Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 249: You Are The Boss

Chapter 249: You Are The Boss

Sholok’s face twisted in frustration, her heart bleeding with every thought of their stolen goods. Turning to Chuck, her voice hardened. "We were awarded an official contract to develop Wyrmtrace, yet the military’s inaction here is... deeply disappointing."

Chuck almost laughed out loud at the audacity but kept his gaze icy. "If any of you are unhappy, you’re welcome to leave Wyrmtrace. We’ll find new developers."

They’d clawed their way to get that development permit in the first place, savoring the profits while stirring up trouble. And now they wanted sympathy?

Chuck’s expression said it all—he intended to do absolutely nothing.

Bernard, cornered and fuming, decided to raise the stakes. "Let’s bring in another Supreme and wipe out the Stellar Caravan for good!"

An old man in the group hesitated. "That would cost us a fortune—assuming we even find a Supreme who’s willing."

Caius had only agreed because he’d been obsessed with the queen bee’s unique powers. Convincing someone else might not be so simple.

But Sholok, unwilling to let this humiliation stand, nodded in agreement. "Even if we lose some money, it’s worth it. My family has never taken a blow like this, and I won’t let it slide."

Encouraged, they reached out to two other Supremes. But after hearing their proposal, each one refused flatly.

The second Supreme they contacted even erupted in anger. "Are you lunatics trying to get me killed? Caius is in the military court now, facing charges for meddling in restricted affairs. You think I want to join him behind the bars? Get lost!"

The merchants were left stunned. Only then did the full weight of their situation dawn on them.

Frederick had acted swiftly. He sent two of the military’s own Supremes to detain Caius, for his interference in classified operations on Wyrmtrace.

After a formal military trial, Caius’s fate was sealed—his superpowers would be permanently stripped, a devastating sentence in their world.

Furthermore, the Channing family and other rogue caravans were blacklisted from all future government contracts, their Wyrmtrace development rights revoked.

When Lyra heard the news, she couldn’t help feeling a grudging respect for Frederick’s decisive, efficient handling of the matter.

The fallout was swift and ruthless. With no military backing or partnerships, the Channing and Sholok families fell into steep decline, their influence eroded and businesses drying up.

*****

The Stellar Caravan and the Mendez family inherited Wyrmtrace’s development rights.

Wiser now, the Mendez family kept a low profile, staying close to Lyra’s lead and the queen bee’s operations. They were content to settle for steady, residual profits.

Two years later, the transformation of Wyrmtrace was complete, and the planet was ready to welcome its first wave of settlers.

The initial arrivals were specialized teams sent to establish infrastructure, and for this pivotal phase, Snakehead approached Lyra, practically buzzing with excitement.

"I’ve done my best to pull in extra hands, but I doubt we’ll have enough," he said, unable to keep his hand from trembling slightly.

His share from Lyra’s team dwarfed anything he’d ever earned on Voidstar, and the scale of this project was enough to thrill him to his core.

Lyra stayed focused on the file in front of her, letting Snakehead carry on with his plan.

"I’m thinking I’ll send Todd back to keep Voidstar No. 2 steady while I personally oversee things on Wyrmtrace. And with your help," he added, eyes gleaming, "maybe I can secure an official role here with the military."

The very thought made his excitement spill over. A position on Wyrmtrace meant anchoring himself on a developing world—a move that would elevate his status and influence throughout the Alliance.

He could practically see his name rising in importance across the Alliance, his influence solidifying with each new development.

"No need for that," Lyra finally broke her silence. Her words were like a splash of cold water, immediately quenching Snakehead’s excitement. "You’ll stay stationed at Voidstar No. 2. I’ve got enough hands here."

Caesara, seated nearby, shot a brief glance at Lyra, her silence alone carrying a subtle tension. The single look made Snakehead tremble for a bit, stirring an unexpected sense of danger.

"I just thought if I came in person..." he started, trying to explain, but Lyra cut him off sharply.

"Snakehead," Lyra said, her tone steely, "I agreed to work with you because, back then, your position in the shadows meant you couldn’t interfere with what I had to do."

"But even now, I’d never be a threat to you," Snakehead protested, eyeing the young woman on the screen. He wanted a piece of the Wyrmtrace profits, not to challenge her position. He knew better than to overstep.

"The reason I’m keeping you on Voidstar No. 2," Lyra continued, her tone calm as she signed a document and passed it to Caesara, "is because I have other plans for you there. Let’s move forward as we discussed."

Caesara took the document without a word and left, her silence reinforcing Lyra’s authority.

That’s when realization hit Snakehead like a punch to the gut. Caesara hadn’t participated in the discussion at all—she hadn’t even spoken. A hard lump formed in his throat. "Caesara... she’s pledged loyalty to you?"

Lyra leaned back, crossing her arms. "She made the smart choice. If you want to know my plans, stay on board. If not, don’t send anyone else to do what I’ve assigned to you."

The message was clear: she didn’t need him or his crew anymore. She had her own team, equipped and capable of managing the Wyrmtrace project independently.

Snakehead fell silent, processing the full shift in his situation. The desperate, hunted Lyra he’d once known had become a powerful, self-sufficient force with or without him.

"And Todd?" he asked finally, almost afraid to know.

"His loyalty remains with you. He won’t betray you," Lyra replied, her gaze unwavering. "But understand this—I won’t tolerate interference from anyone outside my trusted team. Stick with me, Snakehead, and you’ll achieve more than you could alone."

Snakehead sat back, a weight settling over him as he rubbed a hand over his face. "The truth is... you don’t even need my permission anymore, do you? Whatever I decide, you’ve already set things in motion."

Their partnership had transformed, evolving from allies into something closer to a leader and subordinate.

Lyra crossed her legs, regarding him with a slight smile. "I believe in offering choices. That way, if you ever decide to turn on me, I’ll have full justification to act. Saves us both from the drama of ’you forced my hand’ speeches."

"Still as crazy as ever," Snakehead muttered. "You approach every alliance ready for it to go sideways."

"Exactly. So, what’s it going to be?"

He managed a rueful smile. "Guess I don’t really have a choice. Alright, you’re the boss now."

"Good," Lyra replied, her smile widening just a fraction. "Then the plan remains. You’ll stay at Voidstar No. 2."

Snakehead let out a long sigh, shaking his head in reluctant acceptance.