Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 152: Morrison’s Back

Chapter 152: Morrison’s Back

Lost in his lustful thoughts, Sanchez didn’t notice Lyra’s face.

His hands roamed, but then he felt a shift—Lyra’s delicate grip turned fierce, her veins bulging like steel.

"Lyra, you better think carefully about what you’re doing!" he snarled, shock twisting his face.

"Thanks for the reminder; I’m quite clear," she replied, shaking her hand free and throwing him against the wall like a sack of barley.

Outside, the bodyguards pounded on the door, firing weapons at the lock.

Sanchez lay on the floor, dazed and gasping. "You... you just assaulted a government official! I’ll have you arrested!" He fumbled for his opticomputer to call for help.

Then, a stack of documents landed in front of him. Lyra leaned against the desk, sipping water that Debbie had brought.

Afterward, she used her shoe to lift his chin. "Do you understand what to say when you leave?"

Sanchez trembled under her intense gaze, the bruises on his face darkening as he clutched the papers. She had all his dirty deeds on them.

"I... understand," he managed to spit out, struggling to comprehend how this young woman had gathered such incriminating evidence.

The office door swung open, revealing stunned bodyguards. Sanchez emerged looking slightly disheveled but composed.

"Sir?" one of them stammered.

Sanchez shot them a glance. "What’s this commotion? Don’t scare everyone else."

The staff outside watched nervously as he forced a smile. "Sorry for the disturbance," he said, hurrying away with his team.

Debbie picked up the scattered documents, admiration growing for Lyra. "Boss, how did you get these?"

Lyra rubbed her temples. "You’ll learn in time."

There were plenty of ways to bring down someone like Sanchez, who relied on the Shedd family for his position.

Snakehead had extensive dealings with the officials of Elden Prime, holding plenty of blackmail material against figures like Sanchez that could easily bring them down.

However, this only applied to lower-level officials; he lacked the leverage to target those higher up. If he had that power, Lyra wouldn’t have needed to carefully forge connections with the East family.

Yet Sanchez wasn’t intimidated for long.

Bolstered by the Shedd family’s backing, he returned to stir up trouble.

Fortunately, Morrison also returned with what Lyra had been seeking.

Morrison made the long journey from Wyrmtrace to Elden Prime, spending ten exhausting days even with the fastest space jump station.

By the time he arrived, he looked pale and worn from the rough ride.

Yet, as he stepped into the new office, his demeanor shifted; his eyes sparkled with a newfound energy. He strode in confidently and announced, "Boss, I’m back."

Lyra looked up briefly and replied, "Good work."

Morrison knew she preferred to skip the small talk. He pulled out a white machine, about a foot square, from the Space Button. "This is the first-generation gene therapy device. The research team wants you to name it."

Debbie watched with envy. Though Morrison had only been with Lyra for a short time, he already had his own Space Button. She resolved to work hard back on Planet Nagano to earn one herself.

Lyra was indifferent to the details. For her, as long as an employee could bring in wealth, they earned their keep.

After all, she controlled the ships, mining rights, and the beehive.

Morrison understood her priorities. Her main interest lay with the machine. "Has it been tested on humans?"

"Yes," he responded. "The highest cure level is currently four, but the team is working on upgrades with your new data. We should have good news next time."

"Let’s call it Aesculapius’ Grace," Lyra suggested, opening the device and absorbing its healing light, reminiscent of her own superpower. Yet, that wasn’t enough for her.

"Get Koros on the research team. I want at least a few machines with level six or higher. Tell him that if he can develop advanced devices, I’ll let him build a special workshop."

Morrison gasped but quickly composed himself and nodded. "Understood." He remembered past challenges and joked, "It’s your order; he’ll be motivated."

Unlike Sean, the head of the research team who was eager to monetize inventions, Koros was a brilliant but tough engineer focused solely on his salary.

"Coordinate with Debbie. Monitor Wyrmtrace remotely and manage things here on Elden Prime as I said. If there are any problems, come to me."

Lyra gestured toward the therapy device. "Send this to the East family as a gesture of goodwill."

Morrison paused, his eyes widening. "You mean the East family with the Minister of Finance?"

"I trust you know this area better than I do. You’ll find the way."

When Morrison saw the address, excitement surged through him. It was indeed the East family!

He had thought Lyra’s background was impressive, but her connection to such a powerful family left him in awe.

However, after Debbie shared Lyra’s plans, he grasped the full extent of her influence. With such enticing offers on the table, even His Majesty would likely greet her with a smile.

Two hours after Morrison departed, the workshop manager called, his voice tinged with panic. "Boss, it’s bad! Sanchez is here sealing us off and wants to take our equipment!"

Lyra sprang to her feet, urgency coursing through her. "You stall them; I’ll be there right away!" Without hesitation, she dashed from the office.

Staff members glanced up as she zoomed past. Then they quickly averted their gazes, exhaling in relief once she was gone.

"Wow, that vibe of hers, that is really something," one murmured in awe.

"I never expected our boss to be her," another replied, admiration evident in their tone.

Downstairs at the new shop, salespeople greeted her like a whirlwind as she soared past on a hoverboard, navigating the air with breathtaking agility.

Clad in augmented reality glasses, she used psychokinesis to glide effortlessly through the open air, leaving everyone else in her wake.

The factory sprawled across a wild expanse outside Elden Prime’s bustling city.

To minimize costs, she had chosen this untamed location, managing its development through a maze of government paperwork.

This process mandated strict adherence to preserving green spaces and protecting innocent wildlife, complicating matters considerably.

To cut expenses, Lyra took on the most daunting task herself: scaring off the beasts that roamed too close.

As she neared the unfolding chaos, her hair whipped wildly in the wind, and she felt the sharp sting of the air against her skin, her heart racing at the sight of her equipment being loaded onto a truck.

"Well, if it isn’t Miss Shedd! You got here fast," Sanchez sneered, his confidence bolstered by his hulking bodyguards.

Lyra’s gaze flicked to the level-seven bodyguard in front of Sanchez, imposing and sharp-eyed, and she couldn’t help sneering. "Found yourself a protector, huh? Feeling brave now?"

Sanchez’s grin widened as he shook his head. "I’m solid now, Lyra. You’ve underestimated me!"

He barked orders to his men, urgency in his tone.

Just as the truck brimmed with her belongings, Lyra unleashed a blade that pierced its tires. "Who dares to touch my things?"

The blade whirled back to her, morphing into a small sphere.

"Lyra!" His eyes widened in disbelief. "You can’t interfere with official business! I’ll have you arrested!" He shoved his bodyguard forward. "Go get her!"

The bodyguard, recalling the higher-up’s commands, charged at her in black metal armor, drawing upon an intensity that surpassed a typical level-six.

As his fist hurtled toward her, Lyra clad herself in shimmering silver armor, stepping back and bracing for impact.

When their fists collided, a thunderous boom reverberated through the air, causing nearby onlookers to wince and cover their ears.

The bodyguard’s expression shifted abruptly, the force of the clash surprising him.