act20mini

If I had known... If I had known what he was doing, I would have stopped him, and Paola wouldn't have...

Liesel's voice trembles slightly as her volume lowers gradually. She looks down, hunched over, but ultimately she straightens her back.

My condolences.

Did you get a clear look at his face?

...I only saw him for a moment. I saw his face, but couldn't make it out clearly.

Do you think you might recognize him?

No. He dressed very plainly. Thinking back, I believe he was maybe trying to trick the security guards, impersonating one of our orchestra members.

I don't know who he was, but there is one thing I do know... he was definitely no Perro or Lupo you'd typically find in Siracusa.

He had enormous Caprinae horns.

Murmurs rise in the courtroom, like ripples from throwing a stone into water.

Lavinia continues her questions, and Liesel recounts in detail what her orchestra members were doing at the time, establishing their alibis.

But no one cares for her words at this point.

So Bellone didn't do it. I've been thinking it made no sense.

He already won the championship, after all. What would he get by killing the conductor?

But what if there's something else we still don't know?

Also, couldn't he have just simply hired a Caprinae to do the deed?

His men have sabotaged our wineries. He's been obviously after us, disrupting our perfectly legitimate business operations!

Silence! Order in the court!

I call Elio Fabri to the witness stand.

Leontuzzo is shocked to see his old acquaintance in court.

He does not know why old Elio would be here.

He was not even aware that Elio had come to Nuova Volsinii.

Signor Fabri, is it true you are an employee of Saluzzo Vino, and responsible for procuring grapes for the company's production line?

Yes, Your Honor.

Three weeks ago, you reached out to Verdi Winery to discuss procuring raw materials for Saluzzo Vino.

Even though Verdi Winery's business has been declining ever since the Kazimierzian wineries set up shop, they always have the most aromatic grapes.

Our company has a long-term cooperative agreement with Verdi to purchase any surplus materials their production lines cannot handle.

The discussion was just part of my regular job.

But during this meeting, you learned that Golden Prairie was about to buy out Verdi Winery.

...Yes.

And so you conspired with Niccolo, a Verdi employee, to sabotage the winery's production facilities.

Furthermore, you also sabotaged their water supply and drainage systems, causing Golden Prairie to incur substantial maintenance costs after their acquisition.

...Yes.

You must be aware that these actions constitute unfair competition, and violate the New Urban Management Act.

What was your motive? Did the owner of Saluzzo Vino, Demetri Bellone, compel you to do this?

Did he intend to disrupt Golden Prairie's business operations?

Elio does not answer immediately.

The Kazimierzian businessman in the gallery is silent, his expression now relaxed.

Meanwhile, Leontuzzo fails to make out Demetri's reaction from his calm demeanor in the defendant's dock.

No one compelled me to do anything, Your Honor.

Everything I did was on my own conscience, out of my concern as a Nuova Volsiniese, as a Siracusan.

It's true Golden Prairie is a competitor of ours. And our rivalry means I know well the methods they use.

They dump their goods here for cheap, pressuring our local wineries into a smaller corner of the market, and then acquire them when they turn unsustainable.

But they don't run the businesses properly after buying them out, much less try to preserve their unique winemaking traditions.

They fire all the old staff to increase profit and efficiency, pretend to operate normally for a while, then shut it all down, leaving the vines to waste away.

Verdi's the fourth. Before them, it was Triptych, Passadi Hills, and Drizzle...

All those wineries suffered the same treatment.

That's how Kazimierz works.

They don't care about the effort we put into tending our grapes, nor for our lives and the memories carried by the unique astringency in our traditional wines.

All they want is to clear out their weaker competitors, one by one, until they monopolize all the shelves of every store.

And we'll ultimately lose any choice in the products we buy. When that happens, I doubt their prices will stay as low as they are now.

Well said. But that does not justify your use of illegal means.

I know.

I know what I've done won't stop the Kazimierzians from trampling all over our wine and other industries.

But I had to do something. I'll accept whatever punishment I deserve.

Murmurs from the gallery only grow louder and louder.

Lavinia raises the gavel in her hand, but hesitates for a while before she puts it down without striking the block.

Your Honor, if you would allow me a few words.

...Speak.

I believe the testimonies you've heard from the witnesses you summoned are sufficient to prove I have no connection to the murder of Paola Memminger.

But Elio Fabri is indeed in my company's employ.

I did not compel him myself, and he did engage in activities deemed illegal by the New Urban Management Act, targeting Golden Prairie.

I believe his reasons for doing so are perfectly understandable, not just to me, but to every Nuova Volsiniese sitting in the gallery right now.

But a violation of the rules is a violation. I do not expect the court to make an exception for him.

Though, as his boss, I am willing to bear the punishment for his crime, be it a fine or a prison sentence.

The murmurs are now so loud that even the gavel fails to silence the crowd. Reporters in the back rows leave to contact their newspapers.

Lavinia announces the end of the trial; declaring the verdict to be given at a later date following jury deliberations.

Amidst the chaos, Leontuzzo catches Demetri looking at him.

He watches as Demetri raises his hand, puts his index and middle fingers together, and gently points them towards Leontuzzo, then himself.

He recognizes the action—a unique gesture they have both used since they were little to signal 'catch you later for a chat'.

Leontuzzo does not respond.

Yes, we've confirmed with the team responsible for guarding the Bellone estate that Elio Fabri did not visit Demetri Bellone's residence following the murder of Paola Memminger.

We have not monitored any calls between them either.

...In other words, he just spoke of his own accord at the courthouse.

That seems to be the case, as far as we can tell.

The jury has yet to reach a verdict, so we can only continue to watch the Bellone estate and keep Signor Fabri in custody for now.

I'd like to speak with him in private.

By all means.

...Zio Elio.

I didn't know you were in Nuova Volsinii.

Oh? I thought Signor Mayor and Judge Lavinia would've come across my name while scrutinizing entry applications from Bellone associates.

I... didn't notice... but why are you still with them? I thought...

After Padre's death, Famiglia Bellone lost all the power it had. You should've left then—I know you never liked having to do things the mafioso way.

Leave? I lost my fruit stand, Emma's fever left her with a lifelong need for medication, and I've been struggling...

If Don Demetri hadn't invited me to join his winery and source grapes for him, I don't know how I would've survived!

Nuova Volsinii provides job opportunities for everyone with the will to shape a future with their own hands...

Is that so? Do you think small businesses can still survive, under the Kazimierzian merchants' heel?

But your acts of sabotage... the famiglie used to do the same.

The famiglie's ways of doing things... yes, they remind us, every citizen here, of our painful past.

I do admit it was a shameful act—but fortunately, Judge Lavinia allowed me an opportunity to speak the truth in court.

...Lavinia... was the one who arranged for you to be there?

Yes.

Sometimes, we have no choice but to only do as much as we can, no?

You asked me why I was still working for Don Demetri.

It is because he still adheres to the old famiglia creed—

A pack of whelps grouping up to help each other can keep all of us from being devoured by a bigger beast.

I heard your inauguration speech too. I could feel your passion.

You asked how our neighboring nations would view us? Would they see us as a new possibility?

But now, I believe they do. They see us as a new avenue, to exploit us for their own gain!

Yes, I work for the Don.