Ch. 186..190: Interstellar_ Return of the Villain Chapter 186-190
Chapter 186: Déjà Vu
The military had no solid evidence connecting Kail to the space pirates, so the loss of the prison key was labeled as an unfortunate accident. But that didn’t change the fact that his reputation was in tatters.
The aftermath was brutal. Kail was stripped of his rank, kicked out of both the military and political circles for life.
If that wasn’t enough, he was sentenced to fifty lashes—an old-school punishment reserved for the harshest of crimes.
The sentence was to be carried out in the execution room behind the military court. They stripped him down, leaving him completely exposed.
The whip they used was no ordinary weapon; it was specifically designed to bypass Peculiars’ enhanced defenses. Each strike cut deep into his skin, showing no mercy.
Before long, his bronzed skin was crisscrossed with raw, angry welts. Blood oozed from the gashes, trickling down his legs and pooling on the cold stone floor.
Despite it all, Kail stood still, his body rigid, showing no reaction. It was as if he had turned off every feeling inside him, like he had accepted this fate long before it even started.
Two years ago, he had promised Lyra that he would rise again, take back what was his. Now, with every lash of that whip, his dreams and future shattered like fragile glass.
When it was finally over, the guards unshackled him, and he walked out of the court with slow, heavy steps.
He looked like a man who had lost everything—his soul, his purpose, gone.
A crowd had gathered outside, waiting for him. They were the families of the Legion Skywalkers—the soldiers who had died because of the lost key.
As soon as they saw Kail, their grief turned into fury.
"This is on you! My son’s dead because you couldn’t hold onto that key! You let those space pirates go!" a woman screamed, her voice thick with rage.
"Why didn’t you die instead?" another shouted, her face twisted with pain. "Give me back my husband!"
Chaos erupted. The crowd rushed toward him, and though the guards eventually restored order, the damage was done.
The media, lurking on the sidelines, had caught every explosive moment.
The story exploded online, going viral in no time.
As days passed, though, the hate toward Kail slowly shifted direction. The focus moved from him to someone else—Lyra.
It all started when a popular military blogger, with a massive following, posted an article titled, "One Family, Three Sinners—How Did Lyra Shedd Get Into the Military?"
The blog post went viral and sparked an intense debate.
"Both Tyro Shedd and Seren Shedd (Calvin) were traitors. Lyra, their daughter, has no place in the military," one commenter added. "Normal people need spotless background checks to even get close to the Alliance’s machinery..."
"Exactly. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and their boy has already proven that. What’s to say Lyra won’t be the next ticking time bomb?" another person chimed in.
"She spent years on Voidstar No. 2, surrounded by criminals. Who knows what shady stuff she’s been involved in?" someone else added fuel to the fire.
While this storm brewed online, Lyra was out with Zinnia and the rest of the crew, enjoying dinner.
The table was loaded with delicious food, but the mood soured as everyone checked their opticomputers, bombarded by the sudden flood of posts.
"Seriously, what’s wrong with people?" one of them muttered, shaking their head.
"Could someone be behind this? Maybe your grandfather’s up to his tricks again?" Zinnia asked, clearly frustrated.
Lyra calmly put down her fork and wiped her mouth, unfazed. "If he makes people talk about my parents’ treason again and again, he’s only digging his own grave. He’s not that dumb."
"Then who’s pulling the strings?" Zinnia raked her hands through her hair, clearly agitated. "I swear, the military’s nothing but drama."
"Uh, stop shedding in my food," Helion grumbled, moving his plate away with a grimace. "Wherever people gather, drama follows. You’ve got to be tough enough to take life’s punches, not just physical ones."
The two of them were like oil and water, and it didn’t take long for their argument to escalate. Soon, they were ready to settle it the old-fashioned way—with a fight.
Through it all, Lyra remained the calmest in the group. Vikie shot her a teasing look. "You could at least PRETEND to care."
Lyra shrugged, nonchalant. "Why bother? It’s just some old-timers who’ve got it out for me. As long as the officials don’t step in, it’s all just noise."
Thierry nodded in agreement. "Besides, didn’t my uncle publicly praise you this morning? The military isn’t about to shoot itself in the foot over a few online trolls."
The storm, for now, was all bark and no bite.
Surprisingly, the fiery debate about Lyra online fizzled out as quickly as it had begun. By the next morning, all traces of the controversy had mysteriously disappeared.
Lyra didn’t need anyone to tell her who was behind it. Clearly, Ansel had stepped in—he had no intention of letting the Shedd family’s name get dragged through the mud.
"Boss," Morrison knocked lightly before entering her office. "After Kail was taken back by the Shedd family yesterday, he was sent out again around midnight, but our people lost his trail shortly after."
He seemed confused. Lyra never showed much concern for her younger brother, so why was she suddenly interested in his whereabouts?
"Want me to send a team to track him down?"
Lyra shook her head, her eyes flashing with a strange certainty. "No need. I already know where he is." She paused, her voice taking on a sharper edge. "Bring Mr. Frei here. This time, I’m handling things personally."
...
At a secluded manor on the outskirts of Central City, Kail slowly regained consciousness. The first thing that hit him was the blinding white light overhead from a surgical lamp, forcing him to squint against the sharp brightness.
He vaguely remembered the punishment, the angry mob attacking him, and then being picked up by the family’s butler before everything went black. His body felt wrecked. The lash wounds on his back hadn’t even started to heal, and each tiny movement made them bleed all over again.
The searing pain in his muscles blurred his thoughts. ’Why would the Shedd family even bother treating someone like me, a complete failure in their eyes?’
That’s when he noticed the heavy suppression rings binding his wrists, ankles, and waist, blocking his powers.
Nearby, a black, circular machine moved toward him, humming ominously.
"What the hell is going on?" he croaked, his voice hoarse.
A cold, mocking laugh echoed in response. "Ah, awake already?"
Erin stepped forward, arms folded across her chest. She looked every bit the proud Shedd heiress she’d always been, except for the dark circles under her eyes and the ghostly pallor of her skin.
Her prosthetic limb gleamed in the harsh light as she approached the operating table, her eyes glinting with cruel excitement.
Kail tried to struggle, but it only made his wounds tear further, sending fresh rivulets of blood down onto the sterile white table.
Erin’s face lit up at the sight, her lips curling into a twisted grin.
"Deja vu, isn’t it? Just like when your sister was in this same position." Erin’s laugh was sharp, nearly unhinged, as she pressed a button on the machine.
Kail’s eyes widened in horror as he felt a surge of unbearable pain rip through his skull. His body seized up as the machine began pulling his Crystal Core from his mind, slowly extracting it like someone yanking out his very soul. Was this what Lyra had gone through?
His mind grew hazy, the agony clouding every thought.
Meanwhile, Erin’s eyes glittered with twisted satisfaction as the purple Crystal Core, shaped like a six-sided pyramid, hovered above Kail’s head.
She gazed at it, imagining how this powerful core could replace the one inside her that had cursed her with endless cold.
But before she could revel in her victory, two bright green beams suddenly streaked through the air, coming inches from her head.
Her adjutant barely managed to yank her out of harm’s way, but one of the beams struck the machine, causing it to malfunction and cease the extraction.
Kail’s Crystal Core snapped back into place, settling back into his brain with a sharp jolt of pain.
"Lyra! You’ve ruined everything again!" Erin screamed, her face contorting in rage.
The door slammed open, and there was Lyra, standing in the doorway, as composed and infuriating as ever.
She casually lifted a hand to her mouth, stifling a small cough as she surveyed the room. There was no sign of the masked man, and Frenna had conveniently disappeared as well.
In a flash, Lyra was at the operating table. She aimed a swift chop at Erin, but her level-seven Aerokinesis adjutant yanked her away just in time.
Unbeknownst to them, Lyra’s real target wasn’t Erin—it was the table.
With precise, quick movements, Lyra deactivated the restraints holding Kail.
Using her powers, she carefully lifted him from the table and, without missing a beat, snatched the smoking machine and tucked it into her Space Button.
Then, just as fast as she had arrived, she turned on her heel and bolted toward the exit, Kail in tow.
Erin, now consumed by fury, felt her vision blur with rage. "Don’t just stand there—after them!" she shrieked.
Her adjutant sped after Lyra with blinding speed, but Erin hesitated.
The moment she tried to follow, the white Crystal Core embedded in her brain began spinning wildly, sending an icy blast through her body.
In the blink of an eye, Erin’s entire form was encased in frost, freezing her mid-step.
Lyra and Kail were already gone.
Chapter 187: Kail’s Future
As soon as Lyra made her exit with her crew, Mr. Frei didn’t waste a single second. Without so much as a glance back at the Shedd family elders, he grabbed Lyra and Kail and teleported them away.
On the way, Lyra used her superpower, healing Kail’s injuries. By the time they landed back at her company, Kail was laid out on the couch, conscious but still in a daze.
He stared up at the ceiling as if trying to make sense of it all. His body trembled, the pain from earlier still fresh in his mind.
"Sis," he mumbled, his voice shaking. "Did Erin steal your superpower? What happened?" The trauma of everything he’d just been through was still written all over his face.
"This wasn’t just some random attack, was it? Did Ansel know this was coming?" Kail suddenly sat up, the adrenaline spiking as anger replaced his confusion.
"He must’ve known! Where in the world did they get that kind of tech?" His frustration bubbled over as he tried to piece everything together.
Morrison, who had been quietly shuffling papers, jumped at Kail’s outburst. He was used to the chaos that seemed to follow Lyra, but this still managed to catch him off guard.
Lyra, calm as ever, took a slow sip of water before replying, "You’re asking way too many questions."
Without any warning, Kail dropped to his knees in front of her, tears streaming down his face. He started slapping himself, again and again, between sobs. "I’m sorry! I didn’t know... I didn’t know anything!"
Lyra’s gaze turned icy as she looked down at her broken brother. "It’s too late for ’sorry.’ From now on, your job is simple: run the store for me."
Even Morrison, who had seen a lot in his time with Lyra, didn’t see that coming. Before he could react, Lyra’s voice cut through the tension again, "Morrison, print the document."
Morrison’s eyebrows shot up as he glanced at his opticomputer. The file had just appeared on the screen. "Boss, this document..."
"Just print it."
Rubbing her temples, Lyra turned to Kail, who was still shaking on the floor. "Now that you’ve had a peek behind the curtain of what the Shedd family’s really like, you better start pulling your weight."
Kail, eyes wide, nodded vigorously. "I get it, sis. From now on, I’ll do whatever you say. I swear."
Moments later, Morrison came back, holding a freshly printed contract. He laid it in front of Kail.
"Sign this."
Confused, Kail picked up the document and started reading. The further he read, the more bewildered he became. He looked up at Lyra, his voice shaky. "Why... why are you doing this?"
It was a transfer contract for one of Lyra’s biggest stores. She was giving it to him.
’Is this her way of showing she still believes in me? Or maybe it’s her last-ditch attempt to make me useful?’ Kail wondered.
"Sign it," Lyra said, resting her head on her hand. "Didn’t you say you’d follow my orders? The store’s got an experienced manager who’ll show you the ropes—inventory, running day-to-day operations, all of it. You’ll be fine."
After a moment of hesitation, Kail finally signed the contract. As he did, a tiny spark of hope flickered in his eyes, like he wasn’t totally lost after all.
Once he was gone, Lyra turned to Morrison. "After I leave, don’t interfere with that store, no matter what kind of mess it gets into. We’ll deal with everything once I’m back from my internship."
Morrison, still full of questions, relaxed a bit. "Boss, what sort of problems are you expecting?"
Lyra’s expression darkened, and a strange gleam flickered in her eyes. "People who make a habit of stealing can’t resist snatching something up when it looks like easy pickings."
Later that night, Lyra regrouped with her team, ready to set out for Demetra in the morning.
Their internship had officially moved under the Legion of Rose, and Ansel had returned to his military duties. This change seemed to promise a much calmer remainder of their internship.
The only twist was the dismissal and disgraceful discharge of Instructor Anton.
When they arrived in Demetra, Mandy approached Lyra with a guilty look. "I was too wrapped up in my argument with Cohen over how to handle the queen bee. I didn’t realize what Caesara was up to. She used Instructor Anton to kill the Mendez family’s butler."
It turned out the butler had been following Mendez’s orders, drugging the queen bee and driving her powers into chaos.
Mendez had been hell-bent on wrecking Lyra’s financial future, no matter the consequences.
But in the end, the butler had met her fate, torn apart by two Space Twisters.
After the devastating loss of one of their top level-seven Peculiars, the Mendez family was desperately getting their revenge, no matter what it took.
The kicker? They had been the ones to start the whole mess in the first place.
With Cohen now firmly in control of Wyrmtrace, the Mendez family couldn’t spin the story or manipulate things in their favor like they normally would.
Since they couldn’t go after the real targets, they focused on an easier mark—Anton, the retired veteran with no major backing.
Killing their butler, a civilian, regardless of the reason, was a one-way ticket to ruin. Without any powerful connections to shield him, Anton got hit with the full weight of the consequences.
When Lyra heard about it, she raised an eyebrow. "So Caesara finally made her move, huh? Took her long enough," she remarked, clearly unimpressed.
The way she saw it, Caesara had been sitting on this for a while, just waiting for the right moment to strike.
"What’s going to happen to Anton?" Mandy asked from her spot on the bed, looking conflicted. "He was just trying to protect me."
Anton had been living a quiet, comfortable life after leaving the military due to his injuries. He had his pension and a solid salary from his job at the NMA. But now? Both were gone, and he was left with nothing.
Lyra crossed her arms, her mind on bigger things. "I’m more interested in how to handle the Mendez family," she said bluntly, before pulling out her opticomputer to call Caspian. "Has Jorathon tried to schedule treatment with Aesculapius’ Grace yet?"
Caspian, in the middle of chatting with a young man, quickly excused himself and stepped to the window. "Is something wrong?" he asked cautiously.
"The Mendez family is gunning to tank my business on Wyrmtrace. What do you think?"
Caspian didn’t need to be told twice—this was a big deal. He was counting on Lyra’s sale of her energy stone mine, after all.
Once the call ended, he turned back to Alon, but the cheerful smile he wore earlier was long gone. "Looks like your appointment just got canceled."
Alon’s face darkened with disappointment. "If you’re looking to invest in energy stone mines, I can offer some too," he said, trying to salvage the situation.
Caspian was tempted, sure, but he wasn’t dumb. He knew Lyra’s ventures promised way bigger returns than anything the Mendez family could dangle in front of him.
"It’s not really about the mine," Caspian replied, after a brief pause. "But let’s be real—you family going to get much out of Wyrmtrace at this point."
Most of the planet’s wealth had already been snatched up by Lyra’s bee colonies, and with Cohen, who held the true power on Wyrmtrace, in her corner, the Mendez family didn’t stand a chance against the military’s influence.
Honestly, Caspian couldn’t believe Jorathon had been dumb enough to move against Lyra. ’Dose he really think he could pull out of the deal just because he found some alternative to Aesculapius’ Grace?’
And to top it off, they tried to drag Caspian into their mess. It was downright insulting.
"Mr. East, is there really no room for negotiation?" Alon pressed, his words carrying a subtle threat.
"I’m a businessman," Caspian replied, waving him off, "I don’t backstab my partners."
With that, he motioned for his secretary to show Alon the door.
As soon as the door shut behind him, Caspian let out a long sigh. "Somebody gets older and think he’s untouchable."
The secretary smirked. "Yeah, they probably thought their little schemes would go unnoticed."
But in the end, they had fallen straight into Lyra’s trap.
Sitting in his lev, Alon seethed with quiet fury.
His thoughts turned to Mandy.
He had expected everything to go smoothly once Morrison left Wyrmtrace, leaving the mechanical overseer less involved. But then Mandy showed up and threw everything off track.
After multiple failed attempts, not only had he lost the butler, but his family’s relationship with Lyra was utterly shattered.
...
Back on Demetra, Lyra was satisfied with how her call had gone. She quickly reached out to Debbie. "Check on Instructor Anton. Make sure he’s got what he needs and help him out if you can."
"Got it."
Once she ended the conversation, Lyra shut her opticomputer just as Zinnia returned from training. "Let’s go shopping! We’ve been stuck on Demetra for ages and haven’t even gotten a chance to look around properly!"
Vikie, never one to miss out on fun, jumped in with excitement, "Exactly! And with Vice Admiral Leandro hinting that things are about to get hectic, this might be our last chance!"
The team agreed, deciding to hit the town and enjoy some downtime, officially kicking off the start of their year-long internship.
Chapter 188: What I Have Endured
The night on Elden Prime was brutal, with an icy chill that pierced to the bone.
Erin lay huddled beneath layers of blankets, shaking uncontrollably. Each breath she exhaled crystallized in the air, swirling into mist before vanishing.
Every muscle in her body screamed with exhaustion, her strength fading fast. ’How did it come to this?’ She could no longer contain the growing torment inside her.
As her condition spiraled, the door to her room creaked open, and the old family butler, Greg, stepped in, immediately switching on the heater.
"Miss Erin, are you feeling alright?" he asked, his voice heavy with concern.
"Where’s Grandpa?" Erin’s voice was weak, trembling as much from her desperation as from the cold. Her eyes, wide and frantic, bore into Greg, pleading for some sort of answer.
Greg hesitated for a moment, sympathy crossing his weathered face. "He has returned to his post," he said softly. "He told me to make sure you rest. He won’t be back anytime soon."
The truth of Ansel’s words was much harsher: "She’s not worth the trouble anymore."
Despite her cybernetic limbs, Erin had become a shadow of her former self, her combat abilities dulled to the point of near uselessness. In the eyes of her family, she had been quietly dismissed.
"I can’t stand this! I’m freezing to death!" Erin clutched her head, her composure unraveling as frustration and despair took hold.
"Perhaps we should consider removing the power of freezing from your system," Greg suggested gently, though he was well aware of how much it had already drained her.
"No!" she snapped, her rejection instant and fierce. Without that power, she would be just another helpless, ordinary Erin. The thought of being powerless again terrified her far more than the physical cold.
Suddenly, she seized Greg’s hand, her grip surprisingly strong. "Find Kail! Now!"
The Shedd family, known for their lightning-based abilities, always managed to thrive despite the hardships.
"It wasn’t fair," Erin yelled, "How can they live so easily while I’m stuck suffering?"
Greg sighed, resigned. "There’s no need to search. Mr. Kail is already here, on Elden Prime."
Erin’s expression darkened instantly, bitterness twisting her features. "Why does everything always work out for Kail and Lyra, while I have to struggle so much?"
Even after all her attempts to push them away, they continued to rise above her.
"Summon Aunt Frenna," she demanded, her voice colder than the air around her.
...
Hours later, Kail sat at his desk on the second floor of his small shop, finishing his paperwork.
The soft glow of his opticomputer dimmed as he shut it down, and he was ready to head home for the night. But just as he stood up, an unsettling feeling crept over him.
"Who’s there?" Kail’s voice was sharp, his instincts kicking in as he scanned the room.
Before he could react further, Erin and Frenna crashed through the window.
Kail’s body tensed as he quickly hit a hidden button on his desk, sending an alert.
"Erin, how dare you show up here?" Kail spat, fury radiating from him as he faced her.
Erin’s lips curled into a cold, cruel smile. "As long as you and her are still alive, I’ll never leave you alone," she hissed, her gaze sweeping the room with greedy intent.
Everything here, even the most insignificant items, sparked envy in her heart.
Frenna stepped forward, her eyes glowing with psychokinetic energy. "Good evening, Kail," she said, her tone dripping with false sweetness.
Kail barely had time to react before a wave of immense psychic force slammed into him, breaking down his mental defenses in an instant. His body froze, and his mind went completely blank, his consciousness sinking into the void.
Frenna sighed in relief. "This one isn’t nearly as strong as HER."
"It’s done," she said, stepping back, her task complete.
Without wasting a moment, Erin pulled out a contract, her signature already scrawled across the bottom. All she needed now was Kail’s.
"Sign it," she commanded, her voice as sharp as the ice in her veins.
Under Frenna’s control, Kail, now little more than a puppet, obediently signed his name on the document.
Erin’s hands trembled with excitement as she gripped the signed paper. "We did it, Aunt Frenna!" she exclaimed, barely able to contain her glee.
Frenna chuckled softly, unimpressed. "This was just a small task. We’ll seal everything with one more spell, just to be sure."
Erin’s eyes gleamed with malicious satisfaction as she tucked the contract safely away. She turned her attention back to Kail, who stood there, his eyes vacant and lifeless.
"Come with me," she ordered, pulling him by the arm.
They leapt from the second floor, disappearing into the shadows below. But as they landed, a figure emerged from a nearby vehicle, his expression dark and suspicious.
It was Morrison.
His eyes narrowed as they flicked between Erin and Kail, tension crackling in the air. He made no immediate move, but his hand hovered near his weapon, ready for anything.
"Kail, what’s going on?" Morrison asked, his voice calm but laced with suspicion.
Kail forced a smile, though it was stiff and unnatural. "Nothing’s wrong," he said, his voice disturbingly calm.
Morrison’s frown deepened, unease gnawing at him. He had received Kail’s reports just moments ago. "I need you to come with me to headquarters. We have to review the numbers."
"I don’t have time for that," Kail replied dismissively, his tone flat.
Morrison’s instincts screamed that something was off. He subtly signaled for backup.
Suddenly, a shockwave pulsed through the air. Frenna, hidden in the shadows, let out a cry as the attack struck her directly.
Wasting no time, Morrison drew his superpowered firearm and fired at Erin, but before the shot could connect, Greg appeared out of nowhere, grabbing Erin and whisking her away into the night.
As the psychic hold over Kail dissipated, he collapsed to the ground, unconscious and free once more.
When Kail finally woke up, he found himself lying in a sterile hospital bed, his head throbbing as if someone had split it open with a hammer.
The overhead lights felt blindingly bright, and the sharp smell of antiseptics made his stomach churn.
"How’re you holding up?" Morrison’s voice pierced through the haze, calm but filled with concern. He stepped away from the window, where he’d just finished a phone call.
Kail shot up in bed, his face drained of color as the events rushed back to him. "Erin—she controlled me! I signed the store over to her!" His voice cracked with panic and anger, his hands shaking as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed. "I need to file a complaint with the Ministry of Commerce, NOW!"
The Alliance had strict laws about superpower coercion. If Kail could prove he’d been manipulated, the contract would be annulled immediately. He had to act fast.
But Morrison stepped in front of him, blocking his path with a grim look on his face. "Don’t bother," he said quietly, shaking his head. "I’ve already tried. The Shedd family’s got too much sway. We’re not in a position to fight them on our own."
The situation was even worse than Kail imagined.
Lyra had made it clear: "No interference, no matter what".
It was likely she had seen Erin’s move coming from miles away but chose to stand down anyway.
Kail’s shoulders slumped in defeat, his whole body trembling with guilt and shame. He buried his face in his hands. "I’ve messed up... dragged Lyra into my problems again. I’ve failed her."
Morrison sighed, offering a small, sympathetic smile. "Don’t worry about it. Boss said she’ll deal with everything when she gets back."
True to her word, Lyra took swift action. Within days, the store was officially transferred to its new "owner."
Once Morrison updated the company’s website, their factory stopped supplying any goods to Erin’s newly acquired business.
Erin, of course, wasn’t phased. With the Shedd family’s resources, she’d have no trouble securing a new supplier. The battle was far from over.
Kail, however, spiraled into a deep depression.
When he finally gathered the courage to reach out to Lyra, he did so with his head hanging low, ready to face her judgment.
"Frenna was there too," Kail confessed, his voice shaking. "She cursed me... forced me to..." But as he tried to explain, a sudden, stabbing pain shot through his skull, cutting him off mid-sentence.
The curse was still embedded in him, choking out the words before he could speak them.
It hit him like a ton of bricks—THIS was what Lyra had endured all those years ago, why she had disappeared without a word.
Now, he was trapped in the same nightmare, the same helplessness. The weight of that realization crushed him.
But when Lyra responded, her voice was calm and measured, just as Morrison had predicted. "I’ll handle it when I’m back." There was a pause before she added, "What do you want to do now?"
Kail rubbed his face, exhaustion and defeat clear in his voice. "I’m not cut out for business," he admitted, barely above a whisper. "Maybe I’ll become a beast hunter. Volunteer at the orphanage when I can."
"Then do that," she replied simply.
As the call ended, Kail collapsed onto the floor, feeling more like a deflated balloon than a person.
Lyra had promised she’d fix things when she returned, but her return seemed a lifetime away.
Days stretched into weeks, then months, until nearly a year passed. Finally, her internship was over, and she was heading home.
...
Back on Elden Prime, the top-performing students, Lyra included, were preparing to return after completing their training.
Awards were being handed out to recognize their achievements, and for some, like Zinnia and Thierry, it was also a chance to celebrate the prestigious job offers they’d received from the Legion of Rose, one of the Alliance’s elite organizations.
The farewell dinner was filled with laughter and congratulations, a moment of pride for many. But Lyra sat quietly in the corner, detached from the festivities, her attention fixed on her opticomputer as her fingers rapidly typed out messages.
She was in the middle of an exchange with Snakehead.
"Everything has been spread," read the final message.
Satisfied, Lyra put the device down, a faint, barely noticeable smile tugging at her lips.
Just then, Zinnia, her face flushed from too much celebratory drinking, stumbled over, throwing her arms around Lyra in a clumsy hug.
"Lyra! Haha, why aren’t you drinking?!" she slurred, her giggles uncontrollable as she nuzzled against Lyra’s cheek like a tipsy puppy.
Lyra gave her an unimpressed side-eye, saying nothing as she casually picked up a slice of lime from her plate and shoved it into Zinnia’s mouth.
Zinnia recoiled, her face twisting in horror. "Ugh! You little witch!" she cried, spitting it out.
"Feeling better now?" Lyra asked flatly, her arms crossed, her expression as icy as ever.
Zinnia giggled awkwardly, but something about the moment made her feel uneasy. She hesitated, looking away as guilt crept into her tone. "Lyra... if I ever, like, betrayed you, would you be mad?"
Lyra’s gaze didn’t waver. "Depends on the situation."
Zinnia shifted uncomfortably under her stare, then awkwardly excused herself, wandering off to rejoin Vikie and Thierry at the bar.
"You knew Lyra doesn’t drink," Vikie teased, grinning as she took a swig from her bottle. "Why’d you go bug her?"
Zinnia, still holding her bottle tightly, wiped at her watery eyes and hugged it close, her voice catching in her throat. "It’s just... after tonight, we might not see each other again!" she cried, her emotions spilling out as tears began to flow. "I don’t want it to end!"
Her wails echoed through the room, and every few gulps from her bottle were punctuated with loud sobs as the realization of their looming goodbye hit her.
Chapter 189: Erin’s End
By the time Rajan arrived to pick her up, Zinnia was already sprawled out on the sidewalk, clinging to Lyra’s leg like her life depended on it.
"Lyra! I’m soooo sorry! You should just kill me now! I totally deserve it for ditching you for my stupid boyfriend... hic!" she sobbed, her voice a mix of regret and drunken slurring.
Rajan, looking more than a little embarrassed by the spectacle in front of him, cleared his throat awkwardly. "Uh... Boss?"
Lyra, visibly exhausted from listening to Zinnia’s nonstop wailing for what felt like hours, waved a hand dismissively. "Just get her out of here," she muttered, her voice drained of all patience.
Rajan, wisely choosing to say nothing more, simply nodded. In one smooth motion, he scooped up Zinnia, cradling her in his arms as he turned to face her group of friends. "Anyone else need a lift?" he offered politely.
Lyra shook her head immediately. "No thanks," she said, her exhaustion evident.
Vikie waved him off too. "Nah, we’re good. There’s a public hoverboard station nearby—we’ll make it back in no time."
Helion and Thierry, who were standing a bit off to the side, shook their heads as well. They were already heading in a different direction.
"Alright then," Rajan replied with a friendly smile, effortlessly buckling Zinnia into the passenger seat. "I’ll take her home first."
Despite his clean-cut look, dressed sharply in a button-up shirt and slacks, Rajan had grown into his role on Elden Prime, exuding a newfound sense of calm confidence.
No longer the shy boy he once was, he now carried himself with ease, even in the most chaotic situations—like this one.
As they pulled away, Zinnia sat in the car, arms crossed in a dramatic pout.
Rajan glanced at her, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "You’re not even that drunk—you’re just being extra," he teased, reaching over to ruffle her hair.
"I’m not moving ’cause I’m too sad!" Zinnia groaned, throwing herself dramatically onto her side. "I won’t see you for ages! You’ll have to carry me inside later."
"Sure," Rajan chuckled, playing along.
"And you’ll give me a bath," she added with a mischievous grin.
"Absolutely," he replied, not missing a beat.
"And I didn’t even get to eat properly. I’m starving!"
"I’ve got steaks marinating in the fridge. I’ll cook them as soon as we get home," Rajan promised, his voice gentle. He indulged her every request like it was the easiest thing in the world.
...
Back at the gathering, Vikie watched the car drive off and let out a sigh. "When Zinnia said her boyfriend literally carried her to bed, I didn’t believe it. Guess ’bunny’ is stronger than we expected."
Helion and Thierry exchanged a glance, saying nothing.
After three years together, no one was shocked by the couple’s closeness.
Lyra, on the other hand, simply yawned, clearly ready to call it a night. "It’s late. I’m heading out."
As they watched her walk off, Vikie forced a smile. "Her personality... it’s something else."
While the rest of the group was weighed down by the thought of saying their goodbyes, Lyra seemed unfazed, detached from the emotional swirl around her.
"She’s just more resolute than the rest of us," Helion commented, watching her disappear into the distance.
With only a few weeks left before graduation, most of the students were taking this time to return home for the last bit of freedom they’d have.
After the ceremony, they’d all be scattered, reporting to their assigned military units.
...
The next morning, Lyra made her usual rounds, checking up on the various stores under her name.
When she passed by the one Erin had forcibly taken from Kail, she paused, standing quietly outside for a moment. Her assistant and the operations manager halted beside her, waiting for her next move.
Inside the store, Erin was busy overseeing her staff, directing them on how to display the newest merchandise. When she noticed Lyra outside, her face lit up with a smirk.
Without hesitation, she strode out to meet her, arms crossed and full of smug confidence.
"Lyra," she greeted, her voice dripping with false sweetness, "you’re talented, but it’s a shame you’ve got such a stupid brother."
Erin’s chest swelled with pride, still riding the high of stealing the store right from under Lyra. She relished in every moment of her small victory, unable to resist rubbing it in.
Lyra, unfazed, smiled calmly back. "My brother may not be the sharpest, but he’s more useful than you think."
Sensing the familiar energy of the power of freezing lingering around Erin, Lyra added in a low, icy tone, "I just hope you can handle everything you’ve taken."
With that, she turned away, walking off with her team in tow, leaving Erin standing there with her smug expression fading fast.
Erin’s eyes narrowed as she watched Lyra’s retreating figure. Her hands balled into fists, her heart burning with resentment.
"Hmph! I will keep what I’ve taken, and I’ll take everything else from you too," she muttered to herself, storming back inside the store.
As soon as she entered, her secretary hurried over, handing her a message. "The new shipment’s arrived, boss. Want to inspect it?"
"Let’s go."
They headed toward the back of the store where the new stock was being unloaded. Erin yanked open one of the crates, her brows furrowing immediately. "Why does this model look different from the last shipment?" she snapped, her tone sharp.
The assistant, clearly nervous, hesitated before blurting out, "The supplier said it’s a newly developed product."
Erin’s expression didn’t soften, so the assistant quickly added, "It’s already been tested. Compared to similar models, it performs well and is competitively priced."
Erin gave a curt nod. "Fine. Get it prepped for sale."
The new smart robots were promptly placed on display, but it didn’t take long for an eager customer to arrive.
A man wearing glasses, though dressed in a suit, appeared somewhat disheveled, like he’d rushed to the store.
"Hello, sir. How can I assist you today?" the salesperson asked.
"I want to see the new smart robots," he replied, his voice urgent.
Without waiting for a response, the man beelined toward the freshly stocked robots, his eyes widening as they landed on the merchandise. "It’s really here!"
At that very moment, Erin walked in from outside, catching the man’s eye. He composed himself immediately, exiting the store and pulling out his phone.
"Boss, I found it!" he whispered excitedly.
...
Later that same afternoon, agents from the military tribunal showed up at the store. They approached Erin directly, their expressions cold.
"Miss Shedd, we’ve received reports linking you to multiple cases of fencing stolen goods. You’ll need to come with us for questioning."
Erin’s face paled as she stood abruptly. "What?! What’s this about?"
Without hesitation, the agents behind them raised their weapons in her direction. "Do not resist, Miss Shedd. We are authorized to use force if necessary."
Erin’s heart raced, but she kept her composure, knowing how serious this was.
As a member of the military herself, she knew the consequences could be dire. Slowly, she raised her hands in compliance.
Before being escorted out, she turned to her panicked secretary and ordered, "Contact my family. Now!"
As she was led away, a cold dread crept over her, echoing Lyra’s words from the day before. Her mind raced, but she forced herself to stay calm. ’I’m the daughter of the Shedd family. They can’t touch me,’ she told herself, clinging to the thought like a lifeline.
But before her secretary could reach anyone, Greg, the family butler, had already seen the news.
The story of Erin’s arrest was spreading like wildfire across the network. His eyes widened as he quickly pieced it together: Erin had been set up.
...
Inside the tribunal, the interrogation began swiftly. Greg, using his influence, managed to observe through special channels.
"Miss Shedd, our investigation has uncovered that the smart robots you’ve been selling are stolen property, originally taken by space pirates. The serial numbers on the products match the stolen inventory, and the contracts show your signature. Additionally, surveillance footage confirms you were seen dealing directly with the pirates’ leader."
Erin, now handcuffed and visibly shaking, picked up the documents placed in front of her. "I... I didn’t know! I had no idea who he really was!" she stammered, her voice trembling.
The evidence was damning. Photos showed the supplier she had worked with, a man who appeared to be a respectable professional in his silver-framed glasses and crisp suit. He had even shown her legitimate engineering certifications, all traceable online.
"How could this man be a space pirate?" Erin muttered frantically, staring at the images in disbelief.
"If that’s the case, why isn’t there a warrant for his arrest?" she asked, desperation creeping into her voice.
The prosecutor leaned forward. "His superpower allows him to alter his appearance. What you saw was just a facade. This," he said, sliding over a new photo, "is his true face."
Erin recoiled at the sight. The image depicted a bald man with a sharp, beardless face and soulless, malicious eyes—a face that screamed danger.
The prosecutor continued, "We have solid evidence linking you to fencing goods for space pirates. Your involvement is clear."
The room fell silent as the prosecutors began packing up their files, satisfied with the mountain of evidence they had gathered. The case had come together unusually smoothly for something of this magnitude.
Erin was frozen in her seat, her mind racing. Then, as if a switch flipped, she exploded into a fit of panic, yanking at her handcuffs and screaming, "I didn’t know! I’m innocent! This is a setup!"
The prosecutor’s gaze hardened, though his lips curled into a mocking smile. "Miss Shedd, our investigation shows that each shipment of smart robots you sold came with completely different model numbers. Didn’t that raise any red flags for you?"
He leaned in slightly, his tone dripping with condescension. "You should start preparing yourself, because the full weight of the law is coming for you."
Erin collapsed back into her chair, her face pale as the gravity of the situation finally crashed down on her.
In a nearby room, Greg had been silently listening to the entire interrogation through his special channels.
As the prosecutor’s words echoed in his ears, his heart sank. He had always believed in protecting Erin, always cleaning up her messes. But this time... this time it was different.
She was finished. There was no way to save her from this.
Chapter 190: It’s Been A Minute
Because of Erin’s status, she was set to stand before a military tribunal—an institution known for being quick to judge. They wasted no time, scheduling the trial for just a week later.
At first, Erin thought Ansel would step in and save her. She sent multiple requests to meet her family, clinging to the hope that someone would come to her rescue. But all she got was Greg’s troubled look.
"He can’t make it right now," he muttered quietly.
In that moment, the truth hit Erin like a ton of bricks. Her grandpa had abandoned her.
"If Freon could clear my name, it would really help reduce my sentence!" she pleaded, gripping Greg’s hand so tightly that it trembled. "Uncle Greg, you can’t just stand by and watch my life get ruined! Please, you have to help me!"
Greg winced, feeling the icy grip of her trembling hands. He wanted to say it—’You should’ve seen this coming. Why did you act so recklessly?’
She had zero experience in running a business, yet insisted on taking over that shop. Now it was obvious—Lyra had set her up, and Erin had walked right into it.
"Miss Erin, please hang in there," Greg replied hesitantly.
Without direct orders from Ansel, no one from the Shedd family dared to get involved.
Meanwhile, Erin’s father, Teagan, was doing everything he could. He had already pleaded with his own father, Ansel, "Dad, for all Erin has done for the family, we have to save her!"
Ansel’s gaze rested on his eldest son, who had filled out quite a bit over the years, but his expression was stone-cold.
"And who’s going to save the Shedd family?" Ansel retorted sharply. "It took me years to rebuild what we lost, and now she’s gone and ruined it in a flash."
Teagan fell silent, the weight of his father’s words pulling him down. He couldn’t forget how hard things had been after his brother’s death—how the Shedd family had become a target of ridicule and attacks from every angle.
He didn’t have his father’s sharp foresight, nor his brother’s tactical genius. Heck, he wasn’t even as talented as his sister, whose powers set her apart. Half his life had passed, and all he’d managed was a Commander rank in the Legion Skywalkers.
Though he was strict with Erin, she was still his only child. The thought of her life being ruined was too much to bear.
"Erin’s been framed by Lyra, I’m sure of it."
"Even if she has, it’s still her own fault!" Ansel snapped, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "I raised her, taught her everything I know, and she’s still this naive. Teagan, this is no simple matter. Stay out of it."
Enemies were lurking all around the Shedd family, waiting for them to slip. The only play left was to ride out the storm and hope for a reduced sentence down the road.
Teagan’s heart sank, the cold realization settling in. Tears threatened to spill as he begged, "But she’s my only daughter, Dad."
Ansel’s response was a withering glance. "Children can always be replaced."
Teagan left the room feeling utterly crushed, his face pale as a ghost.
At home, his wife had already cried herself hoarse. "Did your father agree to help?" she asked, a fragile hope flickering in her voice.
Teagan’s silence was answer enough. She snapped, grabbing the front of his uniform and shaking him, her voice trembling with fury. "How can you Shedd men be so heartless? Erin has trained under your father her whole life, and now that she’s not useful, he’s throwing her away like garbage?"
Pushing her aside, Teagan collapsed onto the sofa. "Dad’s doing this for the family."
"For the family?" she spat bitterly, tears streaming down her face. "First, he sacrificed his own son and daughter-in-law. Then, he forced out his grandkids. And now he’s abandoning Erin too! Soon enough, it’ll just be him, standing in the ashes of what’s left!"
"Enough!" Teagan bellowed, his voice echoing through the small room.
His wife collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. "If Erin ends up in prison, I swear to you, I’ll end it. You and your psyco father can watch the Shedd family crumble after that!"
Teagan’s expression darkened, the weight of it all crushing him. After a long, tense pause, he sighed heavily. "I’ll go back... I’ll ask Frenna to help."
His sister, a powerful Spellbinder, had connections—enough to get those space pirates to change their story. If anyone could help Erin now, it was her.
...
Meanwhile...
Lyra stood confidently in the company lab, her eyes locked on an impressive piece of machinery.
The hulking device, nearly two meters across, looked like a giant spotlight, its surface gleaming with mechanical precision.
Purple gemstones dotted the exterior, giving it an otherworldly appearance.
"According to the reports from Koros and Sean, this small-scale space teleportation station needs 500,000 megajoules of energy for each activation," Morrison said, sounding utterly defeated. "That’s the energy equivalent of a level-seven energy stone mine the size of a fist."
Just saying it made Morrison wince. The energy cost was absurd, far more than the fuel needed for a fully-loaded commercial spacecraft to travel between star systems.
"We’ve only built one pair of platforms," Morrison continued. "That means two teleportation stations. At most, they can transfer five people at a time. Should I set the destination to Planet Nagano?"
Lyra’s eyes flashed with something unreadable as she picked up the Space Button, the control for the second teleportation array. "No, I’ve got a different plan," she replied cryptically.
Without another word, she boarded her ship and set course for a nearby planet, determined to test it herself.
...
Meanwhile, a hidden informant sent a quick report to Teagan: "Lyra has left Elden Prime. Her flight logs show she’s headed to Clarra Star."
"Perfect!" Teagan burst into a grin as he rushed to find his sister. "Frenna, Lyra’s out of the picture! You can finally make your move now, right?"
"Are you sure about this?" Frenna asked, her voice laced with uncertainty.
"Why would I lie?" Teagan couldn’t fathom why Frenna, who was nearly at level-nine, hesitated to take on Lyra, a much younger woman.
Frenna bit her lip, torn. "But if Dad finds out..." She didn’t need to finish the sentence. The repercussions would be severe if they were caught acting without their father’s blessing.
"All you have to do is control Freon. It’s not that big of a deal," Teagan pressed, his tone impatient.
Frenna weighed her options. He had a point—this wasn’t a huge risk. Folding her arms, her face hardened as she locked eyes with her brother. "What about the payment you promised?"
Teagan sighed dramatically. "Why are you so obsessed with compensation? You’re Erin’s aunt, for crying out loud!" He waved her off dismissively. "Half of our hotel’s shares. That’s what we agreed on, right? Does that make you happy?"
...
The day of the trial finally arrived.
Freon, who had been kept under tight surveillance, was led into the courtroom. His appearance was nearly unrecognizable—he’d even shaved his eyebrows, making him look bizarre under the harsh, clinical lights.
Frenna sat in the audience, quietly preparing her psychokinetic powers. As a Spellbinder, proximity was crucial for her to control Freon. She was mere moments from launching her mental assault when a familiar voice, icy and unmistakable, whispered in her ear:
"Aunt Frenna, it’s been a minute."
Her heart skipped a beat. Slowly, she turned, and the breath caught in her throat.
The young woman in front of her pulled off her mask, revealing a face that sent shivers down Frenna’s spine.
It was Lyra.
In that split second of shock, Lyra didn’t hesitate. She activated a spell seed she’d previously implanted in Frenna’s mind, slipping into her thoughts with ease.
For all of Frenna’s psychokinetic abilities, she was no match for Lyra’s premeditated cunning.
The judge stood, towering over the courtroom as he began the proceedings. Behind him, high-ranking military officers sat in silent observation, ready to weigh in on the trial’s outcome.
"We will now begin," the judge declared solemnly. "Freon, do you admit to the following charge: that you robbed Rocco Robotics Development Group near Snowfall, resulting in the death of a security guard?"
Freon, eerily calm, nodded his head. "I admit it."
"And did you sell the stolen goods through Erin Shedd?"
Erin sat rigid in the confession chair, her knuckles white from how tightly she gripped the armrests. Her eyes darted to her father in the audience, who gave her a hopeful, reassuring look.
But before she could even catch her breath, Freon’s next words destroyed everything.
"I admit it."
The words landed like a bomb. Erin froze in disbelief, and her father sat paralyzed, eyes wide with shock.
Both of them instinctively turned toward Frenna, who sat in the audience, her face blank, eyes vacant—completely under Lyra’s control.
From that moment on, Erin couldn’t hear anything else. The judge’s voice became muffled as her mind spiraled. All she could picture were the horrors of prison life. Her face paled with every passing second, terror gripping her heart.
Once the military officers had reviewed the evidence, they wasted no time reaching a decision. The final judgment came swift and merciless.
"The military court hereby declares: Erin Shedd, stripped of all rank and sentenced to forty-seven years of imprisonment. Freon, sentenced to death by lethal injection."