act21side

'If our people can't get in, then we'll at least make sure yours can't either.' That is why Carracci occupied that seat.

Make no mistake, he had close ties with the Bellones. The Don's son even sat beside him as his secretary. But, in one way or another, he was just as close with every other famiglia.

There's an ancient Yan saying to the effect of 'he who walks oft along the river, inevitably finds his shoes wet,' yes? I have always trusted in Carracci's integrity, but so what? Others did not see it that way.

The way Siracusans think, you either choose to be one famiglia's pet, or you choose to be another's.

In other words, Carracci's death was inevitable. He wasn't part of any of famiglia's vision for the future. Do you think he was oblivious to that fact?

In the end, it doesn't matter whether he died today, a month ago, or a month from now.

You know how much hard work he put in.

And what did he get for it in the end?

Actually, let's assume he was as selfless a person as you say. What did the people he worked so hard for, those whom he so eloquently claimed as 'his dear citizens,' give him in the end?

Your Honor, I've also heard a great many rumors about you.

You undeniably have a fair number of accomplishments under your belt.

But among them, how many were due solely to your own hard work, and how many were influenced by the people behind your back? You already know the answer, don't you?

You—

If I may be frank, Your Honor, are you really not here to test me on behalf of Bellone?

That is not my intention, I swear.

...I'd prefer it were.

Then please heed this word of caution, Your Honor.

Let those who've died stay dead.

We already have too much to worry about without overly concerning ourselves with the deceased.

And... this is the attitude of someone who was on good terms with him?

If you want to have a slightly longer lease on life in Volsinii's government, I'd suggest you learn this lesson well.

Oh, hello sweetheart. Ah, I'm still at work right now. Are you ready to go?

Mm, alright. I'll get ready to head over then.

Okay, okay.

That was my daughter. Now, a newly-opened restaurant has invited me to inspect their ingredients tonight.

We'll have to set aside our discussion for later.

Oh right, please let Master Leontuzzo know that he is welcome to talk to me if he's interested in the gourmet experience.

...I'll remember to pass it on.

Now then, please see yourself out.

...*sigh*.

What did you say? You found someone unconscious and tied up? The leader of the bunch that attacked the restaurant?

Understood. I'll be there right away.

I'm telling you, the two of us just happened to be involved in that hit. We don't know nothing.

As for the guy who handed out the orders, we don't know which famiglia he belongs to, but he sure was generous with the cash.

They were clearly looking for hitmen with murky backgrounds like you two, so when you die, there'd be no trail back to who hired you.

You might think you ran into them by chance, but it wouldn't surprise me if they had their eyes on you a long time ago.

I'm not saying they didn't.

So, want to take a crack at who your employer is?

Probably... the Rossatis or the Saluzzos. Of the Dodici who've been fighting over this city all this time, and with the Bellones out of the picture, they're the only two famiglie with enough power left.

Right, I'm sure most people would think the same.

But now you know the Saluzzos were never planning anything like that.

That just leaves... the Rossatis?

One more.

What do you mean?

Remember those poor suckers you took out early on? They were originally targeting people from il Ministero dei Lavori Pubblici.

Don Bellone's son's been working there, so another way of putting this is that the folks you dealt with were trying to get in Bellone's way.

So... what you're saying is, we helped the Bellones put down a threat, but then turned right around and hit 'em even harder.

...So what? We see famiglie doing that kinda power jockeying stuff every day.

That... He's got a point. The first hit we made might've just been on some unlucky, short-sighted bastards.

But don't forget, you were specifically sent to 'shut them up.'

Wait, are you serious?!

Are you suggesting... there's a double agent inside the Bellones?

Just another possibility.

Hahaha, but hey, that's what makes things interesting.

Let's assume that's true and do a little thought experiment here.

Carracci, il Ministro dei Lavori Pubblici, is dead. And before that, several more people in the ministero were killed.

Naturally, most people are going to see those things as connected, especially that poor judge.

But. The perpetrator who carried out the hit has already been silenced, and she can't find their leader either. She's at a complete loss, so what does she do next?

If only some kind of clue would appear.

And what do you know, isn't that assassin you dumped out there the best possible lead?

So that's why they waited until now to throw that guy out...

It does make sense, when you put it that way.

Then, they set up a little ambush, and make sure the judge has an 'accident'...

Kaboom.

Lappland stretches out her hands and falls back onto the sofa, as if knocked back by the blast.

Everyone's gonna get pulled in.

Ahh, what a great idea.

It's so great that even if this is all bullshit, I'd <i>want</i> to make it reality.

So... lemme get this straight, you two are sayin' that the Bellones are puttin' on a whole goddamn opera?

It's definitely possible.

After all, nobody understands the Bellones better than themselves.

Hmph. I don't buy it.

These are the famiglia's plans for the future we're talking about. There ain't a single wise guy in all of Siracusa who'd attack his own famiglia at a time like this.

Gambino, you should've realized by now that kinda blind confidence is what brought down the Sicilians.

You—

But I gotta say, I think I agree with you this time.

Aha! Then maybe they're putting on this show to feign weakness, so everyone thinks they're vulnerable and—

But they were already on the cusp of victory.

Do you seriously think that the Bellones just decided to give up on a city that was right at their fingertips, just to turn this whole place upside-down?

Are they crazy or something?

Who knows? There are more lunatics walking this land than you might think.

Haha, but I guess our merry mealtime needs to wrap up.

I hope you have a jolly ol' time out there.

You stopped by just to say hello?

What, are you that eager to be my henchmen?

I wouldn't say it's high on my priorities.

But at least tell us which side you're on.

Last thing I want is to end up fighting against you without realizing, and dying without knowing what hit me.

Me? Naturally, I'll always be Texas's most loyal supporter.

Is everyone in position for the ambush?

...Yes.

You seem like you want to say something.

I was just thinking... I feel bad for Signorina Lavinia.

Whatever the case may be, she's a friend to the famiglia.

If only the one she befriended wasn't Leon, the next don of Famiglia Bellone—

Look, I don't want to be the villain either.

So she wants to play her little game of justice. Sure, that we can allow, to an extent.

But she thinks she has the backing of one of the bosses. What she's done over the years has had a larger and larger impact on Leon... No, on our entire famiglia.

The Bellones don't need softness like that.

She must be made crystal-clear of this fact, and so must Leon.