Walkthrough for the quest Contract: An Elusive Thief in the game Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. This page covers all main objectives, key steps, or helpful tips to guide you through the quest smoothly. Whenever possible, the guide points out locations for key items and details interactions with NPCs, among other tips. To ensure maximum clarity, in-game screenshots are included for easy-to-follow visual guidance.
Quest Group: Witcher Contracts
Suggested level: 13
Location: Novigrad
You can start this quest by reading the "Imp" contract posted on the Hierarch Square Notice Board in Novigrad.
A Novigrad merchant by the name of Sylvester Armello had hung a notice on the Novigrad board asking for help in tracking down a thieving imp. It seemed the merchants' guild was being pestered by a mysterious creature who kept stealing wares from its members stalls. Geralt accepted the job.
Hierarch Square Notice Board
Velen / Novigrad
Sylvester Amello
Velen / Novigrad
Doppler's House
Velen / Novigrad
Doppler
Velen / Novigrad
Go to the marketplace during the day and talk to Sylvester Amello and he'll tell you about the goblin who steals goods from his stall. You can haggle with him about the amount of money (243+ crowns) he'll pay you if you get rid of the thief.
On the ground near his stall you'll find traces similar to those of a big cat. Follow them towards the town gate and under the wall you'll find some food dropped by the thief. You should then see the claw marks on the wall.
Follow them and they will lead you to the bridge over the moat.
Jump down to the moat or go down and find another tracks which will change into human footprints and lead you to a nearby house.
Find the letter lying on the table and then read it.
Short letter
Janne, please - cut out this nonsense at once. This might come to you as a surprise, but a giant cat will tend to stick in people's memory. Why don't you pick some other, safer form, like I did? I've been walking around as a beggar for three years now and no one's batted an eye. And such earnings! You wouldn't need to steal anymore. So, how'll it be? If you decide on it, I'll put in a word for you with the King of Beggars.
Till our next writing,
Louis
P.S. Burn this letter once you've read it, all right?
P.P.S. Yes, yes, I know - I'm paranoid. But humor me and burn it.
P.P.P.S. If find this letter next time I come see you, you owe me a beer.
Based on the letter, Geralt will come to the conclusion that he's dealing with a doppler.
The thief's trail took Geralt to Novigrad's extramural paupers' district. The thought of venturing into that tough quarter makes me wince. Not so much because of the danger - I have braved much meaner places - but because of the smell, which can be so rank as to bring vomit to one's lips upon strolling within ten paces of it. Geralt, however, braved the worst and soon determined the imp was in fact a doppler, one who changed his form more often than other men change their knickers - although, given the hygienic habits of men in this particular district, that was not saying much.
Go up to the top floor of the house and examine the clothes you find there.
Follow the scent and it will lead you to the temple guard talking to the elf. Talk to him and let him know you know who he is.
Chase him. Don't let him get too far away or the quest will fail. Once you get close enough to him, press the interact button to grab him.
The doppler had no choice but to seek salvation in flight. It seemed Geralt was in for a footrace.
When you catch him, he'll transform into another you and you'll start fighting.
Beating him shouldn't be difficult. Give him some hits and he'll give up. You'll be able to decide his fate:
If you decided that the doppler deserved to die, kill him and then take the doppler trophy (5% Bonus gold).
Whatever you choose, return and talk to Sylvester. If you killed the doppler, he'll be happy to give you a full reward.
To this day I think Geralt did wrong in killing that doppler. In my opinion, his crimes did not match the punishment meted out to him - but, in the end, I am no witcher, and so it is not my place to judge. The merchant Sylvester was, unlike me, thrilled with how the witcher resolved the matter and gave him the promised reward without a second thought.
If you let the doppler go, he'll only give you half of the agreed money.
Geralt has a soft heart. Though this does not always move him to mercy, this time it led him to spare the thieving doppler - under the condition that the shapeshifter leave the city at once. After that was settled, Geralt talked to the merchant who had issued the contract and brought the matter of the doppler thief to a close.