Chapter 14 — The Dragon Brotherhood
Mr. Hernandez looked at his eight-year-old son as the child stared at him with such inquisitive eyes. He wanted to dismiss the topic, but seeing his son looking so eager and curious stopped him from doing so. “You are still too young to understand, my son.”
“Dad, I know I’m just eight, but since you have given me this golden key for safekeeping, isn’t it just fair that you’ll tell me all about it? I promise you I’ll be quick to understand.”
The father let out an amused laugh. “You are indeed a clever boy, my son. Alright, let me tell you a story about a man named Don Victorino Viaje del Cargador. But you should promise me you won’t tell anyone about it and that you hide that golden key no matter what happens, alright?”
“Neither mom nor Little Ronan will know about it. I promise you, dad.”
Mr. Hernandez nodded at his child’s smart answer. Clearing his throat, he looked at his son with such adoration as he salvaged in his memory a certain story that he had been keeping for such a long time. The young boy was all ears and even settled himself properly in front of his father. His little feet dangled, for he had yet tall legs to reach the floor.
“Don Victorino was a child who had never seen his father,” Mr. Hernandez said. “And unfortunately, his mother died of tuberculosis when he was still a twelve-year-old lad. His mother used to work as a hostess in a certain bar in their town, but when she died, young Victorino was left alone and had roamed the streets searching for his father.
“He had never seen his father in real life, only in a single photo that his mother gave him. He held on to that little hope that someday, he will meet his father and that he will help him have at least an excellent education, if not a good life. Unfortunately, he didn’t find him.
“Years passed and young Victorino grew up as a sturdy young man. He had learned to live on his own. When he was still young, he used to beg for alms on the streets of Spain. But when he got older and bigger, he did all kinds of work.”
“What kind of work, dad?”
“Blue-collar jobs, son. He was a delivery boy and even worked hard labors for those who wanted his service. When he reached the age of twenty, he met an old man who pitied him and adopted him as his own son. And Victorino became a billionaire overnight.
“Victorino’s original name was Victorino de Espada, but the old man changed his surname into Viaje del Cargador, and thus came his name to the public. They pronounced him as the old man’s heir to his massive wealth.
“Victorino entered the Academy that was built for billionaire kids and—”
“Wait, dad. There was an Academy for billionaire kids?” Lucio’s father chuckled as he delighted in his son’s undivided attention.
“There was. I guess it is still standing, even to this day. Lots of billionaire children go there to learn about how to lead the life of a billionaire. When Victorino graduated from the Academy, enlightenment immediately dwelled in his mind. He organized a group of billionaire young men such as him to do charity works in private. And when he died of old age, he passed it down to his sole heir, who also continued such a legacy.
“That happened almost a hundred years ago, my son. Don Victorino was the first Don of the Alpha brotherhood. A brotherhood he created not for power but for the sake of helping those who were in need, not only in Spain but all over the world. The original aim of the Alphas was outstanding…
“But things weren’t perfect, even for these rich people. A Don who was a greedy business tycoon, reorganized the rules of the brotherhood and its system. Since the Alphas were already dominating worldwide, crimes entered, consuming the Alphas and feeding them with greed and boundless hunger for dominion. Perhaps it all started when the discovery of the golden key emerged ten years after the original Don’s death.”
Lucio’s eyes widened in surprise. He fumbled with the key on his palm and looked at it with wide, sparkling eyes. “I-Is this that very key, daddy?”
“Yes, son. That same key you’re holding. Now, let’s trace back to the creation of that key… the highest position any member of the Alpha brotherhood could get was the Boss League. The Don, which is also the highest rank, is meant only for those who have the blood of the late Don Victorino Viaje del Cargador. Of course, other members of the Alpha, who weren’t a del Cargador tried to snatch the leadership of the brotherhood away. Thus, a man named Juanito Viaje del Cargador who knew all about the hidden wealth of his great, great, great, great-grandfather Victorino, hid the treasury, not because he wanted it for himself but because he wanted to save the brotherhood from getting into the wrong hands.
“He possessed the same ideals as the first Don and he had tried to follow his legacy. But the rest of his clan and the other members of the Alpha Brotherhood had become so hard to control, so he did the only thing he thought was right. He hid the treasury. And this very key, my son, has the exact location of their wealth.”
Lucio’s father bent down towards his son, who was still equally amazed by the information and continued the story in a very low voice, too afraid to let anyone know about this very sensitive information. “But the rest of the Alpha’s were already aware of the rumors that had spread like wildfire. They murdered Don Juanito and this own son succeeded him. His son was the 30th Don. And that Don, was the one who changed everything about the Alpha brotherhood. Up to this day, they are still looking for this, son. Guard it, alright?”
“B-But dad, how did it fall into your hands?” Lucio’s father stared at him with a longing face.
“Some of the loyal del Cargadors could hide that key safely, but the Dragon brotherhood knew all about it. The Dragon Brotherhood is the greatest enemy of the Alphas.”
“You said before that you are a Dragon, dad. Is that the reason you have a small dragon tattoo on your left shoulder?” His father nodded. “I am an assassin, son, and I work for the Dragons. I had to be an Alpha to get this key and give it to the Dragons. But I believe I am about to be killed any moment now, that’s why I want you to focus and remember everything I confessed.”
Young Lucio looked at his father with eyes sparkling with an unfamiliar emotion. He was staring at his father, full of concern. “Here,” his father said as he handled him with a piece of paper. “Call this number when things get rough. He will help you.”
The long walk to the library annoyed Steffy that she trudged the cemented aisle with heavy steps. It had been fifteen minutes since the school let the students out for home, although there were still several others who were hovering on the school grounds. All were in a hurry to finish their last-minute activities so they could go home as soon as possible.
Heaving a sigh, she opened the library door and hollered for Mrs. Amparo’s name, but Mrs. Amparo was nowhere to be found. “Hello?” Her voice echoed throughout the room and the soles of her school shoes made a sound on the cemented ground. She walked towards the librarian’s area and, unfortunately, found the place clean. It could only mean two things: the librarian and Mrs. Amparo already went home, and Teacher Greg tricked her! ‘Shit! That rogue made me a fool of myself!’
“Fuck you, sir Greg!” she muttered as she turned on her heels to leave. But just as she was about to walk past the door, powerful hands grappled her and pinned her to the wall behind the door. And before she could react, a familiar taste of wet lips crushed intensely with hers.