What Do You Live For?

Here we are...

Get lost! I'm not lending you another damn coin. Last time I gave you money, you lost the lot. Then you came crawling back for more, lost that too, and now you've got the nerve to show your face and ask again?

Please, Kroger, you have to believe me! I was still figuring things out back then. But I've cracked it this time! Lend me the money, and I'll pay back every last coin!

Hah! Do you even hear yourself? Go say that to the wife who walked out on you and took the kids with her. See if she believes it.

No! This time is different! I can really win! Kroger, I'm the Union's only accountant! I've worked out every rule of that "game". This time... this time, I can't lose!

Beat it, Rowan. Beg on your knees till nightfall if you like. You're not getting a single coin from me.

Fine! Keep your damn money! If you won't lend it to me, I'll get it somewhere else. Like I care!

Ha! Good. Now get the hell out. And when that damn game's taken your money and your life, I'll know which rubbish bin to check for your frozen corpse.

Sorry about that. Let's go inside.

There you are. Can you believe that idiot? I swear, Rowan's going to drive me out of my damn mind... Who's this?

You really ought to do something about that temper, Kroger. Flying off the handle, drinking yourself senseless... At this rate, rage or liquor will kill you before you ever get the chance to go looking for Rowan's body in the bins.

Oh, piss off. What, you're taking his side now? You think I should lend him money? Lorent, you don't understand, he's lost his mind. He's not the Rowan we knew. The man's gone bloody insane, you hear me? Insane!

But he did say that if we wouldn't lend him the money, he'd find it somewhere else.

Hah! From who? Apart from us, who around here would be stupid enough to lend him a single coin?

We'll come back to that. First, let me introduce our ace in the hole.

Ace in the hole? Who's he talking about? Us?

More specifically, your "Little Minion" here. This isn't exactly the sort of business children should get mixed up in.

Hey! How dare you look down on me! Do you have any idea who I...

Snow, calm down...

And this would be our... hired Phoxhunter, I suppose. Is that all right with you?

Just call me Vita. I didn't come here to listen to you two argue. Tell me what you want from me.

Very well, Vita. Picture this: you're an ordinary worker who's spent the past year labouring at the station.

The pay is poor, but it keeps you fed. Every night, you dream of leaving, because everyone knows what happens if you stay too long, the work wears you down, little by little. By the time you're old, your body's already given out.

What the hell are you getting at?

Easy. Let me finish.

Now imagine this: in the middle of that hopeless, suffocating life, a man calling himself Mr Jack appears with a new "game" no one's ever seen before. Mr Jack's game is simple, easy to understand, and most importantly... profitable.

One lucky win could pay more than a month of backbreaking work. Tell me, Vita... would you take that chance?

Heh. See? That's why I called you sharp. You know there's no such thing as easy money.

Oh, it does. If it didn't, I wouldn't be standing here talking to you. I'd be playing it myself.

Huh. That's a rare answer. Is that your conscience talking... or a Phoxhunter's instincts?

Hahaha... You've got quite the sense of humour.

Whatever your answer, let's say you get pulled into Mr Jack's game somehow. At first, luck seems to be on your side. You win some, you lose some, but overall, you're still ahead.

Then you get cocky. You start thinking your luck won't run out. You play more often... and every bet gets bigger than the last. Until, eventually...

Until you piss away every damn coin you've got!

Kroger, must you put it so crudely? But... yes. More or less. You lose everything.

Then I would simply stop playing! Even if I lost every coin I had, I could always go back to The Asphodel and ask Camilla for pocket money~

Is that so? What about you, Vita? Do you think you could walk away?

In the situation you're describing... if I'd already lost that much, I probably wouldn't see money the same way anymore. It would just be numbers to me. And if earning it all back honestly would take months, maybe even a year...

Once you've tasted victory, once you've felt what it's like to get something for nothing, you start believing you can win it all back. Everything you lost, and more besides.

I don't think I could resist a temptation that strong. That's exactly why I would have stayed away from Mr Jack's game in the first place.

But people already caught in it... they'd probably keep playing until they finally "turn things around".

Exactly. So where do you get the money to keep playing? Well... Mr Jack has a convenient little answer to that.

"Why not borrow from me?" The great Mr Jack is willing to fund your next round. And if you win, he won't even charge you interest. Pay back what you borrowed, and the rest is yours to keep. Hard to refuse, isn't it?

You're sneaky! Every time you explain something, you only mention the nice parts... What's the catch? What happens if they lose again?

It's not that he's hiding the catch... It's that by then, they wouldn't be able to see it anymore.

This is what I hate about you, Lorent! You take something dead simple and turn it into a bloody lecture! You're saying that old bastard Jack's lending money now, and Rowan, that idiot, is going to borrow from him. That's what you're trying to tell us, right?

Not just Rowan. Almost everyone we've refused to lend money to is trying to borrow from Jack instead.

And now they're calling the Screwdriver Union useless. They say we can't help them keep food on the table, and we won't even lend them the money to try for a better life.

Hah! A better life, my arse!

So that's it!? We try to keep these idiots alive, and now they blame us for looking out for them!?

You think we're helping them, but they don't see it that way. If we refuse to lend them money, do you think they'll just stop playing? No. They'll borrow from someone else and keep going.

Then what the hell are we supposed to do!? Sit here and let them call the Union useless!?

See? There you go again, getting worked up. Didn't I tell you? The person I brought back is our ace in the hole. Isn't that right, miss?

I knew you'd help us the moment I saw you help Coney. We'll be counting on you, then. Whether we bring Mr Jack down is in your hands.

I thought as much. You're a good person, I knew that the moment I saw you help Coney.

Help us bring Jack down, and I'll personally introduce you to the Screwdriver Union. You'll be our honoured guest, and every worker in the Union will have your back.

Not interested. I won't be staying here long anyway. If I do this, you wipe Coney's debt clean.

Hm... That works for us. We have a deal, then. Whether we bring Mr Jack down is in your hands.

Everyone in Icelake knows the pay and conditions at Bloomfield Station are miserable. Hardly anyone new wants to work there anymore. You're the first fresh face we've seen in a long while.

Mr Jack has never seen you before, and neither have his people. They don't know a thing about you. That means you can go places the rest of us can't without drawing attention.

And most importantly... you're kind. You helped Coney. That tells me you won't just stand by while these workers are tricked out of their money, have their lives ruined... or worse.

So... we'll be counting on you. Whether we bring Mr Jack down is in your hands.

...All right. What's the plan?

1901, 1902, 1903, 1904...

Snow, what are you doing?

Wah...! Little Minion! You're finally out! I thought that suspicious smiley man was going to abduct you and sell you off or something! I was going to storm in and rescue you once I counted to 2000!

Uh... We were just talking for a while.

So what did you talk about? What does he want us to do?

He said...

Since you won't be staying here long, I'll keep this simple. Mr Jack, the man running that gaming parlour inside the station, has people planted throughout the ironworks. We call them hooks.

The hooks look for workers most likely to bite: young, short on money, and sick of their dull, miserable lives. That's exactly the sort of person you'll need to pretend to be.

I need you to be the fish that takes the bait. Do something, anything, to draw their attention. It shouldn't be difficult. You're new here. They'll notice you soon enough.

Hm... Then again, perhaps you're the hook after all, and Mr Jack is the fish.

Snow, let's start by hanging around the places where workers gather.

Right! With the Demon King and her Little Minion on the case, Mr Jack doesn't stand a chance!

Everyone looks so miserable... Guess we came to the right place. Little Minion, what now?

Over here.

Hello. On a break?

Another pair of fools tricked into coming here...

Come on, be nice. We've got to look after the newcomers. Hey there. Welcome to Bloomfield Station. Though you'll figure out soon enough this isn't exactly where dreams come true.

How'd you know I'm new?

Because only fresh fools still have the energy to walk up and say hello. Give it time. This place'll squeeze the life out of you too. Around here, even standing still before your shift starts is enough to make people think you're slacking off.

That's just how she is. Don't mind her. So, what brings you over? Looking for someone to show you around? Or...

Ah, you've got a Luno with you? What, taking her with the other kids to clean the skylights?

Uh... That's right! We started working here together!

One big fool and one little fool.

You're probably right. If we weren't fools, why would we come here knowing what this place is like?

It's not like we had much choice.

You must be an even bigger fool, then. You got here before we did.

I didn't have a choice! I need money to live, all right!?

Same here. Only I need it for something more important than just staying alive.

Wh, What do you mean...?

We didn't have a choice.

Hm? Little Mi, Um, I mean, Vita, what are you talking about?

Our older sister raised the two of us. Then one day, a gang of thugs came to our home and took her away.

We came all the way to Icelake to find her. Now we're flat broke. Work is the only way we've got left to keep ourselves alive... and to save up enough ransom money to get her back.

What are you... Oh!

Mm-hm! She's right! We haven't had a proper meal in ages! If the kind lady at The Asphodel hadn't taken us in and fed us, we would have starved already!

...

...Well. That's rough. Really rough.

We need money. Badly. Not just enough to eat, enough to pay my sister's ransom.

Aww... If only there were somewhere we could make a whole lot of money all at once.

Well... a place like that does exist. But honestly, wouldn't it make more sense to hire someone to get your sister back instead of scraping together the ransom bit by bit?

Don't you know the owner of The Asphodel? There's a group of bounty hunters at her tavern called... Phoxhunters, right? Heard they're pretty tough.

If they were ordinary kidnappers, maybe. But the one who took my sister is really strong. Brutal. Some kind of monster.

Wouldn't have guessed you two had it that bad... I take back what I said earlier. Sorry.

Still, no matter how hard you work here, the best you'll manage is keeping yourselves fed. As for saving up ransom money? Not a chance.

Well, hello there. Having a little chat, are we? You two, the foreman's calling for you over there. Needs a hand with some cargo.

Finally. We've been waiting forever. All right, we'd better get going. Since you're working here now, we'll probably see each other around.

See you around.

Ah, so you're new here? I hear you're looking to make some money.

That's right! We need money, lots and lots of it!

I see... Well, as it happens, I know a place. Somewhere a little money can become a great deal more.

Really? Where is it? Can we go?

You? Of course. I can take you whenever you like. Her, though...

Huh? What's wrong with me?

...Never mind. One kid won't make any difference. I'm heading there myself, as it happens. Care to come along?

I've never been anywhere like that before. Is that all right?

Not a problem. I'll take you there.

Why does everyone keep calling me a kid today? And since when are kids not allowed to play games?

Maybe this isn't that kind of game.

Lucky Jack! Know the rules?

Take any open seat. The dealer deals one card at a time to each player at the table. Number cards from 2 to 10 are worth their face value. Jacks, Queens, and Kings count as 10. An Ace can count as either 1 or 11.

21 is the best hand. Hit it exactly, and you're sitting pretty. If no one reaches 21, the highest total wins. Go over 21, and you bust, and lose the round.

Think I've got it... Can I try a round now?

Little Minion? What are you staring at?

Nothing... I was just listening to the rules for Lucky Jack.

Oh? Lucky Jack caught your eye, has it? Want me to get you into a round?

No thanks.

Oh, are the rules too much? That's all right. We've got simpler games too...

...Can't play those either.

What's that supposed to mean? You're not interested, and you can't play? Then why did you come here with me?

Um, don't be upset, sir. It's not that we don't want to play, it's just... um... we don't have any money.

You don't?

Uh-huh! We only just started working at the station, remember? We haven't even been paid yet, so we don't have any coins to play with.

Exactly. Is there anything we can play without money?

You can't be serious. Why would a place like this let people play for free?

I brought you here because I thought you wanted in. Now you're backing out? Are you wasting my time?

We do want to make money. We just didn't know we needed money to start.

How about this, lend me a little. I'll pay you back as soon as I win.

What? Vita, didn't you say...

You want to borrow money? Well... that can be arranged. Not through me, though. You can borrow from Mr Jack himself.

All right. Then take me to Mr Jack. I'll borrow a little money from him and try a round.

Hold on! Vita? Aren't you my uncle's cousin's nephew's neighbour? What are you doing here?

(That voice sounds familiar...)

Vita, long time no see! We used to climb trees and catch bugs together when we were kids, remember?

...

Rowan? What are you doing back here? I don't have time for you. I need to take this one to buy into the "Change Your Life" Fund.

Come on, mate. This is an old friend of mine. We haven't seen each other in years. Forget the loan for now, we've got loads to catch up on.

Can't you catch up later?

Nah. We've got loads to talk about. We'll be back in a bit. Bye!

Once you've taken the bait, they'll bring you to the parlour. And if everything goes according to plan, you'll run into Rowan there.

Rowan?

You've already met him, the man who was begging us for money earlier. Get close to him. Strike up a conversation, offer to cover his stake for a round... whatever works. The important thing is that the two of you get to know each other.

Why him?

Because it has to be him.

Huff... huff... Not bad, Luno. Didn't think you'd keep up with those little legs.

I didn't! Vita dragged me the whole way, my feet barely touched the floor!

That's your name? Vita? That's an unusual one.

Nice to meet you. Name's Rowan. Sorry about the nonsense back there, I had to get you out somehow. I wasn't messing with you. I just didn't want you getting suckered into their trap.

Pfft, no. Complete rubbish. Name's Rowan. Seriously, though, I wasn't messing with you. I just didn't want you getting suckered into their trap.

What trap?

You were about to borrow money from them, weren't you? Don't. I asked around earlier. That so-called "Change Your Life" Fund is just loan-sharking with a pretty name.

Loan-sharking? That's when they lend you a little money, then make you pay back loads more, right? Camilla mentioned something like that before.

Exactly. They dress it up to sound harmless: repay daily, weekly, monthly, whatever suits you, all at "super-low" interest. Maybe that fools some brainless idiot, but me? Not a chance.

Take the rate they quote you: 0.3% a day. Sounds tiny, right? But annualised, that's 109.5%. Borrow 10,000 copper, and it looks like you're only paying 30 a day. Leave it for a year at that rate, and you owe 20,950 in total.

And that's before compound interest even gets involved. I didn't read every clause, but I'd bet there are plenty more traps buried in the fine print.

Wow... You're really good with numbers! Just hearing all that made my head spin.

Of course! I'm the accountant for Bloomfield Station's ironworks! Well... I was.

What do you mean, "was"?

I quit! Why slave away for scraps when I can play Lucky Jack instead? A couple of cards in your hand, and bang, easy money.

But if you're that good with numbers, shouldn't you be able to see through a game like this? How did you miss the trap?

You don't get it! It's exactly because I'm good with numbers that I know I can beat them! I just hadn't worked it all out before. This time, I've cracked it. I really have.

Still... you sound awfully clear-headed. People that clear-headed usually stay well away from games like this.

We're doing it because...

Because we need money. Desperately. My sister was kidnapped, and we need a huge ransom to get her back.

Seriously? Then you ought to be thanking me. I just saved you from losing the ransom money too.

But if I don't play, I still won't have enough money to get my sister back...

Ah... So you've had it rough too, huh.

Waaaah... Life is so hard... Waaaah...

Aw, don't cry. Tell you what, maybe I'm feeling generous today. Team up with me. I'll help you make some real money.

How?

Come closer. I'll explain.

Rowan keeps our books, or kept them, until recently. He's one of the few workers here with any schooling, and he has a real head for figures.

He was born into some minor noble family, from what I hear. Then the family fell on hard times, and he ended up here as an accountant. About a month ago, he quit.

All because of Lucky Jack. I've never played it myself, but from what I hear, it's a simple numbers game. He quit his job so he could spend more time studying it.

He claims he's worked out a system that can push his odds of winning to seventy, maybe even eighty percent. But it takes two people: one to move from table to table and track the cards, and one to sit down and play when the odds look good.

He tried selling that system to half the station, but no one believed him. So he tried doing it alone instead. And, well... you saw how that ended.

That's why I need you to get close to him. He's bound to ask you to help with his so-called system. No matter what he says, go along with it.

Got all that? Your part's simple. This place is basically a back-room dump, single decks, no automatic shufflers, nothing fancy.

Good. I was worried it'd gone straight over your head.

All right. Listen closely this time.

You don't actually need to play. Just keep track of the cards at each table for me.

We're looking for decks with plenty of high cards left. By high cards, I mean 10s, face cards, and Aces. The more of those still in the deck, the better our chances.

The dealer has to keep drawing until they reach 17 or higher. So when the deck is heavy with high cards, the dealer is more likely to go over 21 and bust.

And if we draw an Ace with a 10 or a face card, that's a "Super Jack". Pays three to two. In short, high cards are where the money is.

Every deck only has so many cards. If a table's already burned through a lot of low cards, that means the good cards are still sitting in the deck. That's the table we want.

Once you find one, give me the signal, pretend to stretch and raise your hand. I'll come over, sit down, take the money, and walk away. Nice and clean.

Simple, right? Just act natural. Don't let anyone notice what you're watching.

I can help keep track of the cards too! My memory's amazing, I won't miss a single one!

Even better. Though with your height... maybe you'd be better off peeking under the table at the dealer's hole card.

Hey! What's that supposed to mean?

Come on, Snow. Let's get moving.

Dealer shows 9. Hole card: 5. Draws a Queen... Bust! Player wins!

Rowan, you lucky bastard!

Haha. Just watch. I'm not leaving until I'm rolling in money!

Dealer shows Ace. Hole card: 8. Player has Ace and King, Super Jack! Player wins!

Rowan, you're on fire today! This is insane!

Just luck. Anyone could've done it.

Dealer shows 4. Hole card: Jack. Draws a 9... Bust! Player wins!

What the hell!? Rowan! You're definitely buying everyone a drink tonight!

Later! I'm not done yet.

Dealer shows 7. Hole card: Queen. Dealer stands on 17. Player has 2, Jack, and 6, 18. Player wins!

Hehe~ One more round!

Dealer shows 5. Hole card: 6. Draws a 9. Dealer stands on 20. Player has 3, King, and 4, 17. Dealer wins!

Damn it! Again!

Dealer shows 9. Hole card: 10. Dealer stands on 19. Player has 8 and Ace, with the Ace counting as 11, 19. Push!

Tch... So close!

Little Minion, is this table good enough to call Rowan over?

Are you sure...? I don't think this is the right table. There are still too many low cards left in the deck. Maybe we should keep looking.

All right.

Not this table. Let's keep looking.

(A lot of high cards have already been dealt at this table, 10s, face cards, Aces... Definitely not ideal.)

Every deck only has so many cards. If a table's already burned through a lot of low cards, that means the good cards are still sitting in the deck. That's the table we want.

All right~

Dealer shows 8. Hole card: 7. Draws a 2. Dealer stands on 17. Player has 9, 7, and 2, 18. Player wins!

Hehe! I'm treating myself to a proper meal tonight!

Dealer shows 2. Hole card: 6. Draws a 9. Dealer stands on 17. Player has 6, 5, and 4, 15. Dealer wins!

Ugh! I should've taken one more card!

Dealer shows 4. Hole card: 2. Draws a 9. Draws a 7. Dealer busts at 22. Player has 3, 5, and 9, 17. Player wins!

Yes! I'm cashing out! I won back everything I lost!

Little Minion, is this table good enough to call Rowan over?

Hardly any high cards have come out in the last few hands. The deck looks good now. I should signal Rowan.

Hm? But hardly any high cards have come out in the last few hands. Doesn't that mean the deck is full of high cards now?

You're right. I'll call him over.

(Hardly any high cards have been dealt at this table... This looks like the right table.)

Every deck only has so many cards. If a table's already burned through a lot of low cards, that means the good cards are still sitting in the deck. That's the table we want.

Oof... Didn't think it'd go that smoothly. Apart from a couple of rotten hands, everything went just like I said it would. We made a fortune!

Shame we couldn't find any more tables worth playing. Otherwise, we could've... Ah, forget it. There'll be plenty more chances. Come on, let's get a drink first, then come back later and try our luck again!

Here. Got this back when I was winning a bit. Fancy stuff, the kind those inner-city toffs drink. You can hardly find it out here.

I'd been saving it for a special occasion. Couldn't bring myself to drink it, couldn't bring myself to sell it either. People like me don't get their hands on stuff like this every day. But after what we pulled off just now, I figured you deserved a taste.

And you too, little one. Here, hot chocolate. The kids up cleaning the skylights would fight over a mug of this stuff.

How many times do I have to say it? I'm not a kid!

...Though, fine. I'll forgive you for now. Because hot chocolate.

Tell me something... What do you think people live for?

Yeah... getting rich... winning big at the tables...

Hahaha! That's a bit grand, isn't it? So serious it almost sounds like a joke.

Mm... yeah. Your sister. Your Luno friend. My wife and kids...

Exactly! That's it! Here's to making it through another day alive!

Truth is... I didn't grow up in a place like this.

Back then, I was one of those inner-city toffs. I could drink as much of this fancy stuff as I liked, hop on a train whenever I felt like it, even run off to the Imperial Capital on a whim.

I never had to worry about anything. I'd open my eyes in the morning, and the servants would already be waiting, clothes laid out, water ready for me to rinse my mouth, every button fastened and every collar straightened before I stepped out the door. When I went out, someone would kneel beside the carriage so I could step on their back to climb in. When I got out, someone would set a cushion under my feet.

Bet you think I'm full of it, huh? A station accountant claiming he used to be nobility. Hah.

I don't think you're making it up...

Oh? Sharp eye for a little Luno.

People don't look that sad when they're making things up.

Heh... If only I had made it all up.

How did you end up here?

Lots of reasons. The biggest was my old man. He was the only one in the family who knew how to make money. Then his business went under. He lost everything. After that... I suppose he lost the will to keep going, too. Then one morning, he went to sleep... and never woke up.

After that, it all went the way it does in cheap novels. The mansion was sold, then the jewellery, then anything else worth a coin. All we had left were debt collectors at the door and relatives circling like vultures.

So I brought my wife and kids out to the outer city. But what sort of life could I give them here? I had to look after them. And that takes money... much more money than I had.

My wages barely kept me fed, never mind giving them anything like a decent life.

So that's why you started playing Lucky Jack? To support your family?

Nah. They left ages ago. No idea where they ended up. Back to Dismania, probably. My wife was from there. Can't blame her. It was my fault.

If your family's already gone, why keep playing?

Mm... good question. Why do I keep playing...? I don't know. Maybe I just want money. A mountain of it. More than my dead old man ever made in his life. Then maybe I can walk back into the inner city with my head held high. Maybe I can live like I matter again.

But... this game is wrong.

Heh... You know that, do you? Then why did you help me?

Because we don't have a choice! We need to... to save up the ransom money!

Well... neither do I.

...

Losing isn't the worst part, is it? The worst part is losing and giving up on yourself completely. Not even having the guts to crawl back out of the hole. Right?

Go along with it? What if he loses because of me?

That's the point. I need him beaten badly enough that he stops believing he can claw his way back, badly enough that he never dares sit at that table again.

You mean... you want me to make him lose on purpose?

I wouldn't put it like that. In that game, no one wins except Mr Jack. You wouldn't be ruining Rowan. You'd be letting the game do what it was always going to do, only faster.

What happens to him if he loses?

No idea. He didn't borrow from us. He borrowed from Mr Jack. Most likely, they'll work him to the bone until they decide he's paid enough.

I thought the Screwdriver Union was founded so workers could help each other. Isn't there a better way than this?

You still don't understand. Some people don't hear reason. Drunks. Gamblers. People who walk back into the fire no matter how badly it burns them. You can talk until you're hoarse, and they'll still go back.

We help the people we can. If we spend everything trying to save people who won't be pulled back, there'll be nothing left for the ones we still can save. We live in the cracks of this city. Sometimes, one man has to suffer badly enough that the rest are too scared to follow him.

So that's what we do. Let Rowan believe he's finally beaten the odds. Then, just when he thinks he's won, let the game take it all back. Make the fall hard enough that he can't climb back up. Make sure everyone sees it.

They'll look at Rowan and think: even he was swallowed by this game, and he knows numbers better than anyone here. What chance do the rest of us have? We're ordinary workers. What makes us think we can gamble our way into a better life?

One Rowan, to keep countless others from stepping into the abyss. Tell me that isn't a fair trade.

Hey... you all right? You've been staring into space. Don't tell me that little speech of mine actually got to you.

No... It's just...

Haha! Relax, I'm joking!

Come on, we should move. We need to win big and get out fast this time. We've already won plenty, if we keep this up, Mr Jack's people are going to notice.

Once we cash out, we'll split it seventy-thirty. Sound good? You take your share and save your sister. I get my life back.

Why've you gone quiet again? What, not enough? Fine, I'll give you another five per cent. But that's as high as I go! This was my plan, after all.

It's not about the money.

Not about the money? Then wake up, we need to move before they catch on. Come on!

This time... we go all in!

Little Minion... is everything all right? You look all gloomy.

...It's nothing.

Oh, all right. You know, Rowan's actually pretty nice. Before we left, he slipped me some more sweets.

He said his daughter used to love them. I tried one, and it was really good. Want one?

...No, I'm all right.

What's wrong? Bad table?

Vita! Vita! What about this one? Look!

This is the one, right? Little Minion, we're about to get rich, aren't we? Aren't we!?

Little Minion? Have you decided?

(...Time to choose.)

Come on... This is where I turn my life around.

Ha! Lady Luck's smiling on me today, I'm going all in!

Rowan, are you out of your mind!? That's your whole life on the table! What if you lose?

Then I lose properly! I'm sick of clinging on like a coward!

Stand.

Rowan, what've you got? Standing after two cards? Come on, show us!

Where's the fun in showing a good hand all at once? Here, I'll give you one.

A King!? That's a strong start. What's the other card?

Patience. Let's see what the dealer does first.

Hit me.

4 showing, Jack in the hole, then a 9. That's a bust, isn't it?

Cut the crap. Show your hand.

King and Ace. Super Jack.

No way! How the hell did you...!? How did you win!?

Little Minion, look! Rowan won! It's a Super Jack!

...Yeah.

Well? Super Jack pays three to two. Pay up.

Mr Rowan. An impressive run of luck tonight. Very impressive.

Unfortunately, we have reason to suspect foul play. You'll need to come with us.

Foul play? What the hell are you talking about? I won fair and square. What, can't afford to pay me?

Mr Rowan. Please come with us.

Like hell I will! What're you going to do, drag me out!?

If necessary.

Oh, no! They're trying to take Rowan by force! Little Minion, quick, help him!

Ha! Lady Luck's smiling on me today, I'm going all in!

Rowan, are you out of your mind!? That's your whole life on the table! What if you lose?

Then I lose properly! I'm sick of clinging on like a coward!

See that? See!? That's a good hand!

Damn, Rowan... maybe you really are about to win big. 8 and 9, 17. Dealer's showing 5. Let's see what he draws.

Hit me.

Huh. A 3. Wonder what the hole card is.

Why are there still so many low cards...? That's not right...

Hmm? Rowan? Are you taking another card or not? Dealer just drew another 2!

No... No, that can't be. This isn't right!

What are you talking about? Looks like there are still plenty of low cards in the deck. Are you hitting or not?

But there shouldn't be... There shouldn't be this many left...

Dealer stood! Rowan, hit or stand?

He stood... so he's on at least 17... What do I do...? I...

Rowan! Take another card! If you stand now, you're finished!

I... I... Fine. Hit me!

...It's a 7.

...I busted.

Oof. Dealer's hole card was a 7. 17 total. Could've been a push.

Little Minion... what just happened? Rowan lost? But... why were there so many low cards left in the deck?

...

No... Why...? Why would you...?

Mr Rowan, it seems your all-in did not bring you the fortune you were hoping for. In that case, I believe it's time we settled your debt to Mr Jack.

Debt...? No... no, I can win it back! I just need one more hand. Once I win, I can pay him back!

Pfft. Give it up, Rowan. You shoved everything you had onto the table. What are you going to bet with now? Your bones?

Mr Rowan. Please come with us.

See that? That's what this game does to you. One loan from Mr Jack, one bad hand, and suddenly you're paying with more than money.

So go on! Borrow from Jack! Keep playing! Then you'll end up just like this idiot! Hahaha!

You all right?

I'm fine... I'm fine... That bastard never meant to let us walk out with the money, did he!?

Yeah. You all saw that, didn't you? That's how this place works. When you lose, they let you keep playing. They lend you money, take their cut, and watch you sink deeper.

But the moment someone wins too much, like Rowan just did, they call it cheating. Then Mr Jack's men come out to drag you away for a "little talk."

So even if you win here, do you really think they'll let you leave with the money? Every hand you play in this "game" only costs you more. Is this really where you want all your hard-earned wages to end up?

Who're you standing there grinning at? Come on, let's get out of here. You've scared off half the crowd already.

All that for nothing... What a bloody waste!

Well, I thought it was fun! That last hand was amazing! Rowan won, and I got to watch Vita beat up a whole lot of bad guys!

...Anyway, after the mess you made in there, Mr Jack's little parlour is probably finished. Not that we were ever going to walk away with any real money from his game, so I suppose that's no great loss...

Why didn't you tell me you were that good in a fight? If I'd known, I wouldn't have wasted our time at a card table. I'd have taken you straight to the back-alley fight pits instead!

Ah, forget it... Too late for that now. I need to get something out of this mess. Before Mr Jack comes after me over those loans, I need to get out of here. Fast.

But before that... we did win some money earlier. Here. Your share. Seventy-thirty, seventy for me, thirty for you.

Wow! We really get a share!?

All right. Enough talking. They'll be after us soon, so we'd better split up and run while we can.

All right.

Right, I'm off. See you around! Oh, and... hope you find your sister soon!

Little Minion, do you think he'll keep playing games like that? If he does... maybe helping him today only made things worse.

I don't know... But he reached out to help me back then. I couldn't lie to his face and watch him lose everything.

Help you? You mean when he pulled us away before you could borrow money from Mr Jack?

Something like that... And the wine, too. And the hot chocolate he made for you.

That's true! Well, humans really are complicated...

Yeah. Maybe a bit too complicated for that little head of yours. Anyway, we're done here. Let's head back to the Screwdriver Union and report back.