3 pickpocketing spree (chapter 3)

Boarding her luxurious limo, the woman Oliver had set his sights on was Emma Frost, the CEO of Frost Incorporate and one of the most powerful telepaths on the planet. The sleek vehicle exuded an aura of opulence as Emma settled into its plush interior. From a distance, Oliver observed, feeling the chill of the air that surrounded her departure. The limo's sleek lines and tinted windows whispered of wealth and influence as it slowly glided away.

"And I just found a little toy," Emma mused to herself, her thoughts resonating with a quiet confidence that carried even through the insulated confines of the limousine. No matter the distance Oliver maintained, he lingered within Emma's telepathic range. A curious sensation danced at the edges of his consciousness, and though Emma couldn't penetrate the recesses of his mind, the absence of overt thoughts intrigued her. "Hmm, interesting," she mused, her telepathic senses reaching out to everyone's minds within her grasp. Oliver's enigmatic mental presence stood out, a puzzle that piqued her interest.

This anomaly sparked Emma's speculative thoughts. "Perhaps Shaw's little pet," she reasoned, linking Oliver's uncharted mind to Sebastian Shaw, a powerful and influential figure in the criminal underworld and on of the most influential figures in the hellfire club. As her limo glided away, passing by Oliver who began to stroll in the opposite direction, Emma continued her internal dialogue. "Perhaps not. He wouldn't lower himself to the point of hiring a homeless child to spy on me," she continued to eliminate all possible routes, " but he does have some potential. It might be a good idea to invest in him; he should make a good spy given his unrefined look, if properly trained of course," she contemplated, leaving Oliver behind with an unspoken understanding of his untapped potential.

As Emma's presence receded, Oliver felt a lingering strangeness in the air. "Why do I feel like someone just insulted me?" he pondered, a subtle unease settling within him. Shrugging off the sensation, he turned away, the city's sounds and shadows enveloping him as he continued his journey through the urban landscape. The ambient noises of the city, the distant hum of traffic, and the flickering streetlights created a backdrop to Oliver's musings, a symphony of life in the metropolis.

-scene change-

In the dimming light of a Queens evening, Oliver slipped through the crowd like a shadow. The air carried the scent of street food and exhaust, and the temperature dropped as the sun dipped below the skyline. The atmosphere pulsed with the buzz of people ending their workday, and the gritty sidewalk beneath Oliver's worn shoes added a tactile layer to the scene.

Among the commuters disembarking from buses and subway stations, Oliver merged seamlessly. He observed potential targets—the distracted, the hurried, those lost in their own worlds. As he navigated the urban currents, snippets of conversations and the occasional honk of a distant car filled the air, "her" he said to himself.

Approaching his first mark, a woman chatting animatedly on her phone, Oliver deftly slipped a hand into her bag. "Oh, really? That's insane," she exclaimed, oblivious to the subtle movement. Oliver lifted her wallet, and as she continued her call, he moved away smoothly, not attracting attention to himself.

The evening vibe heightened as Oliver identified his next target—a man fumbling with a wallet while waiting for a train. "No, I'll be home soon, no we can't cancel our dinner again," the man muttered to himself. Oliver, seizing the opportunity, plucked a couple of bills from the wallet, the man none the wiser before returning the wallet to the owner.

The third mark, a teenager immersed in music, he seemed only a couple of years older than him, was Oliver's next focus. The distant thump of bass leaked from the earphones. "Yeah, I'll grab dinner on the way home, NO, fuck sophia, she doesnt appretiate me, you do, so me and you are going to do some netflix and chilling to do, ah" the teen mumbled. Oliver liberated a smartphone from the pocket, and with a nod to the rhythm, he melted back into the crowd.

Each move felt calculated, almost an instinct, a meticulous dance within the urban chaos. The fourth mark, a man adjusting his tie and awaiting a bus, became Oliver's next unsuspecting victim. A watch vanished from the man's wrist, and Oliver seamlessly blended away into the crowd.

The atmosphere crackled with a mix of anticipation and skillful execution. The fifth mark, a woman absorbed in organising her purse, presented Oliver with a new challenge. "Where's my lipstick?" she muttered, momentarily perplexed by the missing purse. Oliver observed from a distance, a smirk playing on his lips.

As he continued through the routine, the city embraced Oliver in its nocturnal cloak. The distant hum of traffic and the ambient glow of streetlights created a backdrop for his exploits. The sixth mark, a man counting change, felt a slight disturbance as Oliver lifted a set of keys from his pocket.

-scene change-

Back in his apartment, Oliver, after meticulously counting the money that now totaled to $2,454, pondered the audacity of his recent spree. "The previous Oliver would usually only steal 2-3 wallets before making his exit, but I, of course, went for more, risk and reward come hand in hand," he chuckled to himself. The worn-out clothes he sported served as a testament to his daring escapade. "Of course, I was incredibly lucky; most people don't carry cash nowadays," he groaned.

In the dimly lit room, Oliver's eyes fell on something dark—a black bodysuit he had acquired for $67. A wry smile crossed his face as he contemplated its potential. "This should do the trick for the upcoming mission," he thought, envisioning the stealth and advantage it would provide.

Deciding that his worn-out clothes wouldn't suffice for the heist, considering they lacked the necessary silence and sneaking capabilities, Oliver planned to give the bodysuit an enhancement option. "After I give this an option, it should make things easier," he mused. Seeing that the cooldown had completed, he wasted no time in activating the skill.

Talk about timing, he thought, acknowledging the completion of the cooldown. Oliver took a moment to calm his breath, achieving a state of tranquil focus. Opening his eyes, their azure hue shining brightly, he lifted the sleek bodysuit and placed it against his forehead, initiating the enhancement process.

The suit emitted a radiant glow, the room bathed in a surreal luminosity for precisely one minute. Every passing second felt like an eternity as Oliver endured an intense cold sensation. Giving items options, he realised, was no leisurely stroll in the park; it demanded relaxation, focus, and the endurance of excruciating sensations akin to thousands of needles pricking his soul, body, and mind. The sixty-second duration felt like a journey through hell.