El Ramon was seen pacing up and down. The humiliation of today's confrontation had been nothing but a show of his weakness. Since childhood, El Capone whom he refused to accept as his elder had proved to be better than him in everything. Starting from childbirth when he had been the one to be removed first from their mother's womb, he had surpassed him in every competition and condition, even after.
Of course, El Ramon could vividly remember how he had been subjected to humiliation and shame the day he was beaten flawlessly by his twin brother.
It was the yearly competition, the one that change everything. He was only eight years old and had qualified along with his twin brother in the yearly teen strongest upcoming Mafia. He fought bravery until finally when he has to confront his brother to win the gold.
It was a moment he will never forget and for a brief moment, El Ramon is eight years old.
"Remember the rules, the fair man announced."
He is the one to determine the outcome of the most meritorious competition on Greenwich Island.
" Number one, hitting after I have blown a whistle will reduce your mark by 5 points. Number two, hitting on the upper side of the body above the belt is twenty points while below the belt is fifty points. Number three, whoever stepped out of the ring will be losing ten points from his accumulated points, and last but not the least, any strike that drew blood will be awarded an additional fifty points. Remember, here is the death arena and the youngest mafia of the year will be declared between the two of you." The man paused, clean the sweat gathering on his face, and then resumed his speech. "The result will be based on your strength and the ability to endure, as well as your bravery as you will be required to fight each other in fair weaponless combat. To die proving your worth is better than to be alive worthless." The fair man said.
He asked if the two contestants are ready and blow the whistle to start when he received an affirmative that they are.
The two fighters circle within the big circle drawn on the ground.
El Ramon was the first to attack, he raised his left leg, targeting El Capon's neck, and attack with the hope of knocking him down with force from his front kick. But El Capone weaved it, jumped, and turn mid-air as his right leg shot out and struck El Ramon on the chest, the force throwing him off balance and he fell and landed on the sand.
Loud noise immediately engulfed the arena as the spectators shouted in jubilation.
El Ramon stood from the floor, and dust the dirt off his clothes.
El Capone who seemed to be enjoying the fight now lunged toward El Ramon, his right palm folded to form a fist, landed on El Ramon's stomach, while the left blocked the punch El Ramon threw to retaliate.
El Ramon landed on his knee, and immediately plummeted towards El Capon, holding him on his two legs and unbalancing him to fall to the ground. He immediately jumped on him sending blow after blow on El Capone who laid flat on his back on the floor, doing all he can to block the descending blows on his face.
With two fingers pointed forward, El Ramon target El Capone's eye, his fingers moved extensively to blind the unsuspecting fighter on the floor whom he had pinned with his two legs and weight.
But El Capone had seen this coming and with his palm wide, he covered his eyes, and throw a punch into El Rapon's nose, making blood sputter out.
El Capon raised his two legs, lunged them forwards, and tied them around El Ramon who is sitting on him. And with all his might, he threw his assailant off his stomach into the floor out of the ring.
The whistle was blown by the Fairman amidst deafening noise. The first round had finished and the spectators went wild, celebrating amazing skills and bravery.
At the end of the three rounds, El Capon was declared the winner and a gold medallion was given to him as his prize.
A priceless treasure that he still wears today.
Priest strolled quickly towards his destination. A lot has happened in a few hours and he marvels at his ingenuity. Without it, the Country P merchants would have been on their way, shamed and robbed by the cunning mafia king.
The priest is a young man forty years old, six feet tall, and possessed the physique of an athlete. His golden hair was tied in a ponytail and his two blue eyes glittered from expectations. And his small nose, big lips and golden beard complete his aristocratic look.
The priest is the leader of the merchants who trade in Greenwich island, and he is cunning and ambitious. And had dreamt of milking the island dry and reaping a hundredfold without sowing.
Ten years ago, he along with his crew landed on this island and were welcomed by the mafia king. And in a few months, a profitable business quickly flourishes between the two parties.
The Greenwich inhabitants planted the opium while the Country P merchants bought it from them and shipped it out, to be sold in another place.
It was a perfect agreement, except the planters are making more profit as the mafia king was the one who regulated the price and the output.
The merchants seemed to be working for peanut while the king pile all the profit in his royal store.
Desperation made the Country P merchants go into planting, and all efforts to get the approval of the mafia king proved abortive. Only for a decree to be passed by him.
'All Portuguese are to vacate the land for a year.'
What a joke.
The priest emerged in a big conference hall where twelve men were already sitting and facing each other in a roll. He walked towards his seat at the edge of the table, facing the whole members.
"A lot has happened since we last met here yesterday. Let's say the mafia king is out of the way as am sure you are all aware. We are now left with only one problem. El Capone."
A man known as Haggard raised his hand and spoke. "El Ramon will get rid of El Capon for us. We just need to support him with anything he may need."
"Yes I'm aware of this fact but underestimating El Capon will be disastrous, I want to get in contact with El Ramon as soon as possible. We need to clear everything now when we have the chance" the priest concluded.
A man on the seat facing the man named Haggard raised his right hand and spoke. "I suggest we try and talk to El Capon first. I think he may reason with us and there won't be any need for all this."
"No Andrew, El Capon is just as obstinate as his father. Besides, we only need either of them and El Ramon had been apathetic towards us since the beginning. " Priest replied. " We will meet here tomorrow same time. And I congratulate you all, once again for the death of our greatest adversary.'
As the adage goes, the house belongs to the rats when the cat is gone. This had been the state of Greenwich island, after the death of the mafia king. The foreign opium planters who had been doing their planting in secret have suddenly grown wings, start clearing all available lands, and set up factories for heroin. El Capon ignored them through the twenty-one days of mourning and prayer for the departing soul of the mafia king. Today was the final rites which were witnessed by all the mafias far and near and all the islands Inhabitants as a whole. During the rites, El Capone had ignored his brother, who use every available opportunity to smirk and taunt him. According to tradition, all the family of the late king must spend twenty-one days of mourning and prayer for the departing soul The curfew will be declared on the whole island, everybody must be indoors or at the palace where foods and drinks are always in surplus. But the foreigners knowingly or unknowingly had disobeyed
Lady Agatha was dressed in a pink flowing frock that matched her white socks, and her pink high heels enhances her beauty as she walked gracefully towards El Ramon's room. Today, the young master had summoned her to his palace to spend the night. She climbed the step towards his room and the sound of her shoe heel echoed in the silent palace. Calling lady Agatha beautiful is an understatement, she is a typical example of a perfect creation. With a round face, sexy and appealing eyes, and round full lips that begged to be kissed. With her fair skin, well-shaped hips, curves, and contours, she is sought by all men on the island, but she only loves a man. After much persuasion from her parent who believed that it was dishonourable for a woman to remain in her father's house, Lady Agatha got married to a rich business tycoon, but the union soon collapsed within a few years. Leaving her richer but broken, and she vowed never to marry anyone else except El Ramon.Tonight, she will be sp
Some men sneaked close to a warehouse that is constructed in the middle of a big farm of opium, and their speech was halted by their leader. "Shh, " the voice of El Capone was heard, as he stepped in front of the sneaking men. He halted his movement, veered back, and whispered to the men at his back. "It's dead of the night, your voice is too loud." "Those weaklings are sleeping by now." Another voice let out. "We need to suddenly plunge into them," El Capone whispered back. "Our strength lies in our sudden attack." In truth, their strength lies in the sudden assault, as they were only twenty in number, and are about to attack an illegal opium warehouse, that is probably guarded by fifty or more men. The warehouse is big and rectangular, with two doors at the entrance and the rear, along with several glass panel windows. And it's always guarded twenty-four hours by menacingly looking men from El Ramon's gang. A few miles off, two guards were seen lolling their bodies on the
El Ramon was seen seated on one of the white, gold-festooned cushion chairs in his room. Beside him was his favourite white wolf, and the obedient pet licked its master's feet, as he smoke his cigar. The young master looked forlornly and soliloquize alone. "As indispensable as El Capone's death is, it must not be traced to me." Of course, people will talk. Not that El Ramon is afraid of people's gossip, they will talk anyway. But being a leader and an ancestor to be, his story must be made to be full of love and compassion for his people, and not for conspiracy and treachery. His hand must be clean, or at least, appear to the public to be! A knocking on the door soon brought the lost man out of his reverie, and he instantly yelled at the one at the door to enter or get lost. "I'm busy and have no time for palace gossip and chit-chat." A second later, a cowering man walked inside and promptly kneeled in front of the man on the seat."So sorry my lord, I want a few minutes wit
El Capone was seen in the parlour of his royal palace, and beside him, his red wolf. Dressed in a cowboy cap, a white T-shirt with open buttons, and blue jeans. The young prince looked like a Hollywood actor as his gold medal swayed on his airy chest. Despite his grand look, El Capone wasn't cheerful, and this can be seen from his disgusted frown. Minutes later, his wife strode into his presence, kissed him on the left cheek, and smiled to ease his scowling face. "We will be attacking the foreigner's factory tonight," El Capone smiled and let out. "Yes, I was aware, and I have to confess that I had a bad premonition about this." "You know I have no time for woman intuition and soothsaying." The young prince answered back, stood from his chair, and raised his arms to button his shirt. "I don't want you to go tonight, and I will be happy if your second-in-command will also stay at the palace with us," the beautiful lady in a pink flowing gown and matching white slippers let out
True to Andrea's expectations, El Capone is as furious as a wounded bull in an arena, when he was told of his men's death. He glared at his wife and then asked. "Are you satisfied that the mission failed and my men were slaughtered?" "Dear husband, you should be grateful for my premonition, as am sure I would have been a widow now," Andrea muttered back with a sly grin. "Maybe I could have saved them." "You can't, they were attacked suddenly and your presence won't have made any difference." El Capone looked at his wife with anger for a while, then stormed out of her presence, and was seen shouting orders at his men. Andrea smiled as he stepped out, and was soon lost in thought. "The fish has taken the bait, now I need to plan on how to make use of this." She muttered to herself, and soon stepped after her husband, and saw him discussing with Banjo. "How can they know of our coming, I suspect there is a spy among us!" Banjo exclaimed. "Yes, my men were killed without firi
It was a night, and only the stars in the sky served as a light for the mafias as they sneaked close to their destination. Far off, four men in black uniforms were seen circling a campfire, and the heat from the flame drives their cold away. And at their back, a factory builds in a rectangular shape and covers over half a hectare of land. "Shh," the voice belonging to El Capone whispered. He raise his right hand, point to three of his men, and signal to them to follow him, while others quickly scurried toward the factory, some meters off. The blackwitch mafias were deep in discussions, unaware of the danger in their back. "The sky is getting dark, and the stars are getting chased off by the dark cloud." One of the men on a seat around the fire mumbled. "Yes, it will rain soon." "Our shift will soon be over, and let the rain fall for eternity if it chose after." The third of the men on the seat check the wristwatch in his hand and mumbled out. "Am feeling sleepy, am sure th
Three people were seen in deep conversation, inside El Capone's palace. "El Ramon had employed the services of snipers shooters, and will be distributing them into all the foreigner's farms and factories." Andrea let out. "Really, how did you hear about this?" Banjo asked with an unbelievable gaze. "Walls have ears," Andrea replied, facing El Capone, and said. "You need to plan about this when next you are attacking them." "Yes, we will put this into consideration," El Capone answered back. He looked at his wife for a while, then at his right-hand man, and said. "He is getting desperate, as he needs to get rid of me." "Can't we reason with him, perhaps we may be able to avoid further bloodshed?" Banjo asked with a concerned look. "No," El Capone replied. "Talking to my brother is like talking to a rock, and will yield no fruit." "So what are we going to do? If he is so desperate to get you out of the way, then we must also plan on how to get rid of him." "Leave him, Banjo.
The coronation proceeds the following day, and the wedding ceremony takes place three days later. Unfortunately, only one of the two suitors got married, while the other man was chained inside one of the cells in the dungeon. "Tell me how you start the fire that prompt your escape." "I send them out of the house with my continuous nagging and after hearing them lock the door at the other side, I raced into the kitchen, connect their oven to the socket and poured lots of dried papers inside. Then I dragged the cylinder of gas closer, lose it, and then hide inside the large freezer by the wall far off." "You take a great risk. What if you were burnt to death?" "He planned to kill me after all, so I decided to take my fate into my hands." "What happened afterwards." "I had drenched clothing with me, tied it over my nose, and then sneaked out of my hidden places. Since I had been in darkness for a long time, I can see two men searching blindly for me, so I jerked up a heavy rod and w
The dark witches were associated with evil, even before the reign of El Guje. And this was part of the reason why El Ramon was filled with anxiety as he alighted from the vehicle and was followed by his armed-to-the-teeth mafias."This place is filled with lots of bandits. Protect our prince with your lives." This order from the general is quite unnecessary because most of the bandits were probably shivering in their hideaways at the sight of the heavily armed mobs. And except for the sound of the rodents who scurried out of sight, the cock-a-doddle-do of the birds calling to their mates and the chirping of the insects searching for their breakfast, only the sound from the footsteps of the mafias seemed to be the disturbance to the serenity of that expanse forest. Moments later, the group arrived at the entrance of the dark witches' village, and all who set eyes on them scampered to the safety of their rooms. "Why are they running helter-skelter?" "Their previous experience in the
The journey to their destination was fast by driving, and the team arrived in a few hours, disembarked and spread across the deserted mass of land."This is the place where he stand and gawked at the ruin of that building.""Check and look for any item that can reveal the identity of the owner of this place."Apart from the Prince, none of the mafias knew what they were searching for, and this made them unearth several burnt gadgets, showed them to the prince, and then looked more puzzled when he shakes his head sideways in response."Where did this path leads to?""To the end of the island. It is an uninhabitable area of rocky land and a dangerous creek. And if we turn left then we will be heading towards the dark witches' village.""Let's drive there."The men breathed with relief when they were ordered to leave their blind search, and they immediately hopped into the trucks and sped out of sight. The route was barely passable, filled with erosion water and a slippery slope, and th
Only a fool will be sleeping when his or her house is on fire. El Ramon is no fool, and this is the reason why his eyes are unblinking as he welcomed Banjo into his parlour.After the usual salutation, the sleepy-looking mafia was permitted to seat down."You have my ears.""He left the palace, went to his house and spend an hour inside, emerged later and went into Johji Inn. And it was very late in the night when he left the Inn.""He didn't come to the palace, so I assumed he went back to his house.""No. He waddled inside the heavy rains for hours and was followed by my men who lagged some feet away.""Be quick. Where did he go after leaving the inn?""Towards the end of the city.""And then what?""Nothing.""What did you mean by nothing?""He arrived beside a burnt down house, gaped at it for a while, then walked back into Johji Inn and he is sleeping inside the liquor section as we are speaking.""When was the house burnt down?""Just of recent. The ashes were still fresh and s
Zuma ordered more liquors and was drunk than a skunk when the stars appeared for their night duties. After finishing the content in the last bottle in his front, he belched louder, placed his two palms on his thighs and stood up with a grunt. The inn was populated by the few night crawlers, and no one seemed to notice the man wobbling among the columns of chairs and tables, nor seemed to mind when he crashed into a table filled with empty bottles, staggered and fell, and then stood up and resumed his waddling. A moment later, he arrived at the outside of the Inn, breathed out loud with relief and walked closer to the gate side."It's already late, Honey. Come to my room and let me make love to you through the night.""I need a man that can penetrate me through the backside. It's been days since I experienced doggy style.""Spend the night with me for just a few dollars.""Is that not Zuma?""He looked like him.""Hey! Come here...What's wrong with you?"He ignored the invitations o
The two guards attending to the pregnant woman in captivity were having the worst time of their lives."I want the water to be hot and not lukewarm. Please prepare another one for me-. And you, did you call this disgusting morsel a meal? Get it off my sight before I puked and prepare my a flavorful feast with lots of vegetables, fish and meats."The two men scrambled out of sight, and one promptly returned to inform her of the readiness of hotter water for her bathe."Holy Madona! Did you want to burn my skin?.. I need cool water to mix it, please."After fetching two more buckets, the man was appreciated with more scowl and nag as he hurried out of the presence of the bitter woman. "The food is done.""Thank you, I hope it was worth all the time I had spent waiting for it.""Huh!""Oh my gosh. This is worse than the previous meal... Please take it out of my sight and get me a jug of juice as you prepare me a sandwich."After hundreds of errands in a few hours, the two men slammed t
El Ramon fixed his eyes on the outgoing mafia, turned towards the lady on the queen's throne beside him and asked, "why did he lie?""I have no idea.""Are you sure you don't?""Yes, my lord. I don't know why he speaks with false tongue."El Ramon shrugged, stood up and let out, "go back to your room and remained indoors. As I warned earlier, don't accept anyone inside until I allow you to.""As your lordship wish,"Mafias and maids bowed as he strode through the palace corridor, and the grim on his face became less horrific suddenly."I am on my way to see you, my prince.""Here I am. Tell me about the progress.""Nothing yet. All this island was ransacked but we didn't see the subject."" Did you meet Zuma on your way in?""Yes. And he was as sad as doom and hardly noticed my presence.""He lied that he spend his night in his house when I have mafias watching his places and he hadn't stepped there since he left here yesterday.""Why will he tell an untruth over trivial things like t
All Banjo's efforts to locate Andrea proved abortive, and after searching through the nook and cranny of the Inn, he shrugged, hissed and instructed some of the men at his back to go into the town and search for her. All the ladies of services claimed they haven't seen any stranger except for a lady who believed she saw someone in a black tuxedo and head scarf."Where is she?""I have no idea. She informed me she is a new worker here, and I advised her to stand on her feet and look for customers.""Did you see her after?""No.""Did she talk with anyone else?""Not sure. I was picked by a rich merchant and we were together afterwards.""Don't hesitate to inform any mafia around whenever you see her again.""I will. Did she steal something from the palace?""Worse than that.""Any bounty on her head."Banjo nodded his head, stepped closer to the lady and whispered, "she is supposed to get married to my best friend in two days. My friend is dying from her absence, and I had vowed to ca
"Why did you agree to trick me?""Am sorry, your highness. Her majesty made me do it.""Where is she?""I have no idea.""This may cost you your life. Speak now.""Before all gods, I have no idea where she went to. I was ordered to remain indoors and not to attend to anyone until she comes back.""What kind of clothing did she wear?""An oversize black gown, scarf and black net... She was talking to herself and I believe she is on her way to search for Jade.""Gush!" El Ramon exclaimed, cast a killing look on the kneeling lady, shakes his head and announced, "I will be back for you. Remain indoors and don't attend to anyone."The lady was too shocked at his shrieking voice, and the prince did not care to wait for an answer, but breathed out loud and stormed out of his wife's room."Where is Banjo?""At the rear gate.""Call him for me now!"He was still fuming and walking from one end of his palace to the other end when Banjo strolled inside, bowed and let out, "here I am, my lord.""