Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 140: AMAT (10)

Chapter 140: AMAT (10)

Lyra had become the newest sensation across the Alliance.

It wasn’t long before the rumors started flying, as no secret stays hidden forever.

Reporters and internet detectives dug deep into her past, eventually unearthing the startling truth—Lyra had been "frozen for seven years."

The revelation ignited a wave of curiosity, thrusting both her and the Shedd family into the limelight.

"Wait, wasn’t there a Shedd family prodigy who suddenly ’died’ years ago? That was her, right? How is she still alive?"

"Maybe she went into a cryogenic chamber to heal, and people just assumed she’d passed away."

"A genius is a genius. Even with only healing powers left, she’s still incredible! No wonder she’s my new favorite!"

"Okay, but why was she in a place like Voidstar No.2? For cryogenic treatment? That seems off."

"Yeah, something’s weird about this."

The name "Lyra" shot to the top of the trending searches. Everyone was talking about her—some out of curiosity, others trying to capitalize on her rising fame. Her story exploded across the internet.

Meanwhile, Erin, who was temporarily suspended and forced to stay home, seethed with fury as she watched Lyra take center stage yet again.

Her bloodshot eyes stayed glued to her screen, where video clips of Lyra in action replayed endlessly. Every post and glowing comment felt like a dagger twisting deeper.

"Why?! Why her?!" Erin spat, trembling beneath her blankets as a coldness seeped into her bones.

She shivered, not just from the physical chill but from the bitter envy consuming her. "You’re probably laughing at me right now, gloating somewhere."

Erin had tried digging up more dirt on Lyra, but Ansel had kept tight-lipped.

Lyra, since returning to Central City, had vanished from public view. The media couldn’t pin her down for interviews—she was as elusive as ever.

Lyra’s focus wasn’t on fame. She had bigger concerns. As soon as she returned to her office, she called in Debbie, her assistant, for an update. "Have you tracked down that doctor yet?" she asked, not wasting a second.

Debbie, knowing how crucial speed was to Lyra, answered immediately. "We found the last hospital he worked at, but he’s using a different name now. We’re tracking his current identity."

Lyra nodded, her expression unreadable. "Good. But don’t rely just on the detectives. If necessary, use... alternative methods."

By "alternative methods," Lyra meant the underground networks she’d once had connections to.

Though her knowledge of the black market was dated, she trusted Debbie to handle things discreetly and effectively.

Meanwhile, the Alliance wasn’t about to let the media frenzy linger.

The day after Lyra’s return, they announced the rescheduled AMAT competition.

In just two days, they prepared a new venue—the Alliance’s grand stadium.

There would be no pomp or ceremonies this time, just pure military school showdowns. The competition would focus on core areas: psychokinesis, combat, technical expertise, mecha piloting, and team-based challenges.

The organizers were determined to shift attention away from the recent Empire spy scandal and reignite excitement for AMAT.

...

On the day before the competition, Lyra went to the hotel to meet her teammates and discuss strategy.

As soon as she walked in, Milo stormed over, his face dark with fury. Without warning, he swung a fist at her.

Lyra casually deflected the punch, her expression calm. "What’s your problem?"

Milo’s anger boiled over. "What’s my problem?! Did you PURPOSELY leave me behind that day?" he shouted.

The memory of almost being devoured by the massive spider haunted him. He’d spent the entire night having nightmares about being digested by the creature, and the idea still made his skin crawl.

Lyra had saved everyone else, yet she had left him to fend for himself.

"That’s because if the beast hadn’t captured anyone, he wouldn’t have gone back to the control room," Lyra said, her tone flat, making Milo’s blood boil.

"So, you DID do it on purpose, you—!" Milo shouted, stepping toward her, but before he could finish, Lyra’s spinning kick sent him crashing into a nearby flowerbed.

"Yeah, I did it on purpose. So what?" Lyra stood motionless, casually tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

Her cold gaze settled on Milo, as if he were no more important than a bug. "You should be grateful I didn’t throw you into the wormhole yesterday."

Her indifference left no doubt about how little value she placed on his life.

By the doorway, Andre’s brow furrowed, while Anton crossed his arms and clicked his tongue. "This girl’s ruthless. Heard she’s from the Shedd family—can’t say if it’s true or not."

Just then, a Lev pulled up, its koi logo instantly recognizable.

A man stepped out, approaching Lyra with a respectful bow. "Miss Lyra, Mr. Shedd requests your return."

The bustling hotel entrance grew silent.

The Shedd family was famous on Elden Prime, and with Lyra’s recent surge in popularity online, all eyes were on her.

People began pulling out their terminals, eager to capture the scene.

Andre’s frown deepened, and Webber, who was trying to usher the students inside, was stopped by Anton. "This is a family business. Stay out of it."

The rumors about Lyra being part of the Shedd family were no longer just rumors. It was true.

The crowd watched closely for Lyra’s response. A faint, surprised smile played across her lips as she stared at the man before her.

Though he was merely the son of a butler, the pride in his demeanor was unmistakable, similar to the arrogance that flowed through the Shedd family, especially Ansel. It was the kind of pride that said: ’Whatever comes from the powerful—whether a storm or sunshine—is equally divine.’

It was as if the past never existed—the implantation of the Soul Spike, the theft of her powers, the assassination attempts, and the constant chase since she arrived on Elden Prime.

And now, with a simple summons, they expected her to return obediently, like a well-trained dog.

The man’s eyes held authority, but Lyra merely glanced at him and continued walking toward the hotel entrance without a word.

His frown deepened, and he quickly moved to block her path. "Miss Lyra, I must insist you come with me."

Lyra’s hand twitched at her side. Sensing the tension, Andre nudged Anton, who was watching the scene unfold.

Anton sighed, clearly hesitant to get involved, but Andre shoved him forward.

’Damn it, do they really want blood spilled here?’

Left with no choice, Anton used his spatial manipulation to appear in front of the man, pulling his hand away from Lyra’s path. "She has an important competition to prepare for. Any disturbance might affect her performance, so I suggest you leave now."

Anton’s formal tone momentarily stunned the man, giving Lyra the chance to slip past him and into the hotel.

As she entered, a heavy, tense atmosphere seemed to follow her. The rest of her teammates, seated around a table discussing strategies, struggled to focus as she approached.

Anton tapped the table. "Let’s keep personal issues out of the competition, yeah?"

Lyra ran a hand over her face, releasing a long sigh. "Yeah, sorry. Let’s continue."

But even as they went over battle plans, her mind was racing, trying to unravel Ansel’s true intentions behind the sudden summons.

After the meeting, her suspicions were confirmed. The internet was flooded with conversations about her.

The narrative had shifted. Some claimed she had run away from home after an injury, while others insisted the Shedd family had been searching for her for years.

Then there were those speculating about an internal conflict between her and her family.

Lyra scrolled through the countless posts, her lips curling into a bitter laugh.

"Boss, should we handle the online rumors?" Debbie asked cautiously, her voice laced with concern.

’Good heavens,’ she thought, ’She is actually the granddaughter of THAT Vice Admiral Shedd!’

The revelation still left her reeling, especially since it was clear that Lyra and her grandfather weren’t exactly on speaking terms—or any terms, for that matter.

Lyra didn’t even look up from her terminal, her expression cool and detached. "No need," she replied calmly.

Debbie blinked, surprised. "You sure?"

Lyra nodded. "Let them talk. It doesn’t change anything."

For her, the rumors were just noise—irrelevant distractions. She had bigger things to focus on.