act20mini

Grazie infinite, Signor Bellone!

I would've been at such a loss, had it not been for you and your famiglia.

Come now, Zio Elio. I didn't do anything.

Indeed, your name and presence were enough.

My landlord dropping by as you were visiting me was enough to make him reconsider collecting his rent on the spot.

After you left, he quickly agreed to give me two more weeks. That I'll figure out myself...

I don't understand, Zio Elio. Why are you...? What happened to your fruit stand?

Oh, that? Hah. Sold it long ago.

My little Emma had a fever this summer, and who would have thought it would leave her paralyzed?

Luckily, Demetri introduced me to a good doctor, said it was a serious yet common summer ailment for children, and she might lose her legs if it wasn't treated.

So I sold my fruit stand, and pooled cash from relatives to pay part of the doctor's fees. The rest is to be paid in installments.

She's out of the woods now, at least. She has a slight limp, but she's otherwise healthy. As for the rent and bills... I'll figure it out.

Your stand was on the corner... Metri and I bought oranges from you when we were little.

We've been neighbors for years. I could've lent you some money, and you wouldn't have had to—

No, no, Signor Bellone. It's a vast sum, I wouldn't dare accept such a favor from you.

Besides, your money wouldn't keep me afloat forever. I owe rent every week.

But now that I'm under Famiglia Bellone's protection... my landlord won't kick me out when I fail to pay; and even the bakery will sell me some food on credit.

But... you never wanted to join the Famiglia.

You always said there was no need for civilians to join or involve themselves in famiglie affairs—that the most important thing was to work hard and live your best life.

Ha! This old man was just naive.

A famiglia is more than fighting and killing. I finally understand that.

Don't worry, Signor Bellone. I may be old, but I know not to be ungrateful.

The Bellones have helped me, so if you ever need a favor in turn, just call me and I'll be there!

...You did this on purpose, didn't you? Metri.

I asked you the other day why I haven't seen his fruit stand, and you told me he went home for a relative's funeral.

You knew Emma was gravely ill.

And when you suddenly invited me here for pizza the other day... you knew Zio Elio would pass by and find me.

You handled it expertly, Leon.

Handled what? I played right into your hands, if I had known sooner—

—You couldn't have done anything about it anyway. You couldn't have possibly known what sort of hardship he would face. Your assistance would've been limited.

But at least I could've prevented him from joining the Famiglia against his wishes!

Only the Famiglia can help him now.

Is that so? I beg to differ. What did this facade cost him, and how long will it even last?

He should've had access to more work opportunities, while we—Siracusa—should guarantee them a livelihood through systemic measures. Relying on the famiglie won't address the root of the problem.

I hope the lesson you've learned from this is not charity or consideration for others, Leon.

You're the Underboss. Someday, you'll be the head of the Famiglia yourself.

A competent don knows offering timely help will earn you gratitude. They will owe you a favor, and repay their debt someday.

You sound so heartless, Metri. Why did you even bother introducing a doctor to Zio Elio, then?

Shouldn't you have let me do it, if you wanted me to learn to extract gratitude?

You didn't know how ill Emma really was, and you didn't know he would have no choice but to sell the fruit stand.

You just wanted to help him, and it had nothing to do with the Famiglia.

We... can only do as much as we can, no?

Besides, old Elio's oranges were always the best. He clearly knows how to pick his suppliers.

This is a trivial matter, compared to your available powers as the Mayor. Please, bring that murderous mafioso who ruined my Red Wine Championship to justice!

Signor Czarek, Demetri... Bellone's trial is this afternoon, but for now he remains only a suspect.

But who else could it have been? He sees me as a competitor and is not above dirty tricks.

I kept my wines safely stored in the cellar, and even arranged for professional security to guard them, only to somehow have them swapped with Saluzzo's!

The prime suspect was arrested at the party, yet only placed under house arrest.

And there have been plenty of people knocking on his door to visit, console, and even plot more nastiness!

The whole city thinks him innocent, while Saluzzo Vino is raking in record profits.

While I, poor old Radoslaw, have gained absolutely nothing after spending so much time and effort organizing an event here in the hopes of doing some business in this thriving new city!

As far as I know, The Red Wine has been publishing articles about this murder case, and this has brought a lot of attention to your event.

I understand you've already begun recruiting participants for your next Red Wine Championship, and there are even wine merchants from Columbia and Leithanien who have signaled an interest in participating.

Indeed, but I should be enjoying greater gains than just those. Now, I'm left trying to minimize my massive losses.

Signor Czarek, we pledge to run the city fairly, according to the New Urban Management Act, but our government will not serve the interests of a lone businessman.

Not you, or anyone else.

That so? I hear you grew up with that Bellone boy, and now he's even taken your family name.

I am no longer affiliated with Famiglia Bellone in any way.

But he's a member, no? Part of the purest Siracusan famiglia.

Even in his businessman costume, he's still most comfortable doing things mafia style.

...You need to present proper evidence before we can hold a formal trial.

Of course, we must follow due process. I am aware.

But my good Mayor, I pray you don't forget this—

Since the New Urban Management Act, many businessmen from Kazimierz, Leithanien, and Columbia have come here to trade.

And we, or at least the merchants under the K.G.C.C.'s banner, are only here in Nuova Volsinii and not in any other Siracusan city—because you have promised us the famiglie do not exist here.

The wine merchant leaves, but Leontuzzo remains still for a long time.

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.