Sensing danger, Clayton quickly pushed his way into the crowd. He figured they wouldn't dare start trouble in such a public place.
Without hesitation, he slipped into the bustling mass of people, drawing irritated shouts and curses as he bumped into them.
The one-handed pickpocket looked stunned by Clayton's sudden move—then quickly grew irritated. He immediately gave chase, unwilling to lose him again.
But as he and his gang tried to keep up, they kept slamming into bystanders, causing chaos. The confusion only made it harder to track Clayton. Despite their urgency, they lost sight of him once more.
Frustrated, the pickpocket clenched his teeth. After a few seconds of thought, he turned to a nearby older man and asked, exasperated:
"Now what, Boss? That brat's slippery as hell! He's way too good at running!"
The older man stayed calm and gave a firm order:
"Alright, we'll split up. If anyone spots him—kill him on sight, or whistle to alert the others."
"Got it!"
