Classless Reincarnation

Chapter 23 Bizarre Marketplace Morning...

?"Foxes…. Today is the day!"

"Today is the day we seize knowledge!"

"Today is the day we transcend ignorance!"

"Woo! Woo!" (Trans-send?! That sounds so cool!)

That day, Jack and minions left the Flame Mansion and went again to Dawn City. This time, however, they sneaked into a marketplace!

— Dawn's Corner Marketplace! NO STEALING! —

Small open-air stalls were everywhere, with enthusiastic merchants peddling their wares loudly. Some even had glowing signs to attract customers!

"Woo?!" (Master, what are we doing here?)

The foxes were utterly confused. Was there anything that they especially needed? Weren't they supposed to go to the library? Little did they know, it was all part of a greater plan!

Jack pointed to the masses.

"What do you guys see?"

"Woo? Woo? Woo?" (People? Shops? Merchants?)

"You all see a marketplace, don't you? I don't. I see an eternal face-off: the ones that showcase their wealth and those that wish to rob them of it!"

Jack chuckled as he pointed at a handsome-looking man that was happily browsing the shops. "Watch carefully, only him." He instructed the confused foxes.

Just as they were about to lose patience…it suddenly happened!

Someone randomly fell nearby, cursing copiously. That's when the "shopper" struck; a decisive hand snatched a lavish-looking pendant!

"Woo?!" (So fast!) The foxes exclaimed in shock. How the Hell had their master predicted this?! Was he a prophet?! This was the only explanation, right?!

"Pfft— There are always thieves in places like this. One just needs to know how to spot them, that's all." Jack explained. "Now, let's play a game, shall we?"

Appealing to the playful nature of his minions, Jack showed them how to pickpocket. It was all about the diversion and making sure no one was watching.

"Now, go on, make me proud, you all!"

[Unlocked Title: Bad Influence!]

Jack watched on as a few foxes merged with the crowd, getting to work. While they lacked experience, they were beyond nimble and had no misgiving.

To them, this whole thing was just a game, a very fun one at that!

— Whoosh! Whoosh! —

It didn't take long for the firsts to carry their haul to the alley where their party hid. The more they brought out and the prouder they were!

"Woo!" (I got a hat!)

"Woo! Woo!" (Look at this, a belt!)

"Woo! Woo! Woo!" (I win! This is…. fresh underwear!)

As Jack saw the last one, he felt his worldview crumble. Said underwear was still warm to the touch?! Damn, his minions really had a talent for this!

That's when he glanced at them impishly. "Now starts the fun part. For your next mission, bring those back to their respective owners…without them noticing!"

What kind of impossible task was this?! The once gloating underwear thief suddenly choked on his own saliva. It had to do this... again?! Crazy!

"Let me say this, however, Scaling Rewards."

— Dramatic Foxes Gasps! —

Scaling?! Didn't this mean that if they stole and gave back something super valuable… they'd get tons of rewards?! Such a good deal!

They all went back to work, barely containing their wagging tails.

Jack would send them in batches, pitting them against one another. But no matter how much they tried to remain low-key, there were a few incidents.

Luckily, the foxes were FAST! Someone crying thief? They'd drop the item on the ground, making everyone believe it was a false alarm.

Yet, there were only so many times it could happen before people got suspicious, right? That day became Hell for the actual pickpockets.

Many approached the foxes, angrily whispering…

"Hey, you bastard! This is my turf. Go away before you get all of us caught."

"You freaking donkey! Get a goddamn life!"

"You…are you freaking playing?!"

Yet their "warnings" fell unto deaf (fluffy) ears.

Getting caught? No way, not with the "drop to the ground" trick! Donkey? No, no: they were foxes! Playing? Yes, they were! Was it that obvious?!

The thieves expected the "Newbies" to give up, but they didn't! If they hadn't been "acting human", they would have even replied with a proud and confident WOO!

In any case, that day soon became a bizarre one for the Dawn Marketplace. Over and over, people would lose their belongings… only to find them again a minute later!

Was a crazy mischievous ghost playing with them?!

Most customers became even more careful with their belongings, verifying they still had them every so often. Yet, that only spurred on the foxes some more!

Jack had found the perfect words to encourage his minions:

"So what if they're checking? That just means they're paying less attention to their non-valuables! Or you can also go for the well-guarded stuff for a BIG PLAY!"

A challenge?! Foxes loved challenges! As many thieves gave up and left, the fluffy pickpockets all remained. They had single-handedly stopped thievery! (Kinda)

They spent all morning stealing and giving back!

They forgot time, forgot why they were even doing it in the first place, and lost themselves in the joy of tricking people! This was a RUSH!

At one point, they even stole an entire stall, only to bring it back moments later undetected! Never had a stall owner doubted his sanity more.

They sometimes even stole from one another and other thieves just to make it even more interesting! As for Jack, he witnessed their transformation.

Low-Level Crook —> M?a?f?i?a? ?B?o?s?s? ? High-Level Crook!

Satisfied with their progress, he called them back, delivering the rewards. Jack felt like a benevolent god: you get a headpat, you get a headpat, you get a headpat!

As for the MVP thieving fox, Jack gave it XP! The latter basked in the glory and the ecstasy of the Level UP, envy overflowing from all the other foxes. SO LUCKY!

"Alright, you guys are finally ready! It's time for our next stop!"

"WOOOO!" (Let's GOOOO!)

The party quickly sneaked away, leaving behind a restless and semi-paranoid crowd.

Said crowd was now in the process of explaining the events to a team of Dawn Guards. There had been so many false thief alarms that they had come to investigate.

But the more they investigated, the more baffled they became. Who would be as bored as to pull such a prank? More importantly, who was fast enough not to be caught?!

Still, they did their due diligence. They faked leaving, hiding in the shadow to monitor the situation. But the more they watched, the more shocked they became.

Tons of scary-looking questionable individuals started showing. It was as if a "shady-only people party" was ongoing! All were armed to the teeth and looking for someone.

"Gulp! S-sir, what is this?!" A newbie guard asked.

"Kill squads, son, a bunch of them!" An experienced Dawn Guard replied.

One had to know that being a Crook in Dawn City had incredibly straight unwritten rules. The lowly thieves paid a tax to their master, who in turn offered them protection.

Jack's minions had suddenly angered LOTS of people! Stealing from professional thieves was akin to a declaration of war! All across Dawn, many powers were now on the move.

But as they arrived at the Corner's Marketplace, the fools that had challenged their authority were already gone. All that awaited them were Dawn Guards….

Completely unaware of the misunderstanding, Jack and the MVP fox (disguised as one human) had finally reached the Dawn Library's doors!

The Guard Gargoyles baring their way were SCARY! Wouldn't they murder them on the spot it they detected them as intruders?!

A shaking paw quickly flashed them a token it had swiped beforehand.

'Please, let this work! Or we're dead!'

The wait was agonizing!

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[Ding! Tier 1 Access Granted!]

[Welcome to the Dawn Royal Library!]

Hehe, training all morning at the Corner's Marketplace had been so worth it! Jack was already drooling as he pictured what they'd find...