Eternal Thief

The central area of fox mountain,

Ace was escorted by another soul realm fox to this dark prison, where he saw small cages and all the other demons and earthen trolls behind separate cages.

He was also locked separately, but the others were still unconscious because of the ice, and he could also sense these cages were special and there wasn't any Qi inside, or he can't circulate his earthen Qi as well.

Which made him even more curious about what the fox ancestor got in that ruin to make all this.

After locking him up, the fox left and eerily silent arose in the prison.

However, Ace wasn't bothered by it since he was completely fine and if he wanted these cages won't be able to stop him, but he was afraid Winter would be watching, so he remained static.

Out of habit, he opened the fate map to check where he was, and he was astonished when he saw the silver fate map has turned gray again!

"Moira, what happened?" He asked, he didn't get anything that he needed, so did this map change?

Moira replied with uncertainty, "I think the information Sir Ace got from that fox is what this silver fate map was indicating toward."

Ace's eyes narrowed. Now that he thought about it, the accurate information about any elemental orb was really worth a light silver opportunity for him.

"It seemed the case. Well, this is also good now. I don't need to worry about searching in this place. But I have to find a way to leave this place. Can you sense if someone is watching us?" Ace questioned with anticipation.

He knew asking the system this kind of meager question would only result in silence; he knew from experience, so he didn't bother to ask it.

"No, my grade is not high enough. I'm ashamed." Moira apologized.

"Don't worry about it. I don't think that old fox would bother to keep an eye on me after branding me with her soul brand." Said, Ace.

'She also seemed in a hurry about something after I told her about the Blade Demon King, but she wasn't overly worried. She knew her presence was still a secret, so only Blade Demon King would come, and he then had to go through that ruin she was entrapped within for five hundred years.

'Maybe that's why she wasn't worried about the demon king and was confident in getting out of here. Then there's still us. I don't know what she's planning, but it's nothing but bad.'

Ace fell into deep thought, but he still didn't take any action and waited for two days before making his move.

---

The lionheart shop, on the top floor.

Freya was looking at Aliya with a sharp glint in her eyes. She said, "How many did you find?"

Aliya respectfully said, "There are eighteen we could exploit. But I don't think it's a good idea…"

"Just do as I say. Don't worry about the backlash." Freya cut her short and changed the topic. "What about the 4 blade clans?"

Aliya bit her lips as she answered, "All of them show great interest in our proposition, but they want Feng's whereabouts first before they are willing to cooperate. But why did we need them?"

She couldn't help but ask in a doubtful tone. She didn't know why, but after that meeting with that demon, she could feel her mistress had changed somehow.

The most noticeable and vexed change was she starting to steal from the workers and then, strangely, she would return their belongings.

Furthermore, Aliya had to admit, that Freya was excellent at it as well. As the first victim, she knew it very well.

Nevertheless, she didn't dare to refute and let her do as she please as long as she returned those stolen goods, it was fine.

But the things she has been doing for the past months were completely out of her character, and it risked their entire operation being exposed if they failed or made any mistake.

That was why she was concerned.

Freya looked at Aliya with meaningful eyes. Although Aliya was completely loyal to her and can't betray her, she still had goodwill toward her since she was the very first one to follow her.

She sighed and said, "I can't tell you. But trust me, nothing would happen to us with any of this."

Aliya couldn't only nod and gave up. She knew Freya would never reveal her intentions unless she wanted, so it was meaningless to persuade her.

At this moment,

Freya's eyes suddenly widen slightly with a hint of astonishment, and she looked at Aliya and said, "I'll tell you when to approach the clans. Leave for now."

Aliya bow and left Freya alone.

'Is it time?' She thought as the main communication cube appeared in her hand, which connected with Ace.

She just received the notification about a mission, which contents were quite simple: 'Contact Me!'

Ace had told her he would contact her when he needed her this way, so she wasn't startled by it.

But she was still astonished at just how continent this mission function was.

The cube shimmered in her hand before Ace's voice rang. "Fate?"

Freya coolly replied, "Thievish!"

This was the secret phrase 'Thievish Fate' selected by Ace to make sure no other used these cubes.

Ace said, "I contact you to tell you there's a changed in plan."

Freya's eyes narrowed and said glumly, "What kind of change? You know, we can't just change plans because you feel like it? Our entire organization can be jeopardized because of it!"

Ace's apologetic voice rang. "I know, but it won't change the main point. On the contrary, I think the organization might receive some benefits because of it."

"Alright, tell me." She said, with indecision.

"I'm currently apprehended by an ancient beast with royal bloodline!" Ace's voice was grim.

Freya exclaimed, "What?! Are you sure? It's an ancient beast, not some demonic beast?"

Her reaction was expected because this was just too unbelievable for her.

'First, Ace and now ancient beast? Did the demon race start to decline?' She couldn't help but think like this.

But it wasn't her main worry right now, it was actually Ace's being apprehended!

Because she knew how scary Ace's ability of concealment was, and anyone who can capture him wasn't just a nobody.

"I'm sure. I talked with it and there's an entire colony of the same species here." Ace told.

Freya's expression sank, "Then why are you able to contact me? Didn't they take your storage ring or lock you somewhere special?"

"Don't worry, I have my means, and I'm not doing it in someone else control so, don't think too much into it. I can't be enslaved. You should know better." Ace assured.

He was afraid this woman would overthink it, and then it would be troublesome for him.

Freya indeed just thought of this possibility, but now that Ace remind her, she quickly brushed it off. Who can enslave someone blessed by a god, right?

She completely believed him and said, "Alright, what do you need me to do? If there's an ancient beast colony, we didn't need to do anything ourselves and let the demons take care of it."

Ace's jolly voice sounded, "Heh, I knew you would understand my intentions without me explaining them. But this beast isn't easy to deal with. It's controlling an army of mindless demons, probably over ten thousand, and trust me when I say they are scary when it comes to fighting in their own territory."

"It seemed you got captured by your own accord since you know so much about them. I was worried about nothing." Freya scoffed when she thought of how Ace fooled her, and a hint of resentment flashed past her eyes.

Ace chuckled, "Hehe, don't flatter me. It's far more convenient this way to achieve my first goal. Just make sure you arouse enough attention toward this place."

"I understand. But I need something more specific to arouse those eccentrics' attention." Freya reply.

Ace's confident voice rang, "No problem, just tell them this beast has got the intact inheritance of an old Demon Emperor and is now planning to escape with it from the ruin. Would it be enough to gain their attention?"

Freya's eyes shimmered with shock. "Are you serious?"

"Of course not, but when they see the soul brand technique in its possession. I'm sure they won't believe anything but their own eyes, right?" Ace's voice was filled with evil intent.

"Soul Brand Technique?!" Freya was shocked. She naturally knows about this lost ancient technique.

However, her expression changed further when she thought of something, "YOU… could it be even this technique wasn't effective on you?!"

"Hah, just be quick. I think it was about to succeed in whatever it was doing for hundreds of years. We'll reap enormous benefits with this borrowed knife."

Freya's eyes shimmered in elation as she said, "Don't worry, I know what to do. Give me more information about this beast."

"Alright…!"