A Chemist's Interstellar Saga

Chapter 146: The Unfavored Kid
Chapter 146: The Unfavored Kid

Seeing that Arix agreed, Drexel opened the opticomputer to reach out to Matis.

”Drexel, what’s happening?” Matis greeted warmly as he answered the video call.

”I...” Drexel began, but Matis quickly cut him off.

”Where’s Arix? Isn’t she with you?” Matis assumed Arix would be there, but she wasn’t visible on the screen.

Drexel thought to himself, ’It’s fine. I’m used to being the overlooked one—the ignored grandson, son, brother, nephew...’

Feeling a bit of sorrow, Drexel sighed heavily, then lifted Arix onto his shoulder. ”Grandpa, Arix is here,” Drexel said, trying to keep his tone humble.

”Oh, that’s good,” Matis responded with a hint of indifference, before brightening up and beaming at his beloved granddaughter. ”Arix, do you miss me?”

”Miss you so much, Grandpa,” Arix replied sweetly.

Matis glanced at Drexel, expecting a translation.

”She says she misses you,” Drexel said flatly.

Despite Drexel’s lack of emotion, Matis added his own warmth, smiling broadly.

Looking fondly at Arix, Matis said warmly, ”I miss you too. I haven’t seen you for a month, and I think I’ve lost quite a few pounds.”

”Please take care, Grandpa, or that will make me worry,” Arix pouted adorably.

Matis glanced at Drexel again for translation.

”She says you should take care,” Drexel repeated, his face expressionless.

”Okay, okay. If my dear granddaughter says I should eat more, I will. When will you come back, Arix?” Matis asked lovingly.

”Probably the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow we have the blessing ceremony, and then we’ll say goodbye to the others in the evening, so we’ll come back the day after,” Arix explained in detail.

This time, Drexel preemptively translated, still with a blank expression, ”We’ll be back the day after tomorrow.”

”Great, I’ll be waiting for Arix at home then,” Matis said dotingly. Finally, he turned his attention to Drexel and asked, ”Drexel, anything you want to tell me today?”

Drexel paused, realizing it was his turn to speak. He gathered his thoughts and said, ”Luna Amethyst just gave Arix and me two mechas. We’re not sure if we should accept them.”

”Mechas, huh? That’s quite a valuable gift. What class are they? Meteor Class or Comet Class? Considering they’re from Luna Amethyst, they can’t be something that low-level. Are they Moon-Class mechas?” Matis asked calmly, taking a sip of his coffee.

”No, they’re not Moon-Class. They’re two Supergiant-Class mechas,” Drexel explained.

Matis choked on his coffee upon hearing this.

”Cough...” Matis’s hacking coughs echoed, sounding painful.

Arix, her voice trembling with worry, quickly asked, ”Grandpa, are you okay?”

”Grandpa, don’t get too excited. Take care of yourself,” Drexel added, his brows knit with concern.

It took a moment for Matis to catch his breath, his hand rubbing his chest as he recovered.

”Drexel, next time you tell me something like this, wait until I’ve finished my coffee, okay?” Matis said, still a bit shaken. He almost coughed his old life away.

”Sorry, Grandpa, my bad,” Drexel apologized sincerely.

Matis didn’t seem angry. After a moment of thought, he asked, ”Are you sure Luna Amethyst didn’t send it by mistake?”

”No, Arix already asked, and Aunt Amy hung up quickly to make sure we couldn’t refuse,” Drexel explained what had happened earlier.

”Got it. Do you two like the gifts?” Matis asked.

Arix and Drexel exchanged a glance, then nodded together. It would be a lie to say they didn’t like Supergiant-Class mechas.

”Then accept it,” Matis said with a smile, looking at his grandchildren lovingly.

When they heard they could accept the gift, Arix and Drexel’s eyes lit up with joy, and they said in unison, ”Okay!”

”Grandpa, should we send a gift back to them?” Arix asked casually.

”She is asking if we should send a gift back to them,” Drexel translated proactively for once.

”With the Empire’s wealth, there’s nothing they really need, but sending some Psychic Healers could be good,” Matis considered.

”Do we have enough Arix Crystals?” Arix asked, a bit worried. She had saved a lot before, but she hadn’t expected to stay in the Empire for so long.

Drexel didn’t know what Arix Crystals were, but he translated, ”Do we have enough Arix Crystals?”

Mentioning Arix Crystals gave Matis a bit of a headache. The Fifth Legion’s military research institute had been pestering him for more.

Seeing Matis’s expression, Arix quickly understood.

”Don’t worry, Grandpa. I’ll refine more when I get back. If it’s urgent, we can send the Insectoid Core to the Empire and refine some there,” Arix said sweetly and thoughtfully.

Drexel had a feeling his sister was talking about something very significant. He translated obediently, ”She says she’ll refine more when she gets back. If it’s urgent, we can send the Insectoid Core to the Empire and refine some there.”

Matis looked at his considerate granddaughter, feeling his heart melt. With even softer eyes, he said, ”It’s okay, Arix. You can refine more when you get back. The Alliance’s current stock of Arix Crystals is enough. The ones for the Empire can wait until you’re back.”

”Okay,” Arix said, also breathing a sigh of relief.

This time, Drexel didn’t need to translate; Matis understood Arix’s meaning.

He smiled and said, ”If there’s nothing else, I have to get back to work. Goodbye, Arix.”

Arix nodded obediently and said, ”Goodbye, Grandpa.”

Matis smiled and nodded before ending the video call.

Once Drexel tucked away his opticomputer, he immediately turned to Arix, curiosity in his eyes. ”What were you talking about with Grandpa? What’s the Arix Crystal?”

Arix didn’t hesitate. ”The Arix Crystal is made from an Insectoid Core. It’s a catalyst for psychic power healing potions.”

Drexel, still puzzled, asked, ”Can’t anyone else make it?”

”Nope, just me for now. I’m hoping to find a substitute eventually. Otherwise, when I die, the psychic power healing potion will disappear too,” Arix replied, looking a bit worried.

At the mention of death, Drexel scolded her with a light tap on her head.

”Why did you hit me again?” Arix grumbled, clutching her head in pain.

She was ready to complain to their mom if Drexel didn’t give a good answer.

”Because you shouldn’t talk like that! Why are you talking about dying at your age?” Drexel shot back, irritated.

”But it’s true!” Arix protested.

”Even if it is, you shouldn’t say it,” Drexel insisted, his fingers poised for another tap.

Arix stared at him, deciding not to argue, especially with his fingers ready to strike again.

Just then, the driver announced their arrival, breaking the tension. The two finally calmed down.

Back at the villa, Arix noticed the hall door was open. Thinking of something, she quickly flew out of Drexel’s arms and hurried inside.

Drexel, unsure what his sister was up to, raised an eyebrow and followed her.

”Scion, you’re back!” Arix’s excited voice echoed through the hall.

Drexel rolled his eyes. As expected.

Inside the hall, Arix was snuggled in Scion’s arms, adorably whining and complaining.

’Of course, it’d be better if she isn’t complaining about me,’ Drexel thought helplessly.

”Yes, Drexel’s a bad guy,” Scion said with a smile, gently stroking Arix’s head.

”He’s the worst. He mistreated me all the time. You have no idea, while you were gone, he hit my head twice,” Arix complained, rubbing her head against Scion’s palm.

Scion just smiled quietly, letting Arix continue.

After a while, Arix’s curiosity got the best of her. ”Why are you back today, Scion? I thought I wouldn’t see you again before I returned to the Alliance.”

”I’ll be hosting the blessing ceremony tomorrow,” Scion replied gently.

Arix looked confused. ”Scion, are you becoming the Pontifex?” she asked, shocked.

Scion shook his head and brushed Arix’s nose with his finger. ”No, just for tomorrow,” he said with a hint of indulgence.

”That’s a relief,” Arix sighed, finally feeling at ease. She didn’t want Scion ending up like their grandfather, stuck in the Moon Goddess Temple, trading his freedom for the prestigious title of Pontifex.

Even though it was just one ceremony, Arix wasn’t thrilled. ”Why does it have to be you tomorrow? Scion, I don’t want you to become the Pontifex. That place is so cold, and you’d be all alone.”

”It’s not that it has to be me tomorrow. Tomorrow’s blessing ceremony is for you, Arix. I don’t want to miss it,” Scion explained, seeing her unhappiness and gently ruffling her head to comfort her.

Arix hadn’t expected this reason. She felt touched but still wasn’t fully convinced. Unsure how to persuade Scion otherwise, she lowered her head, feeling defeated.

”Arix,” Scion called gently.

”Yes?” Arix looked up, puzzled.

”This won’t happen again,” Scion said. His usually icy blue eyes were now as gentle as the sky.

But this time, Arix wasn’t swayed by his looks. She bounced up happily. ”Really?”

”Yes,” Scion nodded with a smile.

”That’s great! Scion, let me tell you, the Moon Goddess Temple is really awful...” Arix then spent a long time ranting about the temple until Drexel, growing impatient, picked her up and carried her to her room.

”Arix, it’s time for bed,” Drexel said firmly, holding the reluctant Arix.

She gave Drexel an annoyed glare before saying regretfully to Scion, ”I’m going to bed now.”

Scion nodded slightly with a smile.