Chapter 336 - 8.62 First Blue Star - Mandatory
Navi Naja's face turned pale at the truth that his real personality had been since by his Male God. His grumpy personality can only be seen at the academy while he portrays a gentle facade when he shows his face at the Nobles society. Now that his real face was revealed to everyone in the Empire.
He felt that his future marriage life is in ruins. Navi naja could still remember personally ordering someone under him to kick out that group of commoners to be fed to the wolves. As he looks down on people with common backgrounds. He thinks that they aren't worthy to be in the same place as he does.
[A/n: He is talking about Qu Yeon's Team.]
Then that annoying not blood-related uncle of his, Feng Jing, who acts almighty just because his Imperial Uncle Zenith pampers him the most after his wife. He has always hated Feng Jing for being the same age as him, possessing all that love from his clan and his unworldly beauty.
That's why when he heard the rumors about Feng Jing failing to awaken, Naji Naja was the happiest.. As he has always thought of Feng Jing as his rival. When he heard his failure he couldn't help but gloat at him for it. He wanted to slap Feng Jing with the fact that as an ordinary person, he can never be as powerful as an Awakened Guide like him.
Not only that he hated the fact that only half of his blood possesses the royal bloodline and half of it is from the weakest among the four biggest clans, the Navi. He felt inferior to the fact that he came from a Noble family with no special features except for poison. Because of this, he felt that he is lower than Feng Jing.
Navi Naja grabbed his cousin's brother's clothes and said, "B-Brother Rigel~ you must help me. M-My reputation... It's gone. All gone." he said while panicking.
Prince Rigel felt sad seeing his most adored little brother in such a state. Face pale to bloodless and trembling nonstop.
"Calm down, Naja. Inside the main tent, no one is allowed to monitor someone against their privacy. I've also asked my people to delete your past records. They wouldn't see it again. But be careful from now on, uphold your image as a prince properly outside the tents. Do you understand, Naja?" said his highness, Prince Regulus Rigel.
Knowing that his cousin brother is backing him up, Navi Naja felt he could do some things again.
His thoughts, 'As long as no one can see It would be alright, right?.'
In the end, it was decided that every student on the planet was to regroup at the Outer region where the federation soldiers decided to camp. The students of the First Military Academy were gathered at the open area. Junior and Senior Students had no choice but to join this war as this was only considered as their graduation trial to make them an official soldier once they got out of this alive. The junior students don't need to stay for the whole wartime but they must fight for at least half of the duration. Meanwhile, the junior and senior students had started training with Qu Yeon and the rest of his team as they've already decided to join in this upcoming war against zergs.
The rest of the students were still in the opening area waiting for the one who had the highest authority among the units who are currently present at this moment. In front of the students, Major Generals like Feng Yang, Lin Tang, Drake Izar, and Navi Itri were watching over the rest of the students. On their far-right, Lieutenant Generals, Xue Ying, Regulus "King" Zenith, and Nova Seren, stood in comparison but none of these Lieutenant Generals took the centermost area and stood there.
Seeing that Navi Itri's face had turned dark, he had thought that aside from the Lieutenant Generals there was no other superior present in this competition. Someone who possesses more authority than a Lieutenant General, it could only mean that someone of marshal standing is present.
Navi Itri's thoughts, 'If things are like this, then it would be harder for me to kill Feng Jing! No... Marshal Altair is dead, which could only mean that the possible Marshal around is Sire Janus. That's right! Marshal Janus hates the Feng Clan as well. He wouldn't stop me even if he learned of my attempts to kill the youngest phoenix!'
It seems that the existence of Marshal Altair was kept secret after that accident in the central region where he had fallen in a state of mania. Except for those who were there last night at the camp, no one else knew about his presence. The fleet led by Lin Tang, Drake Izar, Navi Itri, and Nova Seren had just disembarked a few hours later after receiving the official orders from the Interstellar Federation to eliminate the Zerg on this Planet. The Monitoring system provided to each fleet was controlled by System Yue as soon as they've fallen in predicament. Even the recordings shared to the Star Network were edited as well.
The students at the open area were murmuring as they saw their idols before them. They've talked with lower voices but with them all talking at the same time, their voices turned to buzzing sounds of gibberish that no one could understand. Among the students, Prince Rigel, Navi Naja, and his teams were also waiting. Normally a senior student like Regulus Rigel would have to follow the rules of the federation and enter this war without question but the Empire still possesses an authority that is not that weaker than the Federation. They could only wait for this royal blood prince to make his own choice for this event.
Nai Naja's eyes were full of excitement seeing those figures in front of them. He was especially happy when he saw Lieutenant General Xue Ying present. This person being here means that his superior might be here as well.
"B-Brother Rigel... Do you see that? It's Lieutenant General Xue from the Fallen Gods Unit! Does that mean that Marshal Altair is here as well!?" asked Navi Naja.
Hearing this question the called prince didn't react right away, as his thoughts were chaotic at this moment. He couldn't destroy decorum in front of his Imperial Uncle and remain standing without showing any arrogance on him.
But he still glances at his younger cousin and reprimands him a bit, "Watch your actions. The Imperial King Uncle is here. It seems that we wouldn't be able to escape joining in this war." said Prince Regulus Rigel.
"What!?" exclaimed Navi Naja as his face once again turned pale. His sudden scream took everyone's attention and is now looking at their team. Even their elders in front were now looking at Navi Naja.
Navi Naja panicked as felt that everyone's gaze was on him, "I...I..."
"What is wrong here? Naja, is there a problem?" asked his father, Navi Itri with a gentle smile.
But only Navi Naja knows that his father isn't smiling at him for real, but asking him what the hell is he planning now? Don't you see that there are too many superiors in front of you? Watch how you act. What an embarrassment. Knowing this Navi Naja bit his lower lips while he started trembling. His elder cousin had no other choice but to comfort him.
Prince Regulus Rigel said, "Calm down, Naja. It will be okay."
"U-Um! It was nothing father. Please forgive me for my rudeness, everyone," said Navi Naja.
Regulus Zenith narrows his eyes and recognizes them. He noticed that aside from his little nephew, his elder brother's son, Regulus Rigel, there are still some seniors standing within those freshmen. Senior students must join this war now that seeing some seniors in this place made him realize that this little nephew of his wants to pull out some strings to bring his team away from the planet without fulfilling their responsibilities as future soldiers. His gaze turned serious at this moment.
"Regulus Rigel, are those children with you a senior or a freshman?" asked Regulus Zenith.
He was talking about Navi Naja and the rest of his cousin's team who were all Juniors. Like their little master, they were also afraid of dying and thought that they might be able to leave with some freshmen with the help of Prince Regulus Rigel but now that the Crowned King Zenith had mentioned them, their faces all turned bloodless.
Regulus Rigel instantly showed his respect to his uncle and saluted him like how the prince greets their elders.
"Answering Imperial Uncle's question, they are this prince's team members and they were all junior students," said Regulus Rigel.
Regulus Zenith responded, "Junior Students? Aren't the junior students required to join this war? Your parents had already been informed about this, so why are they here instead of starting training like the rest of them? Or are you telling me that all of them have royal blood in them that they need to get permission from this king to leave this planet? This king is here and would stay to fight in the war, are you saying that as a possessor of the same blood as I do you are not going to protect your own empire, Regulus Rigel!?"
Prince Regulus Rigel had immediately lowered his head and said, "I am willing to fight in this war, Imperial Uncle!"
"And your team?" asked Regulus Rigel.
The eldest prince could only bite the bucket and said, "They... They would all join... as well..."
Once Navi Naja learned that he would be joining the war without question, He started panicking and began pouting nonsense. Navi Itri upon witnessing this had a dark expression on his face and wanted to stop his son from talking rude things towards the Crowned King but a cold glance from Regulus Zenith was enough to shut him up altogether. He could only grip his fist in anger and disappointment towards his son.
"No. NO. Imperial Uncle. I don't want to fight. Half of my blood is royal. I also have a choice to not join this war. I'm not joining. I do not want to fight at all!!!" screamed Navi Naja as he had fully forgotten to save his image.
---
Right now, System Yue has streamed this day's recording without editing as this is to tell everyone that the youngest Marshal isn't dead as they've always thought. Who would expect that Navi Naja would lose himself to fear and show such an embarrassment to everyone including those in the Empire?
Negative comments about Navi Naja had appeared in the Star Network when this scene was broadcasted for everyone to see.
Star Network Comment's area:
"What is this?! Isn't this Young Lord Naja!?"
"He said he doesn't want to fight? But isn't he a Junior student, it's mandatory for him to fight!"
"What an embarrassment!? The Freshmen students haven't even reacted in fear yet. Look at those children who are a few years younger than him, they may be afraid but they didn't show it on their faces. But this Navi Naja isn't a half prince. Does he not care about the Empire at all?"
"What a disappointment!!!"
"This child isn't as gentle and smart as he used to portray before!"
"A fake prince!"
"Fake!!!"
"Fake!!"
"Fake!"
---
Listening to Navi Naja proudly stating his bloodline as half royal blood all of the adults in the area couldn't help but be embarrassed for him. Navi Itri had covered his eyes in an attempt to not see all these embarrassing things.
Among the Major Generals like him, only Feng Yang and Drake Izar were not frightened of his wide connections and spoke out their thoughts without thinking twice.
Feng Yang grumbled, "What is this child talking about? It's true that his mother is a queen and royal blood but he is not. One has to follow his father's side instead of his mother's, does he not know about such common sense!"
"Boy, isn't your father, General Navi? That means you are a Navi and not a Regulus! Since you aren't of royal blood, why do you insist on saying that you are one!?" said Drake Izar.
Regulus Zenith spoke, "Do not call this king imperial uncle! I do not know who you are!"
Navi Naja flinched when he heard the cold tone of Regulus Zenith as he looks sharply towards him. Then he saw him move his eyes on his cousin, standing beside him.
"Regulus Rigel, what is this child talking about? He calls himself a royal descendant. Did my elder brother adopt someone with this king knowing? Our bloodline doesn't accept those who are only half-bred!" said Regulus Zenith.
"I...I'm sorry, Imperial Uncle. This prince will warn him about this." said Prince Rigel.
His words were like thorns pricking Navi Naja's heart, he felt that everything he had seen before was nothing but just an illusion he made with his fantasy.
Navi Naja was stunned speechless, "I...I...I'm not... a prince? EH? But my mother says... I..."
Nova Seren who was watching the scene in silence had finally spoken out as if she couldn't bear any more of this ongoing drama before her.
"Enough of this Farce! All those juniors and senior students are to join the war. Send these guys to training. Only freshmen are to stay in this area!" said Nova Seren as some of her subordinates escorted Regulus Rigel, Navi Naja, and his team to the training grounds.
"Yes, Lieutenant General Nova!" said the soldiers.
But before the soldiers could make their move the who area had suddenly felt a pressuring presence approaching the area. They've all halted and stare in the direction where the pressure is coming from. At the distance, the handsome yet cold appearance of the youngest marshal was seen but what left them speechless is that he is carrying someone within his embrace.
Covered in thick clothing, the young man possesses a skin tone and tinted hair color that is akin to snow. White and silvery. But unlike the pure whiteness of his hair, his eyes were like lava, crimson like those garnet gemstones.
Only those who knew smiled but those who didn't were shocked in disbelief and stunned at this picture. This is especially true for Navi Itri who believes that person was dead.
"I-I-Impossible! Didn't they said he is dead!!?" exclaimed Navi Itri. It seems exclaiming out of nowhere is hereditary after all.