CHAPTER 99

PAOLO WAS LAY DOWN looking at the ceiling wondering what would happen to him from that moment on.

— It had been so hard to conquer all that, I joined the Society to win in life and now a little shit detective can intercept me...

His mind was so far away that he didn't even realize that he had an unexpected visitor in his cell.

— Do you prefer pain or no pain? — Said the voice echoing in the deepest recesses of his being.

— Teacher?

Andromacus held Paolo by the neck with only one hand, and even then it was impossible to free himself from him.

— Me me...

— Shut up and keep what little dignity you have left.

His mind began to travel far away in that last moment of life.

UNLIKE EVERYONE he knew, Paolo wanted to be a successful singer as a teenager, however, all he knew was the contempt of the people around him, not only because he was devoid of any musical talent, but he was obese and had a girl's thin voice.

Paolo was sixteen years old and still a virgin, not even the prostitutes wanted to go out with him, one even tried foreplay, but hearing the squeals and moans he gave was almost the same thing he had in a humor show, she started laughing non-stop.

— What happened? — He said nervously –, I'm paying to suck and you're laughing like crazy?

— Sorry — she said trying to catch her breath — I can't help but laugh, that little scream you give is the fagot thing I've ever heard in my life.

She continued to laugh.

Paolo immediately broke down crying out of the room with his pants in his hands.

A lady was passing him and gave a shout:

— Your perverted!!!

While the old woman was screaming, she threw an umbrella over her head.

With great difficulty, he managed to get rid of the scandalous lady and set off aimlessly into the night.

The first thing he did, he looked for a gym, went in and didn't even say anything to anyone, he stared at his face in the mirror and went back to crying, feeling like the worst man on the face of the Earth.

— Can I help you? — Said an extremely sensual female voice behind him.

He didn't answer anything, just punched the mirror, shattering it into countless pieces. Soon after, his hand began to bleed.

— May I know why you did this? — Said the woman in a completely different tone of voice than expected.

— It's the last time I see a loser reflected in the mirror.

His voice made the girl try to hold back her smile.

— You can laugh — he said indifferently — that's all that cursed voice is for.

She didn't say anything, just slapped him that made him see stars at once.

— You are crazy?

She gave him another slap.

— Hey! It hurts, you know?

When he went for the third slap, he dodged it.

— If you want something, get it — she said — stop complaining, the world is here and it's strong, your voice is not a curse, it's a divine challenge, you're not obese because God wanted it, but because you keep whining like a cry baby out there, eats everything in sight, people like that die by the thousands in the world without ever having done absolutely anything useful to change it.

Suddenly, a bald man enters the gym, who was without a doubt one of the strongest men Paolo had ever seen in his life.

— Who's that, Aisha? — Said Andromacus.

— That's my pick for tonight.

Andromacus began to laugh.

Hearing the bald man's laughter, Paolo felt strength flood from the depths of his being and punched him, throwing him about five meters away.

— Wow! — Andromacus said smiling while caressing her chin.

Paolo hadn't noticed, but there was another boy watching him.

— And who is that? — Said Aisha.

— My fighter, it's going to be an interesting night, don't you think?

Paolo looked at the boy and felt an overwhelming fear.

— Come on boy — she said — today is going to be the best night of your life.

PAOLO HAS NEVER SEEN a crowd like that.

— Want some good news? — Said Aisha smiling.

— Clear.

— There was someone who bet on you.

— You?

Aisha smiled.

— Of course not, silly — she caressed his face — that one bet...

Paolo looked over and saw a very famous person raising a wineglass towards him.

Martín Gonzalez...

The fight started and, as expected, Paolo was getting hit like a punching bag, and every time he looked at Martín it seemed like he was looking at him in a different way.

Does anyone believe me...

Paolo got up and saw his opponent with his hands raised making the crowd vibrate with ecstasy.

— Your opponent is me — Paolo shouted.

Suddenly, a chorus of laughter rang out in the gym.

Paolo looked at Martín and raised the goblet in his direction again.

EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED was black and white, the last thing he remembers was being in the locker room and seeing Martín Gonzalez applauding him as he entered.

— Congratulations, we've just found a warrior.

Paolo spat out one of his teeth.

— What's your name boy?

— Paolo.

— Paolo — said Martín dreamily — have you ever been told that there is a prize for winners?

He shook his head.

— Every man has dreams, what's your dream?

— Being a singer.

Martín smiled for the first time.

— For everyone to laugh at you?

Martín saw fire in Paolo's eyes.

— Think twice before attacking me, I can make your dreams come true as well as your darkest nightmares.

— Why can't I be a singer?

— It's obvious, you have no voice and no charisma, I can't invest in a failed project like this.

— What do you suggest?

— I have a job that fits your profile perfectly, I'll pay you very well.

— But what about my voice?

— I'll pay someone to fix her, but if you try to be a singer, I'll kill you.

— But...

— Do you want to have a life outside that door, Paolo? —

He nodded.

— Good boy — said Martín, patting his right cheek — I'm going to make you a very rich and accomplished young man, but if you want to be a singer, I'd rather your death than a joke.

That night Paolo lost his virginity as a reward for his incredible victory and for agreeing to join Vrill.

AISHA TRAINED him for two years on end to join the police force, and the harder the young Paolo worked, the more he stood out, until he worked with the big boss, Juan Hernandes.

Juan Hernandes was the perfect man for everyone below him, a serious, respectable, intelligent and above all, human man.

Working with him was the easiest thing in the world and earning his trust was a matter of time.

PAOLO HAD ACCESS TO ALL the data and people in the process and it was easy to pass all the information to Aisha, who took care of eliminating the main witnesses against Martín Gonzalez. As much as his heart was sad to see his boss in that situation, without a doubt it was the best thing to do at that moment, the world could never know about the Society of the Sun, and everyone who wanted to reveal the secret should die.

— Why did he have to die? — He said almost in a tone of suffering for Aisha.

— My angel, we are the guardians of justice, the sun that shines on this world immersed in darkness, and any sacrifice is valid, we will be the victors in the end, we spent millennia in hiding, but the time of Ra's return is coming.

As much as he'd become one of Vrill's most fervent believers, Paolo couldn't get a peaceful night's sleep.

SUDDENLY, PAOLO remembered that night, he had never won that fight, he lost and he was crying begging for his life, saying he would do anything to get out of there alive.

Unlike any fight they had ever seen, Martín smiled and applauded the obese young man's attitude in a comical voice.

— Maybe he can be our mascot before the fights, after all, what credit do we have for killing this young man, he's useless as a fighter.

Everyone agreed, but Aisha gave the boy a blow that made him faint.

WERE THOSE YOUR LAST SECONDS OF LIFE?

Will it all end like this?

That's how it all ended for him.

ANDROMACUS WIPE HIS HAND on Paolo's clothes.

— Bastard, couldn't these guys today be like the men of old?

Where have you seen this much makeup used...