Eternal Thief

“The ancient remnant vanished?” Dread Duchess’s frown worsened the moment Ace revealed the ’truth’ about the ancient remnant.

Ace knew that his explanation was ridiculous, but this was the only way to make sense of everything. He also knew that Dread Duchess had no way to confirm the authenticity except by personally investigating the mines, and even then, she wouldn’t find anything.

“Indeed, your highness, the moment I used the item given to me by my master, the ancient remnant vanished right in front of my eyes, and the next thing I realized, I was very close to the entrance of the mines, and in front of him was an extremely powerful Abyssal Beast,” Ace told with a hint of lingering fear like someone who had been traumatized.

“If I hadn’t used the method leave behind my master to preserve my life, I wouldn’t have escaped so easily, and I couldn’t thank you enough for the talisman you granted me because it also played a vital part in survival.”

He sounded grateful, but seeing the Dread Duchess’s unconvinced eyes, he knew he had to ’show’ her something more believable.

“To verify the authenticity of my claims, I don’t mind your highness checking my storage treasures. Please feel free to inspect everything. I have nothing related to the ancient remnant or any malicious intention towards your highness’ territory, nor do my master.”

Dread Duchess deeply looked at ’Nomad’ and the suspicion in her eyes lessened by a significant degree, but didn’t vanish entirely.

After all, she still couldn’t believe everything he said, not to mention this whole matter was related to the ’Moonless Wandering King’, and even if there was some hidden intent, she had to confront the Abyssal King, which she couldn’t do, nor was she qualified.

Furthermore, she still thought that the Moonless Wandering King had helped her expose the fake Khazar’s schemes and the group behind him, which could also be considered as compensation for the Black Hermit Mines.

“Heh, little Nomad, you don’t need to worry about anything.” Dread Duchess chuckled as if she didn’t suspect him at all, “I never asked for you to show me your storage treasures because I trust you, and your exalted master.”

’I guess she’s not willing to fall out with the Moonless Wandering King, yet not before she could fully confirm the latter’s intention, or before she could discuss this with the council.

’Nonetheless, it has nothing to do with me now, and I’m just a helpless pawn in the hands of the Moonless Wandering King. However, now that I’ve caused such a scene here, I’m sure the Evernight Council will monitor me closely in the Evernight Sanctuary…’ Ace thought bitterly as he knew he can’t walk without any scrutiny anymore.

But Ace didn’t regret what he did, especially after he got the inheritance of the Ancestor of Profane Chains and personally experienced its terrifying power over anything related to Sin Law.

Ace was sure that if the Evernight Council were to learn about this legacy, they might not even care about the Moonless Wandering King anymore, and do everything to get that Law Inheritance from him.

“Thank you for your trust, your highness. If there’s anything you want to know, I’m willing to tell you except things related to my master because honestly, even I’m clueless about my master’s actions.” He stated this wryly, with a hint of helplessness.

At that moment, the Dread Duchess turned away, her gaze momentarily distant, as if watching something only she could see, “Each time, you amuse me, Nomad.”

Ace felt a chill down his spine for some reason when he heard that comment before he felt her tone harden, snapping like frost, “Rest well. We’ll be going to the Evernight Sanctuary once I’ve done with the Black Hermit City!”

She raised her hand, and the runes in the cocoon shimmered brighter, reinforcing the seal while flooding Ace’s body with rejuvenating Qi.

Ace felt a burning sensation, but it was also intoxicating; the pure, abyssal essence drawn from a Half-Abyssal King was both a medicine and a poison, yet Ace endured without revealing his actual condition.

At that moment, before she turned to leave, she paused, eyes still on him, “Oh, and Nomad…”

Her words slid like silk, but the warning beneath them was undeniable, “I hope there won’t be any more such surprises, or I might have to punish you…hehehe~.”

Her aura flared once, and the chamber shuddered; then she vanished, dissolving into shadow as silently as she had come, leaving a trail of melodious laughter filled with venomous charm.

Ace remained silent, as he didn’t dare say anything, and looked at the live fate map. After ensuring that the Duchess had really left, he finally sighed in relief.

’I’m not planning on doing anything at all…’ Ace could only lament at his good luck, which was also bad because he always ended up causing a huge commotion.

After successfully tricking the Dread Duchess, Ace finally felt relieved and decided to finish another unfinished matter.

He commanded, “Call Eva!”

—

At this moment, the Dread Duchess’s figure reemerged within the forbidden vault like a storm returning to its birthplace. The air warped in her wake, and the chains that still bound Khazar’s mutilated shell rattled faintly, as if shivering before her approach.

She halted as the veil whispered against her lips and exhaled softly. The sound was neither relief nor fatigue; it was irritation, cold and simmering.

“Moonless Wandering King,” She murmured, voice carrying like a low hymn through the stone, “Everything is now becoming like riddles, just what is his objective? Now, even Nomad’s appearance and entry into the Evernight Sanctuary seemed a well-planned step…”

Her devilish eyes glowed faintly eerie, and for a moment, the dead light of the chamber pulsed with her thoughts.

The Duchess had ruled for over ten thousand years, carving her dominion through endless deceit, rebellion, and wars of abyssal blood. Yet, even she could not pierce the depth of the Moonless Wandering King’s machinations. Every thread she tried to follow only looped back into shadow.

The Myriad Obsidian Kingdom was supposed to be her domain, and yet, lately, it felt like someone else was rewriting its rules.

At that moment, she turned toward the hidden door she had left unopened before, her earlier curiosity now tempered by purpose.

“I’ll have my truth,” She muttered, her tone sharpening with a predatory edge, “Even if I must drag it from the bones of this place.”

With a single flick of her wrist, abyssal Qi coursed through the chamber, and the runes along the frame of the secret door flared alive again.

The sigils, now attuned to her Qi, responded obediently, and the heavy door began to grind open. From beyond, a current of air slithered out, cold and metallic, laced with a scent like burnt rot.

Without hesitation, the Duchess stepped forward into the dark beyond!