Stellaris Tech Tree HSR

Without Chen Lin accompanying them, the Trailblazers' atmosphere instantly turned somber.

It was obvious to anyone paying attention that whatever had taken Chen Lin away wasn't a casual matter. Worse yet, it might even lead to their real identities being exposed.

Losing interest in sightseeing, the group, under Pella's apologetic guidance, returned to the Goethe Hotel and gathered in their room.

"Ugh… they took Lin away. If his identity gets exposed, won't he be in danger?" March complained, sprawled across the table. "This must've been the idea of that so-called Supreme Guardian. Those guards were so aggressive—totally different from yesterday."

"Doesn't matter. I'll break him out," Stelle said, casually twirling her bat.

As the two spoke, Dan Heng leaned against the wall, staring at his phone. His face revealed no trace of emotion, leaving his thoughts unreadable.

March tilted her head, frowning as she addressed him. "Hey, Dan Heng, do you think we should wait here for Lin to come back?"

Dan Heng raised his eyes slightly, answering with his usual calmness, "We wait here."

March seemed ready to protest, but Dan Heng preemptively sighed, knowing exactly what she was going to ask.

"Chen Lin gave me a signal system. If he's in danger, he'll send me a '0.' If there's no danger, he'll send '1.'"

"What?! When did you two come up with that?"

"Shortly after he left, he messaged me about it."

With that, Dan Heng placed his phone on the table for them to see. Displayed on the screen was a message from Chen Lin outlining the simple code.

It was nothing fancy—just a quick and direct plan communicated through text.

Like how fake corporate dramas might involve intricate schemes and financial warfare, real business was often just about storming in and stealing the company stamp.

Simple. Effective. Unpretentious.

March blinked in surprise. "Then what were you thinking about just now, looking so serious?"

"I was considering what we'd do if Chen Lin's identity is exposed—how we'd regroup. If it isn't exposed, we just keep up the act. He's resourceful and full of surprises; I trust his judgment."

"Mhm, mhm! Lin is soft, warm, and smells nice. I trust him too," Stelle added confidently.

Her comment left March and Dan Heng scooting a few steps away, instinctively distancing themselves.

She's on a different wavelength; we are not following her down that road.

"By the way, Stelle," March asked, curiosity piqued, "why are you always clinging to Chen Lin? You haven't even known him that long."

Stelle tilted her head, her expression blank as she answered honestly, "I don't know. He just feels… familiar, like family."

"Like siblings?"

"No, like a parent."

March and Dan Heng: "???"

It was too abstract to make sense. The two exchanged baffled looks and gave up trying to understand.

Dan Heng returned to his corner to monitor his phone, while March, now reassured about Chen Lin's safety, turned her attention to chatting with Stelle about trivial topics, such as ranking the snacks delivered from Herta Space Station.

Not long after, Dan Heng suddenly moved, breaking his intense focus on the screen.

"A message."

March and Stelle immediately abandoned their conversation, rushing over to him.

"Well? How is he? Is Lin okay?"

"What's the message?"

Dan Heng handed them his phone and started walking toward the door, rubbing his temples as he said, "See for yourselves. When you're done, return my phone. I'm going to my room to organize intel."

The screen displayed a single '1' from Chen Lin, followed by a short, straightforward message:

"Helped them out with some branch tech. No issues."

"YESSS!!"

March and Stelle high-fived in unison, celebrating with infectious enthusiasm.

The relief was palpable. Overcoming uncertainty and adversity always carried a unique thrill—perhaps that was the charm of wandering the stars, facing the unknown.

---

Outside the Qlipoth Fort, Chen Lin glanced at his comms interface. While the "Suspicion of Threat: -50" tag remained, a new entry had appeared: "Unexpected Assistance: +70."

Theoretically, resolving the problem should have removed the negative tag. Still, gaining goodwill in any form was better than nothing.

What puzzled Chen Lin was Cocolia's reaction.

Despite the enthusiasm from others over his solutions and designs, the Supreme Guardian's smile seemed increasingly forced.

Thanks to his heightened perception, Chen Lin also detected a faint undercurrent of regret emanating from her. Though subtle enough to escape notice, his enhanced senses left no doubt: Cocolia's emotions were out of sync with her demeanor.

Something's off about that woman.

Just as he descended the stairs, a voice called out from behind him.

"Mr. Chen Lin, please wait!"

He turned to see Bronya approaching, her face lit up with an uncharacteristically vibrant smile.

The young woman, accustomed to balancing her time between military duties and governance, had just witnessed the makeshift steam engine in action alongside the researchers.

Initially, she couldn't understand the excitement surrounding the seemingly simple contraption, but Chen Lin's concise explanation revealed its profound potential.

Steam could power machines, transfer heat through pipes, and provide warm air directly to residents' homes—creating livable conditions even amid the harshest winters.

Most importantly, it offered Belobog the possibility of independence from the "Preservation" energy they relied on so heavily.

It was a game-changer.

Bronya hadn't fully grasped the concept of the radiators Chen Lin mentioned, but the senior researchers' unanimous agreement convinced her it was achievable.

And beyond that, Chen Lin's mention of heated greenhouses for growing crops was even more revolutionary.

To Bronya, Chen Lin's casual contributions had the potential to fundamentally transform Belobog's operations. If this trajectory continued, the city could finally escape the vicious cycle of food scarcity and population stagnation. A larger population would mean greater resilience against the Rift creatures and stronger defenses overall.

He… feels like a miracle sent by the stars.

Perhaps, with just a little more from him, Belobog's salvation wouldn't be a distant dream.

Chen Lin, having just concluded his meeting with Cocolia, was preparing to regroup with his team to discuss their next steps. But Bronya's call stopped him in his tracks.

"Something you need, Miss Bronya?"

---

Hello! Thank you so much for reading this chapter. WiseTL has worked hard to bring these wonderful stories to you, and I'm so happy we could share this moment together! Don't you think stories are a little like dreams? Each one has its own colors and shapes, and they grow even brighter when shared with others.

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