19 Leaving

Lucien didn't waste too much time after the conversation to prepare himself, he went and picked a random Rank 0 spear, since he wouldn't use it for long, he needed Rank 1 spear to complement his strength.

Another thing he did was to find a guard and assign him a task secretly, the Rank 1 guard was delighted and hurried of to finish it, since the deadline was 3 days later.

Then he just waited, since Rank 0 to 1 Darkness manual could breakthrough only his Soul, almost all progress on his powers was now stuck.

He just did some spear routines and practiced the DawnStar a little bit.

'This manual is extremely difficult, it takes so much time to progress a little, apparently the basics should have taken 10 years, but with my strong perception, I did them in 2.'

'There is still no response for already a month on the follow up training, which I guess would qualify as a Rank 0 training method which doesn't follow a path but helps you utilize your stats in the deadliest ways.'

'If there is nothing after 3 days, I won't say anything, but they can forget about being on my good side. I'll take it with force when I have enough power, alongside their blood and flesh.'

Three days later, early in the morning a disguise master send by the emperor came over to Lucien.

He thought him the basics of how to change his facial features, even how to alter a bit the ear, since there are methods to recognize someone you saw before by his ears.

His eyes were left as they are. They could have used lenses to alter them as well, but there are some clans with crimson eyes on the continent, you see them rarely, but even commoners knew about them so nobody would treat you like a freak. Those kids before were doing it on purpose, just to anger Lucien. It even meant the eyes would improve the disguise, as the amount of people who saw Lucien and actually knew who he was, were called over by the emperor over the last three days and promoted for their good work over the year, sent to supervise or help in some areas far away.

He didn't see his mother for the last 3 days and had no idea how the conversation with the emperor went, but he was relieved she didn't try to talk him out of it, after all the act he would have to put on to convince her would be draining.

All the loose ends were tied up, he even found out his father got someone that looked 80% like him to replace him in the forbidden area while he was away, and as all the maids were sent away, the new ones didn't know he was not the prince, and the forbidden area was guarded now, really cutting it out of reach.

He finally walked in his disguise towards the front doors of the palace, spear on back, stone from his father hung over his neck on a string hidden under his common clothes. He looked just like some kid that came to the capital for the first time. His features were also made to look average, it was hard on the master as even at 8 year Lucien was already developing some devilish charm.

Just as he was about to step through the doors he saw Jack, his spear instructor, rushing into the palace with a empty hands, he didn't even recognize him.

'So that is the response, even with all the talent, some stupid family head decided not to get involved with the political mess of the capital.'

'I'm now looking forward to the existence points that maternal family would provide, one way or another.'

'As they are the family that are connected by blood with me, I'll give them one more chance later on, of course to get the chance certain price will be necessary, I don't give second chances on good heart.'

Lucien didn't look back for even a second as he walked past the gates, the guards didn't stop anyone walking out, just walking in.

The first thing Lucien did was to walk towards a bar he had seen on his tour.

Walking inside half a hour later, he saw the guard he gave some tasks to three days earlier.

Lucien just walked and across of him, on a corner booth of the bar.

"Give it to me."

The guard just looked at the rude brat across of him, not uttering a word, nobody would just come and say this straight ahead.

"So you are the person the prince mentioned, a 'friend' of his."

"You are pretty rude, but since the prince has acknowledged you, and even went out of his way to help you, I don't mind."

"Here have it."

After throwing a folded paper, the guard stood up and walked away, not bothering to take a second look at this kid.

'He didn't recognize me, it should be fine.'

Lucien didn't open the paper here, but walked out of the bar and headed towards an inn, it was already pretty late and he had to make a decision on where is he going, before setting off.

Walking around he found a cheap inn, that looked like anyone can afford, and using the coins he found on the meal from last time, he checked in for one night.

'But I can imagine, how hard it was on those spoiled brats to survive, he didn't give even 1 copper coin, they had to make money for themselves. How could a prince have the mentality to work.'

The room was nothing special, a bed, a chair and a desk. Light was flickering a bit. It was pretty rundown.

'Let's see.'

Not bothering about the room or anything Lucien sat on the chair and spread out the paper, which was folded multiple times to make it smaller.

He was not worried someone might spy on him, he was after all a commoner now, what would be worth spying on a person like this. He used the scan of All Existence after leaving the palace, to make sure nobody was following, thus cutting any connections that might tie him up to the imperial family.

After the paper was spread out, it turned out to be a map. Not very detailed, compared to the one he had stolen from the library and was hanging in the Crimson World, but what was important on it was that certain areas were marked and below them, a rank was written.

The closest to the capital was about 150 kilometers away and Rank 2 was written below.