This chapter contains a full flashback of the fire incident 10 years ago!
February 2014
Valderano Port is one of the main harbors on the mainland of Siotto. The port is renowned for its two superior commodities: Vino Rosso—a legendary red wine crafted with a highly secret technique, offering a blend of flavors from blackberries, cinnamon, and a hint of chocolate, along with its rare black pearl essence. This excellence makes Valderano a major attraction for traders, sailors, and high-ranking officials, solidifying its position as the center of trade and governance in Valdera City.
For the past seven years, Valdera City has grown rapidly under the leadership of a mysterious man named Luca Bellini, now 35 years old. His origins are little known, but he was appointed directly by King Alessandro IV through the recommendation of Prime Minister Leonardo Mancini. To assist him in running the government, Luca appointed Dante Romano as his deputy to carry out duties alongside him.
However, behind its grand and modern façade, Valderano harbors many dark secrets.
11:25 PM
"Hurry up! Load everything inside! Don't leave anything behind!"
The loud shout of the foreman shattered the night's silence. Under the dim glow of oil lamps, dozens of workers hurriedly moved large crates from the dock to the hull of a luxurious cargo ship. Their faces were drenched in sweat and anxiety—as if they knew that what they were doing was far from legal.
The sound of heavy boots stepping on wooden planks created a hurried rhythm, blending with the panting breaths of the busy workers. Occasionally, they stole glances at the dock, as if afraid the night patrol would appear at any moment.
On the ship's deck, right at the main bridge, stood a man in a black shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He held a glass of Vino Rosso in his left hand, the red wine inside the crystal glass reflecting the lamplight like fresh blood. Beside him, a woman in a glamorous red dress stood leisurely, smoking an expensive cigar with an elegant yet cold demeanor. The cigar smoke lingered, slowly fading into the heavy, humid night air.
Their faces remained expressionless, like spectators watching a performance without any emotion.
"You've been warned by Luca countless times, haven't you? Look, you're still doing it!" the woman remarked coldly, exhaling cigar smoke into the air.
The man beside her let out a low chuckle, his tone full of arrogance.
"Do I care, huh? Luca is too busy playing the people's hero. As for me? Sorry, but I'd rather enrich myself! This luxury—when else would I get to enjoy it if not now?"
The woman scoffed sharply, a sly grin appearing on her face.
"You truly are cunning, Dante."
Dante, the man called by that name, just smirked. He raised his glass, drank the wine in one gulp, and then deliberately tossed the crystal glass into the sea. The sound of shattering glass echoed faintly before drowning amidst the waves.
He then turned around, his steps calm yet full of dominance, approaching the woman who stood gracefully not far from him. As the distance between them narrowed, Dante raised his hand, gently cupping the woman's cheek. His face drew closer, his hot breath brushing against her ear.
"Cunning, you say?" he whispered softly, his voice low yet filled with seduction.
"Then what about you, Elia?"
Smooch
Dante's lips landed briefly on Elia's slender jawline, making her flinch slightly. He continued with a sharp tone laced with mockery,
"You're even willing to spread your legs for one thing: revenge against Gabriel. But sshh... that man is living happily now, you know? Your cousin..."
Elia glared at Dante with eyes blazing with fury. Her previously relaxed lips now pressed tightly together.
"He's not my cousin!" she snapped sharply, holding herself back from losing control.
However, Dante didn't react as she expected. Instead, he grinned broadly, full of triumph. He savored every second of Elia's anger—her beautiful face turning red, her voice trembling. His thoughts wandered further, imagining the woman lying beneath him, resisting yet ultimately submitting. The thought sparked wild desire within him.
Dante leaned down again, this time trailing kisses along Elia's slender neck. Smooch. A soft sigh escaped the woman's lips, despite her best efforts to hold it in.
"Yeah, I know," Dante murmured, his voice now husky with lust.
"Your former cousin, to be precise. Sshh... how about we enjoy one round before you set sail again?"
Without waiting for an answer, Dante effortlessly lifted Elia's slender body into a bridal style. The woman gasped but didn't resist. Instead, her arms wrapped around his shoulders.
"Tsk! This time, I'm in charge. Let me take the lead!" Elia said sharply, her eyes locking directly with Dante's.
"As you wish, my queen," Dante replied with a seductive smile, carrying Elia into one of the rooms on the luxurious ship.
Throughout the ship's corridor, faint sounds of moaning and wet kisses broke the night's silence. Yet, unbeknownst to them, a pair of eyes watched from the shadows. A silhouette stood still at the end of the corridor, observing their interaction with full attention. The silhouette didn't move until the door closed and their voices grew more intense.
With slow steps, the figure walked away, leaving the ship without a sound.
-----
July, 2014
Bang!
The sound of a table being slammed echoed through the Governor's office. Luca Bellini stood behind his desk, his body tense and jaw clenched, showing just how much anger he was holding back.
In front of him sat Dante Romano, the deputy, with an unapologetic expression. His face looked calm, as if unaffected by the outburst of emotion before him.
With a swift and rough motion, Luca tore the letter in his hand into tiny shreds and threw them on the desk, right in front of Dante. The pieces scattered, startling the man.
"What the hell, Luca—" Dante began, but Luca's firm and thunderous voice cut him off.
"What the hell are you talking about, Dante?! What does all this mean, huh?!" Luca pointed at Dante with a trembling finger, fueled by rage.
"Don't pretend you don't know! You're the mastermind behind all this smuggling, aren't you?!"
Dante remained silent, but a slight smirk appeared on his lips, further fueling Luca's fury.
"You framed Adrian for your own actions! All investigations have been carried out, and Adrian was cleared of the charges. But you, Dante?! I'll ask one more time, what the hell do you mean by this?!"
Luca's voice filled the spacious room, though the thick, soundproof walls ensured that no one outside could hear their conversation.
Finally, Dante rose from his chair, his face flushed. He raised his hand roughly, pointing back at Luca.
"THAT'S BECAUSE YOU KEEP TRUSTING THAT DAMN MAFIA, LUCA!" Dante's voice was just as thunderous, filling the room with equal intensity.
"You! Why would you trust Adrian, huh? Don't you know who he really is? He's just after your position! The Atmadja family wants to take over this city completely! Yet you?! You gave him the trust to manage some of the city's responsibilities. Don't you realize they will destroy everything?!"
But Luca didn't flinch. He stood tall, staring at Dante with a sharp, disgusted gaze.
"Atmadja is not what you think, Dante," Luca said, his voice flat but brimming with strength. "They are a symbol of justice and prosperity. You don't know anything about them."
Dante clenched his fists, his eyes flashing with anger. But before he could speak again, Luca continued, his voice lower but filled with unshakable resolve.
"You should be ashamed of what you've done for the past two years. You didn't just betray the trust I gave you, but also harmed this city! Look at how much damage your actions have caused. Yet I'm still kind enough to speak to you directly rather than bringing this to the parliament."
Luca took a deep breath, trying to suppress the overwhelming sense of disappointment.
"Prepare your resignation letter. I'm giving you two weeks."
Without waiting for Dante's response, Luca turned and walked out of the room.
In the quiet corridor, Luca's footsteps sounded heavy. In his mind, disappointment and anger mixed together. Dante, whom he had always regarded as a trusted partner in building the prosperity of Valdera City, turned out to be involved in illegal black pearl smuggling.
Those black pearls, originating from the northern region of Valdera, Monserrat, were the city's most valuable commodity.
If the smuggling scandal became public or reached the royal parliament, the city's reputation—and his own as a leader—would be destroyed.
"Monserrat," Luca muttered quietly as he kept walking. He knew he had to get there soon to resolve the matter before it was too late.
●●●●●
Thud! Crash!
"Damn it! Damn it! Ck! How dare he order me to step down from my position? Tsk!!!"
Bang! Crash!
The sound of another gunshot echoed, accompanied by the shattering of wine bottles on the floor, caused by Dante's wild shooting. After Luca left, Dante immediately left the place and headed to his private house.
"What's going on—kyahhh!"
Bang! Thump! The shot hit the forehead of a woman standing nearby, her body collapsing lifelessly to the floor, blood spurting from the gunshot wound.
"Bitch! Laura?! Clean up this damn mess!"
Dante shouted in a fit of rage. A woman with a stoic and emotionless face, known as Laura, immediately approached. She was dressed as a bodyguard and gave a short nod before leaving to carry out her duty.
"Miss Elia is waiting at the bar, Sir," Laura said flatly, without showing any hint of emotion.
Dante let out a low growl and wiped the end of his pistol before heading towards the elevator. He went up to the top floor, to his private lounge.
-----
Click!
"Huh? Who did you just kill? You look frantic, tsk!" Elia greeted with a sarcastic tone as soon as Dante entered the bar.
"A bitch I picked up from the streets last night." Dante replied briefly, sitting next to Elia and immediately snatching her drink.
He gulped down the bourbon greedily, staring at the glass for a moment before speaking again. "That bastard Luca! How dare he order me to step down!" he spat out sharply, filled with hatred.
"He's beyond my control now! That damn Atmadja really..." Dante's voice quivered with fury, and the glass in his hand began to show small cracks.
"More precisely, Luca was never influenced by you, right? Tskk..." Elia added mockingly, her sharp eyes not leaving the cigar she was smoking. She took a deep drag, savoring each inhale calmly.
"I think it's time we take action, don't you? Bellini is also fed up with always being in the shadow of Atmadja. We want freedom!" Elia continued, her voice now filled with hidden hatred and vengeance masked behind her sharp gaze.
Dante burst out laughing hysterically at Elia's words. It wasn't a laugh of joy but one filled with darkness and sinister intentions enveloping both of them.
Both Dante and Elia desired to crush anyone standing in their way to ultimate power. Without hesitation, they began planning to eliminate all their enemies in one deadly move.
-----
September, 2014
Moretti Residence
"Happy birthday, Uncle Luca!" shouted a 13-year-old teenage girl as she ran to greet her uncle, who had just entered the courtyard of their luxurious home. Luca swiftly caught his niece in his arms and spun her around before they finally entered the house.
"Nadia, you're growing up. You shouldn't be hanging onto your uncle like that, hm?" scolded her mother, Aruna, who saw her daughter still clinging to her twin brother's embrace.
Yeah, her twin brother—Luca Bellini—was Aruna Moretti's fraternal twin. They were born just five minutes apart, with Aruna being the older one.
"Let her be, Sis. To me, Nadia is still small and adorable!" Luca defended his niece.
Aruna just huffed lightly. Her only child grew up surrounded by abundant affection from those around her.
"Nadia, call Daddy in his study, okay? We're having dinner," Aruna instructed as her daughter was let down from Luca's arms.
"Got it, Mommy! Ah, but let's cut the cake first! Uncle's already here, Mom!" Nadia whined to her mother.
Aruna could only chuckle and nod. Today, September 13th, was Luca's birthday—which was also her own. This year, they turned 35.
With a bright smile, Nadia left the dining room and headed to her daddy's study upstairs.
After Nadia left...
The twins sat in silence—a stark contrast to the earlier cheerfulness. Both Aruna and Luca were lost in their own thoughts.
"You know Dante is not the type to give up easily, right? Especially with Elia backing him..." Aruna broke the silence.
Luca let out a heavy sigh while massaging his temples. Ever since Dante Romano's resignation a few months ago, there had been no more smuggling or other illegal activities. The people of Monserrat gradually began to live better, thanks to Luca's efforts to restore order.
"I know, Sis. Since you spied on them that time, I've become even more convinced that Dante wouldn't act alone! Just look—Elia's even getting involved in this. The problem is, Bellini hasn't had a head of the family all this time, and now we're split into two factions."
Bellini was known as a network of spies within the government of King Alessandro IV. They always used code names to conceal their real identities. Initially, Bellini and Atmadja were rivals, competing for the King's attention. Atmadja played a major behind-the-scenes role in creating a clean and prosperous government for the people—a noble goal. However, some influential figures within Atmadja couldn't accept it and began to split due to greed and ambition.
"He may not be showing any signs of movement right now, but we still have to stay alert, Luca!" Aruna warned her brother.
"Alright, Sis. Oh, and happy birthday to you too." Luca said sincerely while handing over a small gift box to Aruna.
"The Valdera City anniversary is at the end of September, and I've arranged the main event for early October at our hotel. Don't miss it, okay?" Luca explained.
The 426th anniversary of Valdera City, on September 29th, would be celebrated with grandeur in downtown Valderano, featuring a three-day public festival. As the Governor of Valdera City, Luca Bellini had also personally arranged a closing event, inviting the Prime Minister and several parliamentary representatives to the La Bellissima Hotel on October 5th.
Aruna just smiled and nodded. A little bit of fun wouldn't hurt, right? Besides, they remained vigilant for whatever might happen in the future. They were still monitoring Dante's movements from a distance.
Meanwhile, elsewhere...
"Is your information accurate?" asked a shirtless man with a lotus flower tattoo coiling around the left side of his body.
"Yes, sir. This information hasn't leaked to the public yet, as it will be held privately."
The man's sinister grin grew even more terrifying! Finally, the time had cometo wipe out all his enemies—Atmadja, Bellini, even the Prime Minister himself.
"Those bastards! This time, get ready! I'll wipe you all out without a trace, hahaha!"
The eerie echo of his laughter sent chills down anyone's spine—even his subordinates dared not lift their heads. That man was Dante Romano, the former deputy governor who was ready to play his ultimate chess piece in the game that was about to begin.