Eternal Thief



After Alina's abrupt question, Ace looked at her as the sunset was now over and darkness crept on the horizon. A strange silence took place between the two.

Alina's question was something many people should be wondering about in the entire world, and Ace never told anyone why he was walking on this path of no return when he could simply be far more than just a hateful thief. 

If Alina had asked this question fifteen years ago, Ace won't hesitate to say that it was because of her that he wanted to become a thief so he could save her life. 

But now even Ace didn't know why he was willing to do all this and be a thief. He could simply say it was because of some outer existence manipulation, such as the system, but he knew himself far better than before. 

He knew if he didn't want to, the system couldn't force him to do anything. Furthermore, he just needed to complete a mission, and then he could just remain idle and live his life peacefully. Who could stop him? 

So, the answer that Ace has right now is something Ace of 17 years ago would never have thought he would have. 

Alina felt a strange unfamiliarity from Ace for the first time after she revealed her question, and now that she looked at his contemplated expression, she felt she didn't know him at all. He appeared to be a completely different person than in the past because the Ace she knew would answer her honestly without thinking twice. 

Yet now, Ace seems to be carefully measuring his words. She even thought that she had stepped out of her boundary by asking that question. 

She wasn't a fool, and after she learned about Ace from Dream Shatter, she always had that thought that she had probably played the biggest part in Ace being a thief, and that's why she felt even more guilty. 

She had almost forgotten that they were no longer in the past and just asked that question in the moment of heat when she clearly wasn't prepared to receive that answer which might break her mentally. 

Alina bit her lower lip behind her veil in frustration as that silence was just weighing down on her like a mountain, but she didn't take it back as she wanted Ace to blame her for what she had done. Maybe only then could she repent for her selfishness and sins!

Ace finally smiled bitterly as he spoke, "You always asked the most difficult questions. Let's see, first, I might be at the wrong place at the wrong time, but I'd be glad if I were. Thereby, I was given a choice, and because of that choice, I became a thief to save my little sister from dying. 

"At that time, even I never thought about I was capable of doing such an immoral thing as thievery. But you would be amazed to learn that desperation could make you do things that you can't even begin to imagine you were capable of." 

Alina's felt her heart stabbed by thousands of knives when she heard what she was afraid of hearing the most. 

But Ace continued in a stern tone, "But as time passed, and I started to walk on this loathsome path, I've learned many things about the so-called righteousness, reputation, fame, fickle morals… and reached a conclusion that being a thief wasn't so bad at all. 

"At some point, I started to enjoy it, the thrill of walking on the edge of a blade, the mirth of finding the treasury and robbing it clean. The ecstasy came after knowing just how much I have theft and finding some hidden treasures unexpectedly, learning about people and this world's secrets. 

"The best part is when you're walking among those exact people who are bloody and searching for you without leaving a stone turn. There's nothing better than watching them crumble when they know they can't capture me, and their generations of treasures are gone in oblivion just like that and right from under their noises. The same feelings I had when I was just a helpless mortal." 

His smile turned dark and cruel at this point which sent a sudden chill of baffled Alina's spine. She now felt she was looking at a completely different person with twisted morals and personality. 

"So, never even think for a second that what I am is because of you. You were indeed the trigger, but this is what I meant to be from the start, a thief, nothing else, and I will be one again even if I have another chance." Ace stated in an imposing manner as strange darkness roamed through deep into his eyes, making them almost seem pitch black. 

Alina was completely gobsmacked and somewhat paralyzed by Ace's expression. She had a strange illusion that darkness was about to consume her entirely. 

But it only lasted for a split second before Ace's twisted expression returned to a gentle one, and he sighed, "That's why I'm an adventurous thief, not a boring cultivator. I love traveling to all sorts of places, so it's a plus. Now I think you owe me an explanation as well, right?" 

Alina was snapped out of her stupor as she looked at Ace's gentle smile with uncertainty. She could still feel her back sweaty, so she knew it wasn't an illusion, and she had just talked with the infamous elusive thief Sky Stealer, not Ace. 

Nevertheless, she now felt somewhat relieved after she heard Ace's unexpected and twisted reasons to be what he was, and he clearly didn't plan to change himself, not for even her. 

Now that Ace had answered her question, she knew it was now her turn, and she knew exactly what explanation Ace wanted. Despite wanting to say something, she decided to keep it for last, and she really owed him the truth about herself. 

She finally started to speak after arranging her thoughts, "You want to know why I was there, in the land of cities, so far away from my home and parents. The truth is…!"