Eternal Thief

"Ahem… as Sister can see, this is an oath contract made in my human continent. I only have this one since they're too rare." Ace 'introduced' the Thief House Recruitment Token impassively. 

Shadow had guessed this much since he took out this strange token, and she wasn't fazed by its shape or color, since contracts come in many shapes and sizes. But what she was astonished about the strange owl engraving on it. 

"Let me see." 

She didn't wait for Ace's agreement and snatched the 'oath contract' and started to examine it with intriguing eyes. 

Ace didn't stop her and merely observed Shadow. He wasn't fretting over this in the least bit because he knew this token has come straight from the system and if a silver river core demon with no experience in rune crafting seen thought it, he better commits suicide here and now. 

Shadow also found nothing amiss with this 'oath contract' nor did she find those 'rune symbols' much complex, she has seen many complex runes since she lived in the duke mansion and there were many rune crafters there and there was even a legendary rune crafter under Livy's command. 

She simply thought this was a low-level oath contract from the human continent, and it would be a piece of cake to overcome it whenever she wanted it. She was just curious about the owl symbol since she heard about one particular race that worshiped owls. 

"Let's start." Shadow finally nodded after completely making sure this was indeed a normal 'oath contract' and probably a very low rank one at that. 

Alas, if she just tried to break or damage it, she would've been astonished since she won't be able to leave a scratch on it even with her full power. But she didn't because it was a piece of common knowledge to never scratch a contract or use force, or it will be completely ruined. 

Besides, Shadow thought Ace probably only had this contract since he said it himself, and she didn't want to miss this chance of making an oath with a low-level oath contract or things would get tricky if Ace resisted later. 

Ace wanted to laugh out loud when he saw Shadow agree, but controlled himself. 

He impassively said as he sighed in relief, "Thank you, sister, you are really a gentle demon to agree with my impertinent request." 

Shadow nodded and said, "As long as you know your place. Now tell me how to use this contract." 

"It's very simple, Sister, just has to drip your blood on it, and afterward all you have to do is say your promise while using your Qi on this oath contract." Ace recited respectfully with a gratifying expression.

A hint of disdain appeared in Shadow's dark eyes as she thought gleefully, 'It really is a lowly oath contract, since it only needed a merger blood drop and simple Qi. It won't even need my 'Life Qi Mark' or 'Soul Mark'. Even if I break it, I won't suffer that big of a backlash at all.' 

Ace noticed Shadow's change of emotions and only derided inside, 'Hah, let's see who holds the last laugh in the end!'

Shadow quickly cut her slender brown finger and a drop of black blood dripped onto the Thief House Recruitment Token and instantly absorbed into it. Shadow didn't find this out of the usual and the moment dark Qi appeared from her hand and was about to engulf the token. 

However, what happened next made Shadow flabbergasted! The moment her shadow element Qi touched the token, it instantly turned into a beam of pitch-black light and bolted toward her glabella!

Shadow didn't even have time to react as the beam of dark light has already penetrated all of her defensive and directly entered her head! 

Ace also looked at this scene with astonishment, since it was also his first time seeing the Thief House Recruitment Token at work. It was truly marveled though since it didn't even give Shadow a chance to react! 

Ace suddenly heard a notification. 

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[Thief House Recruitment Token has been used!]

[New member entry has been successful.]

[Please open the Thief House interface to see further information.]

=====

Ace's lips curled upward, seeing this notification. However, before he could open the thief house panel, Shadow's deafening voice filled with killing intent and horror. 

"Bastard! What did you put in my head? What is this voice!?" Shadow didn't care anymore about anything and attacked Ace. 

However, something unexpended happened that sent Shadow into a pit of despairs! 

The moment she thought of harming Ace, an unmanageable pain hit her head and a bolt of deadly lightning ran amok in her body! 

"Ahhhhhhh…." She started screaming while struggling on the ground as one could see her skin start to burn. 

Ace was horrified when he saw this, and he heard the system's cold voice again. 

====

[Malicious and Murderous intention detected from a Thief House Member toward House Leader.]

[Punishment: Death]

====

Ace's heart trembled and blurted, "Stop it for now!"

====

[House Leader has stopped the Punishment]

====

Shadow, who was on the verge of death by that insane, soul-shattering pain and deadly lightning, felt those two powers vanish, and her Qi started to quickly recover her injuries. 

But she didn't feel relief in the least bit, as she looked at Ace with fear and hate, but the former was far greater than the latter. 

"What did you do to me?" Shadow's voice was hoarse as she questioned Ace. 

Ace was also shocked by this and finally remembered the rules of thief houses. But he did not know it would be so deadly. Furthermore, he never knows the system had that kind of power since it never used it on him. 

He suddenly remembered all those curses and how disrespectful he has been all these years to the system and this heart palpitated as cold sweat broke out on his forehead and he vowed to be gentler with the system in the future or if he really annoyed it, no one could save him. 

"Ahem… sister demon, can you tell me what happened the token enter your head from start?" Ace cough to hide his own fear and question Shadow because she just said she heard a voice and this greatly alarm him. 

Shadow didn't want to answer but after thinking about that, the voice just said she answered while healing her internal injuries, "I heard a static voice saying, [Welcome to Thief House] and then a transparent dark shade appeared in front of my eyes. 

"But I didn't see it completely since I attack you. But then I heard that voice again saying, [Violation of Thief House Rule] [Punishment: Death] and then… and then you just see.   

"Now, I heard this again saying, [House Leader has forgiven the House Member]. Tell me what just you did to me!" 

Shadow was terrified, not by Ace, but that voice, since she can't seem to find anything amiss with herself no matter how much she searched with her martial sense. This made it even more horrifying and dreadful.

She knew Ace had played her and made her sign a slave contract, but she was perplexed since she knew a slave contract can't have its own voice nor would it just vanish inside a person's body. 

It was something more terrible than the slave contract, and the most laughable thing was she didn't see it at all!

Ace, on the other hand, was shocked and quickly asked the system, "System, did you just make her your host as well?" He didn't have any other explanation than this about that voice and transparent shade. 

"[No, there can only be one host of the System. However, now that demon is the member of thief house she can assess to Thief Hose interface and hear notifications related to thief house nothing else.]"

Ace couldn't help but sigh in relief since it would be too good to be true if that were the case. 

He finally looked at Shadow with a cold smile and said, "Hehe… don't be anxious, I know you're probably thinking I trick you signing a slave contract, but it wasn't a slave contract, it was something far better than anything you can achieve or get your hands on, in your entire lifetime. No one can offer it but me, not even your so-called deity! 

"But if I told you the truth before, you would've never believed me and even tried to kill me. That's why I didn't tell you and used an underhanded method. But I want you to look at it now and then tell me if this is a curse or blessing. Just say 'Thief House' and you'll see the path to greatness!" 

Ace deeply looked at Shadow's dark eyes without even blinking as he finished his grand speech. He wasn't joking, though.

Shadow suddenly felt this guy wasn't bantering and even felt he was like a grand existence. She decided to believe him for once and suppressed her injuries and said, 

"Thief House!"