After receiving Zariaâs confirmation, Ace didnât instantly spring into action; instead, he sat in the cultivation chamber for a long moment as if the stillness of the Duskmire Vault pressed down like a tomb on him.
However, at this moment, his dark-blue eyes flickered with a decision as he knew he had delayed long enough because Dread Duchess might summon him any moment, and then Zaria would be stuck with him, and her growth might remain stagnant.
Right now, Ace had two reasons to take another chance at going out of the Duskmire Vault. The first reason was apparent: Zaria needed to be sent out. The second was equally clear, given that his Avatar of Holy Twilightâhis most significant reliance and escape routeâremained shackled here with him.
If he wanted freedom of movement, he had to separate from it. Risky or not, he couldnât afford to abandon such a lifeline, especially when he was going into the headquarters of the strongest power of the Abyssal Plains!
Furthermore, the memory of the Vaultkeeperâs shadow-chasing departure replayed in his mind. Ace wasnât sure whether that mysterious figure had been caught or not, but one thing was certainâthe Vaultkeeperâs black fate point hadnât appeared in the Live Fate Map till now. That alone told him he wasnât inside the Vault anymore.
But relief was dangerous. Because on the map, he could still see three other black fate points lurking in the silence of the Duskmire Vault!
Ace inhaled slowly, his face calm even as his thoughts turned razor-sharp,
âWell, Iâll have to hoodwink them again, even if itâs only for a short while, just enough for me to get a chance to separate from my avatar and release Zaria. But it canât be done in the Myriad Hollow because Iâm sure that crazy woman would be looking for me right now like a mad witch!â
Aceâs lips curled up slightly in a sneer when he thought about that imposing Lord of Law Enforcement Division, and he knew that after he escaped from her nose, she would be absolutely furious right now.
However, even if she stood in front of him, with the mirror persona, he had more leeway, and even Marquis-rank Abyssal Beings couldnât pierce him at a glance.
After making his decision, he rose, his cloak trailing like liquid night, and stepped into the dusky corridors of the Duskmire Hall. His footsteps were measured, unhurried, like someone accustomed to belonging here.
But he didnât make it far when the darkness at the ceiling of the corridor seemed to stir. The next moment, a strip of shadow peeled away from the vaulted ceiling like a serpent and slithered downward, cutting across his path.
Aceâs heart gave a single heavy thumpâbut his expression remained composed. Through the Live Fate Map, he saw it clearly, but not with his thief sense, which was a fact that this shadow was a Black Fate Point.
This was something only the live fat map could unveil, just as it had with the Vaultkeeper.
Aceâs thoughts sharpened, âJust how many freaks has the Dread Duchess hidden under her Duskmire Vault? Her influence... her resources... no wonder sheâs a step away from Abyssal King Realm!
âOr there might be something hidden in the Duskmire Vault that needs so much security, or I donât think a mere âshopâ needs this level of expertsâ scrutiny all the time!â
But Ace didnât let his honest thoughts show, and instead, he allowed a flicker of surprise to cross his features, then quickly smoothed it away, masking himself in proper reverence.
The shadow thickened before him, coagulating into a cloaked figure.
Unlike the Vaultkeeperâs broad and oppressive form, this one was slender, her robe stretching to accentuate a voluptuous outline.
But any curiosity about her identity withered instantly because behind the hood, a ghastly shimmer flickeredâa light so warped and unnatural that it killed all imagination.
Ace felt it at onceâa chill that wasnât merely cold, but a spiritual frost creeping into the marrow. Whoever she was, she could kill him in an instant if she wished.
He bowed with flawless courtesy, "This junior greets Senior."
The figure inclined her hooded head slightly. When she spoke, her voice was eerie, hollow, and rasped like dead leaves scraping across a coffin lid, "Is there something that Young Lord desires? The exalted Vaultkeeper appointed me to meet all of Young Lordâs demands, under the decree of Her Highness, the Dread Duchess. You may address me asâMirage Shadow."
The name lingered in the air, cold and unnatural.
Ace kept his face respectful, though inside, his mind turned furiously,
âMirage Shadow... so this is one of the three black fate points. I wonder who the remaining two are. Furthermore, Vaultkeeper is really loyal and hasnât forgotten Dread Duchessâs initial command regarding me. Well, as long as it isnât Vaultkeeper, I might be able to succeed!â
Ace kept his humble demeanor and politely said, "Senior Mirage Shadow, I just received a task from my master that required me to go to the Black Hermit City. However, I know that her highness Dread Duchess had ordered me not to leave the Duskmire Vault. But I canât disobey my master, and her highness would understand this.
"Furthermore, my master knows about my impending departure to the Evernight Sanctuary, so this task isnât different and wonât take long to complete. Thatâs why I hope you can escort me through a teleportation hall so I can quickly complete this task and come back."
Mirage Shadowâs emotions were impossible to read, but the ghastly light behind her hooded head flickered slightly when Ace mentioned his âmasterâ. It wasnât a secret among the guardians of the Duskmire Vault about Aceâs identity, and thatâs why they all knew why the Dread Duchess treats Ace extremely carefully.
As for going to the Black Hermit City, this was another city under the rule of the Obsidian Myriad Kingdom, and one of the largest cities as well. However, this city was actually at the edge of the Obsidian Myriad Kingdom and far away from the capital, Myriad Hollow.
Nonetheless, all the large cities of the Obsidian Myriad Kingdom have teleportation channels, and as long as one can prove their identity, they can use them.
But bypassing the identity problem, Ace needed someone like Mirage Shadow to pave a smooth way for him, which means from the start, the guardians of the Duskmire Vault were involved in his plan!