Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 153: Aesculapius’ Grace

Chapter 153: Aesculapius’ Grace

As Morrison advanced, he was drawn to the breathtaking display of Lyra’s superpower, which sparkled like distant stars suspended in a twilight sky.

Suddenly, the energy morphed into a brilliant streak of light that shot toward her opponent. Although it didn’t pierce the enemy’s defenses, the foe winced, discomfort flickering across his face.

Amid Sanchez’s frantic shouts, other bodyguards raised their weapons, unleashing a relentless barrage of bullets aimed at the armored girl.

Yet, with an effortless grace, several barriers of light emerged, deflecting the projectiles as they clattered harmlessly to the ground. Lyra’s radiant energy swept through the chaos and disarmed their threats.

In the midst of this tumult, Schedar floated beside Lyra, illuminating her slender form dressed in a crisp white shirt and tailored black trousers, which accentuated her delicate waist and long legs.

"Lyra, how dare you attack a government official! This isn’t over yet!" Sanchez yelled, cowering behind two trembling bodyguards.

With a slight cough, Lyra’s eyes glimmered with unwavering determination as she flicked her wrist, unleashing a beam of light that struck Sanchez’s face, leaving him momentarily stunned.

Morrison smirked at Lyra’s audacity.

Just then, a cheerful whistle sliced through the tension, followed by a youthful voice that chimed in, "I’ve heard the whispers about Miss Shedd’s decisiveness, but witnessing it firsthand is utterly captivating!"

Morrison turned, suddenly recalling his companion, and introduced him with a sense of urgency, "Boss, this is Caspian East, the third son of the East family and chairman of the X-Future Tech."

Lyra’s gaze sharpened as she approached.

Caspian stepped forward, his eyes sparkling with admiration as he extended a hand. "Miss Shedd, a pleasure to meet you."

The guy was in a pristine white suit, paired with a pink shirt. He wasn’t wearing a tie.

His slightly elevated nose and large eyes gave him an intriguing look, accentuated by his slicked-back hair, with a few rebellious strands falling playfully across his forehead.

"Mr. East, the pleasure is mine," Lyra replied, nodding with gracious composure.

Caspian’s attention remained fixated on her. "My sister spoke highly of your conversational skills. Would you do me the honor of sharing lunch later?"

"Of course, but I should be the one hosting," she replied smoothly.

Their exchange of pleasantries unfolded as if the looming threat of Sanchez had vanished, much to his growing unease.

Sanchez recognized the formidable reputation of the East family. He felt a wave of anxiety wash over him as he watched their young master so comfortably engage with Lyra.

Desperate to reclaim his position, Sanchez forced a smile and stepped forward, "Mr. East, glad to see you again..."

Caspian paused, casting a playful wink at Lyra before turning back. "I’m sorry, but who are you?"

Suppressing his irritation, Sanchez presented a business card. "I’m Sanchez from the Elden Prime Ministry of Commerce. We spoke at the annual meeting."

Caspian raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. "Oh, Sanchez, right, Sanchez..." he repeated the name, his smile dimming just slightly. "What brings you here today?"

Fidgeting, Sanchez stammered, "I... I’m just here on official business."

A sense of dread enveloped Sanchez as he realized the weight of the alliance forming between Lyra and the East family.

"Understood," Caspian replied, his smile reemerging. "You can head back now."

"Wait, what?" Sanchez stammered. Just then, his opticomputer buzzed to life.

Sanchez cast a wary glance at the beaming Caspian, an uneasy feeling creeping over him. Then he before turned away to respond to the call.

His complexion drained, as if washed in a pallid hue.

When he faced Caspian again, he managed a strained smile. He bowed slightly before retreating hastily, almost as if escaping a shadow.

Meanwhile, as the level-seven bodyguard was carried away, Lyra stepped forward, channeling a surge of vibrant green energy from him.

The guard’s twisted features softened, his eyes betraying a mix of fear and awe at her extraordinary power.

Once the crowd had thinned, Morrison immersed himself in preparations.

Lyra guided Caspian through the factory, which was still undergoing extensive renovations.

"I owe you this big favor for stepping in, Mr. East," she remarked casually, her tone light yet appreciative.

Caspian crossed his arms, his gaze flitting between the factory’s workings and her steady demeanor. "Not at all, Miss Shedd. I couldn’t let you wait. But I must say, you’re impressively bold."

A knowing smile played on Lyra’s lips.

She had been certain that the East family would seek her out after witnessing the healing device, and that was why she dared to confront Sanchez and give him another lesson.

Caspian found her confidence captivating, and he realized she had a keen understanding of the East family’s psychology.

As an entrepreneur in intelligent machinery, the potential of the healing device sparkled in Caspian’s eyes.

"These machines don’t seem suited for producing Aesculapius’ Grace," he observed, eyeing the equipment. "They appear more geared toward smelting."

"I’m not producing Aesculapius’ Grace," Lyra replied, catching him off guard. "I’m creating the ’core’ for it."

Her current resources were limited, and small-scale production wouldn’t yield substantial profits. Additionally, safeguarding such technologies was precarious, prompting her preference for transparency.

However, the ’core’ was a different matter: it required workers with advanced psychokinesis, had low production costs, and promised high returns. It was crucial for Aesculapius’ Grace but was less sought after, lowering the risk of being coveted.

Caspian’s eyes narrowed, skepticism flickering. "I’ve seen your ’core’ production; the highest level is only four. That’s too easy to replicate."

Lyra countered firmly, "This technology is my invention; its chances of being duplicated are extremely low." He merely smiled, pondering her ambitious spirit.

Though the factory wasn’t expansive, they also manufactured standard healing devices and various shielding mechanisms. Those two were already mature industry, so they could make a steady profit out of it.

After a quick lunch arranged by Morrison, they dove into discussions about potential business collaborations.

"Why wait for a more opportune moment? You should accompany me to the East family estate; my sister has likely been eager to see you," Caspian proposed, a hint of urgency in his voice.

"That sounds agreeable," Lyra replied, sensing the underlying necessity.

...

Upon reaching the East family estate, they were ushered to the medical room on the second floor, where Leona and the doctors were on high alert.

"Miss Shedd, thank you for your assistance," Leona said. She was dressed sharply in professional attire, as if just returning from an intense shift.

Approaching the bedside, she observed the elderly man struggling against an oxygen mask, his breaths shallow and labored.

Under Lyra’s almost miraculous healing touch, his internal organs began to mend, gradually rekindling the spark of life within him.

The doctor watched the monitor’s readings with a mounting thrill, his fists clenching in exhilaration as he leaned closer to the East siblings.

"Her superpower shouldn’t just be called healing; it should be dubbed ’Rebirth.’ It’s truly miraculous!"

As Mr. East’s health visibly improved, the East family sprang into action, mobilizing their departments to roll out Aesculapius’ Grace—starting with official hospitals and soon expanding nationwide.

This announcement sent shockwaves throughout the Alliance, generating a seismic reaction that reverberated through the medical community and beyond.

People were astounded by the transformative potential of this new technology, eagerly anticipating the life-altering effects it promised to deliver.

The excitement was palpable, igniting a wave of hope and curiosity that swept across the land.