The king's treasure

The Rival Family

Smoke drifted from the Cathedral of San Leone as Don Vincenzo Russo and his team disappeared into the dense forest. Behind them, the sound of gunfire faded, replaced by the chirping of birds welcoming the morning.

No one spoke for several minutes.

The golden compass rested in Vincenzo’s hands.

“It has to point somewhere,” Rocco said.

Angelo carefully examined the artifact. “It’s not an ordinary compass. Look.”

Instead of pointing north, the needle slowly turned east and stopped.

“It isn’t following the Earth’s magnetic field,” Angelo explained. “It’s tracking something else.”

“The treasure?” Nico asked.

“Perhaps… or the next clue.”

Meanwhile, back at the cathedral, Don Alessandro De Luca stood over the empty stone pedestal. His men searched every corner of the underground chamber, but they found nothing.

“They beat us again,” one of his soldiers admitted.

Alessandro smiled coldly.

“They took the compass.”

He turned toward a man standing in the shadows.

“But they don’t know we’re already watching them.”

The mysterious man nodded.

“I’ll keep feeding you their every move.”

Alessandro handed him a thick envelope filled with cash.

“Good. Don’t let them suspect you.”

Hours later, the Russo team reached a secluded cabin deep in the Sicilian countryside. It belonged to an old friend of Angelo’s, who had agreed to let them rest.

Pietro connected his laptop to the cabin’s satellite internet.

“I’ve scanned every historical record I can find.”

He projected an old map onto the wall.

“There was only one king in Sicilian history who was said to have ‘lost his crown’ in battle.”

Angelo’s eyes lit up.

“King Federico.”

“And where did it happen?” Vincenzo asked.

“The Fortress of Monte Aquila.”

Rocco smiled.

“So that’s where we’re going.”

Before anyone could celebrate, Pietro’s computer beeped.

“Someone just tried to access my files.”

He traced the signal.

“It came from inside the cabin.”

Everyone froze.

Rocco slowly reached for his pistol.

“Inside?”

Pietro nodded.

“There must be a hidden transmitter.”

The team searched every room.

Finally, Nico discovered a tiny listening device hidden beneath a wooden table.

Vincenzo’s face darkened.

“Someone knew we’d come here.”

Angelo looked around.

“Only five people knew about this cabin.”

Silence filled the room.

Five people.

The same five standing there.

No one wanted to say it aloud, but the thought was impossible to ignore.

Someone close to them was leaking information.

That evening, the team left the cabin under the cover of darkness.

Unbeknownst to them, a black SUV followed from a distance.

Inside sat the mysterious informant.

He picked up a secure phone.

“They’re heading to Monte Aquila.”

A voice answered from the other end.

“Excellent.”

Don Alessandro De Luca smiled as he ended the call.

“Prepare the fortress.”

“This time… Don Vincenzo Russo won’t escape.”

Far ahead, the ancient ruins of Monte Aquila stood against the moonlit sky, hiding another piece of the King’s Treasure—and another deadly trap waiting for whoever dared to enter.