Herman and Winter turned around and saw Alina and Ace had appeared a few meters behind him like ghosts.
Winter was the most shocked because she was quite confident in her Faceless Thief Sense, yet Ace was still unfathomable, and it seemed no matter how much stronger she became, the House Leader was always a few steps ahead of her.
On the other hand, Herman was worried about whole another matter as he looked at Alina's fairy-like overt face as her veil was gone. Furthermore, Ace and Alina's hands were intertwined with each other's, and with how Alina was literally glowing with happiness, his heart sank to rock bottom.
At this moment, Lillian also appeared after the sudden commotion, and when she saw Alina wasn't wearing her veil, her eyes went wide with shock, and she blurted, "Princess, you removed your maiden veil?!"
Her abrupt words drew the thieves' attention, especially Ace, as he looked doubtfully at Lillian and then looked at Alina, who seemed to be panicking a little.
"Maiden Veil?" He questioned, with an uncertain look in his eyes.
Winter finally paid attention to Alina's unveiled face, and she clearly remembered she never took her veil off, no matter the situation, and she was extremely beautiful. So, she quickly sensed something fishy going on.
"I-it's nothing!" Alina quickly exclaimed before throwing a fierce gaze at Lillian, 'I almost forgot about it!'
The very next moment, her veil returned to her face again. But alas, it was a little too late for that since Herman looked absolutely bereft while Lillian lowered her head with a faint blush, 'Princess really went all out!'
"It can all wait." At this moment, Winter suddenly chimed in as she walked toward Ace, drawing everyone's attention.
"Do you have someone to report?" Ace's eyes narrowed as he looked at Winter.
Herman suddenly snapped out of his daze as he felt amiss for some reason.
Winter nodded as she stopped right beside Ace, just like Alina, and coldly uttered, "I have indeed an urgent matter to report."
Herman sensed Winter's jeering gaze at the moment, and his heart went cold.
Winter revealed, "You see, Leader, this old man just contacted someone and told them to reveal our location to the humans…!"
Winter directly exposed Herman's entire conversation he just had within his barrier, making Herman's expression ashen as he didn't understand how in the world Winter was able to hear it!
But it matters little since Ace's expression went icy while Alina and Lillian looked at Herman with disbelief.
"No, there must be some mistake. Is it true, Grandpa?" Alina quickly rejected it as she looked at Herman for clarification.
Herman knew he had been exposed, and from Ace's expression, it was pretty clear he trusted Winter completely.
He took a deep breath and calmed his chaotic nerves, and replied, "Little Aly, you have to retune with me, or the Blood Ancestor will execute the entire Silver Ice, including your father and mother. She warned me before she left, and I can't let another tragedy like your grandparents befall the clan again!"
Alina's expression went pale as she was shocked, but she also understood why Herman was so adamant about taking her back. The Blood Ancestor was really capable of doing such a thing, and that's why she didn't afraid of Alina running away.
The entire Silver Ice Clan was her hostage!
However, Ace was different. He didn't have a good impression of Herman to begin with because of what he had done in the past, and that secret note Herman left for him was still vivid in his mind. He hadn't forgotten a single word.
Now, it was pretty clear that Blood Ancestor wanted Alina for some extremely nefarious purpose, yet this guy who was supposed to be her Godfather wanted to hand her over.
Even if they don't know about Blood Ancestor's true purpose, those guys were no children, for they couldn't even understand this small point. Yet, they still want to do it.
"I don't think we have properly introduced yet. I've been looking forward to this day for a very long time." Ace spoke impassively, drawing Herman's attention, "I'm Ace, the same brat that you thought could never meet with Alina his entire life. First, I would like to give this back."
The next moment, a small folded note and a black pouch appeared in Ace's hand.
Alina was astonished when she was the small black pouch and that note, 'He still has it?'
Herman was shocked as complicated emotions raged in his eyes when he remembered what Ace meant by those words far better than anyone else.
Ace then shocked that black pouch as metallic chimes of coins sounded and coldly smiled, "Remember this? The 10 Ruby Coins you left me as a charity that day you took Alina away without letting her say goodbye to me? You just judge my care for her with these ten ruby coins. I guess in your eyes, my feelings for her only amount to this much.
"But trust me when I say, with all the treasures and money I have collected in these past years, these ten ruby coins were the most precious to me because they reminded me of how much my feelings have been worth in your eyes.
"And this letter was a reminder that I won't be able to see her ever again, yet it was also a light that showed me the path that led exactly towards her.
"Sigh… sometimes, I don't understand how people like you have such short sight. You just had to implore that you are superior to others without even caring about their feelings.
"Well, I guess it's also because of people like you that people like me exist. People like me move forward to show people like you that we can also be great without anyone's help or background.
"Now, I don't need them anymore, and I will return this letter and this charity money back to you just like you did to me. But with the hope that you will always regret what you'd done that day and in the future, you better remember to never look down on commoners like me.
"Who knows, they might take it to heart and then hunt you down in your nightmares!"
Herman was pale as a ghost at this moment with a look of defeat and regret as he looked at that pouch and letter, which he had almost forgotten about, appearing right in front of him like some unforgettable misery!