act38side

Don't look down on tailors! You don't know what we can do with a needle and a thread!

Hmph.

You know, kid, I'm startin' to like you. You remind me of me, when I was a pup.

Huh?

Two things was common knowledge by the time I got old enough to know my own name—Sicilia is the oldest famiglia in Siracusa, and it ain't around no more because of Signora Sicilia.

All who tried to curry favor with Signora Sicilia came up empty, and all who tried to revive the famiglia were banished. The name 'Sicilian' was a big, fat joke.

But it became my label without my say-so! Just like how everyone calls you 'little tailor'.

That's why I told myself I was gonna be somebody. All Siracusa's gonna know the name of Gambino Ricci, the Sicilian!

Um... and how'd that go?

Didn't go.

If you just want Venezia Junior to suffer, he's sufferin' enough right now.

This ship ain't under his control. You're barking up the wrong tree, kid.

You see that crazy bitch on the deck? Stay clear of her. She's trouble.

You think I'd believe—

I'm just too young, thought Luchino when it happened.

Gambino had been drawing closer and closer. Even worse, Luchino had accidentally snapped the thread in his panic—

But there was no explosion, nothing. Everything was obscured by fog.

The next instant, he saw Gambino floating in mid-air, then he finds himself in mid-air too, falling off the landship and heading straight towards the ground.

He seems to hear a faint sigh.

Cazzo! Cazzo! What is wrong with that white wolf?! What is she doing?

Form up and pick up the weapons. Have the guys nearby join up here.

Get a group to board that landship. It belongs to us!

Gotcha.

S-Stop right there!

E-Eirene's orders, nobody gets through.

Merda, when will these haulers learn to give up?

Well, looks like we won't be disturbed for a while.

What's that look on your face?

I was expecting more gratitude for exposing a famiglia plot to bring violence back to Nuova Volsinii. Maybe even a medal.

Like THIS?

This is not Sauin in Lungmen, Lappland, and those Arts units and explosives aren't candies.

Hundreds of mafiosi are trying to take over the courthouse and city hall. And there are many out there in that revelry who want to see things get worse.

You know what this means as well as I do.

That famiglia haven't changed their ways and incited another civil disorder?

That Nuova Volsinii isn't really any different from the other twenty-two nomadic cities in Siracusa?

Or that Carnevale is finally living up to its name?

There are almost a thousand truck drivers on this square.

The mafiosi are picking up the weapons, and these ordinary folk have to do the same in order to protect themselves—

Why did you decide to come down from the sky, Texas? Who blocked the courthouse doors?

The mafiosi are not the only ones wearing masks on this square.

Famiglia Venezia has been plotting to take over the city with these weapons. You needed to discover their plot. Those drivers needed to protect themselves...

All I did was bring out into the open what everybody wanted.

You know how much I hate chess players. I prefer to put my foot down on the chessboard.

Tonight is Carnevale. It's a time to review the progress that this new city has made in the past year. Everyone has the right to express their views and their demands about it, don't they?

Candy alone isn't enough to make everybody happy.

Look over there...

No rush, Texas.

I know you have a lot of questions. but why don't we make a bet first.

Not interested.

I'll take that as a yes.

You were always more alert, more vigilant than anyone.

You never claimed to have high and lofty ideals, but you have a funny way of ending up on whichever side stood for justice, whether in Yan or Siracusa.

The time now is 11:30. The parade procession will arrive at Court Square in fifteen minutes.

Who do you think will fire the first shot?

Will hundreds of thousands of Nuova Volsinians see two groups lining the streets to welcome them in perfect peace and harmony...

Or will they see the streets run red with blood, and bring this truly Siracusan festival to a climax?

I've seen the weather forecast. Clear skies are expected tonight. There will be no rain to wash away the blood.

Are you awake, pup?

I don't know what's sadder for Umberto: To slowly waste away from age and illness, or to watch how his pups get dumber with each generation.

How sad and pathetic, humans.

Y-You're—

The memory is blurry, but Luchino remembers the voice.

The night that Umberto brought him back to Tailor de Montano...

Sitting on a chair, Luchino looked blankly at the unfamiliar room before him, filled with various fabrics and tools.

Umberto was outside talking to someone. Suddenly, he turns around, and through the window Luchino thought Umberto was showing him to someone else, but does not see who it is.

His grandfather, his only living relation. Luchino feels his stomach churn with nervousness.

Then, he hears a voice mixed with anger and resignation exclaim, 'Shameless human! Up to the same old tricks again!'

Are you nonno's... friend?

Friend?

Friend, teacher, master, employer, client... my relationship with Umberto is not so easily defined.

I am the master of these wilds, pup, and your grandfather is my Fang.

A most incompetent one, I might add...

Guess I'm really getting old.

No matter how long I sat by the worktable, the nights never felt this long...

And I would have noticed you coming in. When?

Ten minutes ago.

Do you mind if I kept working while we talked?

I was delayed by an old friend's unexpected visit. I must hurry and finish the most important work on this suit.

Luchino can take care of the final touch-ups himself.

Why?

Hm?

I smell no scent of wolf from you, even a little bit.

Nor have you masked it in any unusual way. I was watching, I can tell.

...Are you really the last true wolf?

True wolf? Ah, you mean the Fangs.

Yes, you've come to the right place, young one.

I observed Umberto for a long time.

I watched him serve customers of every kind, casually putting his scissors through some of their throats while taking measurement, without getting a single drop of blood on himself.

He was not a warrior, like Ingrid, but he was smart and knew how to make the most of who he was.

He was also good at disguising himself. He spent most of his time in Tailor de Montano, and he was equally in demand as a tailor as he was as an assassin.

That's why I chose him. I told him about the Signori dei Lupi, and the existence of the game.

Nonno's stories were true!

You're the wolf from the stories... no wonder he wanted to leave the famiglia. He was the Signore dei Lupi's chosen, the most special tailor in Siracusa. He sure is very lucid!

Did nonno accept your deal?

No Fang can reject the Signori dei Lupi.

But Umberto set a condition.

C-Condition?

He was not the first Fang to try to bargain with the Signori dei Lupi. Impertinent fools! I know a hundred ways to destroy them and find someone else to take their place.

What did nonno want to do?

Umberto wanted to raise his pup to adulthood, before delivering my victory.