The Peppercorns and the Curse of the Black King

Luca Gruber warns Benny's 'peppercorns' bunch, who just outsmarted two thieving bullies, against the school trip to his South Tirol (Italian Alps) home, mentioning a legendary curse of the black king. Bennyis lore concerned about his other as chaperon with and as turns out lover of class teacher Martin Schulze, and the arrival by limousine with Asian driver Hamit of silver spoon class newbie Johannes. The latter proves nosy and clever, eagerly joining their investigation of the 'curse', as scary things happen to Luca's town, including a fire and Luca's father Stefan Gruber's arrest for allegedly dumping hazardous waste. The boy shows his uncle Lorenz the abandoned mine shaft where he thinks the black king haunts, but is locked inside, and Johannes when he comes look for him, so they must escape adventurously, while IT skills help find the real fiends, a food multinational based in their native Hamburg, which must be take on there too, in league with the mayor.