Eternal Thief

However, Ace didn't get too distracted as he frowned gloomily, 'If she's had such a status and backing, then how the hell she fell into this mess?'

"What else?" Ace asked Winter with a grave expression.

Winter divulged, "Although I don't know the entire detail yet, for some reason, she was captured on the human continent by their Ancestor. The strangest thing is the Silver Ice Lord had made an announcement himself that his daughter had been caught because she's related to you.

"Not only that, but a month prior, before you contacted me, the Ice Lord even announced that if you didn't appear on the human continent in 5 years and surrender, Alina will be executed publicly!"

Ace's eyes instantly turned ruthless when he heard it, as a sharp, murderous aura suddenly gushed out from his person like a raging tilde wave.

"Who captured her?" His voice was exempt from emotions.

Even Winter, on the other side, felt shuddered when she heard Ace's voice; she quickly answered, "It is the top expert of the Human Race, Dream Shatter Ancestor!"

Shock surfaced in his cold eyes when he heard this familiar name, "Dream Shatter? Are you sure?"

"Yes. Dream Shatter had announced this himself after the Ice Lord's statement, and his declaration is similar to Ice Lord." Winter's voice was grim, "You have to think it through because anyone with the 'Ancestor title' is the strongest person in our world.

"Furthermore, to be called an Ancestor means you are only half a step from reaching the fabled eighth realm. To this day, there are only five known Ancestors, and all of them belong to the top five races.

"Lastly, the Devil, Demon, and Blood Ancestors are the most mysterious, and they're known as the oldest ancestors in our world; no one knows if they are alive or not to this day, but no one dares to find out. As for Dream Shatter, he is the youngest.

"But from my family head, I heard that Dream Shatter is as dangerous as the top three ancestors if they are alive. I had never thought he was still alive since he last appeared thousands of years ago!"

Ace felt his heart turn cold when he heard this, 'I have never done anything to offend him? Could it be he's after me because of my involvement with Empty Dream, and he somehow found out about our deal? It's quite possible if he's as strong as Winter describe him to me.'

The more Ace thought about it, the more he felt it was the case.

Ace took a deep breath to calm his chaotic emotions and coldly asked, "Why aren't hunters doing anything and letting him step on their faces like this?

"Even if that Ice Lord is ruthless to his own flesh and blood, but by letting Dream Shatter capture a Hunter Princess then announcing it himself, isn't this a blunt act of bowing his head to a race lower status than themselves?

"What are other hunters doing, are they gone idiots to let others step over their dignity without any consequences?"

Ace felt rage when he thought about how Ice Lord, who should be Alina's father, was ruthless and had no backbone. He suddenly thought about how Alina had been living in the forest on low-level lands with her grandpa and spent her entire childhood there.

Although she never told him about the details, she always put on a sad expression whenever he asked her about it, so he stopped prying.

Now, he felt there should be another reason for her to be present in the low-level lands and living so miserably and almost dying because of her parent's negligence when she was awakening.

He took the risk to steal from Billy's store all for her sake, and if her so-called grandpa hadn't shown up that day, the situation might've been much different. Or if he hadn't acquired the System, she could've died.

The more he thinks about it, the angrier he becomes. But he also knew that if he hadn't offended everyone around, she might've never fallen into this mess, and he was still living in that city like a mortal.

Since Alina came back for him, they could've been united if he hadn't walked on this path.

Still, he would never regret his past choices. His own parents had abandoned him, and he wouldn't be able to find out about it if he had remained what he was back then.

"I told you this is the strangest part of all this. As for the other four major Hunter Families' stances, they're completely on board with this.

"You might not realize it, but you are a walking treasure trove right now. Not because you stole treasures but because of how you have done it. If I hadn't joined you, even I might've been tempted to get my hands on you.

"So, if I'm not wrong when the deadline arrives, there will not be just human experts who were laying in wait for you, but other races will definitely want to take part in to get your secret. Especially the demon race; they had already started to move, and I'm sure Demon Emperor would personally make his way there.

"That's why I'm advising you not to go there. It is a death trap. All of our lives are on the line here, not just yours! But if Goddess can help you, then I'm not worried."

Ace fell into silence, even though he knew it was a death trap, but he was unwilling to abandon Alina, or he knew he would never be the same if something happened to her because of him.

As for the help of the 'goddess,' he knew better than anyone that it was even more impossible since there was no goddess at all. The System was not something he could command freely; it was the exact opposite!

'If I could just become strong enough!' Ace felt extremely helpless like never before. He knew in the grand picture of the Golden Sky World he was still insignificant.

"Alright, I'll think about it. Keep an eye on the situation for me until I return. If possible, I hope you can go to the Azure Wind Continent and infiltrate their ranks. But if you don't want to, then I completely understand." Ace sighed in the end.

He was already quite grateful that Winter had acquired so much crucial information in a short span of time despite the looming danger of the demons.

But he knew Winter was perfect for this job.

Winter sorted in exasperation, "Fine, but the reward better be good!"

Ace felt warmth when Winter agreed, "Alright, I'll try to join you as soon as possible."

"You better!" Winter scoffed before ending the house call.

Ace then released Winter's reward and then issued another mission.

---

Inside a luxurious room,

A demoness wearing the royal demon army's uniform was sitting on a comfortable futon.

Suddenly a knock rang on the closed door.

The demoness pursed her lips, "What is it?"

A respectful voice sounded, "Pardon my intrusion, Fleet Captain; the ships are ready for the voyage to Azure Wind Continent. The 1st Royal Fleet Admiral had summoned all the Fleet Captains for the briefing!"

The demoness' eyes shone with a hint of happiness, "Alright, wait for a moment. I'll be there!"

At this moment, a dark projection suddenly appeared in front of her eyes.

______

[Scouting Mission: Find information on Alina Silver has been completed!]

-Reward: 500,000 House Points

--

[Winter Fox House Point(s): 509,220

---

[Thief House Leader (Ace White) has issued a Condition Mission]

[Condition Mission: With every complete condition, the corresponding reward of the condition will be released!]

---

-Mission Introduction: Infiltration!

- Condition (1): Infiltrate the Azure Wind Continent!

- Condition (2): Infiltrate Dream Shatter's Organization!

- Condition (3): Find Alina's whereabouts!

- Condition (4): Map the target area and the threats!

- Condition (5): Infiltrate the place where Alina's being held, hostage!

- Condition (6): Escape with Alina!

--

-Time: 5 years

--

-Reward(s):

-Condition (1): 25,000 House Points

- Condition (2): 50,000 House Points

- Condition (3): 100,000 House Points

- Condition (4): 250,000 House Points

- Condition (5): 500,000 House Points

- Condition (6): 5,000,000 House Points

--

-Punishment (If not able to complete the first two conditions minimum): Call House Leader Ace: My King for 100 Years!

______

Winter's elated face instantly contorted when she saw the punishment and couldn't help but ground her teeth, 'How?! Did he guess that I had predicted he would give me this type of mission next, and now he's making things difficult for me!'

The more she thought about it, the more she felt it was the case, and her fear of Ace increased.

'I'll die before calling you My King, you scoundrel!' She thought with indignation.

She even wanted to call Ace back to berate him, but she held back as she imagined Ace's smug face. He will definitely tease her for being seen through so easily. So, she can only stomp her feet in vexation.

However, what she didn't know was that to set up this condition mission with six conditions, Ace had to put up a punishment with the minimum requirement of 2 complete conditions, and the rewards were also at the limit set by the System for this mission.

So, in the end, he made this punishment out of whim since he didn't want to make it a severe punishment. He had no idea that Winter had already predicted this type of mission coming.

It was all but a misunderstanding!