Interstellar Beast World: All My Husbands Are Powerful and Rich!-Chapter 62: I’ll pay for it

Rory found herself quietly reflecting on the situation. When I saved Sylas Ruan, she thought, I didn’t even say a single word to him—yet he was already scrambling to repay the debt.

Beside her, Jasper felt a sharp, instinctive urge rise in his chest—the kind that whispered it would be easier to simply erase that foolish Sylas Ruan from existence. The thought was cold, efficient... and completely unfit for Rory’s ears. In her presence, Jasper masked it perfectly, allowing none of that killing intent to surface.

Instead, he smiled and spoke lightly, though his words carried a subtle warning.

"Rory, judging someone purely by how capable they seem on the surface can be dangerously misleading," Jasper said, carefully sifting through every word. "Sylas Ruan might look efficient and composed, but his methods are anything but clean once you look closer and see what he’s all about."

He continued calmly, as if discussing common knowledge. "He’s the young master of the Suncrest Lineage—a faction infamous for its ruthlessness. Schemes, betrayals, calculated sacrifices... that’s their daily bread. Ask yourself this: if he didn’t possess some truly cunning strategies, how could he possibly maintain his position?"

Rory understood immediately. Before coming to this world, she had seen enough political struggles to last several lifetimes. Jasper’s words instantly summoned memories of ruthless palace intrigue—ambitious princes clawing over one another for power. The infamous Battle of Nine Heirs surfaced in her mind, and an involuntary shiver ran down her spine.

"Of course," Rory murmured. "You should never judge any creature by appearances alone."

Someone like her—an absolute nobody at the start—wouldn’t even merit a footnote in the opening Chapters of such a story.

The headquarters of the Interstellar Hunter Alliance was located on A-49. Rory’s private starrail sliced through the galaxy at light speed, crossing immeasurable distances with effortless precision. In less than a day, the vessel arrived at its destination.

A-49 was the planet closest to the Central District and rumored to be more than a hundred times larger than Veridan City, which was basically a planet on its own. Rory had heard the stories—but only when she stepped off the starrail did she truly grasp what worlds apart meant.

No wonder so many beastfolk call Veridan City poor, she thought quietly.

Back in Veridan City, urban landscapes were dominated by steel and glass. There was no true greenery—only artificial materials and survival-driven design, the result of rampant plant mutations. Even the rare living plants, like the tiny sprout she kept at home, barely reached the length of her finger.

Here, however, the first thing Rory saw was a colossal tree that pierced the sky itself, its trunk disappearing into drifting clouds.

Verdant foliage stretched as far as the eye could see. Soft pink petals floated through the air like living snowflakes, their origin unknown but undeniably enchanting. The moment a petal touched the ground, a smart robot glided in to collect it, treating each fallen fragment as something precious.

The streets were paved with radiant starlight stone—so polished they reflected faces like mirrors. Above them, sleek smart vehicles streaked past in graceful arcs. Below, therian moved freely, some sprinting along the roadside in their original beast forms.

Shops lined the streets in endless rows. Some specialized in beast cores, others sold rare herbs, while many proudly displayed small, low-tier beasts behind shimmering glass. It seemed to be a widespread trend among interstellar therian—especially females—to keep these charming creatures as companions.

As they descended a set of translucent sky-stairs, Jasper gently took Rory’s hand.

"Rory," he asked softly, "are you tired? If not... would you like to look around for a while?"

He knew her well now. Females enjoyed shopping—and he had deliberately arranged for the starrail to stop here for that exact reason.

Rory’s eyes lit up as she took in the dazzling scenery. Excitement shimmered openly on her face.

"Let’s go!" she said eagerly. "I’ve never seen anything like this back in Veridan City."

Veridan City had shops and commercial districts, yes—but they only sold practical, everyday necessities. Nothing compared to the exotic beasts and rare herbs on display here.

Without hesitation, Rory grabbed Jasper’s hand and practically dragged him toward a store showcasing beasts.

Inside the display window lay a creature that looked like a cross between a fox and a rabbit. Its small body emitted a faint, gentle glow as it lounged lazily inside its enclosure. It was no larger than Rory’s palm.

Her heart nearly melted on the spot.

In the five years since arriving in this world, every beast Rory had encountered had been massive, aggressive, and bred purely for combat. She had never imagined beasts could be... this adorable.

"Do you like it?" Jasper asked, glancing at the cage.

A female beast. Good, he thought. She can buy it.

Rory opened her mouth to say yes—then noticed the price tag.

She immediately shook her head. "It’s too small," she said quickly. "Not really my style."

Inside, she was reeling. One billion star credits? she thought. That’s not a price—that’s daylight robbery.

Curious despite herself, she asked, "What does it do besides... glow?"

"It digs holes," Jasper replied solemnly.

Rory stared at him, momentarily speechless. It glows and digs holes, she thought. And that’s worth one billion star credits? The shopkeeper might as well rob people outright.

Her stunned expression amused Jasper, and he chuckled softly.

"This is a Luma Fox," he explained. "It never grows any larger than this. It has no combat abilities, but it’s beautiful—and extremely popular among females. That’s why the price is... high."

As Rory continued browsing the store, her amazement only deepened. The cheapest beast here costs two hundred million star credits, she realized. High-tier planets truly have no sympathy for the poor.

Before forming bonds with Paros and Jasper, the few million star coins she’d painstakingly saved wouldn’t even cover a single meal here.

Sensing her unease, Jasper gently squeezed her hand, his voice warm and reassuring.

"Rory, don’t worry about the star coins," he said. "Just choose whatever you like. I’ll pay for it."