Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 100: The Evidence

Chapter 100: The Evidence

Oleg’s death was big news in the Alliance, and the military quickly issued an obituary.

However, the cause of death was attributed to the self-destruction of a level-eight beast, without mentioning the improper use of the herb. They were worried that someone might question why he was able to use level-nine plants.

"I still don’t understand. Level-nine healing plants should have been suitable for the Vice Admiral’s injuries. How could too much energy cause his body to explode?"

Frank, the head of the medical team, tried to appeal to Cohen on behalf of his poor subordinates. "We need to further investigate the Vice Admiral’s cause of death. Maybe it was the plant that caused the problem."

"Even if the plant was at fault, the medical team didn’t find the issue, so you still have to take responsibility," said Cohen, coldly.

He also felt regret. If Lyra had acted to save him, things might not have been so bad. "I’ve done my best to absolve them of responsibility in the report, Lieutenant Commander Frank. Suspension and revocation of their qualifications are the best outcomes you could hope for."

Even if the medical team had only found Oleg’s body, they wouldn’t have to take responsibility.

Frank left Cohen’s office in frustration, and his assistant quickly came up to ask what happened.

"There’s nothing we can do." He irritably unbuttoned his white coat. "If Oleg had retreated immediately after the explosion instead of being greedy for the level-nine plants, he wouldn’t have been on the brink of death and caused us so much trouble."

The assistant hurried after him, suddenly getting an idea.

"Right, sir. Before the medical team found them, there was this intern, a healer, who supposedly used her superpower to stabilize Vice Admiral Oleg’s injuries. Maybe the problem was about her?"

The last sentence was loaded with implication—she was just an intern, after all. If they could pin the blame on her...

Frank suddenly stopped and stared at him coldly. "What are you thinking?"

The assistant’s eyes darted nervously. "I... I just want to save Angie and the others."

"What we need is to find out the truth."

...

Lyra was stopped by Frank on her way to the training room.

"Lyra, can we talk?" The man looked very tired, his brown hair sticking out like autumn weeds.

She nodded, waiting for him to speak.

"It’s about Vice Admiral Oleg." Frank didn’t beat around the bush. "I want to know, did you really treat him when you found him?"

"Yes, I saw that the Vice Admiral was showing signs of agonal breathing, so I gave him emergency treatment."

Frank observed the girl’s unchanging, calm expression, then brought up another matter. "I heard you healed Lieutenant Commander Whyte on Voidstar. Why couldn’t you do more for the Vice Admiral?"

Logically, she should have had the ability.

"Because I had already reported to the medical team, and they told me to stand by and protect the Vice Admiral." Lyra looked straight at him. "At that time, my task was to find and transport the wounded on the battlefield. Besides, I’m just an intern—I couldn’t take on the responsibility of treating the Vice Admiral alone."

At the end of the day, it was the medical team’s job to treat the Vice Admiral. No one would dare let an intern handle it.

Saving him wouldn’t have brought her any reward, but if he had died under her care, it would have been a disaster—just like those medical team members.

Besides, she was just following orders.

Frank couldn’t find any faults in her explanation, but he pressed on, "After the Vice Admiral took the plant, did you notice anything unusual?"

"I’m not sure. I was the farthest away," she replied, her tone measured.

Frank hesitated before asking, "Could I check your superpower? The traces of your superpower particles on the Vice Admiral’s remains were too faint to analyze."

He was considering the possibility that her power might have caused an unexpected reaction with the plant after the Vice Admiral was treated.

Lyra’s expression darkened, and she eyed him warily. "What exactly do you want from me, sir?"

Her tone carried a note of caution, but Frank kept his response professional. "I’ve heard your superpower is rather unique. I’m curious if it might have influenced the level-nine plant."

Anger flared across her face. "If you’re implying that I’m to blame for the Vice Admiral’s death, then let me be clear: my superpower isn’t up for research."

With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Frank standing there, stunned and frustrated by the abrupt end to their conversation.

Once she was out of sight, a cold smile tugged at Lyra’s lips.

Her superpower was indeed quite useful in certain situations.

Frank eventually pieced together a defense for the medical team:

The plant had grown in a mineral-rich environment, which had heightened its energy levels, causing the explosion. This was something the medical team couldn’t have foreseen.

Additionally, since Vice Admiral Oleg had provided the plant and given his approval for its use, he bore some responsibility for the outcome.

As a result, the medical team members were allowed to keep their positions and qualifications, though they received formal reprimands.

Following Oleg’s death, the Phoenix Legion pulled out, leaving Cohen and Erin to wrap up the remaining tasks, which went smoothly.

Lyra and her friends were nearing the end of their internship. They would soon return with the other technical staff for further research.

With no Legion Skywalkers constantly watching over her, Kail found another opportunity to approach Lyra.

At that moment, Lyra was training with her superpower. She was concentrating as she formed green light in her hands and aimed at a target fifty meters away.

"Sis, are you planning to stay on Planet Nagano?" Kail asked, observing her efforts. "Now that your identity has been exposed, Grandpa will definitely want you to come back."

Though he didn’t fully grasp the extent of the conflict between his sister and the Shedd family, he knew that with her exceptional healing abilities, their grandfather wouldn’t let her remain on Planet Nagano.

"I told you to stay away from me," she replied curtly, not breaking her focus.

Kail looked hurt. "Why did you save me if you really hate me that much? "

Lyra paused, grabbed a towel to wipe the sweat from her brow, and she replied, "I saved you because you’re still useful to me. And because I didn’t want to see Erin’s schemes succeed."

As for the level-nine strength-enhancing plant, she knew that even if she had managed to grab it while fending off three level-seven opponents, keeping it would have been nearly impossible.

After weighing her options, she realized it made more sense to go underground, set up her next plan, and save her brother in the process.

Falling while injured would have only complicated things, and revealing her identity had become inevitable. In the end, she couldn’t control everything.

In truth, she wasn’t concerned about Ansel. He had no leverage over her.

Besides, he held no power over Planet Nagano, where the Whyte family had a stronghold.

Kail felt a wave of disheartenment wash over him. "Then what should I say when I get back?"

"Say whatever you want," Lyra replied, her tone indifferent.

To Kail, it felt like he wasn’t talking to his sister, but to a cold, unyielding wall.

When the warship docked at Snowfall for resupply, Zinnia and the others eagerly waved goodbye and headed home. Their spirits was high with the thought of returning to familiar places.

Two days later, the warship touched down on Planet Nagano.

Meanwhile, Robin and the rest of the crew had to quickly make their way back to Elden Prime.

As Lyra watched Kail, hesitant and slow as he walked away, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was looking at a stranger.

’Make the most of your final value, my dear brother,’ she thought, her emotions buried deep beneath a calm exterior.