act38side

You're here for Carnevale?

For my daughter. She was hurt.

Oripathy. An accident.

Any other questions? I'll be happy to answer.

Signora Venezia. I hope you don't get the wrong idea, but this isn't an interrogation.

It's alright. I've crossed paths with judges before. I have no particular opinions on the profession.

It's not your determination as a judge to crack the case, but your kind concern for a patient that has won my respect.

You know something about the accident. Even though we've been keeping it confidential.

I already told you about my sharp ears, Lavinia.

So who is 'still in a coma'? A relative? An important friend?

Sorry, but I'm not answering that.

Hmm, I see accidents do come easy in Siracusa.

No need to be so vigilant, Lavinia. I can guarantee you my return here has no plans to involve myself in any famiglia affairs.

Hm... Perhaps we may even have a chance to exchange information.

The two are interrupted by the sound of the winery door opening. The new addition stands at the entrance until the sommelier quickly steps up and humbly takes his coat.

Phew. Signora Venezia, I knew you'd be here.

Wasn't easy tracking you down... I told the old don about our run-in at de Montano, and he specifically told me he wanted to see—

Um...

The new guest looks in Lavinia's direction and shuts his mouth.

Lavinia and Ingrid stare at the flustered guest in unison, and the surrounding officers pretending to be drunks follow suit.

Signore, we've decanted your wine for you. Allow me to show you the way.

Uh, no, it's fine. I just remembered something.

Oh, please wait just a moment while I fetch you a bottle of our winery's newest—

My tuskbeast back home's giving birth today! I shouldn't miss it!

Lavinia watches him hurriedly grab his coat back from the sommelier. He puts it back on, and even tips his hat off to her before he leaves.

Early this year, that man was jailed for three months for attempting some trouble. I didn't think I'd see him out so soon.

Of course, he absolutely did it on his own and had 'no relations at all' with Venezia Trucking.

Your Honor, I'm starting to think if I should hold you in higher esteem.

The mafiosi were never this afraid of a judge in the old Siracusa.

Well, Signora Venezia, I actually prefer your attitude—'No particular opinions on the profession.'

What Siracusa should revere is the law itself, and not certain individuals.

Haha, a novel idea—though I fear I must get going now.

To meet with your former don?

I have no obligation to report every step of my trip to a judge, but I don't wish to complicate matters for you either, Lavinia.

As I said, I have no intentions of involving myself with famiglia matters.

I have more pressing things to attend to, but I'll make sure I get them done before the identity registration deadline.

Ah, you should cut down on the alcohol too.

You can't hold your liquor well at all.

Lavinia watches the Vulpo leave, and directs the eager officers with her eyes to stay put.

She knows what all of you look like, so let's leave it to the others.

Investigate Venezia Trucking, it seems their old don is already in town.

Leon... I'm afraid the situation's getting even more troublesome.

Your Honor, the tech department guys just sent over some data from the scene. We need you to review it—

Wasn't that area's monitoring system broken?

It's not from that. A private car that broke down was parked in the area for several days and its dash cam happened to record something.

A suspicious individual was spotted in an alley. Look, this silhouette looks like a Vulpo, wielding a blade...

What's the matter?

She was just here.

<p=2>November 7th, 1100 8:30 A.M.</>

Judge Lavinia, the Vulpo was just sighted in this area.

She's a sharp one. Practically stays in a new place every day. We investigated every place she's been and only figured out her approximate location.

<i>Ingrid Venezia.</i>

Back in law school, my jurisprudence professor mentioned the name once, but it didn't even come to my mind last night.

She told us Siracusa's cruel and conflictive atmosphere stems not from the local races here, but originates from the land itself...

Her rationale for how a gentle Vulpo could turn into a 'Vulpo even more ruthless than a wolf' after coming to Siracusa—and our laws are to rein in this sort of inevitable evolution.

Ingrid has more than twenty criminal records spread out between five nomadic city courts, each one corresponding to a spike in the Venezias' influence in the area...

The famiglia has also always tried their best to keep her away from any revenge killings or court trials.

Rumor has it that Venezia senior even favored her more than his actual daughter.

But in 1094, Ingrid suddenly left the famiglia.

Left?

More accurately, she defected.

Venezia Trucking expanded their business to Terni then. Famiglia Tancredi was actively provoking the other side so they could plunder the local alloy deposits. The conflict intensified and eventually escalated into a gang war.

The two Grey Hall famiglie were practically locked in a cycle of violence, and they even tried to put a hit out on Venezia senior...

Ingrid went into a killing spree, taking down more than ten of the Tancredis' made men.

Strange thing is, when Signora Sicilia personally came down and the two famiglie finally managed to start negotiations... Ingrid ignored the don's order to stop and continued her slaughter.

I saw the records. The stuff she did... freaks me out even now.

Motive?

Unclear.

Anyway, Ingrid basically challenged Signora Sicilia's authority with her actions, but vanished without a trace after that...

The entire Famiglia Venezia was blamed for this, and they almost met the same fate as Famiglia Texas.

The young judge imagines the Vulpo taking lives in the city, along with the smile that never left her face while they were at the winery yesterday.

Judge?

A top killer from a famiglia, with many murder cases under her hands, suddenly appearing in Nuova Volsinii... right in time for Carnevale. We can't let her move as she pleases.

You mean...

The famiglie here have all passed their background checks. Every member and weapon is registered and strictly regulated...

Someone like Ingrid is likely to act as another person's blade, regardless of whether she knows it or not.

We need to capture her first at all costs.

Yes. But... this area is huge. We still haven't managed to nail down her exact location yet.

If the information about her and her daughter is accurate, I'm sure she's headed towards a certain place.

Lavinia looks toward an inconspicuous sign not far away from them—'Rhodes Island Branch Office'.

*sigh* The shop I often go to source materials is about to close for Carnevale.

We'll need to update our reserve count on the terminal in advance.

How's Vigil's doing? The landship dispatched a doctor to the hospital, but we haven't gotten any news since.

Dunno. The support mission this time has a high confidentiality level, and I don't have enough clearance to check his latest data.

I looked for Penance earlier, and she seems hesitant to share too much to us.

Let's trust our colleagues. We just need to complete our support logistical work.

Erm... There's a new notice on PRTS: 'Approved: Application to increase security level of Nuova Volsinii branch office', requested by...

Penance?

There's a Rhodes Island safehouse here too... I see these Rhodes Islanders are like tuskbeasts. Dig many hideouts for themselves.

*huff*... Don't attract any attention... Focus on recovering my strength—

*stomach groans*

Lunacub huddles between the ceiling and a ventilation duct, rubbing her empty belly with some frustration.

...I smell something sweet. Like honey.

No, I need to focus. Got to sharpen my arrows while time is on my side—

I can eat first? But Agnese, didn't you say I have to be patient while I'm out hunting—

My stomach can wait. I don't want you to lose.

Yup, I'll do everything else as you say, except for this. I don't want to let you down.

Lunacub hides in a corner, grabbing her bow and taking aim, almost instinctively.

(Not a wolf. It's the kind of smell that Agnese hates.)

My nose isn't sharp enough to tell which one you are.