The Scamming High Priest

Episode 1| The last Scam

Mikayla Edwin had many titles.

To the public, she was a brilliant young entrepreneur whose mysterious investments somehow multiplied into extraordinary wealth. Financial magazines praised her instincts. High-society elites envied her lifestyle.

To those who had quietly lost fortunes around her, however...

She was something else entirely.

A ghost.

A phantom scammer whose schemes left no trace.

No evidence.

No proof.

Which was exactly why Mikayla Edwin was currently sitting at a roulette table in one of the most luxurious casinos in Las Vegas-winning far too much money for it to be considered normal.

The polished marble floors reflected the glittering chandeliers overhead while the sounds of slot machines, laughter, and clinking glasses filled the air. The casino was alive with excitement.

And at the center of it all sat Mikayla.

Her long dark hair cascaded over the back of her velvet chair as she leaned forward slightly, calm and composed despite the crowd forming around her table.

People clapped as the roulette wheel slowed.

"Another win!"

"That's the fifth one in a row!"

"Who is she?"

Stacks of chips towered in front of Mikayla like small mountains of color.

Yet her expression remained indifferent.

Because to her, this wasn't gambling.

It was calculation.

The wheel spun.

The ball clicked across metal ridges.

Then-

"Number 23! Red!"

The crowd erupted again.

Cheers rang out.

Mikayla smiled faintly.

Across the casino floor, hidden behind a glass wall in a luxurious private lounge, Vincent Moretti slowly lowered his whiskey glass.

The mafia boss stared down at the roulette table with cold eyes.

From above, the scene looked almost theatrical.

The young woman below appeared like a queen surrounded by admirers.

But Vincent Moretti saw something different.

A thief.

He swirled the amber liquid in his glass before taking a slow sip.

"Interesting..." he murmured.

Behind him, several armed men waited silently.

Vincent set the glass down and leaned closer to the window.

"For someone so lucky," he said softly, "her luck looks... practiced."

He gestured toward the roulette table.

"Bring her to me."

---

Down on the casino floor, Mikayla casually adjusted the diamond bracelet on her wrist.

Hidden beneath the jewelry was a tiny communication device.

She touched it lightly.

"I'm almost done here," she whispered.

Her voice was soft enough that no one nearby noticed.

"Are the girls free?"

There was a brief crackle in her earpiece before a man answered.

"Yes. The girls are out."

Relief flickered briefly in Mikayla's eyes.

"Good."

"Fall back, Mikayla," the man continued urgently. "Moretti has been tipped off. He's watching you."

A pause.

Then the final warning came.

"Run."

Mikayla slowly lifted her gaze.

Her eyes met Vincent Moretti's through the tall glass window overlooking the casino floor.

Even from the distance, she could see him clearly.

Tall.

Imposing.

And very much aware of what was happening.

Vincent raised his hand.

And casually pointed a gun toward the window.

A silent signal.

Mikayla sighed under her breath.

"Well... that's inconvenient."

The roulette dealer cleared his throat.

"Place your bets."

Mikayla calmly pushed every chip she had onto a single number.

Gasps spread around the table.

"All in?"

"She's crazy!"

The dealer hesitated before spinning the wheel.

The ball began to dance around the spinning circle.

The crowd leaned in.

Mikayla didn't even look at the wheel.

Instead, she stared straight up at Vincent Moretti.

Then she spoke quietly.

"18."

Seconds passed.

The ball bounced once.

Twice.

Then dropped into place.

The dealer blinked.

"And the winning number is... 18!"

The crowd exploded into cheers.

But Mikayla had already stood up.

She didn't even bother collecting the massive pile of chips she had just won.

Instead, she grabbed the black briefcase resting beside her chair-one that was already stuffed with stacks of cash.

Then she ran.

Chaos erupted instantly.

"Stop her!"

Vincent's men burst onto the casino floor.

Guests screamed and scattered.

One of the guards lunged for Mikayla-

WHAM!

She swung the briefcase straight into his face.

The man collapsed instantly.

Another tried to grab her arm.

Mikayla spun and drove her heel into his knee.

"Move," she snapped.

He did.

Mikayla sprinted through the casino.

Her heels clicked rapidly against the marble floors as alarms began blaring.

Behind her, footsteps thundered closer.

Vincent's men were gaining.

She pushed through the glass doors and ran into the cool Las Vegas night.

Neon lights flashed across the busy street.

Cars honked.

People shouted.

Freedom was only a few steps away-

Then a figure stepped directly into her path.

Vincent Moretti.

He stood there calmly, a gun resting in his hand.

"You've been a very bad girl, Mikayla," he said with a slow smile.

She skidded to a halt, breathing heavily.

Her chest rose and fell as she tried to catch her breath.

"Scamming me," Vincent continued. "Stealing millions from my casinos."

He tilted his head slightly.

"I must say... I've never met a woman this bold."

Mikayla glared at him.

"I only scammed you because you deserved it."

Her voice was sharp with fury.

"You're running a human trafficking ring, you bastard."

For the first time, Vincent's smile faltered slightly.

Then he chuckled.

"And you decided to play hero?"

He cocked the gun.

The sound echoed loudly.

Mikayla didn't wait.

She turned and ran.

Gunshots rang out behind her.

People screamed and dove for cover.

Mikayla weaved between parked cars, her heartbeat pounding loudly in her ears.

Just a little further.

The sidewalk was right ahead.

If she could reach the street-

Bright headlights suddenly blinded her.

A truck roared toward her.

There was no time to stop.

No time to move.

BAM.

Pain exploded through her body as the impact sent her flying.

The world spun violently.

The briefcase slipped from her hands.

Then everything went quiet.

Mikayla lay on the cold pavement.

Her vision blurred as blood pooled beneath her.

Footsteps approached slowly.

Vincent Moretti appeared above her.

For a moment, their eyes met.

Strangely...

He looked worried.

Why was he making that face?

He had just tried to shoot her minutes ago.

The thought drifted through her fading mind.

Then darkness swallowed her vision.

Her breathing slowed.

Her heartbeat faded.

And Mikayla Edwin-the greatest scammer Las Vegas had ever known-died beneath the neon lights of the city.

Or at least...

That's what she thought.