Chapter 98: Sky Changing Pass

Ace was moving at lightning-like speed, but his movement was a little rumpled as if he was learning to run. 

This was the Misperception Sky Steps Art, Lightning Steps. 

This art is not like the heartless stealth that can only be learned in a strict order.

This art is built on three unique movement patterns, and only after learning these three stages, complete one can gain the ability to fly and learn the final fourth stage.

It means Ace can learn three stages at the same time or understand any stage first before learning the others. 

That's why he chose the lightning steps first, because this is for speed, and he only needs speed right now. With silent steps as the foundation in four days, he was very close to low-level, lightning steps. 

As for other skills, he was only practicing the Soul Shattering Eyes other than Lightning Steps. And this skill was quite cumbersome to learn because he had never come in contact with a soul skill before. 

But to his amazement, he didn't find it any more difficult than Pick Pocket when he learns it and was confident of gaining insight within a month. 

Besides, he wanted to buy that rune crafter manual but didn't have enough thief points and this make him quite annoyed. 

Now, he wasn't interested in those city treasuries because they can't give him many TP, and second, those black cloth men were searching for him like mad dogs all over the place. 

In this week, he encounters over three different groups of them, but he escaped easily. But this gave him even more pressure and was afraid if that mysterious expert would come after him. 

That was also the reason for him learning the lightning steps first, and it didn't disappoint him either. Even with not completely grasping it his speed was three-fold faster than silent steps and was confident in reaching the low sky-changing border in ten days. 

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Meanwhile, in the Luminous City.

Layla and Zelda were sitting in the Jade Pavilion. The atmosphere was as gloomy as it could be because even after an entire week, they still didn't find any trace of that so-called Sky Stealer. 

They even failed to find that person who spread that name because whoever it was, he knew that slippery thief and at some point, came in contact with him. 

If they find him, they could probably find important information on that thief like his real name and more vivid appearance because in that wanted poster he looks only about 12 or 13, and it was not enough of a reference anymore.

Layla herself search miles around the luminous city, but this land of cities was big and there is more territory to cover. That is why she was aimlessly searching in all directions and return dejectedly one day ago.

Zelda's situation wasn't any better than her aunt's, because she supervised the search of the whole luminous city and didn't even leave the prince's manor but didn't find any abnormality. 

Well, except for the missing second son of prince manor's head butler. She took note of it instantly because he vanished on the same day as the thievery has happened. 

But when she discovered Javier's masochist nature and the deeds he has done in the past. 

She loses interest in him and even felt disgusted to even remember that kind of person and think he even deserved death. Because even if she despises all those commoners here, she wasn't a masochist to torture young girls.     

Braxton knows Javier's nature but he was still his son, so he searches for him even with all those black masks men roaming around the city. 

Dion was depressed and almost on the verge of insanity because that thief has used his city to show everyone that he wasn't afraid of them and slap hard on their faces. 

Now his reputation is in the sewer, and he even found out everyone was calling him Grand Ass Prince behind his back! 

Dion even killed Aspen in his rage. Everything happened because she can't even protect the formation plate and even gave the information on the treasury to that thief. 

The happiest about it was, of course, Bill. Because he has a bone with Aspen before, and she ever cheated him once knowing that he was the future ruler of this city. 

That's why Bill was always wanting to find some evidence on her to bring her down, and in finding that proof, he meets Ace. And he thinks it was the best thing that ever happen to him after he come to this desolate place. 

But he was quite low-key and never showed his joy openly because he knew his friend has offended many powerful figures and if they connected him to Ace, he will torture to death! 

That's why he spread the name Sky Stealer himself secretly and never entrust this task to anyone and was successful in the end. Now everyone knows about the sky stealer and the historical thievery of low lands! 

"Aunt, do you think that rat has escaped in the Middle Land?" Zelda asked in frustration.

Because it was the only plausible explanation after even Layla couldn't find him. 

Speaking of which, she still calls Ace a rat because if she calls that vile thief, Sky Stealer, it would be equal to accepting their defeat, and she would never admit it. 

Layla's eyes were filled with resentment and violence as she said, "We checked a hundred times and confirm that thief was born here! It is simply impossible to leave! And suppose even if he wasn't born here if he wanted to leave, he needs the Sky Changing Pass!

"And you know, only royalties of top ten kingdoms possess three of them each! None of those passes are missing, or we'll be the one to know of it first!" 

Zelda had to admit her aunt had a point because without this sky-changing pass even her aunt would be dead the moment she steps between the border of any lands! 

Especially the low and royal level lands! 

No one knows why the border here was as strong as the lands of the ancients, but no one dare to investigate it. Because whoever does that individual entire clan eradicate in a single night!

Some influenceable figures only know that this low land true name was lands of fallen, but this was also a taboo to call it that and only knew little of its actual history. 

"This time we even manage to find more information that Dulce gives about that thief because we underestimated that thief before and ignore her story." Layla's eyes shimmer as she continued, "Dulce, told that thief has opened her storage ring without killing her, and she also would never remove her qi mark on that ring."

Zelda was flabbergasted hearing this and quickly retorted, "But that's impossible! She must exaggerate things!" 

A soft sigh sounded as Layla speak, "I also think this, but we can't overlook anything about that thief anymore."

Zelda takes a deep breath before saying with a glint of horror flashed past her eyes, "Then if it's true, then do you think he's from that legendary place?" 

Layla's eyes also show a hint of fear as she shook her head, "I don't think so because someone from that place can't be a thief. These things here were just junk to them."

Zelda has a sigh of relief because if her guess was true, then they're simply chasing after a dragon and courting death! 

At this moment, a maid enters the grand hall and respectfully reports, "Pavilion Master, someone called Shadow Finder requesting an audience." 

Zelda coolly said, "Let him in."

After some moments, a slender man wearing black robes and a mask enter. It was precisely Shadow Finder that Ace encounter in the wildness a week ago. 

Shadow Finder coldly said, "I have something important to tell." 

It did not offend Zelda because this guy's nature was cold and said, "Speak freely."

Shadow Finder didn't speak immediately and take out Javier's portrait that was current in every city guard's hand because of Braxton. 

Zelda instantly knew who this disgusting fellow was, and her brows knit tightly into a frown. But she said nothing and wait for Shadow Finder to explain first. 

On the other hand, Layla watched this curiously in the shadows. 

"I meet this guy in the wildness four days ago." Shadow Finder said coldly.

Zelda's eyes turn sharp, and Layla emerges at this moment.

"What do want to say? Speak more clearly!" Layla said coldly, but in her heart, there was an unknown expectation to bloom. 

Shadow Finder quickly bows towards Layla. He didn't dare to treat her coldly like Zelda and said respectfully.

"Reporting to the sixth lady, I meet this guy in the wildness and he seems like some bandits have robbed him.

"It was also my incompetence that I didn't inquire any further and leave, but I think this person is suspicious because if he was the same person he would be back by now, but he didn't!"