yesterday, during our audience with the Supreme Guardian, I couldn't shake the feeling that we weren't alone in that room. It was… unsettling."

"Agreed," everyone nodded in unison.

Stelle chimed in, "I trust Chen Lin. I've had good food and good sleep here, so I'm happy."

Chen Lin, Dan Heng, March: "…"

Way to play it cool.

Given the possibility of eavesdroppers, Chen Lin quickly shifted the conversation to their food instead.

A few minutes later, Pela returned, her expression slightly troubled.

"Captain Chen Lin, I have a favor to ask…"

"Oh?"

Chen Lin noticed Bronya standing just behind her, offering him a polite nod and a soft smile.

"What's the matter?"

"Our scientists are facing some challenges…"

"I'll explain."

Bronya stepped forward. "This morning, my mother received a report from the research department. They're encountering significant obstacles with certain instruments and energy systems—problems they cannot solve on their own."

"So they thought of me?"

"Yes. The Supreme Guardian hopes you can take a look. Even if your expertise differs, any suggestions would be appreciated. Otherwise, many projects may face delays."

"No problem. I'll do my best to help."

Chen Lin stood with a smile, bidding farewell to his team before preparing to leave. As he glanced at Bronya, he noticed her avoiding his gaze, her eyes darting away as if she were hiding something.

Interesting.

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