Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 167: Conflicts

Chapter 167: Conflicts

Lyra still couldn’t wrap her head around why Phelixes had such a strong attachment to her. His affection was so obvious, but the reason behind it remained a mystery. Yet, seeing the tired look on Morrison’s face made her realize she should at least show a little concern.

"How much did the apartment cost?" she asked, her head tilting slightly in curiosity.

Morrison quickly shifted back into his usual professional demeanor. "No need to worry about that, boss," he replied smoothly. "It’s under my name now. Besides, you’ll be moving to the military district soon, won’t you?"

Once Lyra got herself a position in the army, she would qualify for housing within the military zone. From Morrison’s perspective, with Lyra’s impressive capabilities, fretting over something as trivial as housing was unnecessary.

Unlike their last chaotic visit to Elden Prime, this trip had been unusually calm.

Ansel had taken the Skywalkers on a mission, and even Erin and Kail were off on their own tasks.

But peaceful didn’t necessarily mean restful.

Several opportunists, having seen the staggering profits from Aesculapius’ Grace, had tried to manipulate Caspian but failed.

So, naturally, they set their sights on Lyra instead.

Some tried to weasel their way into deals, only for Lyra to swat them away effortlessly. Others took a more aggressive route—threats, coercion, anything to get her to bend to their will. But she dealt with them just as skillfully, refusing to be intimidated.

Over the past two years, numerous attempts had been made to infiltrate her factories. But with Morrison’s airtight security measures, none had even come close.

Now that Lyra was back in action, she had no intention of letting those incidents go unanswered.

One by one, she hunted down the troublemakers, systematically dismantling their operations. She wasn’t just a business genius—she was more than capable of defending what was hers.

It didn’t take long for people to understand: Lyra wasn’t just good at building an empire; she knew how to protect it too.

As the power struggles intensified, so did the tension in the air about AMAT.

The release of the contestant list for the military academy competitions only put Lyra in the spotlight once again.

"Sis, more reporters are swarming outside," Phelixes said, pulling the curtains shut. "Is Zinnia coming over soon?"

Zinnia was one of the few people Phelixes didn’t mind.

Lyra looked up from her screen and nodded.

"Want me to go pick her up?" he offered.

"No need," she replied coolly. "I’ll meet her at the hotel tomorrow."

Phelixes murmured a soft "Oh," sensing that Lyra’s patience wasn’t at its peak. While he could be clingy, he knew when it was time to back off.

The following morning, after enjoying breakfast prepared by Phelixes, Lyra donned her NMA uniform and headed to the hotel to meet up with her team.

"Lyra! I’ve missed you so much!" Zinnia shouted, practically tackling her in a bear hug.

The team consisted mostly of familiar faces: Zinnia, Thierry, Helion, and Vikie from Class Three. The only new additions were a pair of second-year twins, who looked like they were about to burst with excitement at the sight of her.

"Lyra, I’m Joe Garrison, the older one."

"And I’m Jim Garrison, the younger one."

They spoke in perfect unison, almost like they were performing a well-rehearsed skit. "We’re sticking with you this time!" they exclaimed together.

Lyra gave a brief nod. "Good to meet you both."

She quickly scanned the group and realized someone was missing. "Where’s Instructor Anton?"

Andre, who had been brooding the entire time, let out a sharp snort.

Before Lyra could ask, Thierry pulled her aside and whispered.

"Instructor Anton stayed back on Wyrmtrace for now. Mandy was injured."

Lyra’s eyes narrowed. "Injured? I hadn’t heard anything about this."

"It happened during a mission," Zinnia jumped in. "She was ambushed by some unknown group, but Anton managed to rescue her. Mandy didn’t want us to tell you—she’s handling it on her own."

Lyra’s frown deepened as she absorbed the information. She wasn’t one to take these things lightly, but Mandy had proven herself more than capable. For now, Lyra decided to respect her decision and let it be.

Another loud snort came from Andre, his patience clearly wearing thin. "We should’ve taken a different caravan ship," he grumbled, casting a pointed glare at someone in the group. "Now we’re stuck in this mess."

Without waiting for a reply, he stormed off, his frustration evident.

Zinnia, looking unfazed by his outburst, leaned toward Lyra with a grin. "Same old Andre, huh?"

Thierry couldn’t suppress a grin as he leaned toward Lyra and whispered, "You know, no one’s more worked up about Mandy’s injury than Andre. He practically ordered Anton to stay behind, saying there’s no way we’re letting greedy merchants push our students around."

Zinnia chimed in with a laugh. "Exactly! His bark might be loud, but his heart’s soft as a marshmallow." She giggled, clearly remembering the whole scene.

The thought of Andre being so protective had amused her back then, and it still did now.

Andre’s frustration wasn’t just because of the situation with the merchants—it was guilt. He had promised Lyra he’d keep an eye on Mandy, and the fact that she got hurt under his watch gnawed at him.

When Lyra finally heard the full story, she gained a new level of respect for Andre’s sense of duty. What she had thought was just a casual request clearly meant a lot more to him.

Deciding to show her appreciation, Lyra caught up to Andre, thanking him sincerely.

True to his style, he puffed out his chest, giving her a smug look. "If you’re really grateful, why don’t you bring home a championship this time, huh?"

It wasn’t much of a request, and Lyra had no intention of letting him down.

This year’s AMAT was already buzzing with two major highlights: Lyra’s highly anticipated return and Robin’s recent promotion to level 6.

Speculation was rampant—who would come out on top between the two rising stars?

At the opening ceremony, all eyes were on Lyra. The cameras couldn’t seem to get enough of her, focusing on her with long, lingering shots.

Afterward, a brief interview followed, and the first question out of the gate was a provocative one.

"Why is Thierry Whyte leading the team instead of Lyra? Is it because he’s the admiral’s nephew? Some are saying this reeks of favoritism."

Andre’s face immediately darkened, but before he could lash out, Webber swiftly stepped in, keeping a calm demeanor as he separated Andre from the reporters.

Smiling, he answered, "Thierry was chosen as the team leader for strategic reasons. We can’t disclose specifics, but rest assured, it’s all part of our plan."

The truth was far simpler than the reporters suspected. Since Lyra hadn’t been involved in the special training and wasn’t as familiar with the Garrison twins’ abilities, it made sense for Thierry to take the lead, ensuring the best coordination during battle. But the instructors had no intention of sharing that little tidbit.

While the adults fielded questions, the team stood off to the side, trying to look busy. Some stared at the sky, others at the ground; they all pretended not to notice the tense situation.

Helion, though, couldn’t resist sidling up to Lyra, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"So, here we are on Elden Prime, and now I find out you’re rolling in cash! How about making me a kept man, huh?" he teased, flashing a grin.

Lyra didn’t even blink. "I don’t need one. But if you’re looking for a job, I’m always in need of more subordinates."

Helion’s grin only widened. "Subordinate AND kept man? Sounds like a sweet deal!"

Before he could push his luck further, Vikie—who had clearly had enough—yanked him by the arm. "Can you please keep your mouth shut for two seconds? We’re literally on camera."

As if on cue, a mocking laugh echoed from nearby.

"Is this what NMA’s come to? Groveling like stray dogs, begging for scraps?" sneered Grains, a familiar face from EPMA. His arms were crossed as he threw a disgusted look at Helion.

Helion, never one to back down from a challenge, smirked at the insult.

In the blink of an eye, he lunged at Grains, landing a solid punch to his jaw.

Grains, clearly stunned by the sudden hit, hesitated for a brief second before retaliating, and just like that, the entire scene erupted into chaos.

The silence that followed the punch was short-lived.

As the two boys began brawling, fists flying, the venue exploded into a flurry of activity.

Reporters rushed in, cameras rolling, eager to capture every second of the action. This was the kind of drama they lived for.

Robin, standing off to the side, sighed in exasperation. "This is humiliating," he muttered, moving to step in and break it up, but Thierry stopped him, placing a firm hand on his shoulder.

"Your teammate started it," Thierry said with a sly grin. "If he gets his ass kicked, that’s on him. We settle things with our fists at NMA."

The tension between the two captains crackled in the air, a silent challenge simmering beneath the surface.

Meanwhile, on the EPMA side, their instructor looked ready to intervene, but Andre intercepted him, arms crossed and muscles tensed.

"Let the kids handle it," Andre growled, his tone making it clear he wasn’t backing down. "Adults stepping in would ruin the fun."

The commotion drew attention from students and instructors from other military schools, all of whom gathered around, eager to see how the fight would unfold.

Helion, already transforming into his werewolf state, was fighting ferociously, and if it went on much longer, things would spiral out of control.

Webber, sweating bullets, shot a pleading look at Lyra.

Without a word, she sighed, then raised her hands, summoning glowing bands of light.

In a matter of seconds, the luminous cords snapped around Helion and Grains, pulling them apart with an effortless tug.

The fight ended as quickly as it began, and the crowd, sensing the tension deflating, erupted into applause.

Lyra’s precise handling of the situation had diffused the chaos, and the tension finally began to settle.

"That’s enough," Lyra said, her voice calm but commanding. Helion and Grains glared at each other, still bristling, but neither dared to challenge her authority.