act21side

Lavinia walks out of the room.

The peal of that gunshot resounds through Volsinii. Even the dark clouds part for a few minutes as if spooked, letting a few strands of sunlight filter through, for the first time in ages.

Her agreement with Bernardo was once her only goal.

To the point that when she found out Bernardo had broken his promise, she didn't know what to do with herself.

But now, she knows.

Because she's been told she does not stand alone.

And the ones who told her made a sacrifice a hundred times more heroic than her struggles.

Compared to them, she might actually be the lucky one.

But she does not plan to stand by and rely on this luck.

Ministro Rubio, your sacrifice will not be in vain.

She strokes the codex in her hands, a few names from Rubio's diary still lingering in her head.

She has either seen them before, or heard of them.

This is the most bountiful legacy that Rubio has left behind for her.

Moreover—

Who is it?

Penguin Logistics. Need something delivered?

Don Alberto.

I came because I heard Bellone wanted to speak with me.

What, does Bernardo not even dare to show his face?

My father made his own decision.

Just trust that I can speak on behalf of Famiglia Bellone.

Oh?

You mean to tell me that you have a satisfactory explanation for all this?

Or, are you confident enough to deal with the fallout?

What I wanted to say is——

Danbrown, I didn't call for you to come out yet.

No, the time is now, old man.

Danbrown points the weapon in his hand at Alberto.

Danbrown, I'm afraid you're pointing your knife at the wrong target.

I don't make mistakes.

Look what the famiglie bosses have become.

You all sit high-and-mighty above the rest of us, talking all fancy about your politics, trends, country, and future.

But what's the reality? The only thing you give a damn about is your own business.

We took the times with violence, old man.

Why not take a little pride in it?

The times have changed, Danbrown. Why don't you understand this?

We're shaping the times as we want.

I don't understand it. I just see us turning weak and stupid.

We don't take pride in our instincts, and we don't use peace to fight for peace.

If we keep this up, what will we become?

We won't become anything.

No, we're not a pack of wolves anymore.

We're monsters hiding in human skin.

And, our leaders.

You.

And you.

You aren't more civilized. You're just more hypocritical.

Looks like I should've kept you on a tighter leash, Danbrown.

This isn't your podium.

Nobody could've caught what happens next.

In the blink of an eye, Alberto appears behind Danbrown.

A streak of blood appears across the carwash worker's throat.

He grips his neck, his eyes wide, unable to make a sound.

Then, he slowly slumps to the ground, maintaining this posture.

He will never speak again.

Now that this matter is resolved, I won't beat around the bush, Leontuzzo.

Your father convinced me to agree to combine our famiglie's forces to take down Signora Sicilia.

But I don't see sincerity in anything you've done.

The people know that I, Don Alberto, never place a bet lightly. What they don't know is that once I do, I never stop until I win.

Leontuzzo.

Submit to Famiglia Saluzzo, or die, here and now.

You have ten seconds.

Alberto takes out an antiquated pocket watch from his waist and begins counting down Leontuzzo's fate.

Ten.

You've always got the option of violence, but you refrain from using it because of your upbringing and self-control. I'd even like to thank you for your kindness.

That's not what I meant.

And I'm not blaming you either, Leon.

For you to even consider why the rain hasn't stopped is already exceptionally rare to see.

Nine.

You've subconsciously lumped yourself in with Lavinia and Carracci.

But don't ever forget, you are not one of them.

I know.

If you really knew, you wouldn't be standing here.

Eight.

Leontuzzo thought he understood what they were trying to say.

He could never truly be Lavinia's ally. He would always be his father's son.

This is the life he was born into, something he cannot change. And in spite of that, he's always believed he has done his best.

Is his best not good enough?

But—

Seven.

You aren't more civilized. You're just more hypocritical.

This is the moment when he finally awakens.

It isn't a question of good enough. He has been wrong from the very beginning.

Six.

We aren't more civilized. We're just more hypocritical.

We aren't more civilized. We're just more hypocritical!

Five.

Right. That's right.

Why is he sitting here?

Why did he still think he could resolve this like the famiglie do?

He knew the answer all along.

But he chose to ignore this answer for the longest time because of who he is and where he came from.

Four.

Everything he's done before was just violence wrapped up in pretense.

And civility... can never be born from violence.

Three.

You're running short on time, Leontuzzo.

I choose...

What just happened?!

Boss! The secondary core area! Someone started the separation program!