THE SON OF OUTKASTÉR

Prologue

"HA! Read 'em and weep, boys!"

"Impossible! It's a royal flush! All in spades no less!"

"Better luck next time. I'll be collecting my winnings now and be on my way."

"How did you do that? What's your trick?"

"There is no 'trick'."

"You've won the last twelve games, golden boy."

"I guess I'm just lucky."

"Ah, you're taking a piss! Luck gots nothing to do with it! Again! Double or nothing!"

"Ha! Are you serious? Look around. None of you have any chips left. They're all mine. You have nothing to double."

"You've forgotten where you're at, boy. I don't know where you're from, but over here our pockets never run dry. Winner takes all! We'll see how 'lucky' you are."

"Hmm, tempting offer, but I got to find me a girl to splurge these winnings with. I heard it doesn't take much to win them over. See you boys around."

"You're not going anywhere. hold him!"

"Hey, what gives? I won fair and square!"

"Didn't your parents ever teach you that the house always wins?"

"Tell your boys to get off of me, and I'll show you what my parents taught me."

"Search him. No man, or boy in this instance, can con and make a fool of us that badly. He must be using some sort of trickery. Search the gloves he has on as well."

"I promise that will be the last mistake you ever make!"

"Ah! Arrogance, I like it! Loud mouths like you produce the loudest of screams. Don't worry, if you are that lucky, which I doubt, we'll just keep the money and you get to live. But if you were in fact cheating, you'd wish you were as lucky as you portrayed yourself to be."

"Sir, he has a symbol on his wrist. Looks like the crest of the sun."

"What? Let me see. Humph! I knew you were dodgy the moment I laid eyes on you. You're not lucky, you're an Outkastér!"

"Oh? Would you look at that, tis I am."

"Should we let him go, Sir?"

"Are you crazy? Haven't you seen his face plastered around the area? Any Outkastér goes for a pretty Nova Claw."

"Only a Nova Claw? I'm so honored."

"But sir, the Outkastérs are powerful—and dangerous."

"You should listen to your mate. Wouldn't want this to get ugly now would we?"

"Bring him to the boss. He'll know what to do with him."

"Is this how you run business? Get beaten at your own game fair and square and refuse to take grace and give me the money that is rightfully mine?"

"You're an Outkastér. It doesn't matter how fair you are, everyone in this room would rather die than admit defeat to an Outkastér. Your name precedes you."

"Oh? The same name that saved your people? Made it possible for you all to live in peace with gluttonous bellies and pockets overflowing like the Preiceus Sea? Yes, my name and its reputation truly precede me."

"Ancient history, boy. Last time I checked your mother disappeared and your poor father along with her. And as for your sister—well, we all know what happened to her."

"Look, it doesn't have to go down this road. The way I see it you have two options. Let me go with my winnings, or this will be a dark day for this establishment. You have three seconds."