Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 171: Kail and Phelixes

Chapter 171: Kail and Phelixes

For Lyra, not arriving on time wasn’t just about losing points—it was about survival. She knew the Shedd family would find a way to punish her severely, maybe even revoke her internship entirely, cutting off her path into the military.

Morrison’s worry only deepened. "Even hiring bodyguards won’t help. Outsiders can’t just waltz into a military corps."

"No need. I’ve got it handled," Lyra said, her face calm and unbothered.

Morrison exhaled a bit of relief, realizing that Lyra never entered a battle without a plan.

...

Since news of Lyra’s internship broke, Kail had rushed back. He missed AMAT but returned just in time to take her to the internship.

When he arrived at Lyra’s workplace, concern etched deep lines on his brow. "Grandpa definitely has something up his sleeve. Sis, why don’t you and your classmates join my unit?"

Ansel hadn’t restricted Kail’s career path, allowing him to rise to lieutenant, now leading a unit of a hundred soldiers.

Normally, the incoming interns would be scattered across various units, but if Lyra were in his squad, she could avoid any sabotage from unfriendly superiors.

Lyra glanced up at him, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "That’s not my decision to make."

"I’ll convince Grandpa," Kail declared, determination gleaming in his eyes.

She watched her anxious younger brother for a moment before saying, "Let’s wait and see." Then she turned back to her documents, her tone dismissive yet thoughtful.

Kail fidgeted with his hands, clearly still worried. He hesitated before asking, "It’s almost lunchtime. Want to grab a bite together?"

He hadn’t eaten with her in quite some time, and this seemed like a small window of opportunity. But before Lyra could respond, an excited voice rang out from the hallway. "Sis!"

A tall, lanky boy walked in, beaming as he entered. He was carrying a large lunch box. His face lit up with a cheerful smile, but his eyes darted warily toward Kail.

"I brought steak and corn chowder today!" Phelixes announced brightly, setting up the food with enthusiasm.

Lyra set aside her work, turning to Kail. "You can go eat on your own."

Kail stood there, stunned. His eyes shifted between Lyra and the boy, confusion spreading across his face. "Who...who is this?"

Just as Morrison entered the room, he saw Phelixes stiffen, his posture becoming defensive, like a guard dog protecting his territory. Without missing a beat, Phelixes introduced himself to Kail, "Mr. Shedd, I’m Phelixes, Lyra’s adopted brother."

"Brother?" Kail sputtered, eyes widening in shock.

The air between them grew tense as the two brothers—one biological, the other adopted—locked eyes across the room.

It was as if an invisible line had been drawn, both sizing each other up.

Meanwhile, Lyra ate her meal with calm indifference.

Morrison stifled a laugh, watching the awkward standoff unfold.

"That’s right. Do you have a problem with that?" Phelixes said, scooting even closer to Lyra. His innocent expression barely concealed the obvious challenge.

Kail, feeling an unfamiliar knot in his stomach, asked, "Sis, what is going on here?"

Lyra, taking a sip of her soup, replied coolly, "Just what you see."

The reactions couldn’t have been more different—Phelixes was clearly riding high, while Kail stood frozen, disappointment heavy on his shoulders.

Morrison, catching the tension, just shook his head in amusement. It seemed things were about to get even more interesting.

Kail, feeling a heavy sense of irony, couldn’t bring himself to criticize Lyra, despite his frustration. "Why did you adopt this kid?" he asked, his voice betraying the tension he was holding back.

Lyra answered with one word. "Useful."

Phelixes, sensing the opportunity to puff himself up, stood tall. "Exactly! I can cook for her, wash her clothes, and take care of her perfectly. You don’t need to worry, Mr. Shedd."

With his chest puffed out in pride, Phelixes looked like a rooster who had just won the barnyard brawl.

Kail, while not willing to argue with a child, still felt defeated by the situation. "I’ll be going now," he said quietly, his voice tinged with disappointment.

Phelixes strutted proudly, but the moment he turned around and met Lyra’s sharp, scrutinizing gaze, his confidence evaporated.

"S-Sis, what’s wrong?" he stammered, suddenly afraid that he had crossed a line by teasing her biological brother.

"Phelixes," Lyra said, her voice firm and steady, sending a chill down his spine.

He gripped the edge of his pants nervously.

"Do you know why I adopted you?" asked Lyra.

He blinked, then smiled, answering confidently, "Because you’re kind! You saved me and—"

"Wrong," Lyra cut him off, her expression calm as she wiped her mouth with a napkin. "If you don’t figure it out soon, this adoption won’t continue."

Tears welled up in Phelixes’ eyes as her words landed like a blow, and he left the room with his head hanging low, his earlier pride deflated.

Morrison, having placed a few documents on Lyra’s desk and given his report, stepped out of the office and found Phelixes lingering in the hallway, still looking crushed.

"Sir, I don’t get it," Phelixes said, pouting as he looked up at him. His eyes were filled with confusion and frustration.

Morrison sighed and folded his arms, looking down at the boy. "Phelixes, you need to understand what real value you bring to her."

"But she said to find her when I was ready to work, so I’ve been learning to cook and—"

"That’s not what she’s looking for," Morrison interrupted. "Everything you’re doing now? A maid could handle that. You need to focus on what REALLY benefits her. Take me and Debbie, for instance—we generate wealth for her."

He continued, "Koros and Sean are brilliant in research and development, and Mandy? She’s going to be one of her strongest military allies."

Morrison leaned down to meet Phelixes at eye level. "Your strength lies in being a twelve-year-old, level-3 Peculiar. In a world ruled by power, that makes you stand out. Your value is in becoming the sharpest blade in her arsenal. One day, you’ll earn your place by her side. Got it?"

The realization hit Phelixes like a lightning bolt, and a wide smile spread across his face. "I get it now!"

Without another word, he grabbed the lunch box and happily trotted off, renewed determination in his steps.

As Morrison watched him go, he turned back toward Lyra, who was now standing in the doorway, observing the interaction.

"Boss, we’re corrupting the kid," he said with a half-smile.

Lyra raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "What did you expect? Did you think I adopted him to raise some kind-hearted, self-sacrificing fool?"

Morrison couldn’t help thinking of Kail, and after a moment, he nodded in agreement.

"Fair point," he muttered.

The schedule for deployment was set swiftly. Just three days after AMAT ended, Andre led the group aboard a spaceship bound for Legion Skywalkers on the planet Demetra.

Demetra, known as the Alliance’s largest agricultural planet, boasted nearly perfect climate conditions.

Around 80% of its population worked in agriculture, producing the food and vegetables that fed countless worlds. Hundreds of transport ships ferried goods across the Alliance daily.

However, recently the peaceful planet had been ravaged by space pirate raids.

The situation had become dire after one small settlement was completely wiped out—no one survived, not even the infants. The massacre sent shockwaves of panic through the planet and beyond.

The Legion of Rose had been stationed on the planet to protect the settlements, safeguard the agricultural bases, and hunt down the space pirates. But they were severely understaffed, overwhelmed by the relentless attacks.

Desperate for reinforcements, they called in the Skywalkers to bolster their defenses.

During the journey, Andre briefed the group on the grim reality awaiting them. His voice was serious as he explained the situation. "You won’t be assigned to directly hunt space pirates, but it’s likely you’ll encounter them during other missions. If that happens, the only thing you must do is run."

His tone left no room for debate. Student deaths during internships weren’t unheard of, and Andre was determined to minimize those losses under his watch.