Stellaris Tech Tree HSR

"Yeah, I've seen him before. He even asked me which books were popular. He seemed unfamiliar, so I asked about him. That's when I found out he was one of Belobog's foreign guests," Faith said. "I could tell he truly loved books."

Faith was the most renowned bookseller in the Administrative District, running a well-established bookstore that had earned her respect and recognition among the locals.

Hearing Faith's confirmation, the gathered crowd quickly accepted it as truth—there really were a few guests from beyond the stars residing in Belobog!

Among the throng, however, were also many refugees who had fled the Commercial District earlier that day. Though they knew Belobog would provide for their food and shelter, no one wanted their home—where they had lived for years—to be overrun and left as a den for monsters.

No place like home, as they say.

People form deep attachments to the places they inhabit for a long time, and the refugees were no exception. When they heard there might be a chance to return to their homes, their emotions surged. Many of them had never seen this so-called savior who had discovered how to eliminate the Rifts, but they were profoundly grateful to the young man who had given them a shred of hope.

The Silvermane Guards standing watch puffed out their chests with pride, basking in the rising tide of optimism. Then, a familiar voice, dripping with excitement, broke through from behind them.

"Shift change! Move aside! Damn, I wasn't done enjoying that fight yet!"

"Same here! Did you see how that blast took out dozens of monsters in one shot? I've never had such an easy time in combat!"

"Thank Chen, huh? That man opened our eyes to a whole new world and even saved Captain Gepard. Did you see the look the Jaeger Corps gave him? Pure admiration!"

"Hah, no kidding. I'm gonna be bragging about this for the next ten years!"

"Ten years? When I get back, I'm writing my name and this event into my family's genealogy! My descendants will be bragging about Chen for generations!"

The group of reluctant Silvermane Guards, fresh from the frontlines, approached to relieve their comrades.

The previously bored Guards standing watch perked up immediately.

"You guys were at the front?"

"Sure were!"

"So, how's it looking? Are we winning?"

The leader of the returning Guards smirked, straightened his posture, and let out a confident hum.

"A cakewalk."

"Whoo! Yeah!" The crowd fell silent for a heartbeat before erupting into cheers as though it were a festival.

Everyone knew Belobog had been retreating further and further under the pressure of the Riftspawn, their living space constantly shrinking. But hearing that the soldiers were now routing the monsters so decisively sent waves of excitement through the gathered masses.

Somewhere in the crowd, a voice called out, followed by another, and then another, until the chant grew louder and unified.

"Chen is here, and victory is near! Chen is here, Belobog is saved!"

Word spread like wildfire throughout the streets and alleys of Belobog. People became messengers, shouting the news to anyone who would listen.

"Have you heard of Chen? He's helping us reclaim the Commercial District!"

Amid the revelry, a certain disguised figure couldn't help but smirk smugly. Stelle patted her chest with pride—mission accomplished. She wasn't sure why Chen had tasked her with stirring up public enthusiasm, but with the promise of sweets (paid for with Bronya's money), she didn't need much convincing.

---

While the people outside the Qlipoth Fort celebrated, a far different mood dominated the Administrative Hall.

Inside, the tension was palpable. At the head of the room, Cocolia's expression was stone-cold, but her eyes betrayed a storm of barely restrained fury.

Late into the night, she had summoned over a dozen of her top ministers for an emergency meeting. Most had assumed it was to discuss strategies for managing the dire situation in the Commercial District.

Instead, they were blindsided by the news: a victory. Not just any victory, but a resounding success. The Silvermane Guards had not only pushed back the Riftspawn but also discovered their weakness, a potential method to eliminate the Rifts altogether.

So why was the Supreme Guardian furious?

The answer came when one of her spies delivered additional details.

Cocolia's orders for a defensive strategy had been disregarded. The military leadership, citing the age-old adage that "a general in the field does not follow orders to the letter," had chosen to press the advantage instead. Even Bronya had sent a letter urging her mother to seize this opportunity to reclaim the Commercial District.

The ministers began to piece together the source of Cocolia's rage.

Her authority was being undermined. The Silvermane Guards—her military—were starting to show signs of disobedience.

Among the gathered officials were opportunists, eager to curry favor with their leader. The Minister of Administration, a frequent sycophant, stepped forward with a sharp bow.

"Your Excellency, please calm yourself. I believe Lady Bronya may have been deceived by these foreign interlopers. Their intentions are clearly to destabilize Belobog's governance by luring the Silvermane Guards into reckless action! We must apprehend these criminals at once!"

Others, emboldened by the lack of reprimand, quickly followed suit.

"Exactly! These outsiders are wolves in sheep's clothing. We should execute them and display their corpses as a warning to any who would dare plot against Belobog!"

"I second the motion!"

"And I third it!"

Their venomous accusations were suddenly interrupted as the heavy doors to the hall burst open. A soldier, clad in Silvermane armor and carrying a fresh battle report, strode in.

"Latest report! Another great victory! The Silvermane Guards have advanced three more kilometers into the original Commercial District. Under Chen's guidance and with his weapons, they have annihilated tens of thousands of Riftspawn, collapsed dozens of major Rifts, and achieved zero fatalities. Only one injury reported!"

The soldier slammed the report onto the table and exited briskly, eager to return to the frontlines.

The ministers, who had moments ago been spewing venom, fell silent. One by one, they lowered their heads, retreating into the shadows of their places at the table.

Cocolia's face was like ice.

Bam!

She slammed her hand against the table.

"Meeting adjourned!"

As the ministers filed out, Cocolia sat alone in the empty hall. Her hands trembled slightly, her mind torn between anger and something far more unsettling—fear.

For a long moment, she stared into the darkness. Then, in a voice barely louder than a whisper, she hissed, "Shut up. I know what I must do. I don't need your incessant chatter!"

"Doubt? Me? Cocolia doubts nothing. Surely it is you who are afraid."

"These matters require careful consideration. I won't have Belobog fall to outside forces before my plans are complete... I said shut up!"

---

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