Ultimate Choice System: I Became The Richest!

Chapter 233 Pickpocketer



Inside the hotel lobby, Emily giggled triumphantly as she emerged first from the revolving door. “I won!” she announced, her voice echoing in the grand space.

Noah stepped out a second later, smirking. “Fine, you’re faster. But only because I let you win.”

Emily stuck her tongue out at him. “Excuses, excuses!”

Caroline caught up with them, shaking her head but smiling nonetheless. “You two are unbelievable. We’ve been here for less than a minute, and you’re already making a scene.”

David chuckled, carrying their luggage. “They’re just excited. Let them have their fun.”

A hotel staff member in a sleek black suit approached them with a warm smile. “Welcome to The Royal Crown Hotel, Mr. Thompson and family. Everything has been prepared for your stay. May I assist you with your luggage?”

David handed over the bags while Emily turned her attention to the massive chandelier hanging above them. “Wow… It’s like a million stars all stuck together!”

Noah patted her on the shoulder. “You’ll see more surprises soon. Let’s check in first.”

The concierge escorted them to the reception desk, where another staff member greeted them. “Welcome to our hotel. We’ve upgraded your suite to the Imperial Suite for the duration of your stay, courtesy of RayAir’s partnership with our establishment.”

David raised an eyebrow, pleasantly surprised. “The Imperial Suite? That sounds… grand.”

The receptionist’s smile didn’t waver. “It’s one of our finest accommodations, ma’am. It offers unparalleled luxury, panoramic city views, and exclusive amenities. Please rest assured, this is entirely complimentary as part of your recent upgrade.”

Emily tugged on Noah’s sleeve, her eyes sparkling. “What’s the Imperial Suite, big brother? Is it like… a castle?”

Noah grinned, playing along. “It’s like a castle in the sky,”

“You’ll find a personalized welcome basket in the room, and our butler service is at your disposal at all times.” The receptionist continued.

Emily’s eyes sparkled. “Butler service? Does that mean someone can bring me snacks whenever I want?”

Caroline placed a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Emily, behave.”

“But snacks make everything better,” Emily muttered under her breath.

The staff led them to the elevator, which was lined with mirrors and gold detailing. Emily pressed her face to the glass, watching the numbers rise. “This is the fanciest elevator I’ve ever been in!”

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When they reached the top floor, the doors opened to reveal the Imperial Suite.

Noah stepped into the Imperial Suite, his hands in his pockets, watching Emily dart from one corner to another like a puppy in a park. “Don’t go too far, Em. I don’t want to find you tangled in the curtains,” he teased.

Emily spun around dramatically, draping herself over one of the velvet sofas. “These aren’t curtains, Noah! They’re royal drapes!” She wiggled her fingers in the air. “I’m a princess now!”

Caroline stifled a laugh as she stepped in behind Noah, her eyes widening at the grandeur of the room. “This is… unbelievable. David, have you seen the view?” She walked over to the windows, her hands resting on the glass. “You can see Big Ben, the London Eye… everything!”

David followed her, nodding in approval. “They really went all out, didn’t they? This must cost a fortune per night.”

Noah shrugged casually. “Perks of knowing the right people, Dad.”

Emily was already inspecting the fruit basket, poking at a pineapple with intense curiosity. “Why does this pineapple have a crown? Is it like, the king of fruits?”

Noah smirked, leaning against the doorway. “Exactly. And just like any king, it demands respect. Don’t start a fight with it.”

Emily rolled her eyes. “Very funny, big brother.”

The butler knocked lightly on the open door and stepped in with a respectful bow. “Good afternoon, Mr. Thompson, Mrs. Thompson, and family. I’m James, your butler for the duration of your stay. Should you require anything at all—be it dining, tours, or specific arrangements—please don’t hesitate to call me.”

Emily’s eyes lit up. “Anything? Like, could you bring me snacks at midnight?”

James smiled politely. “Of course, miss. Your wish is my command.”

Emily gasped and turned to her mom. “Mom! Did you hear that? A snack genie!”

Caroline raised an eyebrow, giving Noah a playful side glance.

Noah chuckled. “Don’t look at me, She’s a Thompson.”

The suite had more surprises. Caroline opened one door and gasped. “There’s a private theater room in here! David, come look at this!”

David peeked in and whistled. “We’ll never want to leave.”

Emily squealed from another corner of the suite. “A jacuzzi! Mom, Dad, there’s a jacuzzi! It’s bigger than our bathtub at home!”

Noah, still leaning casually by the entrance, called out. “Don’t get any ideas, Em. You’re not diving in until after dinner.”

Emily huffed but quickly moved on to another room. She opened another door and gasped. “This bed is huge! I could do gymnastics on it!” She leapt onto the bed, bouncing slightly before sprawling out. “Yep, definitely fit for a princess.”

Caroline sighed. “Emily, don’t ruin the sheets the second we get here.”

Noah walked over, gently pulling Emily up by the arm. “Come on, Em. Save some energy. We’ve got an entire city to explore.”

The family’s first evening in London was a mix of excitement and wonder. As they wandered through the bustling streets, neon lights reflected off the rain-slicked pavement, and the aroma of street food wafted through the air.

Caroline and Emily were marveling at a nearby window display when Noah’s eyes caught sight of something out of place.

A wiry man with an air of nonchalance was inching closer to Caroline’s bag, his fingers already twitching in anticipation.

A pickpocket.

Noah’s lips curled into a subtle smirk. “Let’s see how good you really are,” he muttered to himself.

The man deftly unzipped the outer pocket of Caroline’s bag and slipped out a small wallet. Noah made no move to stop him, his expression calm.

‘If you think you’re the predator, think again.’

The pickpocket turned, casually blending into the crowd as though nothing had happened. Noah gestured for his family to keep moving, keeping the man in his peripheral vision.

As the thief maneuvered through the throng of people, Noah took his chance. He moved swiftly and quietly, navigating the crowd like a shadow.

Noah caught up to the man just as he slowed near a food stall to check his haul. In one fluid motion, Noah brushed past him, his fingers expertly slipping into the man’s pocket. Without breaking stride, Noah extracted the wallet the thief had stolen, along with the man’s own pouch of belongings.

The pickpocket barely noticed the contact, muttering a half-hearted, “Hey, watch it!” as he clicked his tongue in irritation.

He didn’t even look up, already preoccupied with scanning for his next target.

Noah chuckled under his breath, shaking his head.

A few moments later, the pickpocket stopped near an alley to inspect his spoils. As he reached into his pocket, confusion turned to alarm. His wallet, keys, and even the newly stolen wallet were missing. Frantically, he searched through his jacket, his expression growing more desperate by the second.

“Where the hell is it?” he hissed, looking around wildly.

He immediately ran back to the area he bumped into Noah his eyes darted through the crowd, but Noah had already melted into the sea of pedestrians.

Caroline, David, and Emily were none the wiser as Noah casually rejoined them, holding up the stolen wallet.

“Mom,” he said, handing it back to Caroline, “you dropped this earlier.”

Caroline blinked in surprise. “Oh! Thank you, Noah. I didn’t even notice.”

Emily tilted her head, suspicious. “Wait a minute. When did she drop it? We’ve been walking this whole time.”

Noah ruffled her hair with a smirk. “Must’ve been when we stopped at the last shop, Sherlock.”

after spending the evening with his parents, Noah sat in his room.

Noah sat on the edge of his hotel room bed, the soft glow of the bedside lamp illuminating the small pouch he had taken from the thief. Carefully, he tipped its contents onto the desk, spreading out a few crumpled bills, a fake-looking watch, random trinkets, and an identity card.

Picking up the card, he examined it under the light.

Name: Sam Richard

Age: 25

ID Number: GB51525XXXX

Address: 224 Birchwood Lane, Flat 3A, Westwick District.

Noah raised an eyebrow, tapping the card thoughtfully against the desk. “This guy wasn’t even good at being a thief. Carrying your real ID while trying to rob someone? Amateur.”

He pocketed the ID card and some cash, leaving the junk behind. He grabbed his jacket and quietly left the room, ensuring not to wake his family. Stepping into the cool London night, he flagged down a black cab idling by the curb.

“Where to, mate?” the cabbie asked, his Cockney accent thick.

“Westwick District,” Noah said, leaning back into the seat.

The driver glanced at Noah through the rearview mirror, hesitating for a moment. “That’s not the nicest part of London, you sure about that?”

Noah smirked. “Positive. Just get me close. I can walk the rest of the way.”

The cabbie shrugged and pulled away from the curb.

The taxi stopped a block away from the address, as Noah had requested. The area was dimly lit, the streetlights flickering in intervals. The buildings were old, with peeling paint and graffiti marking their once-pristine walls.

“This is as close as you want, yeah?” the cabbie asked, clearly uneasy.

Noah handed over the fare with a polite nod. “Thanks.”

Stepping out, he tucked his hands into his jacket pockets and strolled down the street. His sharp eyes scanned every detail of the surroundings.


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