As Lyra stepped off the spaceship and onto the cracked tiles of Voidstar No.2, a flood of medical appointment requests flooded Sorren's inbox.
"Seems like the fight in Bionysus was rough this time," said Sorren.
Lyra said feebly, "I… I've only got three days. Make it work."
Following her lead, Sorren started setting up treatment times, guessing she had some urgent personal plans.
"One more thing," Lyra added.
"Yes?"
"Get me a high school high school senior student spot in the city."
"No prob..." Sorren confirmed the number of appointments on his holographic screen. He looked up, eyes wide, asking, "Did you just say, a high school senior student spot?"
The spaceship port was bustling, and the heavy dust made Lyra's breathing difficult. Her brows furrowed. "Is there a problem?"
Sorren was stunned.
"Sweetie, that's a huge problem!" Liliana, overhearing, quickly walked over and wrapped her long arms around Lyra. "It's heartbreaking! You're going to school?!"
Her voice was so loud that the entire port fell silent for a moment.
In Voidstar, people relied on their skills, operating in the grey areas of society. Though they received compulsory basic education, learning felt as pointless and uncomfortable to them as forcing a tiger to eat grass.
Anyone who claimed to love studying in Voidstar was a total outlier. Especially someone as renowned as Sis Marv—Even Snakehead had to respect her. Why would she suddenly want to go to school?
Lyra brushed off some dust. "Stop kidding around. I'm at the age where I should be making progress, okay?" She removed Liliana's hands. "If you want treatment, you'd better hurry."
Just then, Todd parked his spaceship and walked over. Unaware of the strange looks of ther people, he heard Lyra greet him, "Tell Snakehead that the payment for treating Cohen will be a high school degree."
Watching the young woman slowly walk away in the dust, Todd, about to adjust his glasses, scratched his ear instead and asked the person next to him, "I think there's something wrong with my ears."
"Mr. Todd, we all heard it."
"Yes, Sis Marv is planning to go to high school."
Following the big news about Lavaberry, this was another sensational piece of gossip, even more amusing than Snakehead growing his hair out.
Lyra's fees were always high, but she was far more efficient and effective than any medical equipment or hospital, so people usually sought her out for serious injuries.
Due to the star's light, Voidstar's dusk had a pale orange hue with a hint of blue, casting a grayish tint over the already decaying city.
At this time, the gathering places didn't quiet down. Instead, like a wild forest, more 'beasts' began to stir.
Only the small clinic in the city center remained unusually calm.
Lyra unwrapped the bandage from the patient in front of her, revealing a leg so crushed it was unrecognizable.
The sight of the mangled flesh made Sorren click his tongue in disapproval. "Dude, you're the worst injury we've seen today. We're gonna have to amputate first."
He quickly tapped out the costs on the computer. "Based on the volume of the limb that needs to be regenerated, it'll cost 650,000 astrocredits. Will you be paying by transfer or equivalent trade?"
"Transfer later. Damn Iron Rhino stepped on me, otherwise I wouldn't be in this mess... ugh." The patient cursed, but Sorren swiftly stuffed a cloth into his mouth.
Without hesitation, Lyra picked up an electric saw, severed the mangled limb, and tossed it into the trash before preparing to use her superpower.
"How long will it take for him to fully heal?"
"Three hours."
A bright green light illuminated the clinic, and Sorren belatedly realized—his boss's superpower had upgraded!
The earlier patients hadn't been severely injured, so the treatment times hadn't varied much, but this severe injury highlighted the difference. Previously, it would have taken at least five treatments to fully heal.
Watching Lyra focused on her healing, Sorren didn't dare to interrupt.
By the time three gray, yellow, and blue moons hung in the sky, the clinic's green light faded, and the incandescent light became dominant once again.
"God, why don't you use anesthesia? Everyone says you're a sadist, and they're absolutely right!" The patient flipped himself off the bed, swinging his fully healed leg. He was complaining but clearly satisfied.
Lyra peeled off her gloves and tossed them into the trash. "I just enjoy observing people's expressions of pain."
She then turned to get a drink of water.
Sorren quickly approached with the payment screen. "Please transfer the payment."
The bearded man glanced at Lyra with a flash in his eyes and pushed Sorren aside, attempting to flee.
Skipping out on the bill—classic Voidstar behavior.
Sorren reacted swiftly, tossing two fireballs, but the man was a water superpower user, and a level five at that, perfectly countering him.
The clash created a lot of steam.
"650,000? Kill me if you want, I don't have that kind of money!" The man laughed shamelessly as he tried to make his escape.
A glass cup flew through the air, smashing into his hand. With a crack, his wrist dislocated!
"Over the years, plenty of people have tried to skip out on paying me, but they all ended up paying in the end." Lyra, expressionless, walked around the operating table towards him.
The man realigned his joint and loomed over her like a mountain. "I've heard your superpower isn't that strong, but you're not to be messed with. I wonder which cowards spread that rumor? Maybe it's a lie you guys spread to disguise your weakness?"
Sorren covered his eyes and quietly stepped back. A level five superpower was indeed high-tier in their clinic, but anyone with a bit of sense wouldn't dare offend a highly skilled doctor. Especially since Lyra had some unbeatable tricks up her sleeve.
A transparent water curtain, like a giant hand, enveloped Lyra. The man manipulated it with his hands. "Haha, I'm going to suffocate you, you frail ghost!"
The sudden lack of air made Lyra's face darken. She clutched her mouth and coughed, which only excited the man further. He glanced around the small clinic, wondering how many valuable things were inside.
"Cough, cough…" As she coughed, Lyra casually waved her left hand. Green light bands shot out, piercing through the water curtain. In the man's terrified eyes, they bound him in a spread-eagle position, suspending him in the air.
"Level five?!"
He tried to resist, but the superpower-infused bands held him tight, preventing him from utilizing his superpower particles.
With equal superpower levels, the one with stronger psychokinesis always won.
"I was wrong! Spare me!" His quick change in attitude showed he was well-versed in such situations.
BUZZ—
Lyra started the electric saw again, gesturing at his limbs. "Pay up? Or lose a couple of legs?"
After the man gave up his account password, Sorren didn't hesitate to transfer all his remaining balance, a move that aligned perfectly with Voidstar's style.
The debtor, thoroughly drained, then fled.
Lyra set down the saw and leaned against the operating table. The bright lights on her face made her feel as though she had traveled back eleven years, stirring the deepest hatred in her heart.
"My angel, why couldn't you stay with me?" A coquettish voice accompanied by a woman's seductive figure appeared.
Lyra wasn't surprised by her arrival. She looked up at the overhead light and said softly, "Liliana, I've told you before, angels only exist in ancient myths."