Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 141: Identity Exposed

Chapter 141: Identity Exposed

Lyra had nearly forgotten that the Shedd family wasn’t like her—alone and self-reliant.

They were a centuries-old, deeply rooted force within the Alliance, fiercely protective of their reputation.

That was, after all, why they’d imbedded a binding curse in her all those years ago, ensuring silence over any rumors that might stain their name.

But Ansel? He was likely panicking now that her name had resurfaced in the spotlight. He probably feared she would use this sudden attention to gain powerful allies, ones who could threaten his hold.

The thought brought a dark glint to Lyra’s eyes.

Perhaps there WAS an opportunity here, after all.

She lightly tapped her fingers on the table, weighing her options.

Returning to the Shedd family was a risky move, but it wasn’t the only path.

For now, she wouldn’t rush. The current situation hinted that Ansel couldn’t make a move against her just yet—too many eyes were on them, and if their rivals sniffed out any scandal, it would drag Ansel into dangerous waters.

Just as she reached that conclusion, her opticomputer flashed, signaling an incoming communication.

Glancing at the name, she lowered the volume before answering the call.

"Well, well, Sis Marv, you’ve really thrown us for a loop this time!" Snakehead’s voice cut through the line, dripping with barely-contained frustration. "Ansel Shedd’s GRANDDAUGHTER? You’ve got some guts, keeping us in the dark like this!"

Lyra leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms, unbothered. "It’s just business. Who I work with doesn’t change that."

Snakehead nearly exploded. "It DOES matter, for crying out loud! We’re in this together, tied at the hip, and it turns out you’re the granddaughter of a MILITARY VICE ADMIRAL! What were you thinking?"

His panic was understandable. Learning that Lyra—someone they thought of as an ally—was related to a high-ranking officer like Ansel was a blow.

To them, it felt like they’d unknowingly partnered with a tiger hiding in plain sight, ready to devour them at any moment.

Lyra’s gaze remained steady. "I’m still counting on you to help us make money," she said, leaning forward slightly. "Or are you backing out now that my identity’s out?"

The chubby man on the screen looked as though he might burst into tears. "Do I LOOK like I can afford to back out?"

Snakehead had bet everything on this—his business dealings in the "Core" factory, his underground connections on Wyrmtrace. He was all in, and pulling out wasn’t an option.

"Then it’s settled." Lyra smirked, as if she had predicted this reaction from the start, only adding to Snakehead’s frustration.

"Don’t worry," Lyra continued, her tone almost reassuring. "Our partnership will keep going, same as before. In fact, now that I’m linked to the military, we might be able to make even more money. Think about it."

Snakehead paused, his large face moving closer to the screen, torn between disbelief and curiosity. "Wait... are you serious, ma’am?"

Lyra shrugged, a calm smile tugging at her lips. "I don’t joke much. You know that."

Snakehead mulled over her words, slowly coming to a realization. A smile crept onto his face. "I knew you had a sharp eye."

It was true. The military typically treated Voidstar people like trash—keeping their distance in public while secretly reaching out for deals in private.

They were too proud to openly collaborate but couldn’t resist the advantages Voidstar offered.

But Lyra was different. She wasn’t afraid to cut through the pretense.

As for the public drama swirling around her and the Shedd family online? Snakehead couldn’t have cared less. With her skills, it was only a matter of time before she made her mark on the military, and when that happened, having her as an ally would be like catching lightning in a bottle.

"Alright, alright, I’ll let Caesara know so she doesn’t worry," he chuckled, finally relaxing. "We’ll keep things moving."

With that, he ended the call, still shaking his head at the unexpected turn of events.

After Snakehead and Caesara discussed Lyra’s sudden identity reveal, they both had the same thought.

"I wonder how Blackheart is reacting to all this," Caesara said, her legs crossed as she sat on a crate, watching her workers load supplies. Her tone was mocking as she chatted with Snakehead.

"Him? If he hasn’t dropped dead from rage, it’s a miracle," Snakehead replied with a sarcastic smirk.

He paused, suddenly remembering something. "By the way, is it true that the Shedd family really wants her dead?"

"Of course it’s true. Why would I lie about that?" Caesara replied. The fact that Lyra wasn’t aligning herself with the Shedd family was good news for them.

Rubbing her temple thoughtfully, she added, "Since Sis Marv still wants to work with us, let’s make sure we don’t stir up any trouble for her. Keep an eye on Blackheart. He might try something stupid."

As expected, when Blackheart found out about Lyra’s true identity, his first reaction was sheer terror, convinced that she’d bring the Shedd family’s warships down on him and blast him into oblivion. But as the panic subsided, a more rational thought crept in.

"Liliana, look into it," he ordered.

The red-haired woman beside him, lounging lazily in bed, sat up at his command. Her pale shoulders were marked with bruises.

"No need for that, Daddy. Don’t you remember? Sis Marv was originally brought to Voidstar No.2 by Sorren," Liliana said with confidence. "And, don’t forget, Bengal killed that Shedd boy in front of her, and Lyra didn’t lift a finger to save him. That tells me she’s not on good terms with her family."

Blackheart chuckled, reassured by her insight. "You’re right. If she had real power with the Shedds, she wouldn’t be tangled up in our mess."

A sinister grin spread across his face. "But this is a golden opportunity. Just imagine the Alliance’s reaction when they realize their new ’hero’ has been working with people like us. Let’s see how long they call her a hero then."

"Daddy, don’t get ahead of yourself," Liliana warned. "If we go too far, we’ll lose our shot at the ’Core.’"

Normally, Blackheart didn’t like being contradicted, but he was in too good a mood to care. He waved off her concern. "Let me have a little fun first. I want to watch her crash and burn. Then we’ll deal with her."

But when Blackheart tried to release information about Lyra, he quickly found out that none of it would spread. His every attempt was blocked. There was only one person on Voidstar No.2 who had that kind of reach.

"Snakehead, you son of a—!" Blackheart cursed under his breath.

Later, in a dimly lit tavern, Blackheart was ranting loudly, his arm around the tavern hostess, when the sound of a cold laugh echoed from the door.

"Well, well, Blackheart, looks like you’ve grown a spine!" Snakehead stormed into the room with his crew in tow, sending the patrons scrambling to leave.

Coins clattered onto tables as they rushed to avoid the coming fight.

Snakehead didn’t waste a moment. Grabbing a metal rod, he beat Blackheart mercilessly, the sound of the impact echoing in the room.

Afterward, Snakehead yanked Blackheart up by his collar, sneering in his face. "This is from me and Caesara. Mess with my money again, and I’ll rip you apart."

The two gangs stood facing each other, tension thick in the air. The bartender cowered behind the counter, trembling as he watched the scene unfold.

Blackheart shoved Snakehead off. "How many times are you going to pull this? You think I’ll just keep letting you push me around?"

Despite his words, Blackheart didn’t dare strike back. He knew Snakehead’s power had grown stronger, and right now, he wasn’t in a position to fight him.

Snakehead sneered. "I’m telling you, stay in line."

With that, he and his crew left the tavern, leaving Blackheart nursing his bruised body. Spitting in frustration, Blackheart muttered to himself, "Damn it, that witch Lyra played me."

The more he thought about it, the clearer it became—this dead-end place wasn’t worth it. He wasn’t making money, and everything he’d built had crumbled.

"This dump isn’t worth staying in," he grumbled.

Meanwhile, Lyra received news of the events unfolding on Voidstar not long after. Her response was a simple, "Hmm."

"Proceed according to plan," she said calmly, turning off her opticomputer.

Without another thought, she headed into the stadium, ready to focus on the competition with her team.