act21side

Where are you going?

To buy some chocolate.

Tsk, tsk. Turns out, your guess was right on the money.

Rossati associates have already started to infiltrate the block.

When those ladies from Penguin Logistics get back, I'm afraid they're gonna die a gruesome death.

But, lemme ask you a question, Lappland.

Lay it on me.

I figured the Rossatis would try to rub out Texas.

But you're still a Saluzzo. You really need to send Gambino after that Sankta while you stay here and house-sit for 'em?

I never knew you were to give so much for the sake of friendship.

Am I that type?

Definitely not.

Which is why I want to know, what the hell are you waitin' for?

You plowed that truck right into the courtroom, turned yourself in, and cleared her name in the process. Then you went on and forced the Saluzzos and Bellones together.

I got no clue why the two famiglie actually started working together. But there's gotta be another reason for it, right? You know that by helping the Bellones, you're also helpin' her.

And that's before we talk about how you gave her a hand in yesterday's assassination.

You say you wanna prove to her that Siracusa's a swamp you can't escape.

But it looks to me like you're tryin' to help her escape.

If I need to kill a few of her loved ones, or do something to piss her off, just to prove my point...

All that would show is how paranoid I am. Wouldn't get anywhere with that.

If it's real, if it's a fact, then it'll happen, even if I just stood by and watched.

But actually, even that isn't good enough.

I can't just get out of her way, I have to give her enough help so that in the end, she has to finally admit—

That all her struggling was for nothing.

And doing it like that will bring you some satisfaction?

Dunno. All I <i>do</i> know is there's no other way.

So basically, you don't know what to do either.

Yep. And I never said I did.

And you, Capone, you should be more like Gambino and realize that you'll never get the answer you want from me about the two of you.

You already knew, huh.

He wants to stage his comeback by joining up with the Bellones, but what about you?

You're still standing here. Do you seriously think you're my vassal?

Or, are you hoping there's enough room for you on my path?

Give up that hope, or I'll kill you.

There's only room for one.

What about Texas?

Texas... might just be the path itself.

Hah.

Capone stays silent for a minute before turning and leaving.

Ahh, what a pleasant surprise.

I haven't been here before... but it looks like I'm in the right place.

So this is Penguin Logistics's little stronghold.

Miss Caterina.

Sora... Oh, right, I gave you my number before.

Would it be better if I called you Miss Giovanna?

Caterina will do just fine.

I like the name.

Do all Siracusan mobsters like to work in the performing arts?

Why not? We can't be fighting and killing each other all the time.

Are you all together right now?

Miss Caterina?

Never mind.

Sora, would you mind telling me more about your Penguin Logistics?

Huh?

For example, how it came to be, and how Cellinia joined.

I'm not too clear on the details myself. After all, Penguin Logistics was already a thing by the time Texas saved me.

The boss mentioned a few times how he set up Penguin Logistics after he met Texas.

But when it comes to stuff that happened after I joined, I could talk for days about that.

We've been living together for years.

*sigh*... I'd really love to chat with you more, if we get the chance.

There's a lot I'd like to tell you about Cellinia.

I also want to hear more from you about her life in Lungmen.

If you ever get a chance to drop by Lungmen, we'd be glad to show you around.

Really?

You're not worried about my business?

What matters is you were once Texas's best friend.

Cellinia truly is blessed to have met a woman as kind as you in Lungmen.

If you ask me, she's blessed to have a friend like you in Siracusa who's always thinking of her.

Oh right, Sora.

Yes?

I had a flash of inspiration just now.

Huh?

I'm always thinking about how I want the grand finale to play out.

In my story, I thought she should meet her end just like a Siracusan would.

Surrounded, in a narrow alley, incinerated by a car bomb, so on, so forth.

These little excerpts from reality are so overused that they've turned into their own tropes.

I want to escape the tropes, and in this story, have her become the least Siracusan Siracusan.

I've been trying to find a 'Siracusan' archetype, but haven't been able to define it.

That's the source of my writer's block.

But right now, it's starting to come to me.

There are no Siracusans.

Cellinia Texas finally disappeared in the conflagration, and nobody knew what became of her.

Miss Caterina, are you...?

I'll be back later. I have some presents for you girls.

Wallach, if memory serves me right, you're trying to kidnap Cellinia's friends?

They're not even back yet, and you've gathered a whole mob?

I would have, if you didn't show up.

I'm extremely disappointed, Donna. No, Giovanna.

Were you that impatient with me?

It's not a question of patience. It's just, why should we wait?

Why should we have to sit here and wait for the blessing of some antique?

We followed you to this country, waiting to become masters of this land.

And now, we have an opportunity.

Are you so sure? You're certain victory is within your grasp?

Nope. I'm not even certain I can deal with that antique...

But I know Bellone really wants to bring us into a new age.

And I've got a hankering to make a big bet.

How many are willing to follow you?

Seventy percent.

What about the rest?