Chapter 102: GO HOME WITH ME!!!!

VIVIAN

Vivian stared at the man standing before her.

Eric Astronova.

Her cousin.

Or, more accurately, someone who belonged to the family she had already abandoned.

He walked toward her with his hands behind his back, his lips curling into a mocking smile.

"You really have changed, Vivian."

Vivian said nothing.

Eric chuckled. "I still remember the old you. Do you remember how you used to kneel before me and beg for mercy?"

He tilted his head, pretending to search his memories.

"Or was it when you used to follow our other cousins around, desperately begging for their attention because they preferred Elena?"

He laughed. "Ah, I remember now! What about that time you jumped into the swimming pool, hoping someone would rescue you? You nearly drowned just to get our pity!"

His laughter grew louder.

"Who would have thought that the pathetic girl who couldn’t live without her family’s attention would become so arrogant?"

He stepped closer.

"Look at you now. Pretending you don’t even know me."

Vivian finally turned to face him.

Her expression was calm.

"Yeah. Do we have any relationship worth remembering?"

Eric’s smile stiffened.

Vivian tilted her head.

"Or haven’t you heard? I’m no longer an Astronova. Did you miss that announcement, or are you deaf?"

Eric’s face instantly soured.

"You really have a sharp tongue now!"

Vivian shrugged.

"Thank you for noticing."

Inside her consciousness, Beeny snorted.

Master, aren’t you angry?

Why don’t we just kill him?

He talks too much. I can turn him into a little chicken and pluck all his feathers!

Vivian ignored her.

She had no intention of wasting her time on Eric’s childish provocations.

Unfortunately, Eric didn’t seem to understand the meaning of silence.

"I’m talking to you, Vivian!"

His voice rose.

Vivian looked at him as though she were examining an especially irritating insect.

"What do you want, Eric? Should I perform a family reunion ritual with you? Or would you prefer me to dance for your entertainment?"

"You...!"

Eric’s face flushed red. His finger rose as though he wanted to point directly at her nose. For a moment, he looked ready to explode. Then he suddenly took a deep breath.

His expression changed.

"Fine. I’m not going to argue with someone like you."

He spoke with exaggerated patience, as though he were a generous elder tolerating a troublesome child.

"I came here to deliver a message."

Vivian raised an eyebrow.

"What message?"

"Grandfather Astronova wants you to return home."

Vivian’s expression didn’t change.

Eric waited.

When she didn’t react, his brows furrowed.

"Did you hear me? Grandfather wants you back!"

"Did he personally tell you to bring me home?"

Eric blinked.

"What?"

"Did Grandfather personally instruct you to come here and bring me back?"

His expression immediately darkened. "What difference does that make? He’s your grandfather! He wants you to return to the family, so you should be grateful and follow me home!"

He folded his arms.

"I’m returning to Haxia tomorrow. I’ll take you with me."

Vivian stared at him for two seconds.

Then she laughed. It wasn’t a pleasant laugh. "Did you drink fake wine?"

Eric’s jaw dropped.

"What did you say?"

"I told you to get out of my sight."

She turned away.

Eric’s expression twisted.

"Vivian!"

She continued walking.

"I’m talking to you!"

He hurried after her, his voice dripping with irritation.

"Do you think I would waste my precious time coming all the way here if Grandfather hadn’t asked me to? Do you have any idea how busy I am?"

Vivian kept walking.

Eric gritted his teeth.

"You’re still the same ungrateful woman! Grandfather is willing to forgive you for abandoning the Astronova name, yet you behave as though you’re doing us a favor by refusing to return!"

He scoffed.

"Honestly, I don’t understand why the family even wants you back. You’re a Zero-Class nobody. You have no rank, no influence, and no useful ability. Even the servants in our household are more valuable than you!"

Vivian stopped.

Eric mistook her silence for submission.

His chest lifted with pride.

"That’s more like it. You should learn to recognize your position. Just because Sentinel Vega has taken you in as his personal soldier doesn’t mean you’ve suddenly become somebody important."

He leaned closer.

"And don’t get any foolish ideas. A man like Vega would never take a useless woman like you seriously. You’re probably just there to serve him."

He smirked.

"Unless, of course, you’ve started using your old tricks again."

Vivian slowly turned her head.

Eric smiled triumphantly.

There.

That expression.

He had finally gotten a reaction out of her.

Or so he thought.

"Are you finished?"

Eric’s smile vanished.

"What?"

"Have you finished embarrassing yourself?"

His face turned crimson.

"You—!"

Vivian shook her head.

"I’m sure Grandfather never sent you."

Eric froze.

She continued.

"Perhaps you’re trying to impress Elena. Or maybe that woman Emelianna has given you another task."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Whatever your reasons are, I’m not interested."

She turned to leave.

That was when Eric lost his temper.

"YOU DARE IGNORE ME?!"

A violent surge of spiritual energy exploded from his body.

WHOOSH!

A powerful wind swept through the clearing, bending the surrounding bushes and scattering dry leaves across the ground.

Vivian’s clothes fluttered.

Eric stood behind her, his eyes glowing with an eerie light.

"Obey me while I’m still speaking to you nicely!"

His voice boomed through the clearing.

"I don’t want to use force against you, but don’t mistake my patience for weakness!"

His Mind Ability activated.

An invisible force shot toward Vivian’s consciousness, attempting to seize control of her thoughts and force her into submission.

But before it could reach her....Bang!!

The attack shattered.

Eric’s eyes widened.

A sharp pain shot through his head.

"AH!"

He stumbled backward, clutching his forehead.

Blood trickled from his nose.

Then more blood spilled from his mouth.

"What... what happened?"

He stared at his trembling hands in disbelief.

His Mind Ability had never backfired like this before!

A small buzzing sound came from above Vivian’s shoulder.

Beeny appeared in the air, her tiny wings fluttering.

She looked down at Eric with undisguised contempt.

"A mere S-Class Mind Ability user dares to attack my master?"

She clicked her tongue.

"How courageous. How foolish. How utterly embarrassing."

Eric stared at the little bee.

His expression changed.

First, confusion.

Then disbelief.

Finally, an unmistakable flash of greed.

"That... that is..."

His eyes widened until they nearly bulged out of their sockets.

"A Zerg?!"

He pointed at Beeny with a trembling finger.

"Vivian! You have a human Zerg Bee?!"