Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 151: Treasure Is Guilt

Chapter 151: Treasure Is Guilt

In today’s world, where strength reigns supreme and the military exerts considerable influence, the complex relationships within the government often go unnoticed.

Yet, the citizens of the Alliance find themselves living under this shadow of power.

Lyra was on her way to visit the East family, a political powerhouse. She was greeted by Mr. Hanson East’s eldest granddaughter.

Dressed in a T-shirt and wide-leg pants, Leona’s thick eyebrows arched elegantly over her slightly flat nose. While not conventionally beautiful, she carried herself with a quiet grace that commanded respect, enhanced by light makeup and neatly tied hair.

As they met, Leona welcomed Lyra in the garden, where a set of white table and chairs held an array of exquisite snacks.

The butler led Lyra to her, and Leona stood with a smile. "Miss Shedd, you look even better than on the livestream," she said, extending her right hand. "I’m Leona."

Lyra shook her hand lightly, returning the smile. "Hello, Miss East."

Today, she wore a cream silk camisole beneath a sleek black suit adorned with golden buttons, paired with white beaded high-heeled shoes. Her hair was simply tied back, adding to her polished look.

Leona quickly assessed her, surprised by how different Lyra appeared compared to the military student she had seen on screen. "Miss Shedd, please sit," she invited, taking her own seat.

Lyra showed no surprise as she sat down, observing Leona’s graceful movements while she poured tea.

Maintaining a composed demeanor, Lyra navigated the conversation without being overly familiar or awkward, as if she had momentarily forgotten her purpose for being there.

"I watched your performance on AMAT. I can’t help feeling old—such talent promises an unlimited future," Leona remarked, her tone reflecting admiration. Though she was only in her sixties, she had chosen to remain unmarried, leaving her with no kids or grandkids.

"Thank you, Miss East. I was just doing my best," Lyra replied, sipping her herbal tea and adding two cubes of sugar.

Leona rested her chin on her hand playfully. "I apologize; I’m used to stronger tea."

"I imagine outsiders don’t have the privilege of enjoying tea brewed by you personally," Lyra said, aware of the importance of adapting to her company. While she preferred action over words, she was ready to engage with anyone who had a motive.

After a light exchange over tea and snacks, the two women prepared to have lunch in the garden without yet addressing their underlying purposes.

Midway through the meal, the butler approached and whispered something in Leona’s ear. She stood up, her expression unchanged. "Although interrupting is not ideal for hosting, would you accompany me for a walk?"

Here it came. Lyra wiped her mouth with a napkin. "Of course."

Truthfully, the lavish meal had little appeal to her; she was there for a reason.

As they passed through the living room and down a long corridor, Lyra noted the extensive surveillance and security systems lining the walls.

Upon reaching the second floor, they entered a room filled with medical instruments and doctors—a scene that felt eerily familiar, reminiscent of her visit to the Mendez family.

The old man lay in bed, his frail figure resembling a withered tree root—even weaker than Jorathon, that level-eight Peculiar.

"Is Grandpa okay?" Leona asked. She maintained her composure, her gaze steady and intense.

"Stabilized for now," replied the doctor, his eyes darting to Lyra with curiosity. "We need results quickly."

Leona turned to Lyra, her voice assertive. "Miss Shedd, since you’re here, could you examine my grandfather’s illness? We can discuss other matters later."

Lyra didn’t mind the urgency; she approached the bedside, gathering green light to scan the old man. His organs appeared rigid and lifeless, indicative of radiation sickness.

As she attempted to heal him, she realized she couldn’t rejuvenate the cells, but her superpower suggested she could still help.

Noticing her furrowed brow, Leona crossed her arms tightly.

Suddenly, a purer, crystal-clear green light emanated from Lyra, but she quickly withdrew her hand.

"How is it?" Leona stepped closer, her interest piqued.

Other doctors rushed in, and one excitedly exclaimed, "It’s working!"

No one understood Hanson’s condition better than they did; even a slight improvement wouldn’t escape their notice.

Lyra’s hand twitched at her side—her superpower seemed to have shifted.

"Miss Shedd, let’s discuss this in the living room," Leona said, her brief joy fading back to her usual composure.

Nodding, Lyra followed her outside. The butler served more tea, placing it respectfully before her before stepping aside.

"Miss Shedd, I understand your needs, but frankly, this isn’t feasible for us," Leona stated plainly. "If it were just the Vice Director, my family could dismiss it easily, but you know the real issue."

Lyra focused on her tea, taking a sip. Resolving the Vice Director’s concerns would only invite more pressure from other Directors and committee members, especially since the Shedd family was trying to undermine her.

Setting her cup down, she returned Leona’s gaze coolly. "You may not realize, but aside from standard treatment devices, our factory is developing a machine to treat genetic disorders, and we have promising leads."

Leona’s calm facade momentarily cracked—devices for genetic diseases! As the Alliance’s Minister of Finance, she understood its significance better than anyone.

"Miss Shedd, I hope you’re not joking."

"Of course not," Lyra replied, her tone serious. She had no intention of making empty promises; plans for this had begun once Jorathon was healed.

With the Alliance facing millions suffering from genetic and radiation diseases, Lyra understood that attracting attention to her unique superpower could put her in a precarious position, inviting competition. She had to stay vigilant.

To minimize this risk, she teamed up with Koros, Sean, and others to enhance the treatment device utilizing her powers. They were hopeful that Morrison’s return would bring promising updates about their advancements.

As Leona hesitated, Lyra dropped another surprise: "I intend to turn the technology over to the authorities."

She never planned to keep it; sharing it was smarter than holding onto something so dangerous. All she needed was a steady demand of the device’s "core."

"Don’t you think you’ll sacrifice too much?" Leona probed sharply. It seemed hard to believe someone would so easily forfeit such a valuable asset.

Lyra shrugged. "To live a wealthy life, the first thing’s to keep yourself alive." While she felt regret over the lost profits, she recognized it was beyond her control. "I heard your brother works with smart machinery and spaceships. I’m sure we can find common ground."

In that moment, Leona had to admit her curiosity was piqued. Faced with such huge advantages, she too felt the pull of self-interest.

Lyra’s visit was clearly more than just solving issues; she sought a strong ally—someone unafraid of the Shedd family’s influence, and who could offer her significant benefits.

Leona smiled slightly and extended her right hand. "That guy’s a bit laid-back; you might not like him much."

Lyra replied, "As long as there’s a shared interest, wolves and lions can get along."

After briefly achieving their goals, Lyra left. Talking further seemed pointless; both sides needed to see real benefits to agree to cooperate. At least they both showed willingness, which was encouraging.

On her way back, Lyra felt upbeat. However, her mood shifted when she spotted the bodyguard outside her office and an unexpected guest in her chair.

A middle-aged man held Debbie’s hand, laughing as he said, "You’re young and talented. My office needs a secretary—why not come work here? This small company isn’t worth your skills."

Debbie struggled to break free, saying, "You’re overestimating me. I can’t do this job, please let go."

She knew she could earn more than this sleazy man under her own boss!

As they wrestled, a cold voice interrupted, "What’s happening here?"

Debbie turned, her eyes lighting up at the sight of Lyra. "Boss!"

Sanchez released Debbie, quickly standing and moving around the desk. "Oh, you must be Miss Shedd! You look even better than on the livestream!" He reached out to grab her hand but missed.

Lyra stepped past him and took her seat. "And you are?"

Sanchez slicked back his greasy hair, leaning in with a smug grin. "I signed the order to shut you down."

"Oh, nice to meet you," Lyra replied, raising an eyebrow, catching Sanchez off guard. This reaction wasn’t what he expected; she should be anxious and eager to appease him.

"Is there something you need?" Lyra asked, glancing at Debbie and subtly nodding toward the door.

Debbie quietly slipped away.

Sanchez’s gaze was fixated on Lyra’s stunning face, completely captivated by the young woman before him.

"Miss Shedd, to be honest, I didn’t want to issue that document either, but we all follow orders," Sanchez started.

"Just speak plainly, Mr. Sanchez, you’re the Vice Director, right?" Lyra interrupted, emphasizing his full title.

The term "Vice" annoyed Sanchez. ’This young woman dares to challenge the Shedd family? But her youth made her seem naive.’

"Actually, there’s a way to turn this around, depending on what you’re willing to concede," he said more directly.

"Such as?" Lyra asked, raising an eyebrow as she noticed Debbie nearing the door.

"Your company has procedural issues. I used to be in business; how about selling me a share?" He abruptly grabbed her hand on the table. "The profits will come to me, and you won’t have to worry about the Shedd family’s anger. It’s a win-win."

With a click, the door shut behind him.