Eternal Thief

Ace naturally knew about the recorder beads since he brought them upon hearing about them from Freya. Moreover, he could easily guess what was recorded within this recorder bead since he was the one who instructed Freya to spread the original one!

Still, he silently nodded at Grand Elder Edwin’s instruction and watched while he could sense everyone’s scrutinous gazes on him. However, Ace had reached a terrifying level when it came to controlling his facial expressions, and when he saw shock, astonishment, and disbelief, no one thought he was just pretending.

Furthermore, Ace had already planned this exact scenario. The moment he saw himself in his wizard thief robes, George’s eyes widened as he pointed his trembling finger at ‘Sky Stealer’ and exclaimed, “It’s him!”

Everyone was shocked as they looked at George with questionable glares, especially Vincent and two Grand Elders.

Although they weren’t expecting much from George, especially if he had any connection with this thief, he would clearly try to deny it as any sane person would.

After all, everyone knew that whoever was associated with the Sky Stealer would find themselves in a world of trouble. Still, George’s reaction utterly surprised everyone since this clearly meant he knew about whom this was or at least encountered him at some point. Grand Elder Edwin’s expression was stern as he questioned, “Do you know who this is?” “Y-yes… I mean, no…I don’t know how who exactly this person is…” George was shocked.

A hint of reluctance and apprehension appeared on his face as he looked at Vincent and asked, “Does something happen, teacher?”

Vincent’s eyes narrowed slightly. He felt George seemed afraid of talking about it, so he didn’t hide. He revealed what had happened to the bank and emphasized how George was now the prime suspect because of that owl symbol!

George’s expression went ashen, and his eyes were filled with disbelief.” I-I haven’t left my cultivation courtyard all this time! This had nothing to do with me!”

Grand Elder Edwin looked at George deeply before he nodded and said, “We know, but it’s very hard to prove it to the others, especially the people of the bank. They won’t care about who you are and how convincing your story is. First, tell us how you know this person, and we might be able to help you!”

Vincent also nodded grimly. He didn’t expect this kind of situation to arise, but he didn’t want George to suffer.

George again showed a hesitant look before his eyes shone with determination. He said, “Can I just reveal this to the grand elders and teacher?”

“Of course. Let’s go inside!” Vincent agreed without hesitation, without giving others any chance to respond. He looked at the Grand Elders meaningfully before he followed George, who seemed to be in a low spirit at this moment.

Grand Elder Edwin sighed before he looked at the others, who seemed dissatisfied. He sternly said, “Alright, everyone. You may go and do your things. Also, keep an eye on any news about the bank! Let us handle this matter!”

When he had finished giving his order, he followed behind Vincent and George, and Inez closely followed suit. The other onlookers had no choice but to obey since Vincent and two grand elders were the most powerful members of the sect, and their authority was absolute!

Once George and the three Ascension Guardians were inside the courtyard, George took a deep breath and revealed, “Please forgive me. I didn’t want to tell anyone about this since this is my secret and very important to me. However, now that things come to this, and not only my life but even the sect is in trouble, as the core disciple, I can’t harm the sect!”

Vincent was gratified to hear George cared about the sect. ‘I indeed didn’t take an ingrate under my wing!’

The Grand Elders also saw George in a new light.

“When I was coming to the AIG Sect, I was chased by assassins.” With a grim look, George said, “They were powerful, probably ascension warriors, and I know they were sent after me at my previous sect’s Grand Elder’s behest because I had offended his grandson.

“I had no choice but to flee from those assassins. It was then that I stumbled upon a hidden place that seemed to be protected by a natural formation. That formation seemed to trap people inside and stop outsiders from detecting whatever was inside.

“Although I successfully fled from the assassins, but barely. However, I had never expected that I would be trapped in that formation instead. When I pried around to find a way out of that place, it was then when I saw this person; he was clad in the same way he did in that recorder bead, especially that owl symbol on the back of his robe!”

Everyone was shocked as they weren’t expecting this kind of turn of events from George, and Grand Elder Inez asked with narrowed eyes, “Was he also trapped there with you?”

“No, actually, he was there to search for the natural treasure in that formation. When he found me there, he seemed surprised, and he could’ve killed me, but when he saw I was only a newly advanced Ascension Soldier, he didn’t move against me.

“In fact, he gave me an offer: in return for helping him seize that treasure, he’ll let me go because that formation only allowed Ascension Soldiers to get close to that treasure. At least that’s what he told me.

“So, for survival, I had no choice but to help me get that treasure, and once I was done, I was sure that he would get rid of me. But instead, he kept his promise and even taught me a strange technique.”

George looked at everyone sheepishly as he revealed, “Sect Master should be aware of this technique already, and it is precisely this technique that now made me a suspect of something I never did!

“This technique is called Pick Pocket, and it allows me to steal people’s belongings. Once I succeed, I leave behind an owl symbol. But Sky Stealer taught it to me, and at that time, I had no idea he was going to sabotage me with it.

“If I had known, I would’ve never learned or used it on anyone. But it seemed I was too greedy and trusted the wrong person. Please, Sect Master and respected Grand Elders, I’m innocent!

“Although I was greedy in the past, I have no intention of harming anymore; I was just doing whatever to survive!” George pleaded as tears wiled up in his eyes.

There was apparent fear on his face, as if he was on the verge of a mental breakdown upon realizing a behemoth like a bank would soon come looking for him!

This put Vincent and the two Grand Elders in a difficult position since they didn’t feel anything amiss with George’s behavior; in fact, they almost believed him.

If George was telling the truth, then it was clear that Sky Stealer had planned this from the start, that the thief was going to sabotage George whether he joined the sect or not.

It was their bad luck that George entered the AIG Sect and was talented enough to become a chief disciple.

Vincent even assumed that Sky Stealer should’ve known about George’s talent and bloodline, so he taught him that strange technique and might even have wanted to recruit him once he

fell into despair!

However, Vincent was still doubtful because of the disguised treasure on George, and he hesitated to ask about it since the Grand Elders were here. But he needed to clear this before

he decided whether to help or abandon George now that his involvement with the Sky Stealer

became clear.

But what George said next shocked him and the grand elders!

“There is another thing I want to confess!” George clenched his fists with unwillingness as he said, “I-I’m not George Edward! It’s a false identity I’ve been using ever since I was in the

Violet Yang Grand Sect!”