A Chemist's Interstellar Saga

Chapter 186: The Master And His Apprentices
Chapter 186: The Master And His Apprentices

”The third condition is... Arix. Join my Psychic Ware Association. I could make you the vice president, or even the president,” Talrin said, looking hopeful.

Arix, a rising star in the Psychic Ware field, could bring a lot of attention and credibility to the new association. It would be like getting a celebrity endorsement, giving the group a big boost in recognition and influence.

But Arix hesitated before replying, ”I’m sorry, Talrin. There are some things I can’t decide on my own. Do you need anything else?”

Talrin paused, then apologized, ”I’m sorry, Arix. I forgot your last name is Kering. There are things you can’t decide on your own.”

He found a perfect opportunity but not being able to take it. Talrin sighed deeply as he looked at Arix.

Arix felt a little awkward under his gaze, but she knew she couldn’t agree to that condition. Even though she wasn’t the only heir of the Kering family, her future, and the path she would take, had already been set.

If Arix accepted this condition, the Kering family elders might show up the next day with billions astrocredits to get Talrin to back off.

”Talrin, I’ve recently come into some money. How about I give it to you as the third condition?” Arix offered, placing a card with ten billion astrocredits on the table.

Talrin frowned slightly. Although he was struggling financially, he wasn’t the type to just take money like that. He pushed the card back and said, ”Arix, some things can’t be bought with money.”

Sensing Talrin’s displeasure, Arix realized her offer might have been insulting. Not everyone thought money could solve everything, like Drexel did.

”I’m sorry, Talrin. It was rude of me to offer ten billion astrocredits,” Arix apologized, reaching to take the card back.

But then, Talrin quickly grabbed the card. Arix blinked in surprise, looking at him with wide, puzzled eyes. Wasn’t he just refusing?

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Talrin coughed and said, ”I thought about it. Since you can’t meet my third condition, I’ll accept the card as the third condition.”

”Okay, thank you, Talrin,” Arix agreed, still a bit confused but relieved.

After they settled the matter, Arix took the half-meter tall stack of notes from Talrin. She stored them in her Space Button, and waved happily as she left.

Talrin smiled as he watched her go. He stood in the doorway, which was missing a door.

Once Arix was out of sight, Talrin pulled out the card, rubbing it a few times, feeling quite pleased. He had thought the card might contain, at most, ten million astrocredits.

Though he was struggling financially, he still had his pride.

But when he found out that the card held one billion astrocredits, his pride quickly took a back seat.

It only took Talrin three seconds to let go of his pride, and then he looked at the card with happiness, thinking, ’Wow, kids from big families really do have a lot of money.’

After admiring the card, Talrin excitedly shared the news in a group chat.

Talrin: ”Guess what, everyone? Arix came by today and gave me a card. Any guesses on how much it’s for?”

Jorvik: ”? Why did Arix give you money?”

Lorin: ”How much?”

Bryndel: ”You fool! Just give Arix whatever she wants. Why are you taking money from her?”

Talrin: ”She wanted my notes on Psychic Incarnation. I didn’t plan to charge her, but she offered so much, I couldn’t say no.”

Talrin: ”Oh, by the way, it’s one billion astrocredits.”

Jorvik: ”... WTF, dude! Share the wealth!”

Lorin: ”One billion?!”

Bryndel: ”Talrin, my wardrobe needs an upgrade. You know what to do.”

Talrin rolled his eyes and quickly sent another message.

Talrin: ”The signal’s getting bad. Gotta go, bye!”

Jorvik: ”Always vanishes when money comes up! Disgraceful.”

Bryndel: ”Speaking of which, Talrin, when are you paying back the fines you owe?”

Jorvik: ”Master, the signal’s bad in the Merman clan. We’ll catch up later!”

Lorin: ”Master, you know I’m broke.”

Bryndel: ”Not talking to you, you poor fool. You haven’t even seen a proper heist. You’re a disgrace to space pirates.”

Lorin: ”The kids are starving. Master, could you lend me a bit more? Promise I’ll pay you back.”

Bryndel: ”Your credit is overdrawn, sorry.”

Despite his grumbling, Bryndel still transferred 50 million astrocredits.

Lorin: ”Thanks, Master. Love you!”

Bryndel: ”You’re all a bunch of ingrates. Only the youngest one behaves.”

Lorin: ”By the way, should we invite Arix into the group?”

Bryndel: ”Let’s wait on that. Considering your current statuses—one a traitor to the Alliance, another a wanted space pirate—even if Arix agrees, I can’t risk it.”

Lorin: ”True. Jorvik’s still undercover in the Merman clan. We can’t endanger Arix.”

Bryndel: ”Sigh, taking you all in as apprentices has been exhausting. I’m done talking. Remember to delete the chat history. Goodbye.”

Lorin: ”Understood.”

Jorvik: ”Understood.”

Talrin: ”Understood.”

...

Arix left the New Psychic Ware Association and went straight to the Kering family home. She locked herself in her room and stayed up all night going through her Psychic Incarnation notes.

The next morning, she showed up at breakfast with noticeable dark circles under her eyes.

”Morning, Dad, Mom, Drexel,” Arix greeted everyone and took her seat.

Thaddeus and Fleur smiled warmly at their daughter.

”Whoa, Arix, what did you do last night? You look like you haven’t slept,” Drexel joked. He had stayed up late gaming too but didn’t look nearly as rough as Arix.

He even pulled out a small mirror to check his own face. Arix ignored his vanity and started eating her breakfast.

Fleur shot Drexel a disapproving glance and shook her head slightly.

”Arix, didn’t you sleep well last night?” Thaddeus asked, concerned.

Arix didn’t want them to worry, so she shook her head. ”It’s nothing, I just stayed up too late studying.”

”Studying is important, but your health comes first. Don’t do that again,” Fleur said, giving her daughter a concerned look.

”Okay, Mom,” Arix replied softly.

Seeing Arix so tired, Fleur felt both concerned and a bit disapproving. ”Maybe you should take a day off today.”

”No, I can’t miss classes at the military academy. I’d lose credits. I’m fine, Mom. I don’t have many classes this morning, so I can catch up on sleep,” Arix reassured her with a smile.

”Alright, if you say so,” Fleur sighed, patting Arix’s head affectionately.

”By the way, Dad, Mom, where’s Kellan? I haven’t seen Kellan around lately,” Arix asked, changing the subject but also genuinely curious about her brother’s absence.

”He’s on a mission. Something to do with your school, I think,” Fleur hinted, not elaborating further.

The mention of a mission made Arix uneasy, remembering the last one that ended with someone getting hurt.

Then she realized that if it involved the school, it probably wouldn’t be too dangerous.

She just nodded and didn’t ask more questions.

After breakfast, Arix hugged Thaddeus and Fleur before heading back to school with Drexel.

Once they swiped their ID cards at the school’s entrance, Arix headed straight to her room.

”Welcome home, Master,” PO’s cheerful voice greeted her, though it sounded a bit glitchy.

Noticing the glitch, Arix looked over, only to be shocked and angry. PO was in terrible shape, with parts missing and scratches and bite marks everywhere.

”PO, what happened to you?” Arix asked, both angry and worried, inspecting him for damage.

PO’s screen showed a flicker of emotion in his virtual eyes before dimming again. ”I’m sorry, Master,” he said sadly.

He felt guilty for not protecting Admiral Thaddeus properly, even though he was fine now.

The more PO thought about it, the worse he felt, lowering his mechanical head in shame.

But Arix had no idea what PO was talking about. She looked at him, puzzled, and asked, ”Why are you apologizing? PO, tell me who did this to you, and I’ll go beat them up!”

Her icy blue eyes flared with a suppressed anger.