Eternal Thief

In reply, Ronan said, "Of course, it's for our deal. Tower Master. I found something from my men back at the Palace."

"Oh? May I know the details?" Bodach's expression still was the same, but his voice carried a hint of sharpness.

Ace knew this was the most challenging part; if he wanted to convince Bodach, he had to conjure something he would believe.

Furthermore, Archie was essential to Bodach, so he might get suspicious of Ronan's request to return.

"I think someone in the domain had other plans for the participants, including the participants from our institute. So, I just wanted to make sure Archie returned safe. It will also show my sincerity." Ronan impassively stated.

Bodach didn't reply instantly and looked deeply at Ronan with his empty eyes as if he was mulling over something.

Ace kept his calm, but he was a little tense about this situation, he didn't want to say too much, or it might backfire.

Finally, Bodach spoke, "I won't question Your Highness's good intentions anymore. I'll approve three months' leave for Your Highness today, and you can contact someone to pick you up tomorrow."

Ace felt relieved when he heard this.

"It'll be splendid." Ronan impassively said and stood up. He didn't want to stay with Bodach for an extra moment.

Bodach also didn't stop Ronan, but just as he was about to walk away, Bodach's voice rang again, filled with a strange chinless, "Have a nice trip, your highness. I'll be waiting for your good news… for both our sakes."

Ace felt his heart turn cold when he felt a hint of horrifying killing intent for an instant!

'What a lunatic to show killing intent toward an Imperial Prince!' Ace never thought there would be such a person among demons who dared to threaten an imperial family member.

Nevertheless, the killing intent was just a warning, and even if Ronan took it as an offense, he couldn't do anything without any proof or unless Bodach directly acted.

He merely grunted coldly before storming away like real Ronan.

Bodach watched coldly as Ronan left with the lifting platform.

A rueful sigh escaped his mouth, and a frown appeared on his emotionless face, 'It seemed Fifth Prince might want to help Archie this time for my support. If he hadn't come, I might've found him myself in a few months….'

---

After Ace returned to the 73rd floor, he quickly returned to Ronan's quarters, which were a spacious courtyard.

He felt much better after he got out of that old ghost's presence, but he knew Bodach was nothing compared to what he might face in the imperial domain.

A golden communication cube appeared in Ace's hand at this moment, and he activated it.

Thereby, a hoarse voice rang from the cube, "Greeting Your Highness Fifth Prince, please state your emergency."

This cube was directly connected to the Imperial Demon Council's headquarters, and any demand from the Imperial Family Member outside the Imperial Domain will make through this method.

But all these requests were heard by high-level members of the Council so they could be put in motion at a minute's notice.

"Southern Council Minister, sent Black Demon to pick me up tomorrow morning from the Royal Demon Institute. I'm coming back for three months." Ronan stated in a commanding tone.

Black Demon was the birth guardian of Ronan, and every imperial family member had a birth guardian who protected them with their lives no matter what.

Furthermore, from Ronan, Ace discovered that there were four council ministers with a status just below the Elder Demons.

The person on the other end was the Second Demon Minister, the Southern Council Minister who handled requests from both Fourth and Fifth Imperial Princes.

Furthermore, Ace also got to know a piece of astonishing news about the Fourth Demon Minister. The Western Council Minister had perished in the hands of that corpse king.

But the imperial domain kept this report under tight wraps and even reinstated a dummy fourth demon minister, so no one knew the truth.

The Imperial Demon Family members had ears everywhere, and this matter was naturally known to them.

So, Ace was quite astonished when he thought just how powerful the mere corpse of an orb's guardian was and felt the chills just by thinking about the prowess of an alive guardian on the same level as the ice orb's guardian!

Southern Council Minister's hoarse voice rang again when he heard Ronan's command, "Do you have the permission of House Master?"

"I got the permission, and someone will contact you about it soon as well. I'm just giving you a heads up so you could send Black Demon, not someone else." He coolly stated.

"Very well, Your Highness, it's been decades since Her Imperial Majesty had seen you. She will be much delighted after getting this news." Southern Council Minister replied as his tone was like an elder this time.

Ronan merely snorted coldly, "I know." And cut off the connection.

Ace smiled wryly since he reacted according to Ronan's relationship with his family.

Ace knew Southern Council Minister was actually Fifth Price's Maternal Uncle and Empress's only elder brother!

The Demon Emperor only had one wife, who was the current Empress Consort and held high authority, only second to the Demon Emperor, and they both had six children!

However, unlike other warm parents, this pair was cold and indifferent to their children as they never interfered between their fights. Or it was just how an imperial family works.

Nevertheless, Ace knew the biggest obstacle in his way was actually the First Imperial Demon Prince Martin, the Second Imperial Demon Prince Reginald, who was actually none other than the person who triggered the chain mission and came after Ace in the outer provinces.

Lastly, the Third Princess was none other than Leona, who should be in the Royal Demon Institute but not right now. All because she was grounded after Ace exposed her scheme that day.

Leona was probably the biggest thorn in her siblings' way to ascension because she was the most talented between them all and the only child who wasn't actually ignored by their parents and have their favor!

That's why everyone was jealous of her except the sixth prince, who was still a child and naïve and hadn't suffered from Leona's schemes yet.

But after she got exposed by Ace and because of her, he was able to theft the life demon auction, how could she get away without scot-free?

Furthermore, Reginald also didn't let go of this chance to put all the blame on her for allowing that thief to steal the myriad hex manual and escape any responsibility!

She was then sent back to the imperial domain with Paul, whose whereabouts were still unknown as he had yet to appear from the Imperial Domain but from Ronna's sources, he was being tortured for breaking many rules.

As for Leona, no one knows what kind of punishment she received, but she never appeared in the public eye. She was rumored to be grounded by the furious Demon Emperor after being stripped of her every title, including the Imperial Princess!

This was definitely the windfall for these jealous, power-hungry brothers.

Nevertheless, Ronan's return might be seen as a provocation toward both princes, who were now more powerful than ever after Leona got out of the equation.

That's also why Ronan first suspected Leona wanted to assassinate him to make it look like those two princes had gone blinded by their meteoritic rise and wanted to eliminate the future trouble in one fell swoop.

Because only those two would have a reason to kill an Imperil Prince and capabilities.

This way, Leona might have a chance to come back when both princes lay low or at least slow their rise until the killer was found.

But he was wrong since it was Ace.

Anyhow, Ace knew those three might start scheming against Ronan, it still remained to be seen, but he knew the longer he played Ronna, the more his chance of exposure would grow.

Because, unlike his past victims, Ronan's identity was probably the most terrifying, and just a sliver of suspicion might be the end of him.

So, he had another plan which was the moment he entered the Imperial Domain. He would find another low-profile identity and let the actual prince out and let him handle those schemes himself.

That guy was under Freya's complete control, so he should use him instead of letting him stay and take a precious spot in his living thief's space.

They had already got all the essential information, so he was now utterly useless to him except for his life.

As for Winter, she would join him soon in the Imperial Domain as Archie.

Ace looked at the empty place, which was filled with dense soul Qi and his lips curled upward, 'I'm as ready as I could be for the Imperial Domain!'