Ch. 56..60: Interstellar_ Return of the Villain Chapter 56-60

Chapter 56: Lyra vs. Vivian

In the afternoon, when the second round of matches began, no one dared to underestimate Lyra anymore.

Her opponent attacked fiercely with their superpower right at the start. However, before they could even touch the hem of her clothes, they were already on the ground.

Now, no one questioned how she had gotten the highest score during the field training.

"Hmph, no matter how good her physical skills are, being with healing power still makes him useless," Vivian said.

Mandy wanted to explain that Lyra’s superpower was not only strong but ridiculously powerful. However, seeing the angry look on Vivian’s face, she decided to keep quiet.

Sometimes, things unfold in surprising ways.

As soon as the third round began, Vivian found herself facing Lyra.

The crowd got excited—two beautiful girls squaring off? This was going to be intense!

But Mandy felt worried and whispered to Vivian, "Be careful."

"Am I supposed to be afraid of her?"

The stunningly beautiful girl brushed back a curl from her forehead, stepping onto the mat like a proud turkey.

When Vivian looked at Lyra’s skinny figure, it was as if she was staring at a plain, unpolished piece of wood. "I don’t even know where someone like you gets the nerve to challenge me."

Since she was born, she had been drenched in the admiration from men; Cohen Whyte was the only one she had to work hard to win over.

Lyra remained silent. She knew that even if she said she had no interest in romantic relationships, Vivian would just mock her. When someone lives in their own world, believing only what they see and hear, any explanation would seem pointless.

"Let’s begin."

In the blink of an eye, Vivian swung a water whip, which snapped against the mat, tearing through its surface to reveal the white core beneath.

"You shouldn’t have provoked me!"

She swung the water whip horizontally, but Lyra caught it with one hand.

The water, initially as firm as a whip, slipped through her fingers and reformed instantly.

Vivian had Class-A superpower; that was indeed impressive.

Two more water whips intertwined, covering the entire mat, leaving Lyra seemingly with no room to move.

Lyra lowered herself slightly and then launched forward with sudden force, creating a thirty-degree angle with the mat as she shot out like an arrow through the water web.

Vivian smirked, her superpower particles surging as the water whips scattered and then reformed into a large net, tightening around Lyra.

The crowd gasped, "Such quick activation speed! She can actually keep up with Lyra!"

Seeing the net closing in on her, Lyra lightly tapped the ground and leaped sideways. The water net followed her closely, like a giant mouth ready to swallow her.

Suddenly, Lyra brought her hand down in a chopping motion. All everyone saw was a flash of green light, and the water net split apart.

Vivian, shocked, tried to gather her power again but found that the superpower particles she could control were now pitifully few.

There was only one possible explanation for this: she was being suppressed.

This kind of situation should only happen when the opponent’s psychokinesis, superpower, and innate talent levels were all higher than hers. Yet, it was happening right in front of her.

It was humiliating.

Filled with rage, Vivian raised her arms to block Lyra’s chopping hand. Then she kicked out, trying to create some distance.

But Lyra gave her no chance. She grabbed Vivian’s knee and pulled hard, forcing her to lunge forward. Then, she twisted Vivian’s arm and pinned her down on the mat.

In the blink of an eye, the match was decided.

"Class 1, Lyra wins!"

Amid the astonished gazes of the students, Lyra returned to her place.

Vivian was still sprawled on the ground, her eyes red with anger as she furiously pounded the mat. It was beyond embarrassing—it was utterly humiliating. She despised Lyra with every fiber of her being!

Mandy, noticing her friend’s distress, rushed over to help her up, but Vivian shoved her away. "I can walk on my own."

She stood up quickly, chin held high, and strode off with the same pride she always carried, like a princess determined not to show weakness.

Making an excuse to head to the bathroom, Vivian instead dialed her brother’s number. The moment he answered, she broke down into uncontrollable sobs.

"Do you even know what she did to me? She pinned me to the ground like a common criminal, making me look like a fool in front of everyone. I don’t care who she is or what she’s capable of—Alon, you have to make her pay!"

Vivian curled up in a corner, knees hugged to her chest.

Hearing her shaky breath, Alon let out a deep sigh, caught between frustration and exasperation. "Alright, alright, stop crying."

Vivian had insisted on joining the military academy, but now that she’d lost, she was running back to the family in tears. Yet, she was their pampered princess—they would never be harsh to her.

"I knew you’d come through for me, Alon." Vivian sniffled, her tears subsiding as she felt a wave of relief. Casually, she added, "How’s Grandpa doing?"

"He’s been in good spirits lately. When you get a break, make sure to spend some time with him. Don’t let him worry," Jin Jing gently hinted.

Vivian pouted, "As long as you handle this for me, I won’t bother Grandpa."

"You little..." Alon muttered, a mix of fondness and resignation in his voice.

While the siblings were talking, Mandy was lurking nearby, hidden behind a wall. She nervously twisted her fingers, her face a picture of uncertainty.

Just then, her opticomputer pinged with a notification from the trading platform: "Final payment for your listed item has been received..."

The day’s matches eventually came to a close.

The entire campus was buzzing, and the school forum was on fire with posts, most of them videos secretly filmed during the matches.

Since these were the top-tier events at the military academy, the posts quickly got pinned and skyrocketed in popularity.

"Lyra, you’re the talk of the campus! You’re ranked tenth!" Zinnia said, practically vibrating with excitement.

Lyra glanced up from her tray, not saying much, but when she saw how Zinnia’s eyes sparkled, she put down her fork and asked, "What about you?"

Zinnia had been waiting for that question. She immediately put her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest, "I’m right behind you!"

She was brimming with energy, and Lyra, unsure of how to respond, simply nodded and said, "Impressive."

"Hahaha, I think so too!" The lively girl grinned, tapping away at her screen. "I’m going to send this to my brothers. Maybe I’ll get a bigger gift from them!"

Lyra picked up her fork again, listening to Zinnia’s cheerful chatter. Ever since the previous night, Vivian had been throwing out sarcastic comments or stirring up trouble at the worst moments, making the dorm feel tense.

When they returned to the dorm that evening, the mood was even heavier, especially with Mandy sobbing quietly on the couch.

"What’s wrong? Did Vivian scold you?" Zinnia asked, plopping down beside Mandy. To her, Vivian and Mandy’s relationship was a textbook example of a bully and her victim—it was completely unbalanced.

Zinnia wasn’t particularly fond of Mandy’s tender personality, but she didn’t dislike her either, so she couldn’t help showing some concern.

From Vivian’s room came a sharp, icy snort.

As usual, Lyra went to fetch some water. She noticed Mandy stealing glances at her, but the moment Lyra looked her way, Mandy quickly averted her eyes.

Zinnia had finally reached her limit with Mandy’s timid and hesitant behavior. Frustrated, she gave her a gentle shake and said, "Come on, speak up! Why do you keep looking at Lyra like that? Did Vivian tell you not to talk to her again?"

At that moment, Vivian had had enough. She stormed out of her room, her footsteps echoing sharply across the floor. With a face mask on, she couldn’t open her mouth all the way, so she mumbled angrily, "Zinnia, what are you even talking about? What’s this nonsense about me giving her orders? She can hang out with whoever she wants—why should I care?"

Then she turned her glare toward Mandy. "And why are you acting like it’s some huge secret that your grandma was diagnosed with a genetic disease? It’s not something to be ashamed of! But instead of just talking about it, you keep crying and making everyone uncomfortable. It’s so annoying!"

Vivian was seething. She was already dealing with the frustration of almost losing Cohen to someone else, which left her feeling like the world’s biggest victim. Now, to top it all off, she had to deal with the constant tension in the dorm, and it was driving her up the wall. She was absolutely fed up.

 

Chapter 57: Genetic Disease

"Your grandma got diagnosed with a genetic disease? Do you have enough money for treatment? I can lend you some," Zinnia offered.

To Lyra, Zinnia’s enthusiasm seemed a bit much, but Mandy found comfort in her kindness.

Mandy wiped away her tears, forcing a sad smile. "Grandma has neurodegeneration. There’s no cure, just meds to manage it."

This disease is one of those cruel, incurable ones. It slowly eats away at the nerves, and no one can predict how it’ll turn out.

Even with the most advanced treatments, there’s nothing that can stop it.

If Mandy’s family had money, they could use the latest tech and drugs to ease her symptoms. But they was no way they could ever get that kind of cash? This illness was a bottomless pit; they simply couldn’t afford it.

Zinnia scratched her head. "I could introduce you to some doctors, but the facilities on Planet Nagano should be better than here on Snowfall. I’m sorry, though, I guess that’s not much help."

Mandy shook her head. "You don’t need to apologize. Even if we found a doctor, my family couldn’t pay for the treatment."

"Hold on, let me ask my dad if he can help."

Zinnia was ready to call her family to borrow money, but Mandy quickly stopped her.

"No, no need."

Lyra didn’t stick around for the rest of the conversation. She headed straight back to her room.

The next day, Zinnia brought it up again, this time chatting with Lyra. "Why didn’t Mandy ask Vivian for money? I even suggested we do a fundraiser at school, but she wasn’t into it."

Lyra thought for a moment before answering, "Maybe it’s because she’s holding onto the only pride she has left."

Maybe to prove Lyra right, Mandy applied for a part-time job on campus later that day.

...

By the time the competition reached the third round, things got intense.

The format shifted to one-on-one matches, with twenty-five people drawing lots to pick their opponents, and a few getting a bye. Lyra lucked out with a bye in the first round, sailing straight to the top thirteen.

Some people couldn’t help but comment, "She’s got some serious luck."

Thierry overheard someone from another class say this and laughed. "Not having to face her is the real luck."

Deep down, Thierry felt a strange excitement. He wanted to face Lyra in a real fight to see who was stronger.

After winning his next match, he shared this thought with Claude, who just laughed, "The head student being competitive with a girl?"

Thierry’s expression turned serious. "That’s pretty disrespectful. Girls at the military academy want to be judged by their strength, not their gender."

When the military corps recruits, they don’t care about looks—only results.

Claude awkwardly scratched his nose and agreed, "You’re right."

As he spoke, he glanced over at Lyra, who was nearby. She didn’t seem like someone fit for a military academy, yet here she was, probably trying to prove herself and earn respect.

Cloude smiled and said to himself, "Maybe Lyra wants to compete with Thierry to see who’s the best."

Not far away, Lyra thought to herself, ’...No, thanks, but I really don’t.’

Thierry’s words resonated with the girls in his class; they appreciated him speaking up for what they truly felt.

When it was time for the top thirteen to battle for a spot in the top six, Lyra wasn’t so lucky anymore. She drew Vikie, the top student from Class Three.

Vikie’s superpower was speed, moving like lightning and striking in an instant. Most opponents didn’t even see her move before they were hit, and her physical skills were top-notch too.

The students were buzzing with excitement.

"Lyra’s finally met her match."

"This is going to be good!"

"She’s got those flexible, unpredictable moves, but Vikie’s even faster."

Everyone was glued to the action, eager to see how Lyra would pull off a win this time. But then, something unexpected happened—she just stopped.

Vikie frowned, unsure what trick Lyra was up to. She had studied Lyra’s style carefully. It was all about unusual psychokinesis and solid physical skills, but nothing that should be too difficult to handle.

Thinking this was her chance, Vikie decided to strike first.

The instructors watching shook their heads; Vikie was being way too reckless.

To Vikie, everything blurred out except Lyra standing in front of her. She moved fast, kicking Lyra square in the arm. She quickly followed up with a punch, but Lyra caught her arm in midair.

Vikie was stunned. ’How did she see through my move?’

"Got you," Lyra said with a slow, almost teasing smile that sent a chill down Vikie’s spine.

In a flash, Vikie was flipped and slammed hard onto the mat.

Before Vikie could react, Lyra locked her arm and unleashed a flurry of punches, elbow strikes, and knee strikes, completely overwhelming her.

The referee didn’t hesitate and raised the flag. "Lyra from Class One wins!"

Vikie clutched her stomach, her face pale with pain. "You didn’t hold back, did you?"

Lyra turned to leave but then paused. She walked back, helped Vikie off the mat, and guided her to the treatment area. "Sorry, once I start, it’s hard to stop."

Vikie couldn’t help but smirk. She had only landed one kick—does that even count as a hit? Then it dawned on her—Lyra hadn’t been touched by anyone during the whole competition. In that sense, she did better than most.

Next up was the round where the final seven would compete for the top four spots.

Among the remaining contestants, Class One held three spots, with the other classes each securing just one. The gap in skill between the classes was becoming obvious.

As Thierry had hoped, he was matched against Lyra.

When he saw his name next to hers on the screen, he pumped his fist in excitement.

He marched onto the field, eyes locked on Lyra like an eager puppy.

He watched as Lyra stood up, raised her hand, and spoke.

"I forfeit."

The entire crowd went silent.

"What?"

Thierry stared at her, wide-eyed and confused. "Lyra, don’t worry about our friendship. I don’t care about winning or losing."

Lyra looked at his eager face and sighed. "I’m just too tired."

She wasn’t lying. Though she could still fight, Thierry was clearly on a different level from the others. Winning would drain her, and losing might actually be the easier path.

Her face, always pale like she’d never seen the sun, now looked even more exhausted, her voice hoarse.

It was clear she was completely worn out, and it was hard to argue with that request of hers.

Thierry swallowed his deep disappointment. "Well, I guess there’s no choice."

The referee glanced at the head instructor, who nodded, so he raised the flag. "Since Lyra from Class One forfeited, Thierry wins."

Among the instructors, Anton couldn’t hide his satisfaction. "It’s a good outcome either way."

Webber, not wanting to rain on his parade but feeling a bit irritated, quietly added, "Don’t worry, Thierry will win all the points back."

And as expected, Thierry didn’t disappoint, securing first place in the end.

Zinnia pouted and buried her face in Lyra’s arms. "Just a little more, just a little, and I would’ve won."

Lyra gently pushed away Zinnia’s bruised and swollen face. "It wasn’t just a little."

The truth was, Zinnia had fought for nearly half an hour before the match finally ended. Zinnia’s high tolerance for pain was the only reason it lasted that long; otherwise, it would’ve wrapped up much sooner.

The next two days of the competition were more relaxed, featuring fun events like a mecha ball-collecting game and a Lev shooting contest. Lyra, however, didn’t participate in any of them.

There was a problem at the factory.

Chapter 58: Trouble

"I found out it was the Mendez who were behind this. The landlords of both the lab and the factory are so scared of them that they’d rather pay us double compensation just to get us out. The landlord of the lab even showed up in the dead of night to lock the door, but Sean caught him in the act."

"And now the suppliers are backing out of their contracts with us!"

Lyra sat in her dorm, listening to Sorren rant while skimming the progress report he’d sent her. She quickly devised a plan.

"Send over the first batch of goods to the school. Have the medical devices been shipped?"

Sorren hesitated, looking a bit guilty. "Uh... Blackheart didn’t agree..."

SNAP!

The pen in Lyra’s hand broke, and Sorren flinched as if it were his own neck that snapped. He didn’t dare to meet her eyes.

"I told you to handle that two days ago, and now you’re telling me he didn’t agree?" She leaned back, arms crossed. "If I hadn’t asked, when exactly were you planning to bring this up?"

"I-I-I was just about to tell you, I swear!"

He stumbled over his words, but Lyra only responded with a cold laugh. Then, she glanced at the report. "Who put this together? It’s actually decent."

Not sure why she was suddenly asking, Sorren thought she might’ve let the issue go. He brightened up.

"Remember you asked me to get some help? I rounded up some people I used to know, even got a few with college degrees, to help out..."

"Alright, I got it." She tapped the table thoughtfully. "For now, work overtime and turn all the materials we have into finished products. I’ll find new spots for the factory and lab."

"But the landlord is pushing us to leave."

"We’ve got a signed contract. He can’t just push us out like that. Even if we have to move, we’ll take our sweet time packing." A sharp glint flickered in Lyra’s eyes. "Sorren, even though we’re on Planet Nagano, Voidstar’s way of doing things doesn’t change. Get more people and secure the doors, the power, the water valves—everything."

Sorren got the hint immediately. No matter how much the landlord pushed, he’d use the excuse that they weren’t done packing. And if they tried to force them out? Let’s see who’s tougher.

Take it to court? They broke the contract first. And it was not like they were refusing to leave—just taking a few extra days.

Hearing the machinery roaring inside, the landlord had no choice but to report back to Alon.

The polite, well-mannered young man just smiled after hearing the news and then asked if the landlord needed more muscle, subtly suggesting he might need to be tougher.

The landlord wiped the sweat off his brow and said he understood.

On the last morning of pre-training, before the sun had even risen, Lyra was jolted awake by a call from Sorren.

"Bad news! Someone set fire to our factory, and a lot of materials were stolen! The lab got hit too—equipment’s been smashed!"

His anger was real—he’d spent two weeks setting those places up, and now it was all in ruins.

And the culprits were pros—they even cut the surveillance, leaving no trace.

Lyra felt a wave of darkness cloud her vision as his furious voice echoed in her ears. She rubbed her temples. "First, give me a report on the losses, and show me the data on the finished products."

She stepped out to grab a glass of water, just as Vivian emerged, humming a tune and flashing her a triumphant smile --’Think you can beat me?’

There was no way she’d let Lyra win.

Indeed, Lyra faced a significant setback during her first attempt to establish herself on Planet Nagano. But instead of letting it get to her, she took it as an early lesson.

She knew that once she started gaining traction, competitors—Vivian’s Mendez family or not—would try to push her out.

Dealing with this now just gave her a chance to rework her strategy.

The most urgent issue was fulfilling the school’s order. Sorren’s report was both a relief and a headache: they had enough anti-surveillance smart machines ready to go, but the medical devices wouldn’t be finished in time.

Lyra realized she had no choice but to visit the principal again.

Usually, he greeted her with a warm, cheerful smile. This time, though, the smile had a hint of caution.

As he handed her a cup of freshly brewed green tea, he said, "I’ve heard about what happened. Miss Shedd, I must say, the agents you chose didn’t do a great job, letting the factory catch fire in the middle of the night."

The principal knew full well that the Mendez were behind it, but by blaming her team, he was making it clear that he wouldn’t get involved.

Lyra didn’t expect the school to fight her battles over "a few goods," but she knew those "few goods" mattered a lot to them.

"So, when can we expect the items we ordered to be delivered?"

As expected, the principal wasn’t cutting her any slack.

Lyra rubbed the smooth porcelain cup in her hand, thinking carefully. "The anti-surveillance machines will be delivered this afternoon. As for the medical devices, since the materials were destroyed in the fire, I’m hoping the principal can grant us a one-week extension."

Even with a dedicated transport ship, it would take five days just to get from Voidstar No.2 to Planet Nagano. With only a week left of the original ten-day deadline, she needed extra time to account for shipping. This would give her nearly ten days to work with.

But the school wasn’t in the business of charity.

"Miss Shedd, as I mentioned before, the customized medical devices are for the joint exercises of the military academy graduates. Every year, some students get injured, sometimes severely. That’s why these devices are so crucial."

The principal sighed, clearly troubled. "It’s not about being lenient; I need you to speed things up."

"There are still twenty days until the joint exercises."

"But the students don’t have much time to get familiar with new medical devices, do they?" The principal’s expression hardened, but then he softened his tone. "Let’s do this—three days, at most."

Lyra’s knuckles turned white as she gripped the teacup, but she managed to reply, "Three days it is."

As she left, she left behind a cup of tea, still steaming.

"Quite the sly one," the principal chuckled, realizing what she’d been up to. But as he recalled the background check on this student, something didn’t quite add up.

Three days was Lyra’s bottom line. She’d purposely asked for seven days to negotiate with the principal. Now, she was in a tight spot, with problems closing in from all sides.

To secure things, she contacted Blackheart directly and asked bluntly, "Are you planning to stop doing business with us?"

Blackheart was lounging with Liliana, one hand caressing her while holding a glass of liquor in the other. He spat a mouthful of alcohol at the screen and sneered, "Pah! Looks like you’re the one who doesn’t want to work anymore, trying to go solo. Do you even have the basic respect for me as your business partner?"

He didn’t get the name Blackheart for nothing—his greed knew no bounds.

"From the start, we agreed that I would only provide the ’core’. It’s mine, and I’ll decide how to sell it—not you," Lyra stated firmly. "I was initially trying to do you a favor by making a deal with the school for the medical devices, but if you don’t want it, that’s fine by me."

It wasn’t entirely out of goodwill, though. Lyra had hoped to earn some favor with the school and maybe pocket a bit of commission on the side.

But Blackheart, despite his lack of business savvy, wasn’t easily fooled. He sneered and mocked her, "You really thought you could use my stuff to cozy up to the school? You’re dreaming!"

Lyra kept her cool. "Blackheart, let’s see who comes begging a year from now."

The ’core’ she left behind was only good for a year. She was eager to see who would be laughing when the time came.

Blackheart raised his glass, pointing a finger at the screen with a cold smile. "You won’t have to wait a year—you’ll be crawling back to me in no time."

 

Chapter 59: The Mendez Family

After the brief clash with Blackheart, Lyra cut off the communication and clenched her hand on the table, reminding herself to stay calm and not rush into anything. She then reached out to Snakehead.

"Well, well, I was just wondering when you’d get in touch, and here you are," Snakehead greeted her, leaning closer to the screen with a fake smile. He was even fatter than the last time she saw him. "Miss Shedd, how’s it going? I heard you were quite the star during pre-training, a real campus queen. I knew someone like you would stand out wherever you go..."

"Enough," Lyra cut him off. She knew he’d been waiting for this call, so there was no point in wasting time. "I need 500 medical devices made with the ’core.’"

Her tone was sharp, showing the impatience that came after all the back-and-forth negotiations.

But she was dealing with Snakehead, a master of playing dumb. He blinked, pretending to be puzzled. "Huh? Did I hear that right? Shouldn’t you be asking Blackheart for those medical devices?"

Lyra knew that Snakehead had his informants everywhere, from Voidstar No.2 to Planet Nagano, so there was no point in games. She let out a cold laugh.

"Don’t play dumb. Only a fool would pass up the chance to profit from these medical devices. Five hundred units—are you in or not?" Noticing the smug grin spreading across his face, she added, "I’m sure you’re smarter than that idiot Blackheart."

Snakehead burst into laughter, though it was unclear whether he was genuinely amused or just mocking. When he finally stopped, he said, "I knew you were smart too, so you should know that flattery won’t get you far with me."

"Let’s hear your terms."

Lyra had never expected charity from her business partners; as long as they didn’t stab her in the back, they were good enough.

Snakehead’s smile faded, replaced by a look of unhidden greed. "I want an additional 20% of the ’core’ each year from now on, and we split the medical device business on Planet Nagano 50-50."

Snakehead, with his shady background, couldn’t expand too much outside Voidstar without attracting attention from the authorities. But if he could use Lyra as a front, it would be a different story. Her "clean" reputation and military academy background could give him the cover he needed.

Lyra had always known Snakehead had a big appetite, but she hadn’t expected him to go after the medical device business too.

When she didn’t respond immediately, Snakehead’s tone became more insistent. "I don’t know what you’re trying to get from Blackheart, but it looks like you’re done with him. Don’t worry—with me keeping an eye on him, you’ll be safe."

Lyra laughed—anyone who knew Snakehead understood how empty his reassurances were.

"If you want in on the medical device business, fine," she said, resting her chin lightly on her hand. "But you need to guarantee all my material supplies on Planet Nagano."

Snakehead, expecting more demands, was taken aback when she stopped there. His greed gave way to suspicion. He glared at her, feeling uneasy. "Why do I feel like I’m getting the short end of the stick?"

"If you think it’s a bad deal, you don’t have to agree."

"I thought you’d ask for some land too," Snakehead remarked. He knew about Lyra’s struggles on Planet Nagano.

"On this planet, your influence doesn’t match the Mendez’s," Lyra replied bluntly.

There was no point in asking for something he couldn’t deliver.

After weighing his options and still not seeing where he might be losing out, Snakehead finally nodded and said, "Alright, it’s a deal. I’ll arrange for a dedicated transport ship to deliver everything to you right away!"

Being in the same territory as Blackheart, Snakehead couldn’t openly sell his stockpile, so this was a perfect opportunity to test the waters on Planet Nagano.

Lyra’s response was curt: "Fine."

With the supply secured, Lyra’s mind, which had been racing all day, finally took a moment to pause. By the time she’d finished verifying all the orders and reports, the sky had already darkened.

She grabbed a glass of cold water, gulped it down, and decided to head out for dinner. However, just as she was about to leave, Vivian intercepted her in the living room.

"So, still not ready to give in?" Vivian asked, circling her like a proud princess, her head held high. After sizing Lyra up, she added disdainfully, "Just burning down the factory wasn’t enough? You won’t be satisfied until I’ve sent you packing back to Voidstar?"

Mandy, who had been about to leave, froze at the door, regret washing over her face. ’Has Vivian really gone that far?’

But Mandy quickly grew more pessimistic. ’Forget it. It wouldn’t make any difference whether I had warned Lyra or not. There’s no way that Lyra can stand up to the Mendez family on her own?’

"Unless I choose to, no one can force me to give in," Lyra’s calm voice came from inside the room. "Vivian, I’ll remember the ’kindness’ your family has shown me."

Even though her words were sharp, Lyra spoke as if discussing something trivial, which made it all the more unsettling—like a weapon lying in wait, cold and silent.

"Mandy, why are you just standing there?" Zinnia suddenly clapped Mandy on the back, making her jump and cutting off the conversation inside.

Zinnia’s amusement at Mandy’s reaction turned into laughter. "You’re like a scared rabbit."

She breezed past Mandy into the dorm and grabbed Lyra by the arm. "Lyra, what kept you so busy today? You even skipped lunch—you’ll never grow tall that way. Let’s go eat. Pre-training is over, and there’s a party tonight. Tomorrow’s a day off; let’s hang out together!"

"I’m busy. I need to go out."

"Ah, then how about the day after tomorrow..."

As Zinnia’s chatter faded, the two of them walked away, leaving Mandy frozen at the door, caught under Vivian’s piercing glare.

"You heard everything," Vivian said flatly, her tone more of a statement than a question.

Mandy twisted her fingers and nodded, then gathered the courage to look at Vivian. "Don’t you think you’ve gone too far?"

"She brought this on herself!" Vivian snapped, pointing toward the door. "I could have had her kicked out of school and didn’t. A wild girl from Voidstar—who does she think she is, trying to compete with me?"

"She wasn’t even competing with you."

"You’re taking her side now?" Vivian stepped closer, her voice sharp. "Don’t forget, I’m your friend. When your grandfather was sick and passed away last year, it was my brother who lent your family money. Are you going to be ungrateful?"

"I’m not..."

Mandy’s face went pale. That’s why she never dared to oppose Vivian, why she kept her feelings hidden, and why she couldn’t even bring herself to warn Lyra.

"I’ll pay it back." It was her last bit of defiance.

But deep down, she knew that even after repaying the money, she would never be able to stand tall in front of the Mendez family.

"Hmph, so if you still want to be my friend, stay out of it."

Vivian, right in front of Mandy, made a phone call, her voice cold and calculated. "Hey, Lyra’s heading out tomorrow. It’s the perfect opportunity..."

Mandy’s eyes widened in disbelief. ’Why would Vivian go this far?’

The weather in Bluewater was always unpredictable. Early in the morning, the sunlight would spread across the sea like the shimmering tail of a legendary mermaid. But by the time Lyra stepped outside, the wind had picked up, and dark clouds loomed ominously overhead.

Today was destined to be a stormy one.

Chapter 60: The Factory

Lyra arrived at the lab, and even before she got to the door, the noise inside hit her. It sounded like chaos.

A voice boomed, "When are you all moving out?"

The guy wasn’t someone Lyra recognized. He was furious, pounding the table so hard it echoed. "You think I don’t know you’re still tinkering with that useless gadget? The equipment’s busted now. Let’s see what you’ll do about it!"

Sorren, with a smirk, shot back, "Feeling proud, huh? Don’t act like I don’t know who wrecked it. You don’t want to mess up with me."

"Oh, so you’re gonna hit me or what? Go ahead. Just remember, this isn’t Voidstar. The patrols here don’t mess around!" The landlord leaned in close, daring Sorren to make a move.

But before anyone could blink, a green strap whipped across the room, smacking the landlord so hard he staggered back.

Sorren’s expression shifted from shock to satisfaction as he watched.

Lyra stepped in, quietly shutting the door behind her. "Close the curtains. All this noise is getting old."

A few quick motions later, the room was draped in darkness.

The landlord, nursing his now swollen face, stumbled back against a machine spewing black smoke. He frantically tried to find an escape but was trapped.

He shakily pulled out his terminal, ready to call the authorities, but a slender hand calmly reached over, pressing the power button to turn it off.

Lyra’s hand, now encased in white disposable gloves, gave off a cold vibe that sent chills down his spine. Her eyes locked onto his, icy and unforgiving. "There are a few things you need to explain, and I suggest you do so honestly."

Whatever he said was drowned out by the thick, soundproof door. After about half an hour, Lyra peeled off the gloves and sent a ball of healing energy his way.

She glanced at the mechanics, all pale-faced and uneasy, and then nodded toward Sorren. "Handle it."

"On it." Sorren cleaned up the mess—blood, sweat, and all—before ’sending’ the landlord on his way.

Then, with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty, he followed Lyra. "What’s the plan now? We haven’t got any new orders, and the equipment’s toast."

He wanted to ask if they were just going to pack it up, especially with the looming threat of Mendez crushing them.

Sean and the other mechanics looked just as defeated. Years of effort had gotten them nowhere, and just when they had found someone to back their inventions, disaster struck.

Lyra inspected the damaged gear. "Fix what can be fixed. If it’s beyond repair, toss it and get new ones. I’ve got the funds."

Her calm, confident tone was like a breath of fresh air, easing the tension in the room.

Sorren, still hesitant, asked, "Are we really going to go up against Mendez?"

"You got a problem with that?" Lyra’s gaze sent a chill down his spine, and he quickly shook his head.

"Where are the new recruits? Bring them in."

Lyra casually sank into a chair, her small frame making it look oversized, but no one dared underestimate her.

"This is the new accountant, Morrison Ray. He’s the one who prepped the report you asked for," Sorren introduced a young man dressed in a white shirt and slacks.

He had brown curly hair and brown eyes, and though he seemed quiet, the muscles bulging beneath his shirt suggested he wasn’t all that soft.

Lyra’s gaze lingered on him just long enough to make him sweat. He avoided eye contact, clearly nervous.

Then, she sat up straight, flashing a slight smile. "The report was thorough and well-done. Nice job."

Morrison’s tense expression tightened even more. "Thank you, boss."

After meeting Sorren’s group, Lyra moved on to greet some of the research staff. As she went away, Morrison was left standing there, wiping the sweat from his brow with shaky hands.

Sorren shot him a glance and nodded, a smirk playing on his lips as if to say, "Not bad, kid."

Morrison opened his mouth, maybe to say something, but seeing Sorren’s pleased expression, he decided to stay quiet. He figured it was better to avoid any drama since he was now under Sorren’s wing.

Meanwhile, Sean introduced a scrawny young man who barely stood 180 cm tall—short by interstellar standards. His pale skin and bright, soft eyes made him look like the kind of guy who’d blush and avoid eye contact when talking to girls.

"H-hello, boss," the young man stammered, clearly nervous.

Despite trying to hide it, his curiosity was evident. He couldn’t believe how young and small Lyra was; his senior’s description hadn’t fully prepared him.

Sean gave the young man a light smack on the back of his head. "You’re too honest, kid!" Then, he quickly added, "Don’t let his looks fool you. Rajan here may only be a senior in college, but he’s already won multiple awards in intelligent machinery. He got into a bit of trouble with a professor who wrongly accused him of plagiarism, but I can vouch for him..."

Lyra cut him off, "Use him however you see fit. You’re in charge of research. I only care about results."

The mechanics exchanged relieved smiles. They’d been nervous after seeing the boss’s tough side, but now they were pleasantly surprised by her straightforwardness. Things were looking up.

After a few more words, Lyra was ready to leave. She hadn’t gone far when Sorren hurriedly caught up with her.

"By the way, boss, I found a new factory location. I’d like to take you there," he said eagerly.

Lyra turned to face him. "You’re unusually enthusiastic about this."

Sorren patted his chest, grinning. "Well, I just want to help you make more money, boss."

"Lead the way."

Sorren quickly brought his Lev around, driving with a bit of flash.

The Lev zipped through the busy city streets, gradually leaving behind the high-tech skyline as they headed towards the outskirts. Sorren glanced in the rearview mirror. "The place is a bit out of the way. It’ll take a little while. Want some water?"

He handed Lyra a bottle of water.

Lyra accepted it, noting it was sealed, and twisted off the cap to take a sip. Only then did Sorren take his eyes off the mirror.

The car finally pulled up in front of an abandoned factory. The area was overrun with weeds, and the crumbling walls were all that remained of what was once a thriving industrial site.

Suddenly, the Lev door was yanked open, and Sorren was dragged out by a massive hand.

The back door swung open too, revealing Bengal, who leaned against the Lev with a weapon in hand. "Sis Marv, come on out."

Lyra’s dark eyes locked with his, and he flashed a yellow-toothed grin. "This time, I’ve got plenty of backup, and your military friends aren’t around to bail you out. Better behave!"

In an instant, a silver streak of light shot out.

In the blink of an eye, the Lev was sliced into pieces, as if it were made of butter.

The gang of thugs, startled by the sudden attack, reflexively opened fire.

Gunfire echoed through the abandoned factory, the sharp sounds of bullets mixing with the screeching of metal clashing, turning the scene into a chaotic mess.

Bengal, panicking, shoved aside the man next to him. "Stop shooting, you idiots! Blackheart wants her alive. You trying to get us all killed or what?"

The gang, seeing Bengal’s outburst, quickly stopped firing, fear spreading through their ranks.

"Where is she?" Bengal growled, kicking the guy who had fired first. "Go check if she’s still breathing!"

Not far off, Sorren was huddled behind a wall, shaking like a leaf. With all that gunfire, he was sure Lyra had to be riddled with bullets by now.

But then, he heard a series of sharp slicing sounds, followed by Bengal’s furious shouts. Curiosity got the better of him, and Sorren cautiously peeked out from his hiding spot.

What he saw made his blood run cold.

Lyra was standing on the wrecked car, calmly retracting the elastic metal that had cut through the chaos like a hot knife through butter.

Blood dripped steadily from the metal ball, and the goons who had been firing moments ago were now lifeless, sprawled out in pools of their own blood.

Of all the men Bengal had brought, only a few were still standing, and they were clearly the best of the bunch.

Sorren, still hiding as tightly as he could, couldn’t decide whether to be relieved or utterly terrified. Blackheart’s ruthless reputation was no exaggeration.

Then, as if sensing his presence, Lyra’s cold gaze shifted in his direction.

The danger had turned toward him.