Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 293: The Young Man Gultong

Chapter 293: The Young Man Gultong

That evening, whispers circulated among the group about the village’s "farewell ceremony." Speculation grew as to who or what was being sent off, until they arrived at the square and saw for themselves.

In the center of the square lay the body of the village chief, carefully prepared for burial.

Around him sat several elders in white robes, including Rick, their expressions solemn and calm.

Villagers knelt in a circle, their hands clasped in prayer, the scene imbued with an almost mystical stillness.

Even the pirates’ arrival barely elicited a reaction.

Helion, unable to contain his curiosity, grabbed a boy who had come to call them for dinner and gestured toward the scene. "What’s going on over there?"

The boy, his temper still fresh, pulled against Helion’s grip but couldn’t free himself. Irritated, he snapped, "Are you blind? We’re saying goodbye to the old chief, Rick Harvin."

Realizing his tone had been disrespectful, the boy stiffened and glanced nervously at the pirates to gauge their reaction. Fortunately, none seemed offended.

Vikie, intrigued, asked, "Why say goodbye to Rick? Is he going somewhere?"

The boy’s expression darkened. "He’s going to be buried with the chief."

"What?" Vikie exclaimed, shocked.

The boy scowled, his anger flaring again. "They’ll die soon anyway. Better to do it now and leave more food for the children!"

Helion and the others froze. Raised in a society governed by order and law, they struggled to process what they had just heard.

The boy clenched his fists, his voice trembling with fury. "If it weren’t for you pirates forcing us to pay tribute—"

"Gultong!" His parents’ voices cut through the air, sharp with terror. They abandoned their places in the prayer circle and rushed over, their faces pale as they grabbed him.

"Apologize to them!" his father pleaded, bowing repeatedly and forcing Gultong into a hasty retreat. His mother added, her voice cracking, "Please forgive him. He’s just a foolish child. He didn’t mean it!"

Gultong stood stubbornly, his chin raised in defiance. His father, panic-stricken, slapped him hard across the face. "Apologize! Now!"

The slap echoed in the tense air. Tears welled up in Gultong’s eyes as he stared at his father. For the first time, he noticed the redness in the older man’s eyes, the deep pain and sorrow etched into his face.

His gaze shifted to Lyra, seated like a queen, her icy eyes piercing straight through him. His breath hitched as he felt the full weight of her commanding presence.

"I... I’m sorry," he mumbled, his voice breaking.

It was a bitter blow to his pride. Unable to bear the humiliation, he wiped his tears with a trembling hand and bolted from the square.

Gultong’s parents, paralyzed with fear, watched as Lyra and her crew disappeared into the darkness, heading in the direction their son had fled.

His mother’s trembling hand gripped her husband’s arm as she began to rise, desperate to follow. But Rick’s frail voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Don’t throw your lives away," Rick said softly, his voice heavy with resignation. His cloudy eyes shimmered with unshed tears, his gaze fixed on the ground. "You’ll only drag the rest of us down."

The words cut through her panic like a blade. Seeing the pleading expressions of the other villagers, she sank back to her knees, her lips trembling as silent tears streaked her face.

Gultong’s father placed a shaking hand on her shoulder.

Neither spoke, but the despair they felt was shared by everyone present.

The villagers bowed their heads in unspoken agreement. No one dared to say it aloud, but in their hearts, they all believed the same thing: Gultong was as good as dead.

Gultong stood by the crude, weathered wall encircling the village, his small frame shaking with fury as he kicked at it over and over.

His hoarse voice echoed into the empty night, a mixture of frustration and defiance.

"I’ll join the pirates one day! I’ll become the strongest pirate in the galaxy, and then no one will dare ruin my village again!" he shouted, his words raw with emotion.

From the shadows, Lyra and her crew watched the scene unfold. A quiet unease settled among them.

They had expected anger or fear, but not this—a child with no choice but to dream of becoming one of them as his only chance at survival.

"Look at him," Helion sneered, breaking the silence. "The kid’s already dreaming about becoming a pirate."

Startled, Gultong spun around to face the group. His red-rimmed eyes widened at the sight of them, centered around the striking woman whose presence felt overwhelming, like the weight of the stars bearing down on him. He tried to mask his fear, balling his fists tightly.

"Mind your own business!" he snapped, his voice trembling but defiant.

"Tsk, the kid’s got some fire," Helion said, clicking his tongue with mock appreciation.

Grains, always eager to escalate, stepped forward with a predatory grin. "Why waste time talking? Let me eat him right now!"

His body began to shift grotesquely, muscles bulging and claws elongating as he transformed into a beast-like form. His feral grin revealed sharp teeth that glinted in the moonlight.

Gultong froze, his face turning pale. But instead of cowering, he squared his shoulders, his trembling fists clenching tighter.

In a burst of reckless defiance, he shouted, "Go ahead! Kill me! I will haunt you!"

The words came out in a rush, and he squeezed his eyes shut, as though bracing himself for the inevitable.

But the floodgates had opened, and he couldn’t stop. "If it weren’t for you space pirates, our ancestors wouldn’t have been trapped here! We’d have real lives—kids here could go to school, eat white bread, and live without fear!"

His voice cracked as he continued. "We wouldn’t have to grow up learning how to read from stories the elders barely remember. Now even those stories are fading. Everything is disappearing!"

As his tirade ended, his voice dropped to a whisper. Slowly, he opened his eyes, confused by the silence. The pirates were still standing there.

They hadn’t killed him yet.

"Quite the temper, huh?" Grains muttered, looking irritated.

He took a step forward, his claws glinting dangerously. But Lyra stopped him with a sharp glare, her icy gaze freezing him in place.

Reluctantly, he relaxed his stance, scratching his neck with mock indifference.

Lyra crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. Her sharp eyes bore into Gultong, assessing him. "I have a few questions for you," she said, her tone cold and measured.

Gultong swallowed hard, his instincts screaming that this woman was dangerous. Still, he managed to snap back, "I have nothing to say to you!"

Grains bared his claws again, his voice low and threatening. "Talk, or I’ll slaughter everyone in your village."

The words sent a jolt of terror through Gultong. He stumbled back a step, his heart pounding, but his defiance didn’t immediately crumble.

Gritting his teeth, he blurted out, "If I answer... will you let me join you?"

His desperate question hung in the air, met by a beat of stunned silence. Then, unexpectedly, the "pirates" began to laugh.

Lyra regarded Gultong critically, her sharp gaze slicing through his defiance and determination. After a moment of silence, she spoke bluntly, "You’re too weak."

Gultong’s face twisted in frustration. "But I heard anyone with a superpower can join a pirate crew!" he protested, his voice trembling with desperation. "I’m strong. I swear I can help!"

Helion chuckled and slung an arm around the boy’s shoulders, his grin wide and teasing. "Haha, and why would a little squirt like you want to join us?"

Caught off guard, Gultong flushed and struggled to articulate his thoughts. "Because... because you’re different from the other pirates," he stammered.

Helion raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? And how exactly are we different?"

"You didn’t kill me," Gultong said earnestly. "Not even after I yelled at you and insulted you."

Helion’s grin faltered slightly, and a faint sigh escaped him. Ruffling the boy’s unruly hair, he patted Gultong lightly on the cheek. "Well, kid, I’ll give you this—you’ve got a sharp eye. Or maybe it’s just dumb luck."

The idea that sparing someone could inspire this kind of trust struck Helion as both amusing and deeply unsettling.

Gultong, emboldened by their reactions, hesitated for a moment before making another request.

His tone turned tentative, his gaze pleading. "If I can’t join... then maybe you could help protect the village? Tomorrow, another crew is coming to collect their tribute. We can’t pay. If we don’t..." He swallowed hard. "They’ll take the women and children instead. Please. I’m begging you."

His words were chilling in their casualness, as though this grim reality was an accepted part of life.

The "pirates" exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of the boy’s plea settling heavily over them.

Lyra’s companions looked to her, waiting for her decision.

She crossed her arms, her icy gaze lingering on Gultong for a long moment before she spoke. "Fine."

The single word stunned everyone.

Gultong’s eyes widened in disbelief before a flicker of joy broke through his guarded expression.

"You mean it?" he asked, his voice trembling with hope. "What do you want to know? Ask me anything!"

Lyra didn’t respond, but her calm demeanor made it clear the decision was final. She turned and gestured for the others to follow her back toward the village square.

When they arrived at the fountain square, the gathered villagers froze in stunned silence.

All eyes were on Gultong, who walked alongside the pirates with a newfound sense of purpose, his back straight as if he were already one of them.

"Gultong!" his mother cried, rushing forward. She threw her arms around him, holding him tightly as tears poured down her face. "Oh, thank the stars! You’re alive!"

Gultong grinned, his voice bursting with excitement. "Mom, Dad! They said they’ll help us! They’ll protect the village!"

His parents’ relief was short-lived. Their joy drained from their faces, replaced by pale, stricken expressions.

Around them, the other villagers began murmuring, unease rippling through the crowd like a cold wind.