The rocky walls of the mine stood tall and layered, their surfaces lined with cascading sand and stone.
At the bottom of the seemingly endless pit, Clara covered her mouth, her wide eyes brimming with disbelief.
Chen Lin, although less expressive, was just as focused. His gaze was locked on the object at his feet.
“If I told you this has nothing to do with me, would you believe it?” he asked, crouching down to examine the unknown metallic pipe on the ground. Looking at Clara, he added, “I didn’t do anything—it just popped out on its own.”
Clara nodded earnestly. “Mm-hmm! Clara saw everything. It’s not Big Brother’s fault.”
Cautiously stepping forward, she asked, “What is this? Clara’s never seen metal like this before.”
Just a moment earlier, Chen Lin had finished surveying his options and was about to lead Clara toward an exit. But as soon as he stepped away from the pit’s edge, the ground began to tremble violently.
Initially, he suspected that Fragmentum activity had caused quantum instabilities, creating seismic ripples that disrupted the terrain. However, he and Clara quickly turned to witness something far stranger: a long pipe, once buried deep in the chasm, suddenly shot upward as if pulled by an unseen force.
Startled by the surreal sight, Chen Lin instinctively tried to clear his name, blurting out, “I swear, I didn’t cause this!”
Luckily, Clara didn’t seem bothered. She even patted his head gently, smiling reassuringly. “It’s okay. Clara knows Big Brother is a good person. You’d never hurt Clara.”
For a grown man, such a gesture might have been awkward, but somehow, Clara’s sincerity made it feel endearing. Instead of discomfort, Chen Lin felt an odd surge of motivation.
This kid really knows how to lift spirits… he thought, his brow twitching slightly.
The strangeness didn’t end there.
The metallic pipe, now fully unearthed, began to glow with a rippling light that traveled along its surface from end to end. The glow resembled some kind of energy pulse, and wherever the light passed, the pipe vanished into thin air.
As Chen Lin observed the phenomenon, a term popped into his mind: Phase Transmission.
In Stellaris, he remembered an anomaly event involving a planet that continuously shifted between being a Gaia world and a Shrouded realm. After a lengthy investigation, the event rewarded players with a fully habitable Gaia planet.
He recalled this vividly, not because of the reward, but because, during one game, his sole scientist had spent over 3,000 in-game days investigating the anomaly. By the time he received the Gaia planet, he realized he had neglected the anomaly’s difficulty rating—it was a Level 10 anomaly.
The absurdity of wasting so much time left an impression he would never forget.
The current phenomenon—this glowing pipe—bore a striking resemblance to the phase transitions he’d encountered in the game.
Within seconds, the massive pipe, large enough that two people couldn’t wrap their arms around it, completely disappeared. Where it went, or why, remained a mystery even to Chen Lin.
“Let’s go,” Chen Lin said, standing and brushing off his hands. “Whatever that was, it’s got nothing to do with us. We shouldn’t linger here.”
He sighed inwardly. Whatever this anomaly was, he’d have to wait for the next event to reveal itself. Right now, his priority was returning to Boulder Town.
Without him, the town’s burgeoning economy could grind to a halt. As its self-proclaimed economic advisor, he couldn’t afford to let business deals worth hundreds, even thousands of Winterfell Shields fall through.
Not earning money? That would be worse than death!
“Okay!” Clara agreed cheerfully, following close behind. But as they walked, a subtle frown appeared on her face.
At first, Chen Lin didn’t notice. But when he turned back to check on her, he saw Clara wince slightly, her expression strained as if enduring some pain.
This girl was so likable—polite, perceptive, and mature beyond her years. Compared to the unruly kids back in his hometown, Clara was a breath of fresh air.
Seeing her discomfort, Chen Lin stopped and asked, “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
Clara gave a shy smile, waving him off. “Clara’s fine. I’m used to it.” She shifted her weight slightly, favoring one foot. “Let’s keep going, Big Brother.”
It was then that he noticed her feet—bare, reddened, and covered in small, fresh cuts.
“You’re not wearing shoes? Did you lose them while we were running?”
Clara hesitated, looking down. Her small feet were marred with frostbite and scars, the skin swollen and cracked in places.
Chen Lin frowned. Such delicate feet—how did they end up like this?
He wasn’t a foot enthusiast by any means, but seeing something so inherently beautiful reduced to such a state filled him with sadness.
The scars on her feet weren’t recent, either; they spoke of repeated injuries over time. It was clear that frostbite and wounds were part of her daily life.
“Clara, why aren’t you wearing shoes?” he asked, his tone gentle but firm.
Clara fidgeted, embarrassed. “Shoes feel strange… uncomfortable. Clara’s not used to wearing them.”
“Wait—so you’ve never worn shoes before?”
She nodded hesitantly.
“Be honest with me,” he pressed. “Is it because you can’t afford shoes, or because you don’t like them?”
After a moment of silence, Clara murmured, “Both… both.”
She went on to explain, “Clara often searches through scrap heaps for parts. Sometimes the metal is sharp… too sharp, and shoes get torn easily. Everyone in the settlement struggles to make ends meet. Clara can’t waste resources.”
Chen Lin felt a pang of guilt and anger. The hardships of the Underworld weren’t new to him, but seeing them reflected so starkly in Clara was like a slap in the face.
The truth was, life in the Underworld was an unrelenting struggle.
Chen Lin knew this better than anyone. He’d spent months rebuilding Boulder Town, planning its farms, factories, and supply chains. Even so, resources were scarce, and progress was painfully slow.
He was the reason the town could sustain itself, funneling everything from minerals to factory parts into its development. Yet even with his efforts, many people were barely scraping by.
Poverty, scarcity, and the inability to access deeper mines stifled the region’s potential.
Chen Lin clenched his fists. If they wouldn’t provide, he’d build it all himself.
“Wha—huh?” Clara’s startled voice interrupted his thoughts.
Clara let out a soft sound of surprise, her large eyes blinking as she glanced up at Chen Lin, who was lightly patting her head.
“Don’t worry,” Chen Lin said, his gaze fixed on the narrow path that led deeper into the mine. “Before long, the Underworld won’t have to worry about a lack of resources or products anymore.”
Then, as if deciding something, he added, “Once we get out of here, Clara, why don’t you come with me to Boulder Town for a bit?”
Some time ago, Natasha had sent word that the materials needed to prepare anti-cold medication had been fully collected. Chen Lin had painstakingly taught her the initial steps for synthesizing it, personally demonstrating the process dozens of times to ensure she mastered it.
By now, Natasha and her team were likely synthesizing glycerin and formaldehyde from ester oils and sodium hydroxide. Chen Lin had even prepared a detailed guide on glycerin purification, complete with written instructions and diagrams, just to make sure everything went smoothly.
But the more advanced steps—nitrating glycerin, for example—were too dangerous to leave to anyone else. One wrong move, and half the town could go up in flames.
Clara tilted her head in confusion at his words. “Go live in Boulder Town? But Clara has lots of family back in the settlement—uncles, aunties, brothers, and sisters who need help. I can’t leave them behind…”
She hesitated, then softly apologized, “Thank you for your kindness, Big Brother, but I can’t…”
“I know,” Chen Lin interrupted with a nod, his tone patient. “I wasn’t asking you to stay. I just want to give you some medicine for your frostbite.”
Clara shook her head quickly, her expression serious. “Big Brother, you should give it to someone who really needs it. Clara doesn’t want to waste something so precious…”
Her understanding of the Underworld’s scarcity made her reluctant to accept such a gift. Medicine was invaluable here, and Clara had lived her whole life cycling between frostbite and recovery. Besides, with Svarog to keep her warm, she didn’t want Chen Lin to spend unnecessary resources on her.
Chen Lin’s response was calm but firm. “It won’t be precious for much longer. Soon, the Underworld will produce its own medicine—for colds, frostbite, and even pain relief. You’re injured, Clara. Taking care of yourself isn’t wasteful; it’s necessary.”
“Ah!” Clara let out a small yelp as her feet left the ground.
“I’ll carry you,” Chen Lin said, crouching to lift her onto his back. “If your feet get cut, there’s a risk of infection. Better to be careful.”
As he carried her up the path, he began explaining Boulder Town’s transformation—from its initial food and mineral crises, to the construction of farms and the repurposing of abandoned industrial machinery. He spoke of rebuilding the town’s economy by creating jobs and stimulating local trade, and of the tense negotiations with the overworld after they cut off resource exchanges.
Clara listened intently, her chin resting on his shoulder. The twists and turns of the story felt like a fairy tale—almost too incredible to believe.
Chen Lin described Boulder Town as a land of milk and honey, an Eden brimming with opportunity. Even though he simplified much of the technical details, his words painted a picture so vivid that Clara found herself lost in the vision of a brighter future.
Finally, he sighed dramatically, his tone shifting. “But there’s a problem. The town can only grow so much before it hits a wall…”
“Why?” Clara asked, her brows furrowed in concern. “Haven’t you already gotten through the hardest part? Big Brother, you’re amazing—why can’t it keep growing?”
“It’s simple,” he replied, his voice tinged with frustration. “We don’t have enough manpower. Factories, workshops, assembly lines—there just aren’t enough hands to keep things running.
“Especially for dangerous tasks, like working with toxic gases. Those jobs are simple, but they’re also risky. I don’t want anyone getting hurt.
“If only we had more help—or workers who weren’t affected by the hazards. Then everyone’s lives could improve, and the overworld wouldn’t have us by the throat anymore. But…” He trailed off, his voice heavy with resignation.
“Big Brother,” Clara said hesitantly, her tone uncertain. “There might be… a way…”
Chen Lin tilted his head back slightly. “A way?”
Clara took a deep breath, as if steeling herself. “Mr. Svarog and the robots in the settlement—there are many of them. They’re very obedient, and I think they could do some of the dangerous jobs.
“And… also…” Her voice faltered.
“Also?”
“There are many uncles and aunties who lost their homes because of the Fragmentum,” Clara explained quietly. “They’ve gathered near the settlement, but they’re struggling to survive. Clara wants them to have better lives too…
“If… if Big Brother doesn’t mind, could you… help them too?”
Clara’s hesitation was understandable. The relationship between the Boulder Town miners and the displaced wanderers was fraught with tension, marked by clashes and even violence. She feared Chen Lin would reject her suggestion outright.
But in truth, Chen Lin had already discussed this issue with Natasha and the Wildfire leaders. He’d concluded that the root of the conflict was competition over the Geomarrow mines, rather than any irreconcilable differences.
The wanderers were simply trying to survive—raising cave animals, fishing in underground rivers, and growing edible moss and ferns. Like the miners, they were victims of the Fragmentum and the overworld’s exploitation.
Chen Lin had even proposed a slogan at one of the meetings: “We unite. We help one another. We face the future together.” The idea had been well-received by both the town’s representatives and the Wildfire leadership.
Clara’s concerns, while genuine, were unnecessary.
Still, Chen Lin didn’t give her an immediate answer. “I’ll discuss it with them when we get back,” he said carefully.
Just as he finished speaking, the sound of hurried footsteps reached his ears.
A group of people bearing Wildfire insignias emerged from the shadows, their expressions tense. Among them was a familiar face.
The girl at the front had a stoic expression, but her eyes were rimmed with red, tears threatening to fall.
“Hey, look who it is!” Chen Lin called out, raising a hand in greeting. “You’re fast—”
Before he could finish, the girl snarled through gritted teeth:
“Fast, my ass! Do you have any idea how worried we were?!”
—
T/N: :3c Clara usually refers to herself in third person! I don’t know if the english version does the same…
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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