act20mini

You seem exhausted. Did that wine merchant tie you up in his affairs again? Or is it Demetri?

*Sigh*.

He's convinced we won't have a fair trial, and keeps bringing up his chamber of commerce to pressure me.

Saluzzo Vino has indeed established itself in Nuova Volsinii under Demetri's management.

But it remains a local enterprise, and it's hard to judge if it can compare with the commercial capabilities of Czarek's Golden Prairie.

I fear Czarek is hounding Demetri not just because they're business competitors, or for that Championship incident.

Metri... is merely an opportunity for Czarek and the chamber of commerce backing him.

Most local merchants here do have ties to the famiglie, big or small.

And if this background becomes valid grounds for accusations of wrongdoing, the local industry will come under pressure...

But we do need those foreign capitalists to trade here.

We have to learn their modern ways of trade, we need their capital and goods.

Even the way they compete with each other is something we need. It'll make our local businesses iterate and evolve to keep up.

I'm aware of all that.

But, Lavinia... our current situation is so far from what we originally envisioned...

Yes, we planned for a city without the famiglie, run with fairness and justice, not favoring any particular party.

But now Nuova Volsinii has become an open gate to Siracusa, completely defenseless, free for any outsiders to enter, no matter their motives.

The first group is of course, the Kazimierzians who exploit the loopholes in the New Urban Management Act.

The exclusive shelf display agreement that Czarek and his fellow merchants include in their contracts has severely affected local industry.

The various logistics contracts with high fines have also driven our local truckers into a corner...

Yes, Eirene has informed me of their situation. It seems like the K.G.C.C. is trying to undermine our AST.

Also, other departments have given feedback on how they've been showing signs of wanting to involve themselves in the energy and healthcare sectors as well.

According to last month's reports from city hall, many businesses in the service industry have shuttered, while the manufacturing industry is also struggling.

Foreign-backed companies and shops have set up here, and they prefer to employ those from their own countries, so it is likely the job pool for locals will only shrink.

Despite our best efforts, prices are still trending upwards...

Our people are not doing so well.

And it is the Kazimierzians and Columbians we must face, but also—

The Leithanians who have come from all across Siracusa, and even from their own country with all manner of motives.

Yes. And before them...

The fairness and justice we seek remain necessary—I still believe in this.

But if such a pursuit must be traded for the livelihood of our citizens, then those so-called virtues will only end up being superficial formalities.

You're right.

I've... been mulling over it. Remember when I mentioned we might have to amend the New Urban Management Act—

We've made a revision. Want a look?

Leontuzzo takes the draft from Lavinia.

Two thin sheets of paper that should take no time to go through. But Leontuzzo flips through them multiple times before he finally looks up.

Impose tariffs on foreign goods...

Prevent foreign businesses from establishing a monopoly on key sectors like transportation, finance, and energy, and allow some factions with former famiglia ties access to lower management roles...

Issue franchise permits to famiglia-controlled corporations...

Is... this not a bit overboard? I fear people may say we're regressing to the old Siracusan way, or that we're favoring the famiglie.

I did propose change, but these amendments are difficult to accept.

I understand your concerns, Leon.

I know you, of all people, hope to keep the famiglie out of this city.

But you still seek to counter foreign capitalists with famiglie power.

Leon, we all know Nuova Volsinii's government and our authority over the city were granted at Signora Sicilia's pleasure.

But in Siracusa, as it stands now, the only force capable of uniting everyone is still the famiglie.

But what we can do is limit and prevent the famiglie from growing their power, ensure they do not succumb to infighting, and most importantly, keep them from infringing on civilian interests.

It's not an easy decision to make. Truth be told, I think it's not the right time to submit this draft either.

Most citizens enjoy the employment opportunities brought in by foreign companies, as well as their cheap and trendy imported goods.

Even if the K.G.C.C.'s ways inconvenience them, compared to the trouble caused by the mob wars of the past...

They will not think it much of a problem.

Silence spreads throughout the office.

Leontuzzo knows Lavinia is right. Because he used to harbor such plans in his mind.

But it is not so easy to make the decision.

I get what you're trying to say.

But just as Czarek and the K.G.C.C. want this chance to put Metri on trial, we also need an opportunity to convince ourselves and this entire city.

Yes, and this chance may well come soon.

The courtroom is packed. The afternoon trial has clearly drawn a lot of attention.

Sitting in the gallery are not only locals, but also the merchant Czarek's Kazimierzian partners, a Leithanian orchestra, and even Columbian traders.

All of their attention is fixated on one Demetri Bellone in the defendant's dock.

In accordance with the New Urban Management Act, the Nuova Volsinii criminal court will commence with the trial of the defendant, Demetri Bellone, on charges of the murder of Paola Memminger, case number 01452. Court is now in session.

I call Tommaso Esposito to the witness stand.

Signor Esposito, is it true you are a manager for Saluzzo Vino, in charge of the company's logistics?

Yes.

Two weeks ago, one day before the Golden Prairie's Red Wine Championship, you called an individual by the name of Sam at the Agenzia per la Sicurezza dei Trasporti.

You asked him to deliver two bottles of Saluzzo wine to the event venue.

Yes. I was very busy, and completely forgot about sending some wines to the competition, although I fortunately remembered to do so, the day before.

*sigh* Suffering from success, as it were.

When this Sam was delivering the goods via motorcycle, he came upon a crashed truck driven by an AST colleague, one Gianni. Gianni was on a Golden Prairie job at the time.

Coincidentally, Gian just happened to be delivering goods specially prepared by Golden Prairie for the competition finals, and you just happened to be there as well.

The coincidence isn't that unusual. Just goes to show how everyone loves doing things last-minute.

As for me, I was making my way over to the event venue to ensure my boss's instructions were being carried out properly, so I tagged along.

At the scene of the accident, you helped Sam get Gian into the ambulance, and you helped handle the aftermath—

Notably, you took those Saluzzo wines and placed them into the Golden Prairie box meant for the competition.

The Golden Prairie guys said they'd find another driver, so I thought I'd save myself some trouble, since we were both delivering goods to the same destination.

But you took the Golden Prairie wines out of their box.

And so the wines that appeared to the judges under the Golden Prairie name were, in fact, from Saluzzo Vino.

That's their own carelessness!

They only had to look at the labels on the bottles to avoid that mistake. Am I wrong, Your Honor?

...No further questions.

I call Letizia Maroni to the witness stand.

Signora Maroni, you work at the Nuova Volsiniese Police Academy as a toxicology expert and forensic pathologist.

You were responsible for the autopsy of the victim, Paola Memminger, as well as the testing of the utensils and wine in the case.

Yes.

Please inform the court of your findings.

Yes, Your Honor.

The autopsy results show Paola Memminger died of cyanide poisoning.

Traces of cyanide were found on the wine glass she used, but not inside the Saluzzo wine bottle.

In other words, the murderer applied cyanide only to the glass, rather than the Saluzzo wine itself.

I can only say the current evidence supports that conclusion.

Calling Liesel Memminger to the witness stand.

The little Caprinae steps out from the crowd of musicians around her, and slowly but resolutely walks toward the witness stand.

Signorina Memminger, is it true you are a member of the Schwarzervorhang Orchestra, and the adopted daughter of the deceased Paola Memminger?

Yes.

On the day of the Red Wine Championship, you went to the cellar where all the competition wines were stored for an inspection.

Yes.

While you were there, you brushed past someone who was neither a security guard nor a member of any participating winery.

...Yes.

Did you see what this individual did in the cellar?

I... saw him picking up a glass. But at the time, I only thought it a random, strange occurrence.

No problems arose after he entered the cellar, so I assumed he was just a lost spectator.