Eternal Thief

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[A new thief house mission has been issued!]

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[Thief House Mission Upgrade Mission!]

-Introduction: All the thief house members have become Intermediate Thieves and Veteran Members! Complete this mission to upgrade the Thief House to unlock the pathway toward the heavens!

-Requirement: Complete 50,000,000 House Point worth of Missions issued by your House Leader (Ace White). 

-Your (Faceless Thief) Progress: 0/50,000,000

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-Time: ???

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-Reward (1): Thief House Upgrade!

-Reward (2): Depend on Your (Faceless Thief) Performance!

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-Mission Fail Punishment: Kicked out of Thief House!

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Winter looked at the panel before her in a daze as she was busy cultivating when it appeared abruptly. 

Appalled, she instantly shouted, "Ace White! What is this all about?" 

Ace, who was also mulling over this sudden mission integration, looked towards Winter as she could sense her anxiety. 

"Did you receive a mission?" He asked with a frown. 

"So, you know! Why are we given this mission right after we proved our qualification to Goddess? Its punishment is our certain death!" She yelled with a hint of fear as she knew what it meant to be kicked out of the thief house. 

Furthermore, she knew how difficult it was to find a thievery worth 10 million house points, yet now they have to do 50,000,000! 

This was asking them to die, and she even felt it was happening deliberately. 

'So, that's what house reset means? Kicking out all the house members?' Ace grimaced as it was completely unexpected, and he knew the system was being system again, ruthless!

"Like you, I only found out just now. The previous mission was for your qualification, which led to this final mission to upgrade our thief house. Think about it: do you want your rewards without doing anything? The thief house is a place where you have to prove yourself constantly. 

"I'm not different than you. If I don't prove myself from time to time again, I'll suffer the same fate. Or do you think I got my heaven-defying talent for free? However, I can promise you that as long as it's in my power, I'll help you guys achieve this. I'm not abandoning you." Ace sternly stated as he suddenly received a house call from Freya and felt a headache coming over. 

Winter fell into silence. She was still disbelieving that Ace had a talent for cultivating marital and soul paths, and he had to go through that terrifying heavenly punishment every time he had a major breakthrough. 

Truth be told, after that day, she completely forgets about surpassing him and even has respect for him. Now, seeing this mission, she started to realize that the goddess was not as benevolent as she had thought. 

It was a relationship of give and take, and they all were nothing but pawns who were being nurtured for something big. They all have to prove themselves again and again for power, and it is just the start of their journey. 

That was the most straightforward and brutal truth of the world they lived in! 

"Stay put. I need to sort it out with others before we start." Ace said before he accepted the call. 

Just as he thought, Freya was also pissed and appalled by this mission. 

"Do you know how difficult it is to perform 10 million worth of thievery? I tell you, I stole the treasury of Sky Fire Clan and ended up with 9,548,400 House Points! 

"If I hadn't had a backup plan in the demon continent, I would've failed or taken a massive risk. Now, it's 50,000,000, and I know the goddess won't let you give us a simple mission, right? The greater the risk, the more house points we will be given. Why do we need to go through all of this and put our lives on the line?" Freya was downright indignant, especially after she nearly failed on the first try. 

'Isn't that your fault for going after poor target?' Ace sighed and annoyingly replied, "Look, I understand your position, but trust me, I'm in the same boat as you guys. We won't get everything for free, and we must prove ourselves, alright? 

"All I can do is help you all, so stop freaking out. There will be ample opportunity for everyone to earn their keep. Now, if you will, meet me at the Royal Demon Institute western wall. I'll explain my plan afterward. It's time to regroup. I'm going to call Noa as well." Ace cut the call, and just about to contact Noa, she called herself. 

Ace smiled wryly, accepted the call, and was ready to hear another earful. 

"Leader, what do you need me to do?" Noa's calm, gentle voice sounded. 

Ace couldn't help but be surprised at Noa's calmness, "You're not going to blame me for this or goddess?" 

"What's there to blame? I'm your sword, and swords are meant to kill, or they will become rusty. If I can't even do this much, I'm better replaced by someone more qualified." Noa said matter-of-factly in a firm tone. 

Ace felt Noa was an angel in disguise of a demoness. She was really his best member and understood his plight better than those two ambitious women who wanted everything for free. 

"Don't worry, I won't let you get replaced even if I have to do something dangerous. You are not a tool but a friend who I can rely on, so stop thinking of yourself as such. I've overcome more such situations many times, and I know it's unfair towards us, but we'll overcome it no matter what." Ace stated with resolve, "Leave the devil continent and head towards the Demon Continent. We need to regroup first." 

"Thank you for your kind words." Noa replied gently, "I'm on my way, and Leader… I believe in you!" 

The call ended. 

Ace couldn't help but smile bitterly, "You're too good for me, Noa. I'm just a trickster who wants to survive. Sigh… what have I become for survival and power." 

Ace shook his head as he couldn't help but remember Leona and sighed ruefully before he vanished. He needed to rearrange his plans again. 

This has become far more significant, and he needed to protect his people, or what's the point of having so much power and authority? 

It was the first time Ace experienced the actual burden of his title, the House Leader!