Chapter 73: The Four Musketeer

Kokok and his companions finally pinpointed Marcelino’s exact location. Through their satellite-connected tablet, they saw him wounded and resting in a secluded corner of the forest. A wicked smile spread across Kokok’s face—this was the perfect moment to execute his sinister plan and finally eliminate Marcelino.
Using their advanced technology, Kokok launched a drone equipped with explosives, setting it on a direct course toward Marcelino’s hiding spot.
"Oh, John, look at you! It’s hilarious to see the fear on your face!" Kokok cackled, eyes glued to the screen as he watched Marcelino scramble in desperation. "That's right, John! Keep running!"
Marcelino, already injured, could barely muster the strength to dodge as grenades rained down from the drone. Explosions echoed through the forest, shaking the ground beneath him. Shrapnel flew in every direction, ripping through trees and underbrush as Marcelino fought to protect himself, using every ounce of his remaining strength to evade the blasts.
Kokok watched with glee, his eyes shining with sadistic delight. He could see Marcelino struggling, limping as he tried to find cover. "Follow him!" Kokok barked, adrenaline fueling his excitement. "Don’t let him escape!"
His companions sprang into action, chasing after the fleeing Marcelino. The forest seemed to close in around them, the shadows deepening as they pursued their wounded target. Despite his injuries, Marcelino moved quickly, but the relentless pursuit from Kokok’s group kept him on the edge of his stamina.
________________________________________
After an intense chase, they finally cornered Marcelino against the steep cliffs of the Death River, a notorious and deadly current where no one had ever survived a fall. Panting and bloodied, Marcelino pressed his back against the rocks, facing his pursuers.
Kokok and his team revealed themselves, emerging from the shadows with weapons drawn. Marcelino’s eyes widened in shock as he recognized the faces of his would-be killers—Kokok, his first cousin, accompanied by Kudo, Normilita, and Nicolas, all of whom were passed over as finalists in the selection for the next family head.
"Kokok…" Marcelino muttered, his voice strained and heavy with disbelief.
Kokok smirked, his expression filled with mockery and triumph. "John, I must admit, I’m impressed. You’ve come this far, but it ends here. We should be grateful to you, you know? You’re the reason we’re getting another chance at the position we’ve all been dreaming of."
Marcelino’s breathing was labored, every breath sending a sharp pain through his chest. "You… you betrayed me," he managed to say, eyes darting between his cousin and the others.
"Any last words, John?" Kokok taunted, savoring the moment of his perceived victory.
Marcelino scanned their faces, trying to find a flicker of hesitation, but all he saw was the cold determination that had driven them to this treachery.
"I’m sorry, John," said Kudo, the chubby man with an insatiable appetite and expertise in crafting weapons and firearms. "No hard feelings, it’s just… we have to get ahead, even if it means taking this route."
Normilita, the beautiful woman known for her deadly concoctions of poisons and weapons, nodded without a hint of remorse. "We all have our ambitions, John. Yours just happened to clash with ours."
Nicolas, the muscular martial arts expert with a talent for making bombs, tightened his grip on his weapon. "You were in our way, John. It’s nothing personal, but this is how it has to be."
Marcelino knew he had to act fast. With no other choice, he pulled out his final card—a smoke screen device. He threw it to the ground, and thick smoke erupted, obscuring the area and plunging it into a swirling haze. For a brief moment, Marcelino seized the advantage, using the cover to slip away.
But Kokok was quick to react. As the smoke billowed, he fired his gun wildly, and one of the bullets found its mark. Marcelino gasped as the shot tore through his chest, the pain searing as he stumbled backward, his vision blurring from the shock.
"Marcelino!" Kokok shouted, pushing through the smoke, his expression a mixture of triumph and scorn.
Marcelino, now bleeding heavily, lost his footing at the edge of the cliff. He slipped, his body teetering on the brink before plummeting into the churning waters of Death River below. The river’s deadly current swallowed him whole, pulling him into its depths with a force that no one could withstand.
"No one survives the Death River," Kokok muttered, a satisfied grin spreading across his face as he watched Marcelino’s form disappear beneath the violent waters. "Finally… no more Marcelino."
He turned to his companions, his face glowing with self-satisfaction. "It’s done. Marcelino’s out of the picture for good."
The group stood at the edge, peering down into the foaming river. The sound of rushing water was deafening, and the sight of Marcelino’s body vanishing into the abyss filled them with a chilling sense of finality. They had achieved what they set out to do—or so they thought.
Kokok couldn’t resist a laugh, the adrenaline of their success still pumping through his veins. "Let’s go. We’ve got a position to secure."
As they left the riverbank, Kokok felt a rush of victory unlike any other. Marcelino was gone, and the path to power was clear. The thought of Marcelino’s demise at his hands was exhilarating, and Kokok savored the moment, knowing that he was one step closer to the position he had always desired.
But as the waters of Death River roared, carrying Marcelino’s body deeper into the unknown, the river itself seemed to hold secrets that even Kokok’s triumph couldn’t reach. The group departed, certain of their success, but the shadows of their actions lingered—dark, foreboding, and waiting for the reckoning that would come when least expected.
For now, they celebrated, but the river’s whispers echoed with a reminder: not everything that is lost remains buried, and not every victory is without consequence.

As Kokok, Kudo, Normilita, and Nicolas stood at the edge of the riverbank, they reveled in their perceived victory. Laughter and cheers filled the air, their voices mingling with the roar of Death River below. Kokok, however, wore a grin that was more sinister than celebratory. Behind the façade of camaraderie, a dark ambition simmered, cloaked beneath his triumphant laughter.

Kudo, with his chubby cheeks flushed from the excitement, clapped Kokok on the back. "Finally! We did it! This is the start of a new chapter for us," he exclaimed, eyes shining with the promise of power.

Normilita, her beauty radiant even in the dim light of the forest, nodded in agreement. "Marcelino was the only one standing in our way. Now, nothing can stop us," she said, her voice laced with satisfaction.

Nicolas, the muscular martial arts expert, punched the air triumphantly. "We’re in this together. From now on, we fight for the top," he declared, his confidence bolstered by their success.

But Kokok’s mind was elsewhere, already weaving the next step of his treacherous plan. He watched his companions, their faces lit with hope and ambition, completely unaware that their jubilation would soon turn to horror. The thought of their impending demise brought a twisted smile to Kokok’s lips. In his heart, there was no room for allies, only pawns to be used and discarded.

“Let’s head back,” Kokok suggested, his voice steady, betraying none of his malice. “We’ve got a lot to prepare for if we want to secure our positions.”

The group agreed, still buzzing from their triumph as they made their way to the vehicle. What they didn’t know was that Kokok had set a deadly trap. Inside the car, Kokok had hidden potent poisons he had taken from Marielle’s stash, the same deadly concoctions that Normilita had once admired. He had also planted bombs, crafted by Nicolas himself, meant to be their tools of conquest but now repurposed for their own demise.

As they climbed into the car, Kokok’s heart raced—not from fear, but from the exhilaration of knowing he was moments away from eliminating his last obstacles. He glanced at his companions, still blissfully ignorant of the fate that awaited them.

"Let’s go," Kokok said, a hint of excitement in his tone. He started the engine, his finger hovering just above the hidden detonator he had placed within easy reach.

Kudo, sitting in the backseat, was already daydreaming aloud about the changes he would make once he gained power. "Imagine all the new weapons we could create! We’ll be unstoppable," he mused, oblivious to the deadly irony of his words.

Normilita, seated next to him, smiled at the thought. "And the poisons—think of all the new formulas we could develop. We’ll be feared across the world," she added, her eyes sparkling with ambition.

Nicolas, riding shotgun, nodded. "We’ll make our mark, that’s for sure. No one will dare challenge us once we take control."

Kokok listened, a dark satisfaction curling in his chest. He had no intention of sharing the throne with anyone. As they drove through the forest, Kokok’s finger inched closer to the detonator, his mind filled with visions of being the sole heir to the Innovation family’s legacy.

"Finally, all mine," he thought, his eyes flicking to the rearview mirror where he caught a glimpse of Kudo, Normilita, and Nicolas. "They have no idea…"

But just as Kokok was about to press the detonator, Nicolas’ sharp eyes noticed something amiss on the dashboard—a blinking red light that shouldn’t have been there. His instincts kicked in, honed by years of dealing with explosives.

"Wait, what’s that?" Nicolas said suddenly, pointing at the light. "Kokok, pull over!"

Kokok’s heart skipped a beat, but he masked his panic with a scowl. "What now, Nicolas?" he asked, feigning annoyance.

Nicolas leaned closer, his eyes narrowing as he examined the device. "This isn’t supposed to be here. I didn’t install any system like this…"

Normilita’s eyes darted to Kokok, suspicion dawning on her face. "Kokok, what is this? Why is there a detonator wired to our car’s ignition?"

Kokok’s grip tightened on the steering wheel, his mind racing. For a moment, he considered bluffing his way out, but the look on Nicolas’ face told him it was too late.

"You son of a—" Nicolas started, but Kokok, in a desperate bid, slammed his hand down on the detonator.

The car exploded into chaos. A deafening blast filled the air, shattering windows and sending flames roaring into the sky. Smoke billowed, and the scent of burning metal and toxic fumes filled the air. The vehicle was torn apart, the force of the explosion obliterating everything in its path.

Kokok, thrown from the driver’s seat, landed several feet away, his body wracked with pain. His vision blurred, but he could still see the twisted wreckage of the car, engulfed in flames. He tried to move, but every limb felt like it was on fire, his mind reeling from the realization that his plan had backfired spectacularly.

The last thing Kokok saw was the shadow of his own greed closing in on him, as the burning wreckage consumed everything in its path. Kudo, Normilita, and Nicolas lay amidst the ruins, their ambitions and lives snuffed out in an instant.

In his final moments, Kokok’s thoughts were a mix of regret and seething frustration. He had played his cards recklessly, underestimating the very tools and people he had used. As darkness closed in, the irony of his demise was not lost on him—caught in the very trap he had set for others.