Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 223: The Trial

Chapter 223: The Trial

Since Soul Spike was classified intel, the interrogation quickly switched to a top-secret mode. Everyone not in the loop was asked to step out.

The air crackled with curiosity; everyone was itching to know how Lyra had managed to survive. But this was one of those hush-hush matters that couldn’t hit the public eye, or else Soul Spike would lose its reputation as one of the military’s fiercest weapons.

Inside the packed courtroom, an eerie silence settled, thick with tension.

The chief justice, fully aware of the military’s worries, started firing off questions. "Do you still have any Soul Spikes in your body?"

"Five days ago, I pulled out the last one in Macraite," she answered without missing a beat.

"And what about the others?"

"I lost two; right now, I’ve got three left with me." Her composed response was a tactical move; as long as she insisted the others were lost, Patrick was powerless, even if he claimed she had inserted one. The identification numbers were tied to the Legion Skywalkers, after all.

"How did you pull them out?" The question had all the military leaders leaning in closer.

Lyra pursed her lips before replying, "I used level-nine strength-enhancing plants, which made my bones and flesh explode and then reform. During that process, I relied on my healing powers to keep me alive and fix the damage from the Soul Spikes."

Her cool demeanor and indifferent expression made it clear she had buried her pain deep down. Still, her revelation sent chills through everyone in the room.

Level-nine strength-enhancing plants required healing plants even for those with a special knack for strength.

It was mind-blowing that Lyra, who had only been a level five when she first came onto the scene, had dared to use level-nine plants. The suffering she must have endured was beyond comprehension; a single mistake could have ended in a gruesome fate.

"So, is your body fully healed now?"

Lyra raised her gaze. "Do I really have to answer that?"

It was obvious that the question crossed a line.

"It involves military secrets; we need your cooperation," the chief justice insisted.

She looked away. "No, it isn’t. When I pulled the one out of my chest, I didn’t use level-nine strength-enhancing plants, which left me with irreparable damage and a state of apparent death for seven years."

Everyone recalled the respiratory issues flagged in her records, suddenly realizing that the damage had been caused by the Soul Spike.

"Is your superpower effective against Soul Spikes in others?"

The room held its breath, waiting for her answer.

"No," she declared firmly.

She had never tested it, and her statement sent a wave of concern through the military. They feared she might be the only answer to the Soul Spike problem. Yet, if this trial went public, those who had been implanted would definitely seek her out, raising suspicion from the military.

In the Alliance Military Council chamber, three-dimensional holograms flickered to life, showcasing various leaders reacting differently to the live trial broadcast.

Then, the chief justice asked his final question: "Since you’ve already removed the Soul Spikes, why didn’t you report Ansel to the military court or government until he faced justice?"

The identification numbers on the Soul Spikes couldn’t be faked; getting rid of them would guarantee Ansel’s conviction. Yet, she had chosen to stay silent.

Faced with the question, Lyra went quiet for a beat. Under the intense gaze of the judges and Leandro, she bit her lip and finally said, "Because I didn’t want to expose my suffering to the public."

Truth be told, she had seen this moment coming and didn’t want to become a target.

Her answer struck a chord, evoking sympathy from those present. Yet anyone who really knew her could tell her reasoning didn’t hold up. A person willing to do anything would leap at the chance to take down an enemy—unless it posed a risk to themselves.

In the meeting chamber, Admiral Dale was the first to shatter the tension. "I told you, this young woman must have something to hide!"

"If I were her, I wouldn’t dare make it public either," Valeria chimed in, still puffing away. "Not with someone like you in the military, who can’t tell right from wrong."

"Why should I care?" Admiral Dale shot back, pointing at the screen in disgust. "Just think about the chaos Tyro caused back then. And look at Lyra now! You dare say she’s normal? She’s level eight at her age—she’s practically a monster!"

Valeria couldn’t help but scoff. "But isn’t Cohen Whyte also level eight? He’s the same age as Lyra."

Not long ago, Cohen had just reached level eight.

Dale fell silent, throwing a wary glance at Frederick above him. Admiral Vince, seeing Dale struggling, tried to lighten the mood with a friendly smile. "Let’s not get caught up in talent; the fact that Lyra managed to extract her own Soul Spikes shows she’s not normal."

"Exactly! That’s what I’m saying!" Dale leaned in, eager to hear more.

Valeria nodded and then turned to the quiet Frederick. "What do you think, sir?"

Frederick wasn’t fixated on the current argument. Instead, he stated, "Lyra is undoubtedly a rare talent. When the Empire drags us into a full-scale war, she will be a valuable asset."

Such high praise took everyone by surprise, especially Valeria. She knew him well.

One old man, his white beard reaching his chest, pondered before asking, "Do you truly believe in this girl?"

"I’m simply stating the facts," Frederick replied, surveying the room. "Ansel’s case indicates the Empire is plotting something significant. When the war kicks off, super Master Peculiars may need to fight; having a fresh talent like Lyra could tilt the odds in our favor."

Admiral Dale disagreed, convinced that a single Lyra couldn’t change the course of a war. However, he didn’t dare openly challenge Frederick. "Should we just let her develop like this?"

Another admiral chimed in, "As of now, she hasn’t done anything wrong."

"She’s involved with Voidstar and that crowd. That’s not a problem?"

Valeria interjected with a click of her tongue. "Voidstar gets mixed up with everyone; we just choose to look the other way."

An awkward cough rippled through the council chamber. Frederick seemed unfazed. "Let’s leave it at that. Remember to keep the second half of the trial confidential."

With his support for Lyra, Dale and the others didn’t dare push further.

"What if she becomes a problem..."

"We’ll handle it when that time comes."

Once the meeting wrapped up, the holograms of everyone faded away, leaving only Valeria and Frederick behind.

"Ansel, that old fool, has completely lost it," Valeria said, her earlier bravado slipping away, replaced by a tone of pity for Lyra. "He’s pushed his own granddaughter into such a dangerous spotlight."

"Clearly, that young woman is the victim," Frederick said, keeping his expression steady throughout the proceedings. "Considering the power she faced, his actions are understandable; he just has to deal with the consequences of his mistakes."

...

In the end, Ansel was sentenced to life in prison.

Back in his living room, Benedict heard the verdict and slammed his hands on the table, beaming with delight. "Well done! That damned old fool got what he deserved!"

Turning to the calm Lyra, who was sipping her tea, he asked, "Lyra, are you really okay?"

She set her cup down, meeting his gaze. "I’m fine."

Despite her reassurances, tears glistened in Benedict’s eyes. "You’ve suffered so much all these years. It’s all my fault..."

"Let’s not dwell on the past," she interrupted gently.

"Then... how did you pull out the Soul Spike?" Benedict looked at her with concern. "It must have hurt like hell."

"That’s military confidential; I can’t say."

"Not even to ME? Does it have something to do with your superpower?"

"It’s better if you don’t know." Lyra glanced out at the dimming sky before standing up. "Grandpa, I have to go. I’ve got things to take care of."

Ansel was still in military custody, and in three days, he would be transferred to the prison in the ocean outside Central City. This was her last chance to make a move, and she needed to act quickly.