Captain Parker's voice broke through the bustling noise of the streets as he approached Six and the crew.
"Hold up, Six."
Captain Parker called out, raising a hand.
"I need your help with something else, before you go ruffling feathers at Gomorrah."
Six paused, raising an eyebrow.
"What's the issue now, Parker?"
Parker glanced around, making sure they were in a quieter spot.
"I've been investigating Keith a gambler here in the camp. I know that skunk's cheating folk out of their savings. I've also got strong suspicions he's been dealing chems while running his crooked gambling ring, but I need solid proof before I can move on it. I know you've got the skills and resources to dig up dirt, and I could use your help."
Rebecca shifted, leaning on her Punisher with a cool expression.
"Sounds like a personal vendetta, Parker. You sure this is worth our time?"
Boone added.
"What's in it for us? More than just a 'thanks,' I hope."
Parker didn't flinch.
"I'll ensure that you are compensated for your time. If you uncover something substantial, I will speak to the higher-ups on your behalf. I know you've caused some tension with the NCR's hawk faction, ever since you raised the prices on your supplies following the incident with your armed vehicle. I might also be able to smooth things over and provide some additional support for Moore's dove faction."
Roger cracked his knuckles, clearly interested.
"Keith's got a gambling gig in the camp, huh? I know a thing or two about underhanded dealings. This sounds like fun."
Raul gave a half-smile.
"I've always wanted to take down a crooked gambler. And if there's chems involved, that just makes it sweeter."
Six thought for a moment, weighing the options.
"Alright, Parker. We'll help you get the proof you need. But don't expect us to work for free."
Parker nodded, looking a bit relieved.
"You've got my word, Six. Just find what you can. Start poking around in places where he's got the most power in camp."
Six turned to his crew, giving a nod.
"You heard him. Let's go see what we can dig up. If Keith's really cheating in the camp, it'll be easy to discover his cheating in this place if we know how to spot it."
The crew nodded, each member already thinking of their next move. Six could see their determination, and he felt the thrill of a new challenge building up. He gave a sharp nod.
"Alright, let's break it down. Roger, I want you to look into his gambling operations. Find out who his regulars are, and if anyone's been getting the short end of the stick. Boone, keep an eye on the camp. Keith's likely tied up with some local muscle, so see if you can catch anyone slipping or talking out of turn. Raul, I know you've got a nose for chems. Look for anything shady, anything that doesn't add up."
Rebecca gave him a sly grin.
"And I'll start asking questions. People tend to spill more when they think they're talking to someone who's not a threat."
She slapped her Punisher against her leg with a satisfied thud.
"I've got this."
Six turned his attention back to Parker, still standing nearby, watching them carefully.
"You'll get your proof, Parker. But don't think you're getting anything more than the bare minimum unless we find something big."
Parker didn't miss a beat.
"That's fair. I'll be waiting for your report, Six. Just be careful—Keith's not someone you want to cross without reason."
With a final look at the captain, Six signaled for his crew to disperse. They knew the drill. They had a rat to catch, and they wouldn't let him scam the people in the camp without paying the price.
As they moved toward their separate tasks, the camp seemed to come alive with their own murmurings. They looked for the buzz of activity and the flickering neon of the gambling tables. Six kept his eyes sharp—he wasn't going to let Keith slip through his fingers.
Boone quietly moved toward the outer areas of the camp, scouting the guards and patrols for any signs of unusual activity. He'd seen enough shady deals to know when something was off.
Roger, already headed looking for the gambling dens, cracked his knuckles in anticipation. He found Keith and figured out the patterns in his rigged game. If there was anyone who knew how to spot a cheat, it was him.
Raul slipped into a nearby alley, where he knew a few of the chem dealers hung out. He knew exactly where to look—Keith's ties to the underworld could mean a trail of empty chem containers, forgotten stash spots, and the unmistakable stench of something illegal.
And Rebecca? She was already making her way toward the more crowded areas, her calm expression hiding the sharp mind underneath. She knew how to blend in, how to make people talk when they least expected it.
Six took a deep breath, checking the magazine on his gun, ready for anything that might go sideways. If Keith was really as dirty as Parker said, it wouldn't be long before they found the evidence they needed.
"Time to get to work."
He muttered to himself, moving off toward the heart of the camp. The hunt was on.
Six stood in the center of the camp, his arms crossed as the last of his crew filtered back to him.
He had expected to be dealing with a criminal mastermind—a man who controlled the flow of chems and ran high-stakes gambling operations under the nose of the law. But as the team laid out their findings, his expression grew more and more incredulous.
Roger, looking somewhat amused, was the first to speak.
"Turns out Keith's nothing more than a petty con artist. We caught him in the act a couple of times—using invisible ink on his cards. All he's doing is rigging games to swindle the marks."
Boone grunted.
"It's low-level stuff. I shadowed him for hours and didn't find anything worth more than a few cheap shots and a pile of busted cards. No muscle, no protection. He's nothing without his sleight of hand."
Raul, who had spent time in the more dubious corners of the camp, shook his head.
"I found his stash, Six. A few doses of jet and some poorly-hidden chems. Nothing to write home about. Looks like he's more of a desperate junkie than a chem kingpin."
Rebecca added her thoughts, looking somewhat disappointed.
"Everyone I talked to said he's just a small-time hustler. The kind of guy who gives gamblers a bad name, but he's got no real connections, no backing. He's just a scam artist who gets lucky every now and then."
Six ran a hand through his hair, staring off into the distance for a moment. His mind was racing. This wasn't what he'd expected at all. The name Keith had seemed synonymous with an underground empire, but now, all he saw was a man grasping at scraps, trying to run games and get high on the side.