Eternal Thief

"What are you talking about?" Alina looked at Ace's doubtful expression. She clearly remembered she had only left one note for Ace, and the content of that note didn't contain anything that he had just stated.

However, when she thought about how she was just a 2nd Qi Gate Realm cultivator, and Herman was a Qi Soul Manifestation Realm Expert, sneaking another note wasn't a big deal at all, and her eyes went widened with disbelief.

She quickly moved her hand towards the note Ace was holding and blurted, "Show it to me!"

But Ace was quicker and quickly retracted the note and said to her with a smile, "It's between me and him. Besides, now it's a matter of the past."

Thereby, he threw the black paunch and note back to Hermann, who caught it with a complex look and then sighed ruefully as he looked at the pouch and the note.

He finally spoke, "I was indeed short-sighted back then." His eyes went icy cold before that pouch and letter turned into silver ice, and then he closed his fist, crushing them and then opening back. Fine silver ice particles scatter in the air.

"But even if I were given another chance, I would've done the same because some things are inevitable." He uttered impassively while looking directly into Ace's scornful eyes.

Alina couldn't take it anymore, and her anger and deep hidden resentment finally flair out as she questioned Herman with indignation, "What did you do and why!? Don't you want to see me happy and sacrifice me to the Blood Ancestor? Am I just a sacrificial pawn to you all!?"

Herman's eyes widened with disbelief, "How could you think of such a thing? Blood Ancestor just wants to take you as her disciple and pass her legacy to you!"

At this moment, Ace stopped Alina and said coldly, "Did you really think that an old monster who's lived for tens of thousands of years didn't have any ulterior motives?

"Well, I guess your vision is limited because you have already lost your will to strive for greatness. Instead, you guys have fully submitted to Blood Ancestor's rule and considered her an omnipotent existence.

"Nonetheless, I can't blame you guys since you hadn't seen the true schemes and horrors of the powerful existences like me."

"Heh, said the person who can only hide in the shadows and stoop to be a petty thief. If you are so great, why don't you just go and face the Blood Ancestor? If you can come out alive, I or anyone, as a matter of fact, won't have anything against you." Herman scoffed with derision, "Tell me, are you capable, O' great Sky Stealer?"

"Truly a frog in the well." Winter couldn't help but snicker. She knew better than anyone, just why Ace couldn't be anything else but a thief.

Furthermore, she was also once a pawn in someone else's scheme, and only because of Ace's appearance did she manage to escape. No one had any idea just how much potential Ace had. But with his backer, eventually, he will be able to stand toe to toe with the most powerful people in this world. It was just a matter of time.

Alina also felt the same way, especially after learning about a fabled god behind Ace, not to mention once that menace of a devil reached her full potential, there would probably be no one in the world who could stand in Ace's way.

But she couldn't just say it since it was Ace's secret, and he had warned her never to discuss it with anyone or far powerful existence, then the Blood Ancestor will be after them.

Yet, just as Ace stated, Herman and anyone else in his position have completely succumbed to their fate of being only subordinate.

"Haha, you're correct, I'm not a match for Blood Ancestor, and I'm just a petty thief." Ace chuckled as he shamelessly said, "Furthermore, even if I had the power to go toe to toe with her, why would I even do that when I can just steal her everything? It's more fun that way.

"Oh well, you won't understand until you feel it yourself, so there is no point in talking to a wall. Let's get down to business then, shall we?" Ace coldly stated, which made the girls curious about what he was talking about.

"So, are you going to kill me? Because without doing so, you can't leave with Alina." Herman declared as his aura rose. The deadly determination in his eyes was as clear as day. He was ready to die!

"Why are you making things difficult?" Alina couldn't stand still as she didn't want Ace to fight with Herman.

Despite his stubborn act, she knew he loved her like his daughter and would never do anything to harm her. But he was loyal to a fault towards the Silver Ice Clan, and sometimes, this sort of thing becomes the reason for conflicts, just like right now.

"Alina, I said, stay out of it. It's between him and me." Ace looked at her meaningfully, and he could clearly sense her anxiety.

She didn't want Herman to get hurt, but she also didn't want to obstruct him. Yet, now she had to choose. He had never been in such a position before with the people around him, or he just didn't interact with people like Alina, people who had too much to lose.

Now, he started to understand why he was always able to move forward without having any weaknesses until Alina came into the picture.

But he knew how to handle it and also not make Alina choose since it would be too cruel for her, and he couldn't bear to watch her in such agony.

Ace then looked at Herman as the old hunter's eyes were shimmering in icy silver sheen, but he didn't show any intention to attack.

He said, "There is no need to go that far when we can easily solve all this. I have a suggestion that is a win-win for everyone. I wonder if you are willing to hear it or, trust me, if you go this way, you don't have a snowball chance of doing anything to me, and we will only hurt Alina in the process even more and make her resent you."

Herman's eyes shimmered with surprise as he squinted them and looked at Alina, who was looking at him with hopeful eyes, clearly implying to just listen to Ace.

In the end, he had to listen, "Tell me!"