Ch. 61..65: Interstellar_ Return of the Villain Chapter 61-65

Chapter 61: Sorren’s Death

"Sis Marv! If you don’t want your guy here to bite the dust, you’d better come quietly," Bengal snarled, his right hand shifting into a massive tiger’s claw as he gripped Sorren by the throat.

Sorren’s legs wobbled, his gaze full of hope as he looked at Lyra. "B-boss, you should run!"

But she stayed still, as if she was unsure.

The masked woman next to them let out a mocking laugh. "Sis Marv, really? You’re just gonna ditch a loyal subordinate like that?"

"Pffft," A soft chuckle slipped from Lyra’s lips, her eyes gleaming with a mix of sarcasm and pity as she eyed Sorren. "Sorren, nobody knows how Dispersal Agents smells better than I do. Nice try to make a new water bottle just for the plan."

The second she exposed his betrayal, Sorren knew he was done for.

Green light ribbons appeared behind Lyra, just like they had when she first stepped out of that metal egg years ago—dazzling, bold, and icy cold.

She’d spared him once, but this time—

With a sickening squelch, he blinked in shock at the hole in his chest, where that green light had just vanished, now replaced by a spray of blood.

"B-boss... I messed up."

"F*ck you, Sis Marv! You really are heartless." Bengal tossed the now worthless pawn aside and jerked his head towards his men. "Get her!"

If playing nice didn’t work, they’d have to force her hand.

But with her flexible metal armor, Lyra could hold her own against an eighth-level beast. No way were they bringing her down.

In a flash, the silver-armored figure disappeared into the dense jungle behind them.

"After her!"

...

Meanwhile, Jorath sped toward them on a hoverboard, leading a crew. "The second you spot Lyra, grab her and bring her straight to me!"

This time, he wasn’t messing around. He’d brought the butler, some guards, and even his father’s right-hand man, a sixth-level Peculiar. He was determined to make sure she didn’t get out alive!

In the forest, where life should have been buzzing, not a single insect could be heard.

Suddenly, a flash of bright silver cut through the green.

The butler barely had time to shout, "Watch out!" before Jorath was yanked off his hoverboard and slammed into a tree branch.

"Mr. Kering!"

The group quickly surrounded the tree, sealing off every possible exit. The butler took a quick, cautious look at the armored figure, then shouted, "Who are you? Why did you grab him?"

Those eyes peeking through the helmet looked all too familiar. Her voice was calm as she replied, "Weren’t you after me?"

Jorath recognized that voice. "So it’s you, Lyra! Still up to your old tricks, huh?" He barked orders at the others, "What are you waiting for? Get her—ahh!"

He stared in horror at the spike that had pierced his right elbow.

"Stop!" The butler and adjutant panicked, throwing up their hands. "What do you want? Just name it, but don’t hurt him."

But those words felt hollow now. They’d tried to kill her, and now they wanted mercy?

They couldn’t imagine what would happen if Jorath died right there.

"You’re a military academy student. You know that if you kill someone, you can kiss your military career goodbye. You’ll probably spend the rest of your life in prison."

The adjutant stepped forward, trying to reason with her. "Do you even realize who he is?"

"The famous Shedd family member. I’m well aware."

Her voice was cool, showing no fear at all.

But the adjutant couldn’t wrap his head around the idea that a military academy student wouldn’t fear the Shedd family. Yet, what Lyra did next made his blood run cold.

She drove her blade through Jorath’s left elbow, making his face drain of color. The pain finally sunk in, fear creeping in with it.

Still, Jorath clung to the belief that with two sixth-level protectors by his side, he was safe. "Lyra, if you kill me, you’re finished. I suggest you just—ahh!"

His words were cut off as she pierced his right knee.

The adjutant’s pupils shook with terror. "Stop, please stop!"

Just as he frantically searched for a way out, he heard the rustle of leaves, signaling someone’s approach. ’Does she have backup?’

"Sis Marv, why aren’t you running?" Bengal and his men had caught up, freezing in shock at the sight before them.

"You... you’re space pirates!" The adjutant’s eyes widened in disbelief. What was happening?

He reached for his communicator, only to find the signal was jammed.

"It seems everyone’s here." Lyra hoisted the bloodied Jorath with one hand. "Want to save him? Kill these pirates for me, and I’ll make sure the military rewards you handsomely."

They had been played.

But how?

As they lunged at the pirates, the butler and adjutant still couldn’t grasp how they had been duped.

Lyra propped Jorath up against a tree, watching the fierce battle unfold just yards away.

Blood splattered, screams echoed, and the sound of clashing weapons filled the air.

Massive trees toppled and burned, flames roaring under the blazing sun.

She removed her mecha, sitting down beside Jorath. Then she grabbed a handful of his hair, and whispered, "Why do you keep making the mistake of crossing paths with me?"

Her tone, though soft and regretful, carried a bone-chilling edge.

Jorath remained in a daze as the battle finally ended.

Despite having advanced weapons and two sixth-level fighters, only the adjutant was left alive; the butler had fallen in the fight.

The adjutant clutched the lifeless Bengal, blood blinding him as he gasped for breath. He then threw the body aside. "Let him go."

"Thank you for your assistance." Lyra, now appearing fragile without her armor, lifted Jorath and floated down to the adjutant on her flexible metal board. "I’m not strong enough to handle everyone myself. Luckily, you were here to help."

In Jorath’s blood-soaked vision, Lyra’s face, pale as death, came sharply into focus.

The adjutant, hailing from the main Shedd family, felt as though he had been struck by lightning. He released Bengal’s corpse and began to back away slowly, as if he were staring at a devil. "You... you’re Lyra Shedd!"

"Yes, I’m glad you still remember me."

The adjutant watched in horror as Lyra tossed Jorath aside. Then she slipped on a pair of gloves, and threw a signal jammer to the ground. After doing all that she picked up a dagger from Bengal’s waist.

Jorath, still clueless, kept yelling at the adjutant to kill her. "What are you waiting for? Get her!"

The battered adjutant hesitated for a moment. If he captured her, surely General Shedd would reward him handsomely... His eyes flashed with newfound resolve.

But before he could act, his vision blurred, and an icy dagger was buried deep in his chest.

Lyra twisted the blade twice, then shoved the adjutant’s body away, dropping the weapon beside Bengal.

As life slipped away from him, the adjutant crumpled to his knees, whispering three final words, "Miss Lyra Shedd..."

With a dull thud, his body hit the ground, the sound striking Jorath like a hammer, snapping him out of his stupor.

’What did he say? Miss Lyra Shedd?’

’LYRA SHEDD?’

As Lyra slowly floated down in front of Jorath, her face finally clicked with a distant, foggy memory. Jorath began to shake, his voice trembling as he stammered, "Cou... Cousin Lyra?"

At that moment, all the questions that had haunted him no longer mattered.

"Good boy." Lyra crouched on the hoverboard, gently patting his head as if he were a misbehaving child. "It’s only been a few years since I last had to teach you a lesson, and you still haven’t learned."

Jorath felt himself being hoisted by the collar, and the terrifying memory of being turned into an snowman rushed back, making him cry out in panic, "Cousin Lyra, I was wrong! I promise I’ll never do it again!"

As the coastline drew nearer, his cries grew more desperate.

"Too late," Lyra muttered.

With those icy words, she hurled him into the churning sea below.

Struggling to keep his head above water, he barely had time to gasp before the massive jaws of a beast rose from the depths and swallowed him whole.

Chapter 62: Calling The Police

"So, you’ve been hiding in the jungle ever since you escaped from Bengal?"

In the small, dimly lit room of the Investigation Bureau, a frail-looking girl sat slumped in a large chair, clutching a cup of herbal tea.

Every now and then, she coughed. Her pale face was barely visible through the rising steam, making her look vulnerable as she answered the investigators’ questions.

Outside, the Bluewater Investigation Bureau was buzzing with chaos.

An intense battle between interstellar pirates from Voidstar No. 2 and military personnel had left no survivors.

This wasn’t just any case—this one had the military, the Bureau, and the police all working together. And the girl sitting in front of them, a student from NMA, was the one who had tipped them off.

"Yes," she replied quietly.

"And why were these interstellar pirates after you?"

"Because I know how to create elastic metal, a low-grade kind, of course. They kept trying to make me give up the secret, but there’s no way I’d help space pirates. My goal is to get into the military academy, so I used my studies as an excuse and managed to escape from Voidstar No. 2..."

This was unexpected, and the investigator paused his note-taking. "How do you know how to make elastic metal?"

Lyra, with her short hair framing her face, answered coolly, "That’s not relevant to this case."

The investigator glanced at his notes, deciding not to push further, and moved on with his questions.

"What was your relationship with the deceased, Jorath?"

"We were classmates, but we didn’t get along. You can ask our instructor and the other students..."

The list of things they needed to verify kept growing.

Meanwhile, Cohen and the others were busy gathering evidence at the crime scene.

Until they figured out what really happened, Lyra was stuck at the Investigation Bureau, barred from seeing anyone.

Zinnia had even pleaded with her brother to intervene, but all she got was, "Stay out of it."

"Why? Lyra’s a victim! What if they don’t even feed her during the investigation?"

Zarek couldn’t help but roll his eyes. "If she’s innocent, they’ll let her go. Listen, this case involves high-ranking military officials and Voidstar No. 2. Don’t make trouble for your brother, okay?"

...

Tensions were sky-high on both sides. If things got worse, Ansel Shedd might even send a battleship to Voidstar No. 2.

As everyone kept a close watch on the situation, things were tense on Voidstar No. 2 as well.

Caesara, who usually stayed out of such matters, wasn’t sitting back this time. She arranged a meeting with Snakehead and stormed into the Blackheart Legion, where she didn’t hesitate to confront Blackheart.

"I should’ve known you’d screw this up! You really messed up, killing Ansel’s grandnephew and his adjutant!"

Caesara was livid. She’d never wanted to get involved in the conflict between the settlement and the military, but now, thanks to Blackheart, she had no choice. His crew had attacked the admiral’s star base and killed military personnel right under their noses.

She slapped Blackheart hard—twice—and yanked on his beard, shouting, "You idiot, if you can’t fix this, I’ll tie you up myself and hand you over to the military!"

Blackheart was furious too. What was supposed to be a simple capture had turned into a catastrophe. But now wasn’t the time to be angry. Caesara was right—if he couldn’t smooth things over with the military, he was finished.

"I have no idea what that fool Bengal did, but I’m working to fix it now. Let go of me!"

Snakehead swung his steel club, sending Blackheart crashing to the ground once more. He had hoped that even someone as dense as Blackheart wouldn’t stir up trouble on Planet Nagano, yet here they were, stuck in the aftermath.

Regret wouldn’t fix anything.

"Listen up. You need to prepare at least 100 million astrocredits and send a message to the military. Tell them Bengal has already defected, but since he used to be under your command, you’ve arranged compensation to avoid any misunderstandings."

The plan was laid out clearly, aiming to keep Blackheart from digging himself into an even deeper hole.

"That’s it?" Blackheart asked, still skeptical.

His hesitation earned him another hit from Snakehead’s steel club. "I still need to gauge the military’s stance. Like Caesara said, if this goes south, we’ll both tie you up and throw you on Planet Nagano!"

Blackheart had no choice but to swallow his anger. He knew that Snakehead and Caesara had already made up their minds.

Unlike Blackheart—a free-roaming interstellar pirate—Caesara’s regiment and the trade guilds were firmly anchored in Voidstar No. 2. They weren’t about to start a war with the military over this. If the negotiations fell through, they would definitely sacrifice him.

Besides, he was stuck now, tied down by the massive profits from the healing device.

In the end, he muttered, "Fine."

Blackheart felt like the real victim here. He had lost a level-six superpower deputy commander, several level-five squad leaders, and now he had to pay compensation.

And to top it all off, he hadn’t even captured a single hair of Sis Marv!

Seeing that he wasn’t planning on confronting the military directly, Snakehead and Caesara finally walked away, still fuming.

Just before getting into their vehicles, they both paused.

"I still think something’s not right," Caesara said, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and offering one to Snakehead. "No matter how stupid Bengal is, he wouldn’t be dumb enough to go head-to-head with the military on Planet Nagano."

She took a long drag. "And the military isn’t full of idiots. If they were losing, they would’ve retreated. How is it possible that not a single one survived?"

Snakehead couldn’t make sense of it either, but one thing was clear—Lyra had a role in all of this.

Through the haze of smoke, his round face looked both troubled and unreadable. Caesara gave him a sidelong glance. "What do you know?"

"Sigh, might as well tell you. The military will find out soon enough anyway." Snakehead didn’t hold back. "Blackheart was chasing Sis Marv, but that young woman is now tied up with the Whyte family kid."

He kept it vague, but Caesara quickly caught the underlying meaning.

She flicked her cigarette away, grinding it out under her heel. "Damn it, Blackheart’s slow brain and bottomless greed will get himself killed very soon."

She spat at Snakehead before hopping lightly into the driver’s seat. "I don’t care what you guys do, but if this mess lands on my doorstep, we’re going to have a problem!"

"Don’t worry, Sis Marv knows what she’s doing."

Snakehead smiled as he watched her drive off, lost in thought as the dust settled. He only let go of his cigarette when it burned down to his fingers.

’Does Lyra really know what she’s doing?’ He used to believe Lyra was smart, that she always made the most calculated choices. But now, he was starting to think she might be too smart for her own good.

"Todd, did you ever tell Lyra Blackheart was after her?"

"No."

’So she really had planted spies among us.’ Snakehead sighed, squeezing his bulky frame into his Lev. "Then who told her the Shedd family kid was going to make a move on her?

 

Chapter 63: Investigation Result

"After digging deep, we’ve all agreed this was an unexpected and sudden accident."

That was the final word from the investigation team’s captain during the wrap-up meeting.

"Our investigation into Jorath confirmed he had plans to kill Lyra. But when he tried to track her down, he ran into space pirates who were also targeting her."

"Evidence from the scene suggests things escalated, leading to Bengal killing Jorath and dumping his body in the sea. There weren’t any footprints or DNA traces from Lyra, which matches her story..."

"And that’s the whole incident."

The military, police department, and investigation bureau all signed off on this conclusion.

As for the small doubts—like why the military chose to fight to the bitter end even though they were clearly outmatched—those could be chalked up to either a trapped situation or a thirst for revenge.

"Lyra can head back to school now," Cohen, seated at the table’s head, nodded. "Report it exactly like that," he instructed, adding, "I’ll go let her out."

He opened the door to the interrogation room with a serious look. Inside, the girl lay asleep on the table, wrapped in a blanket. Her breathing was soft, almost like a kitten’s.

It had taken them a full two days to piece everything together.

During that time, she had been surviving on whatever meals they gave her and sleeping on a folding chair in the room, clearly drained.

But when Cohen thought about everything she had done, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy about this seemingly fragile yet cunning woman.

"How much longer are you going to stare?"

Her hoarse voice cut through the silence as Lyra raised her head, locking eyes with him, her gaze filled with a mix of anger and accusation.

"I have a question. How did you make it look like the adjutant died before Bengal?"

Bengal had died from blood loss, while the adjutant had taken a fatal wound to the abdomen.

If the adjutant had died last, the team would’ve suspected another party was involved, keeping Lyra in the spotlight as a suspect.

But by switching the order of their deaths, it looked like Bengal had killed the adjutant and then bled out, making the whole story more believable.

Lyra didn’t respond right away; she glanced around the cramped room.

"The cameras are off," Cohen sighed.

The girl smirked. "My superpower’s just a bit... unconventional."

She left it at that.

Cohen inhaled deeply, then suddenly lunged forward, gripping the edge of the table. "You made me work with Voidstar’s criminals!"

To hell with the excuse of chasing technology—there was no way this young woman wasn’t tied to those criminals.

The idea that he had been dragged into her schemes left Cohen feeling utterly manipulated.

"Let’s not dwell on the past. But as you can see, I’ve severed all ties with Blackheart," Lyra neither confirmed nor denied his accusation. "But with the ’core’ issue being exposed, do you know how much money that’s worth?"

Her dark eyes seemed to pierce right through him.

"Mr. Whyte, with your rank, you must be aware that no one in the military is spotless."

But Cohen had his pride. He looked her dead in the eye and said firmly, "I am nothing like you, and I’ll never become that kind of person."

Looking back on those words later, Cohen had to admit the path between him and Lyra had been set long before they ever met.

Lyra could see the conviction in his eyes and hear it in his voice—the same belief that had driven him to join the military. It was so unshakeable that she almost felt the urge to tear it apart.

"But wasn’t it you who tipped me off about the Shedd family’s movements?" she asked, resting her chin on her hand, her tone as calm as ever. "You played a role in Jorath’s death too."

SNAP!

Cohen gripped the edge of the table so hard it cracked, his teeth clenched in frustration. "I told you that so you could avoid them."

"I can never avoid the Shedd family," she replied, her smile carrying a hidden edge. "In the end, you only saw my ruthlessness. You never considered that I was coerced by Blackheart’s army at Voidstar, and after I escaped, I was hunted by both the powerful Shedd family and the wealthy Mendez family. I’m clearly so pitiful."

Only Lyra could make a plea for sympathy sound like a devil’s whisper.

Cohen felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness. He knew she was telling the truth, yet he couldn’t find any sympathy within himself for her.

"What do you want?" he asked, exasperation thick in his voice.

"I want you to be more open-minded, earn money the right way, and keep your dignity intact." Cooperating with her had no downsides, she assured him.

"Heh, who’s to say your technology is legit?"

Lyra didn’t flinch at his sarcasm. "I swear, it’s family heirloom technology—honest and trustworthy." She gave him a sly smile. "So, could you sell me one of your properties?"

Only Cohen had the guts to sell her land without worrying about the Mendez family’s wrath.

He realized then that he had completely lost to her. He couldn’t risk exposing that he had leaked Jorath’s whereabouts, and Lyra’s mention of "benefits for the families of fallen soldiers and the costs of maintaining military equipment" cut right to his core.

...

Despite skipping school for two days, Lyra had managed to resolve a lot of issues in one go—an enormous win for her.

Instead of heading back to school right away, she started directing her people to prepare for a move to a new location—an estate in the suburbs.

Before that, she arranged to meet with Morrison. The first thing she said was, "Sorren’s done for. What’s your next move?"

The young man froze for a moment, then quickly pulled up a report on his opticomputer. "Boss, here’s the original report."

He tried his best to stay calm, but he couldn’t quite meet her eyes.

"You’re sharper than Sorren," Lyra said, giving his arm a pat. "From now on, you’ll take Sorren’s place. Do your job well."

Morrison’s eyes widened with a mix of surprise and delight. "Yes!"

Later, Lyra gathered the research team led by Sean. "I’ve got something for you."

She pulled a small metal sphere from her pocket. It was a silver-gray orb that, under her control through psychokinesis, stretched and morphed in shape. The familiar sight made the mechanics crowd around her in excitement.

"This... this... this is elastic metal!" Sean was the first to rush forward, carefully taking the ’core’ into his hands. He examined it closely with his electronic glasses, his breathing growing heavy. "And it’s a new variety! Boss, where did you get this?"

If excitement could be measured in light, the brightness in his eyes could rival deep-sea searchlights.

"I’ll hand over the technology to you, but you’ll need to sign a confidentiality agreement for at least twenty years."

The shock was so great that Sean didn’t hesitate. "Where’s the contract? I’ll sign it for life!"

After all, it was almost impossible to find a boss who paid well, provided cutting-edge technical guidance, yet without micromanaging.

With that settled, the sun was dipping low in the sky, and Lyra finally headed back to school.

As she got into the Lev, a disheveled figure suddenly bolted out from the roadside, causing the driver to yank the controls in a sharp swerve. Swearing under his breath, he cursed the person as a lunatic and sped off.

That figure then sprinted towards Sean and the others, who were busy with the move. But before he could reach them, a hand yanked him into the shadows of a nearby corner.

"Morrison, where are you all moving to? Why wasn’t I informed?"

It was Sorren.

Chapter 64: Getting Famous

Lyra’s strike narrowly had missed Sorren’s heart, sparing his life. This left Sorren with the idea that Lyra still harbored some kindness for him, thinking she had intentionally let him live.

So, when he found out that Lyra was safe, he decided to return.

Even though she had left him stranded in Snowfall for months, Sorren believed Lyra still saw some value in him. Maybe, he thought, she’d let him back in, and they could start making money together again.

"Sorren, why’d you come back after she cut you loose?" Morrison asked, arms folded as he sized him up.

Sorren, full of confidence, replied, "Why else? I’m her right-hand man!"

"Not anymore, you’re not."

Right then, someone interrupted to ask Morrison what to do with some old equipment. Without much thought, he said, "Toss it."

That pushed Sorren over the edge. He shoved Morrison hard against the wall. "You stole my spot!"

Morrison just chuckled, easily brushing him off.

"Sorren, if I were you, I wouldn’t have been so greedy, cooking up false accounts when Lyra was just starting out. And I definitely wouldn’t have hesitated so much," Morrison said, brushing off his jacket where Sorren had grabbed him. "I used to envy you, but you got too greedy, too reckless."

Lyra was clearly someone with big plans. Being there for her from the beginning would mean huge rewards once she hit it big.

For a moment, Sorren just stood there, then he angrily spat out, "What do you know? In her line of work, always being hunted and on the brink of death, there’s no way she’ll last long."

The truth was, Sorren never really trusted Lyra. That’s why he kept taking whatever he could from her, always ready to bail at a moment’s notice.

Morrison, done with the conversation, pulled out a pack of mints. He popped one into his mouth, and said, "Since you introduced me to her, I’ll let this slide and pretend I never saw you."

"Pretend?!" Sorren, looking even more crazed, shouted, "She’s a witch! She never cared about me! If I hadn’t pulled her out of Elden Prime back then, she’d be dead by now. She wants to use me and then toss me aside? Not a chance!"

He muttered to himself as he stormed off, lost in his own thoughts.

Morrison frowned and called over a younger guy who’d been listening in nearby.

The guy hesitated, wringing his hands nervously. "Isn’t this a bit too harsh?"

Morrison, still savoring the mint, gave a cold smile. "What? You want to team up with him?"

"No way! He was so greedy, he didn’t leave us a scrap."

"You’re still young, worried about scraps. Keep at it, and you’ll get your rewards." Morrison pulled a gun from his pocket and handed it to him, watching Sorren walk away. "Sorren used to be a nobody who couldn’t even afford a rundown apartment."

The younger guy took the gun, nodded, and he followed after Sorren.

Morrison sighed, the cool mint flavor lingering as he scratched at his messy curls. "I told him to leave, but he just had to stay. This seat isn’t big enough for two."

By the time Lyra returned to the dorm building, she had already received word of Sorren’s death from Morrison.

"He seemed unstable. I was worried he might disrupt your studies, so I got rid of him," Morrison said, watching her closely.

"Next time, you can deal with these small matters yourself," she replied.

Morrison stared at the frozen communication screen, his thoughts racing even though a team of people buzzed around him, moving equipment and setting up the new site.

The noise was a constant hum, but all he could focus on was the sound of his own heartbeat, loud and insistent.

"Finally, Chloe, I’m going to make it big!" he muttered under his breath, a strange laugh escaping him as he rubbed his face roughly. Then, snapping back to reality, he turned sharply to start directing the others.

With things finally under control, Lyra’s name was spreading like wildfire through the school.

"Come on, she doesn’t seem like a good person at all. How else would she get mixed up with space pirates?"

"Space pirates are after her. That’s a huge red flag. You’d be running too if you were in her shoes."

"She might be shady, but does that make Jorath any better? That spoiled brat hired assassins to take out a classmate!"

Due to military pressure, Jorath and his adjutant’s attempted murder was spun in the media as a hired assassination. Otherwise, public trust in the military would have plummeted.

Zinnia had spent the whole afternoon arguing with people online. By evening, she stormed out of her room, seething. "If I ever find out who’s been stirring up this mess online, I’ll punch them into next week!"

Mandy glanced at Vivian’s room but stayed quiet.

Just then, the door opened, and a familiar cough signaled Lyra’s return.

"Lyra, you’re back!" Zinnia jumped up. "When did you leave the investigation bureau? Are you okay? Why didn’t you call me to pick you up?"

"I’m fine."

At that moment, a loud crash came from Vivian’s room, like something had been thrown against the wall.

Vivian stormed out, her eyes red with rage. "Lyra, you’ve got some nerve, don’t you?"

’How could she be so lucky? That useless Jorath ran into space pirates, and this little witch managed to slip away!’

Lyra calmly poured herself a glass of water. "Did your brother tell you where I found the new property?"

Vivian saw the challenge in Lyra’s cool expression and lunged at her, hand raised to strike. "So, you did seduce him again?"

SMACK!

Lyra’s left hand held her water cup steady while her right hand gripped Vivian’s swollen cheek. "You know, I’m not someone you want to mess with."

Vivian tried to fight back but found she couldn’t summon her superpowers at all in front of Lyra.

Mandy stood frozen in shock. ’Oh my god, Lyra actually hit Vivian. The Mendez family will never let her off the hook!’

Zinnia was momentarily stunned but quickly pieced things together. "So, you’ve been after Lyra this whole time?"

Looking around at the others in the dorm, she realized she was the last to know.

Vivian might have the Mendez family behind her, but in terms of raw strength, she was no match for Lyra.

After everyone retreated to their rooms, a brief calm seemed to settle over the dorm.

But when Lyra finished her shower and emerged, her opticomputer lit up with an unfamiliar communication request.

Drying her hair with one hand, she clicked to accept it. A very handsome face appeared on the screen. It was Alon, Vivian’s brother.

"Pleasure to meet you," Alon said, clearly struggling to keep his anger in check.

"Hello," Lyra replied casually, draping the towel over her shoulder and leaning back in her chair, her legs crossed in a relaxed posture. "What can I do for you?"

"Don’t you think you’re being a bit too arrogant, young miss?" Alon asked, his anger simmering as he thought of the mark on his sister’s face.

"Compared to the Mendez family, I’d say I’m pretty low-key," Lyra said, resting her head on her hand.

Before Alon could launch into his accusations, Lyra glanced at the clock and smiled. "If you’re planning to defend your sister, you might want to hold off. Why don’t you check the news first?"

A wave of dread washed over Alon as he quickly opened the Alliance news feed. His heart sank as soon as he saw what was trending.

A scandalous video and a series of photos were spreading like flood, accompanied by a bold, glaring headline:

"Heiress’s Private Photos Leaked"

"Little Princess Mendez Lives a Wild Life!"

The content was explosive. Images and clips that should have remained private were now plastered across every news outlet and social media platform, exposing Vivian’s wild and reckless behavior to the entire galaxy.

The Mendez family’s reputation, so carefully guarded, was on the verge of collapse.

Alon felt a knot tighten in his stomach. This wasn’t just a scandal; it was a ticking time bomb.

The fallout was going to be massive, and he knew the Mendez family was about to be dragged through the mud in a very public way.

 

Chapter 65: Vivian Gone

Alon’s expression turned dark in an instant. He didn’t even hang up the call before commanding his assistant to scrub every photo and video off the internet.

But on the other end, Lyra was the picture of calm.

"No need to rush," she said with a cool, almost casual tone. "I’ve got plenty more where that came from." She ignored the fury twisting Alon’s features as she added, "How about I show you your sister’s dazzling performance next?"

Lyra always knew exactly where to hit to cause the most damage.

Alon’s gentlemanly mask slipped away. His face hardened. "Do you even understand what you’re playing with? You think just because you’re hiding out in the military academy, you’re untouchable?"

Lyra’s voice remained relaxed, as if they were chatting about something mundane. "I’m well acquainted with the power of the Mendez family," she said, her tone unshaken despite the weight of her words. "But all that footage? It’s already with the Voidstar pirates."

Not even the formidable Mendez family could reach those pirates, drifting aimlessly through the endless cosmos.

Getting that material had been no small feat.

Lyra leaned in a bit closer to the screen, as if sharing a secret. "By the way," she added, "Vivian hasn’t been looking so well lately. You might want to get her checked out?"

In that moment, only three words ran through Alon’s mind: ’I underestimated her.’

He had completely misjudged this woman.

That very night, Vivian was whisked away, her mind still spinning, oblivious to the chaos brewing online.

She was taken to a hospital for a battery of tests. The whirring machines made her even more irritable. "Alon, what’s with all the secrecy?" she snapped, annoyed.

Seeing her still in the dark, Alon rubbed his temples, the tension getting to him. "Just let them do the check for now."

When the results came back, they revealed a small spot on her heart, like a tiny seed.

"It’s an unusual superpower energy, rapidly accelerating her cell metabolism and aging," the doctor explained, not daring to meet Alon’s murderous glare.

"Can it be treated?" Alon’s voice was sharp, his concern clear.

The doctor hesitated. "It’s embedded in her heart. Surgery would be risky. If it detonates..."

As they spoke in hushed tones, Vivian suddenly sat up, pouting. "Alon, what are you whispering about— Ow!"

Her complaint was cut short as she clutched her chest, her face draining of color. "It hurts!" she screamed, before collapsing back onto the bed, stiff and unconscious.

"Vi!"

The doctor jumped into action, trying everything to save her. They even brought in the hospital’s chief, a level-8 Healing Peculiar, but nothing could touch that mysterious energy.

"This is supposed to be healing energy. How is it doing this?" the director muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. "Who did this?"

Alon opened his mouth to answer but thought better of it. "Please, don’t ask."

Given the online storm that day, the old man held his tongue. Whoever had forced Alon into this corner was either incredibly reckless or frighteningly meticulous.

In the operating room, the doctor was closing Vivian’s chest, the wound from surgery still fresh.

Alon, however, stepped out and found an empty office, dialing that familiar number.

"How’s Vivian holding up?" Lyra asked, her voice light as she enjoyed the evening breeze by a window.

"She’ll be fine," Alon spat, his anger barely contained. "Lyra, are you really ready to start a war with us?"

"Didn’t you throw the first punch?" Lyra’s eyes stayed fixed on the screen. "It’s heartwarming to see a brother so protective of his unreasonable sister."

Her tone was icy, laced with sarcasm. After letting him stew for a bit, she finally offered, "So, can we call a truce now?"

Alon was so furious that he let out a bitter laugh. "You still think peace is an option after this?"

Lyra yawned, clearly unimpressed. "What else? You gonna put a bounty on me? Call the cops to drag me in? Or maybe keep trying to wreck my business? Whatever you pick, the first thing you’ll see is Vivian’s corpse."

Lyra’s eyes remained locked on the screen, her tone chilling. "Trust me, even if you bring in the top experts, you won’t be able to save her. All it takes is a single thought from me." She shot a sideways glance at the monitor. "And don’t think a healing pod will help either, because..."

Just then, in the next room, Vivian woke up to find a streak of white in her hair. She immediately burst into tears, crying uncontrollably.

As Lyra’s lips curled into a faint smile, Alon realized he was beaten.

"This is just temporary, Lyra," he said before cutting off the connection abruptly.

The truce was merely a pause. He knew that once he found a way to save Vivian, Lyra would have nowhere to hide.

Right now, Lyra and the Mendez family were like two sides of a finely balanced scale, each one adding weight to maintain a delicate equilibrium.

Sensing Alon’s attempt to sever the psychokinetic link between her and Vivian, Lyra’s fingers glowed with a soft green light.

Even from miles away, she could almost hear Vivian’s scream.

Alon immediately stopped his efforts.

Lyra chuckled. This game was turning out to be quite entertaining. She even considered using this method on others, like Sean. But after some thought, she decided against it. Controlling one person was already taxing enough, especially since Vivian’s psychokinetic abilities were far weaker than hers. It wasn’t worth the risk.

Still, she traced the scar on her chest, her expression darkening.

She wondered how the Shedd family was handling this revelation.

The Shedd family, as it turned out, was in complete disarray.

"Ansel, look at this. It’s definitely her!" Patrick was sweating nervously. "Why else would she target our family?"

On the desk in the study lay a report from Planet Nagano, with Lyra’s information and photo right on top.

No one in the Shedd family could mistake that face.

Ansel picked up the photo, examining it carefully. The girl in the picture was a dead ringer for the brilliant granddaughter he once knew, but her eyes... something was different. His granddaughter, though cold, had always had a spark of life in her, unlike the girl in the photo, whose eyes were as empty as a corpse’s.

"She’s from Voidstar No. 2, nineteen years old. The military academy’s bone age test doesn’t lie."

Patrick hurriedly flipped through another stack of documents. "Look, one of her dead subordinates was the trafficker who took that young woman out of the city all those years ago. And nowadays, there are so many ways to stunt a person’s growth!"

Ansel frowned, calling in the people who had hunted Lyra down years ago.

"Are you absolutely sure she died eleven years ago?"

"Positive," one of them replied, his voice steady.

’How could a dead person come back to life?’ Patrick looked anxiously at his brother, Ansel, who was lost in thought. Finally, Patrick suggested, "Why don’t we go to Voidstar and check?"

"At a time like this, you want me to go to Voidstar?" Ansel’s sharp gaze bore into Patrick, making his eyes well up with tears.

Overcome with grief, Patrick pleaded, "Are we really going to let her get away with killing Jorath? You saw him grow up from a sweet little kid, and now his life’s been cut short."

"What else do you suggest? Should I launch a warship and attack Voidstar No. 2?" Ansel slammed his fist on the table, pointing an accusing finger at Patrick. "This is all because of you!"

He then pressed the intercom on his desk. "Send Erin and Kail up here. I have something important to discuss with them."