Fortunately, last night’s snowfall had been light, leaving traces on the ground still visible beneath the thin layer of frost.
Before Bronya’s arrival, several Silvermane Guards had already ventured into the dangerous zones to scout for Fragmentum activity. It didn’t take long for them to discover faint footprints trailing out of the city, extending toward the wilderness.
Summoning the finest soldiers from within Belobog, a massive expeditionary force was swiftly mobilized, marching out of the city en masse.
In the past, such expeditions were often meaningless. Many captains didn’t fully understand the purpose behind their superiors’ commands to attack Fragmentum zones and would strike unspoken agreements with their subordinates:
Find a safe spot to camp for a day or two, then return to the city under the pretense of completing the mission.
Attack? Only fools would throw their lives away.
This time, however, things were different. The Guards understood the gravity of their mission—they weren’t launching an assault; they were following the trail of their missing Supreme Guardian, Cocolia.
Even so, many soldiers couldn’t help but wonder why their leader had left the city in the dead of night without informing anyone.
Thus, burdened with questions and armed with their long-unused “alien weapons,” the Silvermane Guards advanced swiftly, cutting through the snowy wilderness beyond Belobog’s gates.
Unlike the route Chen Lin had taken upon arriving in the city, this path led the group up a snow-covered mountain.
For many soldiers, this was uncharted territory—a frozen landscape unfamiliar to all but a few.
Collapsed wooden cabins buried under snow, peculiar creatures frozen solid in the ice…
Chen Lin immediately recognized the eerie frozen figures. He had encountered their kind many times during his tenure aboard the Herta Space Station.
The Antimatter Legion.
Bronya, well-read and sharp-eyed, quickly pieced it together as well. The area seemed to be an ancient battlefield from seven centuries prior. She had seen illustrations of Antimatter Legion soldiers in the archives—vicious, terrifying beings radiating an aura of destruction, invaders from beyond the stars.
“This must be where our ancestors fought off foreign invaders,” she murmured, her breath crystallizing in the icy air. “The texts in Qlipoth Fort described them as brutal and horrifying… ruthless marauders from another domain.”
Chen Lin nodded. “That’s correct. Their reputation is equally abysmal across the galaxy.”
“You’ve encountered the Antimatter Legion, sir?” Bronya asked, eyes wide with curiosity.
“Of course. My research ship was attacked by them just two months ago. Thankfully, we managed to repel them quickly.”
Chen Lin glanced at Pela, who was visibly shivering in the cold. He couldn’t help but admire her bravery—venturing out in such thin clothing despite the bitter chill.
Sensing the growing attention from the troops around him, Chen Lin feigned a thoughtful expression and asked, “But why would the Supreme Guardian come to a place like this? With Fragmentum creatures lurking everywhere, wouldn’t she be in constant danger?”
The question struck a nerve. Several Silvermane officers visibly stiffened, their uneasy smiles faltering as unpleasant memories surfaced.
Bronya snapped out of her own thoughts, pressing her lips together. She signaled for the group to continue moving forward. Standing closest to her, Chen Lin overheard her barely audible whisper:
“Mother… what are you doing out here…?”
The further they advanced, the denser and more dangerous the Fragmentum creatures became. Concerned that explosions might trigger an avalanche, Chen Lin suggested switching their weapons to energy-based lasers. While less destructive than missiles, they were far superior to melee arms.
As they pressed on…
“Is that… blood?!”
A soldier pointed toward the snow ahead, where faint streaks of red stained the otherwise pristine white.
“Stay alert!” Gepard barked, immediately ordering the troops to secure the area.
They approached cautiously, finding more and more crimson trails scattered along the uneven mountain path.
As a trained officer, Gepard quickly deduced that the blood was fresh, likely spilled only hours ago. He prepared to report his findings to Bronya, but as he rose, his eyes widened in shock.
“This… This can’t be…”
From his new vantage point, Gepard saw a scene that perfectly mirrored the nightmare he’d had the night before. Every detail, down to the location, matched his dream exactly.
A chilling memory flashed through his mind—of a comrade being impaled and cast aside like a broken doll. Acting on instinct, Gepard sprinted toward a nearby cliff’s edge.
There, he found another large, ominous bloodstain. The sight left him reeling, his emotions a chaotic storm.
Meanwhile, Chen Lin quietly observed from within the group, refraining from interfering further. At this point, people were more likely to believe the evidence before their eyes than anything he could say.
Ten minutes later, the tension among the troops had grown palpable. Unease clouded every face… including Bronya’s.
Finally, they found Cocolia unconscious about a hundred meters from the trail of blood. The accompanying medics rushed forward, following protocol to assess her condition.
Although unconscious, Cocolia’s life was not in danger.
Strangely, the officers didn’t seem relieved to have found her. Instead, they wore strained smiles, their gazes heavy with unspoken doubts. By the time the group began their return journey to the city, the mood had shifted dramatically.
No one cheered. No one celebrated.
They marched in silence, their thoughts weighed down by the events of the day.
—
Belobog’s lockdown ended as quickly as it had begun.
Most civilians remained in the dark about what the Silvermane Guards had been doing, having only witnessed them mobilizing en masse before vanishing toward the frontlines.
Back at the Goethe Hotel, Chen Lin had just settled into his room when he received a message from Bronya.
Bronya: “Mentor, could you come to the palace? There’s something I need to discuss with you.”
Cocolia’s state during their return had been highly unusual. Having observed her closely, Chen Lin suspected Bronya’s request was related to this.
Chen Lin: “Alright.”
Bronya: “I’ll have Pela meet you outside.”
Following the familiar route to Qlipoth Fort, Chen Lin found Pela waiting for him at the gates.
“Sir, this way, please.”
Pela led him past the administrative halls of the palace, guiding him to the true heart of Cocolia’s residence.
They crossed a sprawling courtyard before entering a castle-like chamber, where Bronya stood waiting, her face clouded with worry.
“Mentor…”
“What’s wrong?” Chen Lin asked gently.
Bronya’s voice wavered. “The doctors say Mother is in a deep coma… they aren’t sure how long it will take for her to recover. I… I don’t know what to do…”
Could this get any better?
Chen Lin fought to suppress the grin threatening to break across his face.
He had been concerned that Cocolia’s interference might complicate his plans for Belobog’s hydroponic farms. But with her out of commission, the path ahead seemed much clearer.
While he didn’t fully understand what had transpired between Cocolia and the Stellaron, his heightened intuition told him she now harbored an intense grudge against him. Let her stew, he thought. I’ll take this time to seize control of Belobog’s lifeline.
Masking his delight, Chen Lin adopted a grave expression.
“A nation cannot go a day without its leader, Bronya. As the Supreme Guardian’s heir, it is your duty to take up her mantle in her absence and steer Belobog toward a brighter future. This is the responsibility you must bear.”
“I… I understand!” Bronya straightened, resolve hardening in her eyes. “I won’t let Mother—or you—down. Please, Mentor, guide me!”
Chen Lin nodded solemnly. “You’ve already shown the qualities of a capable leader. Let’s start by addressing the food crisis together. My superiors have approved the sharing of advanced agricultural techniques. Together, we’ll secure a major victory for Belobog’s future!”
—
T/N: a wins a win
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!
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