[Ding, main task completion 100%, task rating: S+ level, reward: skill experience +3000]
[Player 100% clears the dungeon, rewarding hidden skill: Fingertip Blade]
Thief King Ge Sanye is caught, Li Xiang completes the first dungeon task with 100% completion, and the proficiency required to upgrade the Stealing Skill has been met.
[Ding, skill upgrade, current skill: Stealing Skill (Master Level), Trait: Skillful]
[Required proficiency for next level: 20000 points]
In an instant, Li Xiang's understanding of the Stealing Skill reached the level of Integration and Understanding, and Ge Sanye's recent display of deboning a chicken with bare hands now seemed a simple task to him.
The flexibility of his fingers had improved immensely.
Moreover, with 100% task completion, the system also rewarded a hidden skill, Fingertip Blade. Through the skill infusion by the system, Li Xiang knew this skill involved using a blade to cut open bags and pockets, derived from a thief's skillset.
[Fingertip Blade (Hidden): Beginner]
[Introduction: Using a single-edged blade as a weapon, with one cut, any leather or fabric can be sliced open. When combined with the Stealing Skill, it is very effective. Mastered level can achieve lethal effectiveness.]
[Required proficiency for next level: 2000 points]
One cut, lethal.
Very thrilling ~
After midnight, Li Xiang ran another free dungeon.
He gained 3000 points of skill experience, directly applied it to the Fingertip Blade skill, upgrading it to an Intermediate level, acquiring the trait: Hidden Blade in the Sleeve, making his sword skills more concealed.
-----------------
The next day, after taking care of Coal Ball, Li Xiang went to the bus stop as usual to wait for the Route 22 bus to work.
Today, the bus arrived promptly, and he waited at the bus stop for about two minutes before it came.
After getting on the bus, Li Xiang, as usual, went straight to the empty seat in the last row.
Most people don't like sitting in the last row, as it's easy to get carsick, but he prefers it.
First, because his workplace is far from home, so he doesn't have to keep giving up his seat, second, because the height offers a good view.
During the morning peak hours, the bus was very crowded, with more people getting on than off. Previously empty seats were soon filled with people.
Last night his Stealing Skill leveled up to a master level, and not only did his own skills become solid, his eyesight also became very sharp.
From a thief's perspective, the anti-theft awareness of the citizens of Jinghai City is very weak. If he were to make a move now, at least a dozen wallets and phones could be stolen on this bus ride without anyone noticing.
He found himself eager to try ~
His hands were itching, wanting to show off his skills.
Li Xiang chuckled at himself, shook his head, and discarded those chaotic thoughts from his mind.
With a hack in hand, relying on theft to get rich would be too lowly.
Looking at the crowd again, he felt a sense of superiority.
Discarding distractions, Li Xiang returned his attention to the bus.
The bus was crowded with hurried commuters, who were either standing or sitting, maintaining a mutual safe distance. But with each brake, the bus swayed, constantly stretching and reducing this distance.
Sitting in the highest seat in the last row, Li Xiang had a clear view of the entire bus. His gaze swept over everyone, and he noticed an unusual reaction from a passenger.
The person was young, looking even younger than him, with a restless expression, his face alternating between red and white, his eyes blank, evident of nervousness. It was this expression that caught Li Xiang's attention.
The person was subtly sticking close to a girl, following her closely, eyes fixed on her backpack, while the girl, clearly unaware, was engrossed in her phone, completely oblivious to the fact that she had become a pickpocket's target.
Ready to act.
The pickpocket was observing his surroundings while slowly adjusting his position, waiting for the right moment.
[Ding, random mission triggered!]
[Mission Name: Catch a Pickpocket]
[Mission Explanation: Catching thieves during and after shifts, quite a fate with pickpockets.]
[Mission Requirement: Catch him.]
[Mission Reward: Experience +200, Diamonds +600]
[Accept? Yes/No]
"Yes."
As the bus approached the station with the broadcast prompting, Li Xiang stood up and moved towards the exit area, never making direct eye contact with the pickpocket.
He couldn't 'lock eyes' with the pickpocket, or else the pickpocket might 'wake up' (sense something amiss and abandon the theft).
Li Xiang's position wasn't too far or too close to the pickpocket, and his view was perfectly aligned with the pickpocket's range of action.
As long as he dared to reach out, he would definitely be caught.
Suddenly, the bus driver braked, causing standing passengers to lose their balance, bumping into each other, creating chaos and causing an uproar among the passengers.
"How are you driving?"
"Hey, you stepped on my foot."
"Sorry, I couldn't stand still."
"What do you think you're doing? A pervert?"
This was exactly the opportunity the pickpocket had been waiting for, using the commotion as a chance to "accidentally" collide with the girl and, in a moment of her loss of balance, make his move.
This was a typical bump-and-snatch technique, and upon successfully obtaining the item, the bus just happened to reach a stop, allowing a quick exit.
The pickpocket flushed with excitement after securing a wallet, not expecting the act to go so smoothly.
"With such limited skills, you think you can steal?"
"Huh?"
The pickpocket, still indulged in the joy of success, was startled, realizing something was wrong.
Instinctively wanting to turn and flee, he was caught by Li Xiang, who pinned him to the ground: "Where do you think you're going?"
With the doors closed, there was no escape for the pickpocket.
"Ah? Who are you? Why are you hitting me, help!"
The pickpocket instinctively tried to gain sympathy, hoping to escape, even though Li Xiang hadn't exerted much force, he cried out in exaggerated pain, appearing very pitiful.
The unexpected scene immediately attracted passengers' attention, who began to chastise Li Xiang: "Young man, talk properly, violence is wrong."
"Yes, look, you've made him cry."
Seeing public opinion turning against him, Li Xiang quickly revealed his identity: "I'm an anti-pickpocket policeman, this man is a thief, he just stole this lady's wallet."
Then he turned to the girl who had been targeted: "Check your bag to see if your wallet is still there."
"Huh? Let me check."
The girl frantically opened her bag to check, searching for a moment before exclaiming: "My wallet is gone."
Angry and embarrassed, she began to hit the pickpocket with her bag, then kicked him twice: "You thief, give me back my wallet."
"I'm innocent, just because your wallet is missing doesn't mean I stole it. Where's the evidence?"
Exposed by Li Xiang, the pickpocket didn't back down, insisting on his innocence stubbornly.
"Caught red-handed with stolen goods, try denying it now."