[You… what? Are, are you serious?!]
"I'm not joking, Uncle Sanchez. It's really me."
[But… weren't you taken to Tartarus…? Wait. Recently, I got some news that somebody caused chaos in Tartarus… don't tell me that..?!]
Elias sighed and directly cut to the point.
"That's right. I escaped Tartarus."
The voice on the other side of the phone was silent for a while, utterly speechless. A momentary silence took place in the conversation before the voice spoke again.
[...I'm glad. Are you alright? Sigh, this is all too sudden! I don't know what to think. You really are reckless, but at least you're fine now. Where are you right now and who are you with?]
"I'm not sure. But I'm in a village called Aurora Village. I'm with the Five Musketeers."
[Oh? You're with Donato and the rest? That's reassuring. I believe in their strength to keep you safe. As for that village… I'm not sure. I'll ask my subordinates whether they know where that place is.]
"I appreciate it, Uncle Sanchez. I've called you because I wanted your help. First, have you gotten any news about Swain? We weren't able to escape with him."
[Don't mention it. It's the least I owe you after what happened. As for Swain… well I don't know what happened but… he's dead. The United Government Alliance just announced it earlier. But don't worry, your escape wasn't announced to prevent unrest and chaos among the masses.]
Elias sighed in relief. As he had thought, as much as possible the united government alliance want to capture them secretly, rather than to hunt for them publicly.
That course of action would cause massive unrest and chaos, especially when the prison hasn't been broken in a hundred years since its creation.
[Is there anything else? Don't hold back, Little Elias. It's the least I owe to your late father, my brother.]
"That's right, there's another matter. Since I'm an exile now, I hope you can help me forge a new identity."
[Got it. What's the name? I'll ask my connections about the best forger in the underworld so you don't have to worry about it. But it may take some time.]
"Elias Corleone. Name it, Elias Corleone. It's fine if it takes some time. I'm not in a rush. I'll stay at this place for a while… it's related to my second request."
[Don't hold back, tell me what you want. I can give you anything, just say it. Sigh... I couldn't do anything back then.]
Considering the identity of his Uncle Sanchez, Elias didn't doubt that in the slightest. Anything could very well mean anything in the world.
"It's rather simple. I would like you to enroll me in the Arcane Academy entrance examination that will happen in three months using the forged identity."
[Oh… that. You just reminded me. That's not a problem. Coincidentally, your cousin will also attend that academy, I can help you two enroll. Is that why you asked me to forge you a new identity?]
"Sort of."
[Consider it done. Anything else?]
"Nothing for the moment."
[Do you want me to pick you up?]
"No. Let's wait for that until my new identity arrives."
After that, a momentary silence took place between them. After a while, the voice on the other side of the phone broke the silence with a heavy sigh.
[Little Elias… I'm…goddamit… I'm really sorry. You must hate me. I… I couldn't help your father that night… I couldn't take you from them that night… I couldn't do anything at all. I'm… sorry for not being able to help you.]
"..."
[...I'm sorry. I promise I'll repay everything back to you. Even if it costs me my life.]
Elias wasn't able to respond. He could say it was fine, but would it remove the guilt and regret of inability and inaction?
No.
No words could ever remove it.
After a while, feeling that the call had gone long enough, Elias looked at the sky. He broke the silence and muttered.
"It's getting late. Before I end the call, I want to ask about my… uhm, no, nothing. Never mind… forget about it."
[...Your sister is fine. I know what you wanted to ask. She's fine. I promise you that nothing will happen to her as long as she's under my care. As your uncle, she's also my responsibility. Do you want to meet her? I can let you do that.]
Elias was silent for a while before muttering.
"Thank you… but no, not right now."
[...If you say so, Little Elias.]
"I'll end the call, Uncle Sanchez. I'm just borrowing a phone. I'll call you again when I need you for something."
[...Alright, take care. Elias. Be safe.]
Elias pressed the screen and ended the call. After the call, he didn't immediately go back to the house, he continued to stand in his position, staring at the nightly moon and starry sky.
It was complicated. He wanted to meet his sister, but at the same time, he was scared of meeting his sister. After all, only the emotions and memories remained, he was no longer the same person.
'I'm afraid of getting attached to this world too much.'
Elias realized this and chuckled self-deprecatingly.
If he could, he would choose to abandon his current identity and do things in his own. However, the main quest of the system prevented that.
One way or another, Elias Vito Castellano was tied to his identity. The system, his family, his subordinates, his fluctuating emotions...
It no longer matter if he could accept his identity—it was the only way to live. And if it took grasping at the edge of knife to live, he'll damn well stab his palm to that knife.
At this moment, a gentle voice suddenly came from behind him.
"This is Alysa. Forgive me for disturbing you, Sir. Elias but the dinner is ready."
Elias was silent for a moment before nodding. After a while, he turned around and walked inside the old village chief's house.
***
Capital City, Sanchez Family.
In a large multi-luxury villa, the home of the Sanchez family, one of the six great noble families of the united-alliance government.
If there were the Five Great Families of the underworld, in counterpart, there were the Six Noble Families of the overworld.
In the entire United government alliance, these Six Noble Families had the highest status in the entire world!
Their prestige and power were unmatched!
Aside from the President of the United Government Alliance and the King of the Truensoest empire, these six noble families were the most renowned.
Sancho Sanchez, the head of the Sanchez Family, stood up and looked through the mirror in his own room.
"... My brother, Andolinio, whether you rest in heaven or hell, be at peace. I've got both of your children under my care."
Sancho muttered to himself. A large smile was plastered on his face while his eyes flashed with sorrow.
While he was standing by himself, a knock echoed on the door.
Sancho didn't turn around and simply ordered.
"Come in."
At that moment, the door opened and a tall figure with long black hair and a monocle in his eye walked into the room.
"You called for me, Sir?"
"Sebastian…"
Sancho slowly murmured while looking through the mirror, observing the moonlight outside. It was a good night.
"Contact the greatest forger in the underworld. Tell them I have a personal request. I'll pay anything they want as long as the product is the best."
"...Is there anything else, sir?"
"Find a place called Aurora Village. I need it at once, use any resources needed to find it. That is all, you may go."
"By your orders, Sir."
Sebastian nodded and immediately took action. He left the room and closed the door behind gently.
After he left, Sancho was silent for a long while as he stared at the starry sky, unknown what he was thinking.
"My brother…"
After a while, Sancho muttered to himself and turned around. He looked at a picture frame of a family—'The Castellano Family'.
"...Rest in peace. You got yourself a dragon of a son."