Ch. 16..20: Interstellar_ Return of the Villain Chapter 16-20

Chapter 16: Getting Investigated

After a bit of studying, Lyra noticed something.

The stuff she was learning hadn't really changed much in the past eleven years. Sure, there were small updates, like a new photo of an interstellar physicist whose hairline had receded even more, a clear sign of time marching on.

The big changes, though, were in military tech, especially mecha knowledge.

As humans continued exploring the stars, the need for advanced tech just kept growing. Lyra could tap into the latest mecha tech through special channels in Voidstar, keeping herself up-to-date with ease.

After plowing through countless practice exams, she logged into the Nagano Military Academy —NMA's official exam platform, posing as a recent Voidstar high school grad.

As expected, she breezed through the written part, aced the military theory, and nailed the practical questions.

Next up was the mecha simulation exam, which tested her mecha piloting skills. First came scenario simulations, followed by online combat against examiners.

The initial tests checked if students had the basic operational knowledge, and Lyra shined. In the NMA exam room, teachers monitoring the students were glued to the surveillance screens in awe.

"This student is something special. Which big family does she belong to?" one asked.

"Her reaction time and precision are better than most senior students. She clearly has a lot of mecha experience," another commented.

"Could she be a top-ranked mecha competition player?" someone speculated.

There were many mecha simulation games and competitions, and anyone who dominated those with a high win rate was likely a skilled mecha pilot in real life.

"Which planet is she from?" another teacher wondered.

The supervising teacher replied with a hint of disdain, "Voidstar No.2."

Instantly, the other teachers lost interest.

"Those brutes from Voidstar are decent with mecha operations, but their written scores are always at the bottom," one teacher scoffed.

Despite their grumbles, the military school teachers, most of whom were retired soldiers, couldn't resist the allure of a great mecha battle. They soon gathered around again.

"Honestly, this student's skills are impressive. Webber, you better not lose," one teacher teased.

Webber, the teacher administering the practical exam, was starting to sweat. "Quiet down, you lot!"

He focused even harder on his controls. This student was incredibly tough to beat.

Lyra was piloting the most basic humanoid mecha. Her style was unconventional, yet there were hints of formal training in it. However, her unpredictable moves made it hard to pin her down as a strictly academy-trained pilot.

As the battle intensified, Webber sped up, increasing his psychokinetic output.

His opponent seemed to be reaching their limit, slowing down just enough for him to seize the chance and strike the cockpit.

When the words "Exam Over" flashed on the screen, Webber wiped the sweat from his brow. He realized he had gotten so into the battle that he nearly forgot it was an exam, not a competition. He had taken it seriously.

The system calculated the practical exam score based on the accuracy of attacks and the number of evasions. The screen flashed with the words "Perfect Score."

"Another perfect score? How many is that now?" one teacher asked.

"Not many. This isn't EPMA. The last one was the son of the Whyte family," another replied.

Having witnessed an impressive mecha battle, some teachers began to soften their biases against this Voidstar student.

"If her written exam isn't too bad, her overall score might be pretty high," one mused.

"Too bad Voidstar students usually struggle with the written part," another remarked.

It wasn't that they lacked education, but their specialized knowledge in military theory often fell short. Voidstar was almost entirely disconnected from the military establishment, making it tough for its students to excel in this area.

"But what if? Let's check this student's results," someone suggested.

Being seasoned veterans, they quickly pulled up her scores. The room fell silent.

Finally, someone muttered, "Well, I'll be. A straight sapling in the crooked-necked woods!"

...

After the written exam, NMA usually investigated the students' backgrounds. This was done mostly through online records and archives, unless exceptional circumstances called for an on-site investigation.

Lyra had meticulously crafted her records with the help of Snakehead and her school, making her dossier seamless.

However, she had yet to receive a notification for the second round of interviews.

One day, as she checked the status on her opticomputer again, it still displayed 'Under Review.'

"Do you think NMA discriminates against Voidstar students?" Sorren asked, munching on an apple as he leaned over.

Lyra tapped her fingers lightly on the armrest, pondering what could have gone wrong. At the very least, NMA wouldn't dismiss her application casually, or else the son of an admiral's influence would be meaningless.

Just then, Todd sent her a message.

"News from the port: NMA personnel are here for an in-depth background check on you."

Sorren was shocked. "Whoa, the admiral's son really pulled some strings!"

"Heh, it's not that simple," Lyra replied.

An on-site investigation indicated that someone might be sabotaging her.

"What should we do?" Sorren asked, clearly more anxious than Lyra herself.

"No rush. Let's see what they find first."

The next day, the principal relayed another message. "Miss Shedd, NMA's investigators want to meet you."

Lyra stood up immediately. "I'm on my way."

On the way, Sorren was nervous and tried to rehearse with her. "What if they ask me questions? Should I say I'm your cousin? Or maybe your brother?"

Lyra, sitting in the passenger seat, leaned her head against her hand, looking somewhat weary. "Just tell the truth."

"What?"

Sorren was confused. 'How am I supposed to tell the truth?'

When they arrived at the office, they saw the principal smiling as he poured coffee for two visitors.

The man and woman, both in black suits, looked slightly impatient.

"Where is she?" the woman asked just as the door was knocked. Both were startled, not having noticed anyone approaching.

A petite young woman entered, barely meeting the minimum height requirement. She wore a black T-shirt and cargo pants, her thin arms showing only a hint of muscle, with joints so prominent they seemed ready to pop out. She looked frail and sickly.

It was hard to imagine that this student had engaged in an impressive mecha battle with Webber.

The woman furrowed her brows and spoke first. "Lyra Shedd?"

"That's me. Nice to see you," Lyra said, bowing slightly and nearly coughing from the effort.

The man and woman exchanged complex looks, knowing that her physical condition would severely impact her performance in the physical retest.

"I'm Freida, and this is my colleague Kiv," the woman introduced herself, holding a stack of documents. "We've come to conduct a further background check on you. Do you know why?"

When the woman posed the question, Lyra noticed the principal's nervous expression.

She shook her head. "I don't know."

"Someone reported that you run an illegal clinic, have close ties with Voidstar's criminal elements, and even have blood on your hands. There are photos included. Normally, this would lead to your immediate disqualification, but because you were recommended by Lieutenant Commander Whyte, we came to investigate in person."

As she spoke, she scrutinized Lyra's expression, finding no sign of guilt or panic. Instead, Lyra's delicate eyebrows furrowed in apparent confusion and anger.

After reviewing the report and the attached evidence, Lyra looked directly at the woman and said, "All I can say is that the informant has sinister motives. While some of what he or she says is true, the person's deliberately trying to smear me."

Seeing the two investigators frown, she calmly suggested, "Maybe I should take you to investigate personally."

"No need. We will conduct the investigation ourselves. But first, I have a few questions for you," Freida said, signaling Kiv to begin.

Kiv organized his documents and started, "Your records state that you are an orphan, but our investigation shows you arrived at Voidstar No.2 eleven years ago."

"That's correct. To be precise, I was abducted."

Her startling words caused Sorren to tense up immediately. 'Goodness, is she going to sell me out just to get into school?'

Lyra shot him a cool glance. "The person who abducted me is him, my current assistant. Eleven years ago, I was severely injured when I encountered Sorren and was taken to Voidstar No.2. I then spent seven years in a cryo-chamber recovering. So, although I should be twenty-six years old, my physical age is nineteen."

This information wasn't a secret on Voidstar. It was something they could easily verify, so there was no point in hiding it.

Both Freida and Kiv are retired soldiers with justice ingrained in their bones. They were nearly ready to bring Sorren to justice, well, if not for the order to avoid conflict with Voidstar's people.

"According to the Alliance's medical laws, entering a cryo-chamber halts physical development, so this shouldn't count towards your actual age," Freida said regretfully, noting how much more promising Lyra might have been without her injuries and cryo-recovery.

"Why were you severely injured?" Kiv continued.

"I don't remember," Lyra responded without hesitation. "My memory was erased."

Kiv glanced at Freida, who nodded before addressing Lyra again, "Would you mind if we checked?"

Lyra hesitated briefly but then nodded and closed her eyes.

A non-aggressive psychokinetic probe swept over her.

"Done," Kiv said, his expression grave. "There are indeed signs of injury in her brain."

Freida sighed, her eyes softening as she looked at Lyra. "It's as you said. There's evidence of severe trauma."

Freida gripped the documents tightly. "Second question: please explain your clinic's alleged connections with criminal elements."

"I'm just a Peculiar with healing power. Surviving on Voidstar isn't easy," Lyra replied with a faint, bitter smile that hinted at her struggles. "Back then, I was only a level three. Besides running a small clinic, I didn't know what else I could do. As you might have heard, Voidstar's environment is harsh. Most of my patients weren't exactly upstanding citizens, so yes, I had dealings with criminal elements in a doctor-patient capacity."

"Aside from that, I've spent the last four years keeping my clinic running. Apart from leaving the settlement to hunt, I've never participated in any illegal activities. Feel free to investigate further."

Having said that, she couldn't suppress a cough, a deep, troubling sound from her lungs that tugged at the heartstrings of those who heard it.

Sorren, huddled in a corner, was nearly speechless. If he hadn't been working with Lyra all these years, he might have believed her act.

What a portrayal of resilience, independence, and integrity in the face of a corrupt environment!

As for the murder accusations mentioned in the report, neither investigator brought them up again. Such things were easily verifiable.

Freida stood up and patted Lyra's shoulder. "Go home and we'll reach out to you when we decide."

Whether they believed her or not still wasn't clear.

"Thank you for visiting me in person," Lyra said with a composed smile, then turned and left.

An hour later, she received word that the investigators had departed. She turned to Sorren and instructed, "Go, bring Kline to me."

 

Chapter 17: Getting Exposed

If anything happened at Voidstar No. 2, Lyra would know it all, no gaps, no errors.

The anonymous tip sent from Voidstar to the NMA was traced right back to an opticomputer address.

Someone had investigated it thoroughly, and Lyra hadn't even needed to lift a finger.

"Let go of me!" A young guy, looking like a scared little bird, was dragged to the clinic's second-floor balcony by Sorren.

"This one tried to slip away with the investigators, but Snakehead's folks caught him," Sorren said, giving him a hard kick to the ground.

Kline clutched a travel bag, glaring at Lyra with a mix of fear and anger. "Lyra! As soon as the investigators left, you showed your true colors. I'll expose you for sure!"

"Haven't you already tried?" Lyra sat in a wicker chair, sipping herbal drinks. "Did it work?"

"How could it not work? You were called in for questioning! How does someone like you deserve to get into the military academy? Disgusting!"

When the exam results came out, he had checked the top scores out of curiosity and was disgusted to see her name there.

"I may not be a saint, but I'm more than qualified for the military academy," Lyra scoffed.

Just then, a notification chimed on the opticomputer's homepage. She opened it and pointed the screen at him.

"See? I told you it wouldn't work."

Kline stared at the words 'background check passed' in disbelief and shouted, "Impossible! Someone like you, there's no way the NMA would let you in. You must have fooled the investigators!"

He kept muttering "impossible" over and over, while Sorren shook his head. 'How did such a naive guy grow up on Voidstar?'

Lyra had deep roots here; it wasn't something Kline could disrupt. Sorren realized: whatever Lyra disclosed, those two investigators could find out easily, but secrets known only to the guild and the Dragon Legion, the military academy would never know.

That was why Lyra remained so confident.

Lyra continued to break Kline's fragile, naive spirit. "What could I have fooled them about? You know these things too. Aren't they easy to investigate? You're just too naive."

She looked completely in control, making the young man feel like she didn't even bother hiding her misdeeds because the investigators wouldn't care.

'Could it be... could it be that the investigators were covering for her?' Kline thought to himself desperately.

"No way, NMA was under the direct jurisdiction of the Alliance's admiral. It is the second best military academy in the alliance. They wouldn't engage in favoritism or corruption..."

Lyra put down her cup, grabbed his cheeks. She coldly pulled apart his pale lips, whispering like a demon, "As long as the benefits are enough, there are no rules or fairness in this world. If you really want to try, go ahead and turn me in. I'd love to see if you get a second chance."

Then she threw him aside and said to Sorren, "Throw him out."

"Just letting him go like that?" Sorren was shocked. He had expected Lyra to give the guy a real beating.

"I'm a patient now. I'm really trying to be calm for the sake of my health these days."

But Sorren wasn't one to play nice. Instead of using the stairs, he kicked the guy off the second-floor balcony.

Watching the young man limp away, Lyra snorted and headed back to her workout room.

After reaching level five, her stamina had improved, but it still wasn't enough for long battles.

She had to train constantly to maintain her edge. Plus, she still had three Soul Spikes in her body...

That evening, a post on NMA forum went viral, titled "Investigators Show Favoritism, Admit Criminal Student."

The academy, known for its fairness, was now at the center of a scandal, which quickly spread to social media.

Meanwhile, Freida and Kiv were still on the spaceship. When they saw the message from their team leader, they nearly exploded with anger.

"It's probably that disgruntled informant again, mocking you two by posting the anonymous report contents," the team leader said.

The information they had gathered was already approved, or Lyra wouldn't have been admitted. Neither of the two knew the informant would persist like this.

Freida paced back and forth, finally slamming the table. "Let's release the evidence!" She paused. "And any student who deliberately smears the academy and the staff isn't worth admitting."

The team leader on the other end of the holographic screen hesitated, "Isn't that a bit too harsh?"

Freida sneered, "Just wait. If this blows up, the academy will teach him a lesson."

Even the usually kind-hearted Kiv was furious, his face dark. "This informant and Lyra are both Healers. He harbors a baseless grudge against Lyra because of his father. His report is purely an act of revenge."

"Alright, I'll submit your suggestions to the academy," the team leader replied.

After ending the call, he immediately contacted Cohen.

"We've sent people to the Elden Prime to investigate Lyra's background, but all information about her has been erased. I suspect she might be an escaped subject from some human experiment, and Kiv confirmed her brain shows signs of damage."

This seemed the most reasonable assumption.

Cohen leaned back in his chair, his gloved hand tapping the desk. "But I feel like her name sounds familiar."

If it weren't for Cohen's special status, the team leader would have rolled his eyes.

In the entire Alliance, with its billions of people, it was common to find many with the same name and age. Even their appearances could have several look-alikes.

Just because a name sounded familiar didn't mean they knew the person. She could easily be some celebrity frequently featured in the news and ads.

He responded earnestly, "We've already used AI to cross-check all females with the same name and age, and we found nothing."

"Alright, thank you for your hard work," Cohen replied, rubbing his temples. His adjutant, always considerate, handed him a cup of warm water. Cohen couldn't help but ask, "Don't you think the name sounds familiar?"

The adjutant had grown up with him and often remembered things Cohen had forgotten.

"In my memory, there are several women named Lyra. Some passed away long ago, some are serving in the military, but none are related to the one from Voidstar," the adjutant replied with a subtle tone. "Lieutenant Commander, are you perhaps infatuated with her?"

Cohen choked with water. Then he emphasized, "I actually prefer fuller and gentler women, ideally the opposite of my cousins."

"The Whyte ladies certainly aren't suited for family life," the adjutant remarked, lightening the mood and steering the conversation away from Lyra.

In just half a month, it would be time for the NMA's second round of exams.

Lyra packed her bags and boarded the ship to the nearest planet, Snowfall, where she needed to transfer to a ship bound for Planet Nagano.

On the day of her departure, the Voidstar port was bustling with activity.

 

Chapter 18: Leaving Voidstar

Sis Marv, the top doctor on Voidstar No.2, was leaving!

Regular folks just felt anxious, knowing they were losing their lifesaver. People like Blackheart, on the contrary, secretly hoped the spaceship would crash, keeping her around forever.

"Oh, my dear Lyra, I won't get to see your pokerface anymore," Liliana cooed, rubbing Lyra's cold hand against her cheek like a kitten seeking affection. Her red hair fell to reveal bite marks on her back.

"Are you out of your mind, thinking about school? Stay here and get your hands dirty with me!" Blackheart yelled, yanking Liliana back. "If you're leaving, go now and stop tempting my daughter!"

Liliana pouted but obediently nestled into his arms.

Through it all, Lyra only smiled faintly, eagerly anticipating her new life.

"Keep in touch, alright?" Snakehead said, pushing past the overly affectionate father-daughter duo to warmly hold Lyra's hand like a caring elder. "And remember, prioritize supplying 'cores' to our guild. We'll pay you more than that pervert ever could. Trust me, won't you?"

With Blackheart ready to lose his temper again, Lyra nodded, "Don't worry, you'll get as many as you need."

Both men smiled, a bit more relaxed knowing she wasn't planning to run away.

Blackheart grunted, "If there's any problem with the business, I'll personally come to NMA to get you."

Lyra had already left them with a year's supply of 'cores,' so the two men had no immediate desire to kill the goose that laid the golden eggs.

Snakehead, more tactful, patted the young man nearby, "Sorren, you've got more experience out there. Take good care of Lyra, alright?"

Sorren nodded quickly, "Rest assured, I'll protect her with my life."

Lyra glanced at him but stayed silent.

Seeing the time was right, she and Sorren prepared to board the ship.

Suddenly, a commotion spread through the crowd.

"Lyra, you're so dead today!" Kline shouted, rushing forward with a metal box flashing red.

His hair was a mess, and his clothes were filthy. He looked desperate.

After exposing Lyra and NMA's dark dealings online, he had been blacklisted from employment everywhere. He had lost his mind.

The crowd scattered in panic, terrified of getting caught in the blast.

"Damn, a particle bomb!"

Blackheart shoved Liliana forward and turned to run. This thing could blow up even a level five mecha; their flesh and blood bodies would be obliterated.

Todd quickly moved to protect Snakehead, "Let's retreat." He glanced at Lyra, knowing she was too valuable to lose, "Miss Shedd should come with us."

"No need."

Lyra extended her hand, and a green dot shot out like a bullet, hitting the bomb.

With a deafening boom, everyone instinctively ducked as the entire spaceport shuddered.

Snakehead felt a tremor in his heart too; he had spent a fortune building this spaceport and had exerted great effort negotiating with the Alliance to secure flight routes.

If it collapsed... just thinking about it made his head spin.

"Don't faint just yet, the spaceport is still standing!"

Snakehead raised his chubby neck and squinted to see several pieces of curved elastic metal constricting in the hall.

The explosion's residue sprayed out only through the gaps, creating a gray flower-like bloom from above.

As for the perpetrator, he had vanished into thin air without leaving a drop of blood.

Sorren glanced fearfully at Lyra, her face expressionless. She truly lived up to her reputation—when she took action, she made sure to eliminate every trace.

If she ever found out what he had done... Sorren couldn't help swallowing hard.

The pungent smell spread. Lyra retracted Schedar with one hand and lightly covered her nose with the other, coughing.

"Let's go... cough, cough."

She headed towards the boarding stairs, and the staff at the checkpoint, too scared to meet her gaze, quickly validated her ticket and hurriedly ushered her aboard.

Planet Snowfall, named for its perpetually snowy weather, was Lyra's destination this time.

Although the water on this planet was usable by humans, its unique molecular structure and planetary environment made it prone to crystallizing.

Even in the height of summer, one could still enjoy the sight of snow, making it a famous tourist planet in the Alliance. More than half of its over twenty cities experienced constant snowfall.

As soon as she stepped off the ship, Lyra was greeted by the cool, moist air, which did wonders to soothe her throat. This place would be perfect if she were only considering residence.

"Let's find a place to stay first."

Sorren, carrying two travel bags, patted his chest. "Already booked, boss, follow me." He hailed a Lev at the spaceport entrance.

"Take us to 27th Street."

The driver's expression turned strange. "You two are visitors? It's a pretty rough neighborhood there, not really idea for sightseeing."

He glanced at the frail young woman, suspecting the man was up to no good. He even considering calling a police.

"What are you looking at? Drive!" Sorren kicked the driver's seat.

Lyra turned her gaze towards the driver. "It's fine, just go where he said."

The city they landed in was called Icicle, famous for its exquisite ice sculptures and many buildings adorned with transparent decorations, creating a dreamy, beautiful scene.

But 27th Street was clearly not part of this picture.

The area appeared somewhat dilapidated, with only the white walls vaguely blending in with the rest of the city.

Yet, the laughter and noise from inside the walls bore an uncanny resemblance to Voidstar.

Lyra was the last to get out of the car and was about to close the door when the driver quickly called out, "Wait a minute."

He seemed hesitant, worried that she might be in trouble. He wondered if he should pull her in and drive off to save her.

"Young lady, you're not an adult yet, are you?"

"...I'm an adult," she finally replied.

Over by the gate, Sorren had already finished talking to the guard and shouted, "Let's go, boss."

Lyra nodded to the driver and turned to leave.

The driver drove off, still bewildered. 'Did he just call her boss?'

Inside, the noise was even more deafening. Some people were gathered around card tables, others were sitting at the bar drinking, laughing loudly.

Lyra's entrance attracted quite a few curious glances.

"Hey, isn't that Sorren? Thought you got nabbed by the cops and were done for!"

An old man wiping glasses behind the bar tossed his rag aside, came over, and slapped Sorren on the back, laughing heartily. He then sneaked a look at the petite young woman.

Winking and nudging, he hinted, "New catch?"

Sorren jumped, glancing nervously at the young woman who seemed increasingly impatient. He quickly elbowed the old man, "Bullshit, I quit that business ages ago. She's my boss now!"

 

Chapter 19: Wolf Den

The old man still thought Sorren was joking. With a chuckle, he said, "Save that crap. Just tell me a number. You're one of my oldest business partners. Have I ever ripped you off?"

He glanced at the young woman again. She looked good but seemed so frail. 'Can she handle the buyers?'

"Hey, I'm warning you, don't get yourself into trouble. She really is my boss," Sorren said, eyeing the old man nervously. 'Oh no, oh no,' he thought. 'I should've taken Lyra straight to a fancy hotel!'

But as an Alliance fugitive, he couldn't risk showing his face in such places.

He couldn't believe how disrespectful these guys were after he'd been away for just a while.

"I don't care who your boss is. Taking your goods is me doing you a favor. Just accept the favor. Or I don't think you'll be able to walk out of there intact." The old man shoved Sorren aside and took a few steps toward the young woman to inspect her.

The goons in the bar kept their eyes on Sorren, ready to stop him if he tried anything. The old man's grimy hand reached for Lyra's face, but suddenly, a tan hand grabbed his wrist.

A crisp, bold laugh echoed. "So, this really is a den of thieves! I've caught you all red-handed today!"

The newcomer had big eyes, thick eyebrows, and a short, explosive hairstyle held back with an orange headband. She wore a blue sleeveless jacket and black shorts, with a deep cleavage showing off her nearly six-foot frame. She looked like a sleek, wild leopard, full of raw charm.

Behind her was a bruised and battered trafficker who had clearly tried to deceive her and ended up beaten into revealing their hideout.

The old man was stunned for a moment, glancing behind her. Seeing no backup, he burst into laughter. "I've hit the jackpot today, another prime catch!"

"Pah! Try me!" The girl was ferocious, raising her fists without another word.

Lyra noticed her skin changing, taking on a metallic sheen. It was a rare and powerful enhancement ability.

The old man, oblivious, tried to block her punch. Big mistake. The impact shattered his bones from fingers to arm, splintering like shards.

Blood spurted as his artery was punctured.

"Level-four power of enhancement?!" The old man staggered back, clutching his arm, his expression changing. "Get her! Take that chik down!"

A group immediately dropped their bottles and surrounded her.

Realizing they were outnumbered, the girl wasn't dumb enough to fight head-on. She grabbed Lyra and ran.

Lyra was momentarily stunned, feeling like a kettle being lifted off the ground. She managed to adjust her breathing just in time, avoiding being winded by the sudden rush.

The entire 27th street was a hub for human trafficking.

The two women hadn't run far before the once-empty, narrow street was filled with people.

Armed with sticks and even guns, they blocked every possible escape route.

"Damn that old punk White Pubes! He almost got us killed!" A chubby woman with a cigarette dangling from her lips emerged from the crowd. Her fluffy curls made her look like a lion.

If these two young women got away, all their effort to dodge the police over the years would be wasted. She squinted at the girl. "Young women like you have come here before, but in the end, their bones were all picked clean by snow wolves. You're so young, what a pity."

With that, she waved her hand, and over sixty people charged at them with wild cries.

Lyra was shoved against the wall.

"Hold your head and protect yourself. When I say run, you run!" the girl ordered, tapping a metal ring on her hand—a Space Button.

A two-meter-tall basic mecha appeared, enveloping the girl securely.

The sticks bounced back off the mecha's surface, and bullets shot at it without leaving a mark.

Lyra's eyes gleamed. A level six mecha, and a military model at that. She wondered which rich family this young lady was from, and why she had decided to go on such an adventure.

But a level six mecha alone wasn't enough.

The chubby woman realized this young woman must have a significant background and hesitated. The rules of the underworld were clear: never mess with someone with connections. But the situation had already escalated. If they let this young woman escape and bring back reinforcements, it would be even worse.

"Everyone, fall back!" she commanded. The reluctant thugs retreated like a tide. The chubby woman tossed her cigarette and glanced around. "What are you all standing around for? We can't let this young woman leave."

At her signal, two men appeared from the ends of the street.

"White Pubes owes us a huge favor now."

The girl inside the mecha scanned her surroundings warily.

There were so many thugs.

As she considered how to escape, a thick smoke suddenly spread, even blocking psychokinesis—it was a level six ability, apparently.

This was trouble. With the last bit of visibility, the girl rushed to Lyra and shouted, "We need to run, now!"

Lyra didn't know what to say. 'Why isn't she using the mecha to escape alone? Why is she insisting on saving me?'

This wasn't the time to ask those questions. Lyra could only point over and tell the girl, "Behind you."

A powerful fist struck the side of the mecha's head, sending the girl and her mecha flying.

This man also had the power of enhancement. While not as special as the girl's, his level six strength was enough to overpower her.

More blows landed with loud thuds. The smoke-blinded girl was completely on the defensive, taking hit after hit.

Lyra thought for a moment and decided to step in.

Suddenly, however, a fat hand reached for her. The woman, the source of the dense fog enveloping the area, was grinning wickedly. "I'll use you as my reward. Just as White Pubes said, a top-notch catch!"

"You're wrong about that."

"Hmm?"

Lyra's eyes flashed with a fierce light.

The fat woman felt a pang of fear as a sudden, sharp blow struck her abdomen.

'She's a tough one!' In a split second, the fat woman tried to flee. "Help me!" she cried. She was only there to assist, with no real offensive power. She conjured more fog to try to create confusion.

The fog was so thick that she couldn't see the hand in front of her face. But before she could turn around, Lyra's slender hand grabbed her hair.

'How is this possible?!' The fat woman was slammed into a crumbling wall, which collapsed under the impact.

Realizing the fat woman was in trouble, one of the attackers turned to help her, but before they could get close, the fog cleared.

She had already been dealt with!

With sudden clarity in her vision, the girl in the mecha's eyes lit up. "Go to hell!" she shouted. The mecha's palm gathered blue ions—an electromagnetic cannon fired swiftly!

The powerful beam scorched through the street, frying several thugs to a crisp. Even a few level-six Peculiars couldn't evade it, ending up charred and battered.

The beam pierced through buildings, extending beyond 27th Street.

Military troops, who had been scouring the area, noticed the disturbance. They began evacuating civilians and hurried towards the commotion.

"Zinna!" A middle-aged man who arrived at the scene stared in shock at the carnage.

Zinnia is the girl piloting a mecha. Her face was still bleeding, yet she waved happily. "Uncle Rowie, I've made a huge contribution!"

Rowie's expression was complex. "Yeah, let's see about that, but you'll have to talk to your brother Zarek. He's here for you."

 

Chapter 20: Sorren's Betrayal

Zinnia's expression shifted in a flash, and she darted off.

But a golden whip of light shot down from the sky, wrapping her up tightly.

A young man in white, riding a hoverboard, swooped in like an eagle in flight.

"Z-i-n-n-n-n-i-a!!!"

Zinnia stuck her tongue out. "Zarek, you're quick."

"Put Aoi away," said Zarek.

Aoi was Zinnia's mecha.

Not daring to defy her big brother, she quickly put the mecha back into her Space Button.

BANG!

The siblings were both fierce and wild. Zarek's fist came down hard on his sister's head.

"Arghhh! Can't you be gentler?" Zinnia rubbed her head, looking at him. "Can't you see I'm bleeding?"

"You're the toughest one in the family anyway." Zarek glanced around at the groaning people around them, then crossed his arms. "Explain yourself."

Zinnia perked up and started talking rapidly about her brave and heroic deeds.

"Here's the witness." She dragged over the nearby, expressionless Lyra. "If I hadn't come in time, she'd be toast!"

Lyra, petite and young, stood amidst the tall soldiers, looking like a child.

Zarek softened his expression and bent down to ask, "How old are you, young miss? Don't worry, we're here to save you."

"Nineteen."

"You don't need to lie. Did you run away from home?"

Lyra was silent for a moment before showing her electronic ID. "This is my identification."

"..."

"Oh my god, you're a year older than me!" Zinnia pushed her stunned brother aside, measuring her hand from Lyra's head to her own chest. "Your head's only as big as my chest!"

Laughter rippled through the scene; Zinnia was as carefree as ever.

While Zarek could tease his sister all he wanted, he wouldn't let others mock her. He ordered sternly, "What are you standing around for? Didn't you hear they're human traffickers? Gather evidence and arrest them for interrogation."

Rowie frowned and came up to whisper in his ear, "The higher-ups told us to stay out of the 27th Street area."

"Get lost. They kidnapped my sister; no one can protect this street now!" Zarek barked, then thought of an idea. "You go get some major media outlets to write this up... Let's shut down the public opinion first and see who dares to protect those thugs."

Lyra then spoke up, "Please blur my face."

"Don't worry, we'll protect the privacy of minors—ahem, the victim."

After Zarek assured her, he ordered his men to work, muttering that she didn't look like an adult in everyway.

As Rowie prepared to take her away, Lyra suddenly clapped her hands. "I forgot something."

She had had a backpack with her.

So, Rowie and Zinnia trailed Lyra back to the bar.

They arrived just as Sorren was arguing with the army guys.

"Sir, please show your identification."

"I don't have time, I need to find someone!" Sorren was panicking. As a wanted criminal, all his IDs were fake.

The army personnel began setting up a facial recognition device, and Sorren's legs started to shake.

"Why haven't you run away yet, COUSIN?"

Lyra's voice saved him. Sorren nearly cried when he saw her. "Lyra, are you alright? You weren't hurt, were you? It's all my fault getting us tricked."

He rushed past the people adjusting the device and ran toward Lyra.

"He's your cousin?" Zinnia eyed the young man, whispering, "I was afraid he's with these traffickers."

Lyra was impressed; the girl had sharp perception.

"No, he just got beaten up trying to protect me."

After lots of explanations, Sorren still ended up on the military Lev with Lyra.

It was like a sheep entering a wolf's den; he was extremely uncomfortable and tried to make conversation. "Lyra, which hotel are we booking? The spaceship to Planet Nagano doesn't leave until the day after tomorrow."

Before Lyra could answer, Zinnia leaned over from the left. "I'm also reporting to NMA the day after tomorrow. Let's go together! I'll have my brother change your ticket to my cabin, and you can stay with me for these few days!"

She whispered in Lyra's ear, "Your cousin seems unreliable. You seem easily bullied, so I'll protect you."

Her face was brimming with righteousness.

Lyra found it really hard to deal with such enthusiastic people.

Seeing Sorren's twisted expression, Lyra shook her head. "No need, I'll just find a place to stay on my own."

Zinnia looked disappointed. Seeing her bleeding face, Lyra activated her healing ability on her hand. "Lower your head."

"Wow, you're a healer? That's rare," Zinnia said, lowering her head.

The wound healed instantly. Rowie, who was driving, raised an eyebrow at the speed of the healing, thinking it must be a level five ability.

Lyra requested to be dropped off at the agency, deciding to rent a small apartment for Sorren's sake.

"Boss, you're so nice to me!" Sorren almost cried while renting the apartment.

Lyra opened the window and looked at him with her back to it. "You'll live here from now on. You should have enough money for the rent... right?"

Sorren's blond hair swayed in the cold wind. "Boss, what do you mean?"

"Iou still want to follow me to the admiral's garrison planet?" Lyra raised an eyebrow. "Are you that brave?"

"But I need to take care of you."

A sneer escaped from Lyra's nose. Her pale face showed a mocking smile. "Sorren, the basic principle of serving both sides is to offend neither. You should know that."

With a thud, Sorren's legs gave out, and he knelt down. "I AM SO SORRY!"

Facing Lyra's cold and knowing gaze, he felt a chill run down his spine and quickly confessed, "Snakehead told me to keep an eye on you, to make sure you don't get too close to the military. And if you do, to report back."

"They also want you to find out how 'the core' came to be," Lyra stated the part he hadn't revealed, walking leisurely toward him.

Sorren tensed up but didn't dare retreat. He couldn't understand how Lyra knew about his dealings with Snakehead and Blackheart.

After all these years, he thought he was the only one close enough to influence her.

Lyra's slender shadow loomed over him.

"Money moves people. I understand that," her whisper felt like a cold blade at Sorren's neck.

"You aren't loyal to me, and you don't have to be loyal to them either. Stay here and figure out how to handle them."

Lyra turned to leave, but Sorren grabbed her leg.

"I'm sorry, I really am! Don't leave me. I'll just do everything right from now on!"

He had enjoyed too many benefits from following Lyra: properties, a high-end Lev, and a fat bank account. He had gotten greedy and didn't want to let go.

Lyra looked at him sideways. "You stay here and wait. If I need you, I'll come find you."

A dog that betrays his master can still be useful, but only at certain times.

Her chilling look made Sorren let go immediately, not daring to cling any longer.