Chapter 257 - How Did Comrade Con Escape?

Episode 250- How did Comrade Con escape?

Someone who holds the title Paladin and someone whose rank is a captain in the military but demoted to lieutenant. I can't start over as Eugeneia Veria as her life is already set in stone." She replied. 

"I have thought about my decisions carefully and come to a conclusion that my family would be devastated if I were to pass away than if I were to begin a new life."

Eugene's words made the Emperor unable to say anything. The Emperor's attendant glanced back and forth between the Emperor and Eugene. The room was silent for 30 minutes with the Emperor thinking deeply before he broke the silence and asked, 

"You want to start over as a commoner?" He asked her. It was his first time hearing an absurd, but favor from a noble. To start over as a commoner and not a noble. He has given a few titles of nobility to commoners before, but not… the other way around.  If he had known that the conversation was meant to be a secret between him and Eugene, he would've asked the two to head out, but it was too late for that. 

Eugene nodded, "I would like to begin over as a commoner. Join the military as a private, and make my way up." This way, she knows she could become stronger. 

"... Alright. I will grant you an identity that only you and I know…" The Emperor paused for one second before he added a condition, "But I have three conditions."

Eugene nodded and waited for the Emperor to speak. 

"My first condition is for you to graduate from the academy." This was for her safety and would delay her from leaving right at this moment. 

Eugene pursed her lips. That wasn't in her plans, but… nodded. That wasn't a difficult request.

"My second condition is for you to write me a letter as soon as you decide to leave. That is for me to prepare myself to comfort your parents." 

Eugene nodded again. 

"And my last condition is that the Commander and General Liqin know of your identity." The Emperor said with a straight face. Well, to be honest, it was a shitty condition, however, he had to make that a condition because the two were already here. He didn't want to betray Eugene's trust, hence why, he had to add these two to the condition. 

Eugene paused, her lips parted slightly, "Excuse me?" She didn't want to believe her ears. Didn't she just say that she wanted a new identity? An identity no one would know of so that she could restart her life so that she wasn't treated as an aristocrat? So that she could start over as a private? If Commander Guang and the General know, wouldn't that… defeat the purpose?

"It is for your safety. Of course, you will not be treated any differently. You will be treated as your identity."

Eugene hesitated. She felt that there was something missing or wrong with his words however she agreed, "I am alright with these three conditions, Your Highness, Majesty. I humbly agree." She was the one asking him for favors. If she were to outright reject them, it would be too rude and ungrateful. 

Emperor Zen nodded. There were over 5 minutes of silence before the Emperor exhaled. He stood up and slowly walked to Eugene. He raised his hands and placed them on her shoulders. 

Eugene was confused however, she did not shy away. 

"You have been through a lot, Eugeneia. I have failed you as the Emperor, as your father's friend, and as family." He began with his lips pursed. 

"Rest at the academy. Find your life. Your motivation. Do whatever you have to do to live. And always remember that there are a lot of people who love you and will support you no matter what you do. You can trust everyone." He smiled before releasing Eugene. 

Eugene's lips parted slightly but she didn't speak. 'There are a lot of people who love you and will support you no matter what you do.' For some reason, the Emperor's words kept repeating inside her mind. And for some reason, she saw a little sparkle of light in her dark tunnel. 

The Emperor smiled again, "Do you have any name ideas for your new identity?"

As soon as Eugene heard him, a name popped up and she said it unconditionally, "Neia." As soon as her name left her mouth, her eyes widened. She did not mean to blurt it out. 

"Nia?" The Emperor repeated. 

Eugene's lips pursed and she thought for a few seconds before replying, "Neia. N.E.I.A. Neia. I would like that to be my name." She couldn't cut off everything from her life. And maybe her name would remind her and push her to become stronger. 

"Alright." The Emperor smiled before turning and going back to his seat. He watched Eugene bid him goodbye and watched as the door to the audience room shut before he sighed deeply.

To be honest, he didn't know how to face Levis and Moniqua after this favor. Of course, he couldn't tattletale it to them either. It was a huge life-changing decision he had just made for their Eldest daughter after all. Just as he was about to exhale the second time, someone spoke out. 

"I would like a new identity as well, Your Highness, Majesty."

Emperor Zen immediately glanced up and stared at the teen whom he just appointed as a General following his great accomplishment in managing Serv for over 6 years. He allowed successful trades, and his discovery that brought Xenperia massive amounts of income, and most importantly, this teen created a special military unit that was as powerful as the knights or the military. His feat was no joke for his age. 

"Excuse me?" Emperor Zen couldn't believe his ears and asked Guang Liqin to repeat. 

"I would like a new identity to start over."

Commander Guang and Emperor Zen looked at Liqin with a blank look. 

"And your reason?"

Guang Liqin tilted his head and thought for a moment before responding, "I would also like to start over. To be a recruit and maybe snuff some bad people with bad intentions out."

Commander Guang Fu looked at his son. 'The only person with bad intentions is you…' He wanted to roll his eyes but ceased to do so in front of the Emperor. 

"Sniffing out people with bad intentions…" Emperor Zen thought deeply before glancing down at Guang Liqin. 

"Your request is granted." Maybe he could help Eugenenia out...

"My greatest gratitude, Your Highness, Majesty."

The Emperor nodded before motioning for the father and son duo to leave. As soon as they left, however, the Emperor slumped down on his chair as he rubbed his throbbing heart. 

"... To throw away your high identities… It is my first time coming across such weird requests.  But why does it give me such headaches?" 

The attendants didn't know how to reply to the Emperor but agreed with him. To think that not just one person, but two wanted to give up their names and titles… It truly gave them nothing but headaches. 

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Eugene walked out of the palace slowly, and she felt her body becoming lighter after having a private audience with the Emperor. The Emperor's words were still ringing in her ears, so she made the decision not to leave her comrades without saying her goodbyes. She would give them her reasons and ask them to wait for her return.

Eugene walked past the glass interior design in deep thoughts. She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she failed to notice a person leaning against the wall or their reflection on the opposite wall that was mirrored. 

"Have you overcome your depression, Comrade Eugeneia?" Eugene jumped up slightly when the person in front of her spoke, and her gaze fell on a male adult with jet black hair with a few white streak strands.

"... Comrade Con," Eugene muttered. She blinked as if she was analyzing him, before looking away. Though her outer appearance only showed a look of acknowledgment, she was actually speechless inside. 

And the reason why she was speechless was that… she had completely forgotten about him!!! There was no time to think about him, and it was only when she met him now that she realized they had met inside the prison!  The soldiers thought that Con was a member of Exitium whilst they thought she was the child 'agent'!

Due to the various events that occurred after that brief meeting, she completely forgot about him.

"How did Comrade Con escape?" Eugene couldn't help but ask him. Soldiers suspected he was an Exitum member and had him brought out somewhere. In the worst-case scenario, he would have been tortured or murdered in order to obtain information! Eugene gulped as she thought of that. 

"The soldiers brought me to Duke Marleigh." He replied in simple words.. He did not sound mad that she forgot about him.