After the battle, Josuke healed the Jose and Carlos, and they returned to their homes. A week passed as they investigated, yet nothing was found. Benjamin appeared to have retreated.

A Brazilian Saturday:

Carlos' lazy morning

- Carlos! It's already 12', get up! – his sister would knock the door while yelling.

He got up, mumbling, walked over the bathroom, brushed his teeth, threw some water in the face, put some clothes, walked to the kitchen.

- Where is my coffee? – He so naively asked.

A storm as names and yelling threw him out of the room. Once again, he walked away mumbling to himself "What is their problem? Can't a man have some sleep?", this time out of the house.

He walked a few blocks away until finding a small pub. The place used to open early for the early drinkers and those who couldn't bother to make their meals at home. For a pub in a bad neighborhood, the place didn't look bad at all: clean, only one customer, and new wood seats. The floor was made of ceramic, probably for easier cleaning. And with one big pool table at the right side, where a lonely man would play alone, failing at sinking any balls, despite trying his hardest.

Carlos walk past him and asked the bartender for a drink. As he finished it, the man tapped his shoulders:

- Bother for a game? – the old man had clear wrinkles and white hair, dressed very casually.

- Sorry, I don't play billiard – Carlos turned the man down, as he paid the bartender.

- C'mon, just a quick game with an old man. I used to play this everyday with my son before he went to university, but now that he is gone I never get to find a partner.

The sad look in the man's eyes touched Carlos' heart. He didn't want to come back to his house just yet, and there was nothing else he had to do, so what was stopping him from making an old man happy?

- Al'ight, just one game and then I'm out.

The game started casually. The old man could barely hit the balls, while Carlos' would sink a few, even while struggling. Thirty minutes later and the match was over, with a clear victory for Carlos.

- You're really good at this, son! Maybe not as good and my actual son, but you sure have potential. What you say, we play another one? – the man cheered him.

- Sorry, the agreement was one match. I really need to go now. – Carlos once more tried to turn him down.

The man starched his beard, watching him head to the door. Before Carlos could touch the door knob, he threw 200$ in the table and shouted:

- Hear me now, son! Let's play again, I will bet 200$ on it. You don't have to put any money on it, but if you lose, you have to play again with me. What do you say?

Carlos turned around. The taste of free money quickly changed his mind. He walked back to the table and accepted the offer. Right before the game started, he felt guilt over ripping off money from and old fella who just wanted to play a game… And that feeling of guilt couldn't be taken away faster.

As the game started, the man immediately sunk two balls. He walked around the table and hit the white ball a second time, and another two were down. The balls would move so fast and bounce off so many times and in so many angles that Carlos just couldn't keep track of them. When the man finished his third strike, the three balls he had left where on the edge of the pockets, while Carlos hadn't even made his first move. The man walked by him with a smirk on his face.

Carlos walked to the table. His mind was still trying to process what he saw. The surprise of in itself wasn't what scared him the most, but the skill of that man. He had seen professionals play, and even people playing at pubs, yet no one was even close to that level. With his arms shaking, he missed the white ball, and let the old man come and finish the game with only one last move.

- H-How?!

- As I said, son, I play this every day. You should expect someone at my age who is so devoted to something to have at least some degree of skill. I know how to hit'em by heart, each direction, each angle, strength, and position. There is not one setting in a pool table that I haven't seen before. – He laughed at Carlos' face, who still couldn't believe it – But don't worry, if you keep losing, and we keep playing, soon enough you will be as good as me.

- I-I'm not playing! You tricked me into this bet! You can have your money, I'm heading out! – Carlos protested, turning around and throwing the billiard cue on the table.

As he tried to walk away, his body froze. His muscles moved against his will and brought him back, grabbed the billiard cue and re-organized the table.

- What… Is.. Is this a.. Stand?! YOU'RE A STAND USER?!

- Oh, you're still conscious? This is the first time I ever seen someone fall into the effect of my Gambler. You must be something different, don't you? – The man scratched his beard while looking at Carlos.

[ THE GAMBLER ]

[Cash]

Power: E

Speed: E

Range: A

Durability: E

Precision: E

Potential: E

- How... How did you get a stand? – Carlos said, while trying to move.

- A "stand"? Is this what my powers are called? Well, son, I'm sorry but I don't know. I've been playing billiard since my youth, and betting used to be a common thing. But like you, many wouldn't want to keep their part after they lost. I despise these people so much, all I ever wanted was a way to force them into keeping their word. All I know is that one day, after winning, when some delinquent tried to beat me for winning, he got paralyzed, gave me the money and walked away. Only after several other cases I realized my blessing. And named it, The Gambler.

- W-what? You weren't stabbed with the arrow?!

- I have no idea of what you're talking about, son. Now, since you're the only other that I've seen to act differently on my Gambler, and since you know about stands, should I assume that you also have a stand?

- Yes, I do, old man. – Carlos tried to act threatening – And if you don't release me right now, I will use it against you. Don't expect me to go easy just because you're old.

- Calm down, son. The Gambler won't let you harm me. In fact, it won't even let you do anything except playing. And won't even let other interfere. Don't you find odd that no other costumer has come, or that the bartender doesn't bother? The Gambler will make you pay your debt, no matter what it is. If you want to get out, just play the game, and win.

Carlos finally gave up. As he decided to play, his muscles relaxed, and once more he had control over his body. The match started, after failing at sinking any ball, the old man took over and with a succession of five moves, he finished the game.

- Everyone else would just be brainless idiots playing. They would bore me quickly, but you're different. You can actually learn and improve. You can actually think. We will play again, and again, and again. Until you actually surpasses me and break free!

Another match started, and another quick victory to the old man.

- And thanks to The Gambler, we can actually play through eternity. As long as you need!

Another match. And another. And another. By the time Carlos started to think of an exit plan, he had counted fifty of them.

"Maybe, if I try to learn… I can manage to get out of here…"

- How long it took for you to get to this level? – He asked, as the next match ended.

- Forty-five years. But don't worry, if we keep at this pace, you might get to my level in around twenty years.

Those words came as sharp blades to Carlos' ears. He couldn't wait that long, and definitely couldn't play that much. He had to end it there, and now.

"Maybe if use my stand to cheat, I can get some leverage"

His muscles froze as the thought crossed his mind, and again he re-organized the table.

- You can't cheat on The Gambler, if you even think about it, it will make you lose.

- Oi, aren't these rules too extreme? – Carlos protested.

- They aren't extreme, they should be common sense for any man with honor. And I can only say this because they apply to me as well!

Another twelve matches went by, the man was already giving Carlos tips and hints on how to play better, yet he would still win in one or two moves.

"If Josuke was here, what would he do?", were the thoughts on his mind, "Probably find a way to punch his face and torn this place apart…I CAN'T DO THAT! Maybe Jose? What would Jose do… Well, he is smart so… He would probably learn some of his moves and would try to copy them… Or read the man and trick him in some way… I'M NOT THAT SMART! I CAN BARELY SEE WHAT HE DOES! But… He was curious about my stand… If I can convince him…"

- Old man, I you asked if I had a stand, right? Do you want to see it?

- Don't make me repeat myself, son, you can't harm me.

- I don't want to harm you, I just want to show it to you. You were curious about it, right? You've never seen other stands? – Carlos noticed his face changing, he quickly got more interested – But I can't use it right now, if you want to see it you must let me use it in the game, otherwise I will be cheating.

The man scratched his beard, and after a pause, he answered:

- Alright, in this match alone I allow you to use your abilities. Yet, you're forbidden to harm me.

The old man started the match, in one move three balls sunk, and in the second another three. He quickly gained the advantage, already preparing for any advantages Carlos could gain. Yet, he hadn't expected for such game changer.

Carlos smiled when he got his chance. Bending over the table, he aimed at one of the balls, and prepared his shot. He knew he would only had one. He had to finish the match right there, or it would all be over. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs, and then shouted:

- THE JUNGLE!

A group of white snakes came from his body and quickly took over the table, cornering the ball he aimed at, they created a clear path from the white one, passing through the target, to the pocket. He stroke the white ball and the snakes pushed it, hitting the other ball and then pushing this one to the pocket. The old man quickly jumped from his seat, protesting the move.

- You can't do that! THAT'S CHEATING!

- Your stand doesn't allow cheating, old man. You've allowed this, I completely free to use my stand as long as I don't harm you!

One move after another, Carlos cleared the table. The snakes would quickly organize and take care of the sinking the balls, only leaving the table and coming back to him when the match had ended.

- You've lost, old man. I may not be as good as you, but, just like I've underestimated you, you've underestimated my stand. Now I'm free.

As he looked at the man's face, he saw tears rolling down his face. The tears started to bring a sudden feeling of guilt to him, yet, the feeling couldn't go faster: the man quickly grabbed his hand, giving it a firm handshake.

- Son, for years I've tried to find someone that would make me lose. Not even my son was capable of this! You might not be better than me or him, but games aren't just about skill. You've outsmarted me. If you ever need someone to play with, or teach you, feel free to come. I will gladly do it, not bets this time. If you have trouble on finding me, just ask people around here, I have quite a name in this area. You can call me Cash.

Author's note: yes, this chapter was more of a side-story, but it can't be all that bad to give Carlos a bit of love and one chapter dedicated to him, right? Well, since I'm taking more of your time here, I will ask for who is reading to give me some feedback on the stands and abilities I've creating. Are the stands fun? Do you like them? Or do they feel too simple or boring? I'd like to know so I can make future stands more interesting.

Thank you for your time. Next chapter, if nothing happens, will come soon.