act21side

If someone has the skills to take him out along with il Ministro himself, wouldn't that blow things wide open again?

Considering that runt's dumb enough to set his own famiglia aside to be a yes-man for the government.

You say that, but are you forgetting how many associates ate shit over the last two years because they underestimated him? Oh, I almost forgot, you were one of them.

Bah. I'll admit, the runt's got some talent, but that's only because the don's been sitting on his hands the whole time! Once he decides to call the shots...

That's true. The don hasn't said anything yet, and the Bellones can't name themselves the winners so soon.

Enough.

The entire room suddenly falls silent, the clamor and chatter from before seeming like nothing more than an illusion.

I don't care what you believe deep down, but during this tense time, you don't make light of the situation, and you don't do anything rash.

I know what you're all thinking. I get it.

Of the Dodici Famiglie, only our Famiglia Saluzzo hasn't yet placed our wager.

It is still too soon for that.

Yes, Don Alberto.

Since time immemorial, Famiglia Saluzzo has always been like this.

One is allowed to think, but not to advise. Because Alberto Saluzzo calls all the shots.

Alberto never allows anyone to question his decisions.

Nobody in the famiglia finds this unusual. They say that the Saluzzos' strength comes from the fact that Alberto is always correct.

Everyone's here? My, now that I look closely, I see a lot of old faces.

You... You're...

But, that is not to say that there are no rebels. Only, most of them have been erased from the famiglia.

And were never heard from again.

With the exception of a white wolf named Lappland.

She pulls a chair over and props her feet up on the table, as if she owns the place.

Who let her in?

Don Alberto, sh-she killed everyone outside and forced her way in...

This is a famiglia meeting. Get her out of here.

Signorina, I mean, Lappland... The Don has asked you to leave.

I turned down Signora Sicilia's lunch invitation and rushed back like a good little fowlbeast, eager to return to its nest.

This hideout we have in Volsinii... it's kinda drab, compared to the old Saluzzo stronghold.

Tony, do you really have to treat me so cold?

You're no longer an associate of this famiglia.

What, you think I came back to beg the old man to let me back into this damned—I mean, this most distinguished famiglia?

Please watch your words, signorina.

Right, right. Even though I was so disgracefully kicked out, this famiglia has always had a special place in my heart.

So, at this critically important time, I have chosen to come back home, at risk to my own life, ignoring my father's disdainful glare, to bring back a vital piece of intelligence.

Does that not move you to tears?

Lappland... Even if you are the Don's own daughter, you've overstepped your bounds.

This is no place for you to run roughshod...

You... Nngh... Urgh...

Never seen that guy before. Was he new?

Y-Yes! S-Signorina Lappland.

You're so cruel, Father, to doubt the sincerity of my actions.

You got my desk dirty, Lappland.

Desks can be replaced, right?

Let's hear it then. Your so-called 'vital intelligence.'

Texas.

The same Texas you let go?

That's right. Bellone brought her back.

Lappland squints at her father.

This homecoming has not inspired a single shred of emotion within her.

She carries with her only a faint glimmer of amusement as to what might happen. Or rather, what she is about to make happen.

Because, she has been in such environments far too many times in her life.

She has returned.

The thoughts that inadvertently bubble up in her mind seem ever so laughable.

Celli——

Just call me Texas.

Alright, Texas. How does it feel to be back in Siracusa?

Not too great.

I can imagine. If I were you, I wouldn't feel too great about suddenly being forced to go somewhere, even if it was my homeland.

Though, if this isn't too much to ask, I'd like you to imagine this as well: your father suddenly forced a 'bodyguard' onto you, and she's a whole lot stronger than you. That's not a great feeling either.

Understandable.

That's what I wanted to hear.

Unfortunately, I don't have the power to let you leave.

All I can say is, I hope we can both do what we need to do.

Go ahead and get changed. We had this outfit custom-tailored in old Famiglia Texas style. I hope you can be my bodyguard tonight and accompany me to the banquet.

Sure.

Beside Texas lies the well-pressed suit that Famiglia Bellone has prepared for her.

She looks toward the tightly-shut door.

She knows what she is supposed to do.

To fulfill Zaaro's contract, she needs to exit this room, kill a few irrelevant people, create some chaos, and then finally, kill a few important people.

Irrelevant, or important. This is the attitude Siracusans have toward life.

She, too, used to think like that.

Even now that she has learned to see the world through a different lens, as soon as she stepped back into this city, she quickly realized that these practices were still ever so familiar to her.

She has returned.

The thoughts that inadvertently bubble up in her mind fill her with disgust.