act38side

Carmelo, Gianni, Ruggiero. What a surprise.

...Sorry.

Don't say any more, Sommer. Go to the storehouse. There is a wooden crate behind that truck that's being repaired. Bring it to me.

But that's...everything you own, isn't it?

Alright... alright.

Sommer, what you don't know is, I found that lighter right next to the scene of the supermarket fire.

We came to Nuova Volsinii because we had nothing.

Everyone makes mistakes at some point...

But I can't let you destroy all of this.

Judge Lavinia.

I'm here to see Leon.

I need to ask you all a favor—do not disclose Leon's condition to outsiders. This info is strictly need-to-know.

Sure. I understand.

It seems I'm in the right place.

Who are you looking for? This is a special ward. You can't just barge in here!

No, it's ok. Let her come in.

Well then, I'll get going. Please find me if you need anything.

...Texas.

Long time no see.

Long time no see.

I just grabbed some millefoglie and macaroni downstairs. Have a bite if you're hungry—I'll keep an eye on Leontuzzo for now.

I received your invitation.

We never heard back from you. We assumed you weren't planning to return to Nuova Volsinii.

I was busy.

Croissant is busy pushing Bison into organizing some new international project, Sora is only halfway through her tour of Siracusa, and Exusiai—who knows where she's run off to this time?

I've been managing Penguin Logistics myself this whole time, with far fewer staff and no fewer orders.

Besides, these crowded celebrations really don't excite me. I prefer just stopping by when I'm on a delivery, assuming it's on the way.

Then what brings you here today?

What can I do? I have a boss who loves a good crowd. One night, he happened to spot that invitation and had me pack my bags on the spot.

He's very interested in the 'themed party' you're hosting. He cleared his calendar, shut down 'The Ends of the Earth' for two weeks, and dragged me here all the way from Lungmen.

Relax, Lavinia. You seem so tense.

Leon, he...

I've been briefed on it.

It wasn't an accident?

The police are still investigating. I just got back from the scene... I don't think it was an accident.

Persons of interest?

Yes.

The usual suspects?

Uhuh.

Why?

On the night of the Carnevale parade, Leon was supposed to officially announce his appointment as mayor of Nuova Volsinii at the front of the procession.

It's not a strange decision, per se, but he did seem a bit too eager.

Even if he abandoned his family, he is still Bernardo Bellone's son. One year is not enough for people to forget the turmoil Bernardo once stirred in Volsinii.

Staying behind the scenes makes it easier for him to keep the government functioning. This is the safest approach. It's much better than him changing clothes, putting down his defensive staff, and stepping back into the spotlight.

Nuova Volsinii has only been around for a year and he's barely managing to hold onto his position as Acting Mayor, even with Signora Sicilia's backing.

I told him all of this already.

...Right.

Lavinia, your comms device has been flashing for a while now.

Did they find new evidence?

No, it's a message from the court. We have a case...

That's kind of tricky?

Uhuh.

Honestly, I understand why Leon was in such a hurry.

This year, the changes in Nuova Volsinii can be seen with the naked eye. Many things that once existed only in our imagination have now become a reality.

Isn't that what Signora Sicilia wanted?

Well, but it's not enough; not nearly enough. We must show our presence to promote more changes.

So I stopped trying to persuade him, but then...

You're still the same as before—no, even more naive than back then. It's kind of nice.

Texas, do you want to come with me?

To the court?

You know I'm not interested in crowded celebrations, much less official duties involving mountains of paperwork.

I'm going to stay here and ensure Leon's safety. Right now, there's no one better suited to the job, right?

Thank you, Texas.

To be honest, if you had stayed with me in Nuova Volsinii back then—

I told you before, when my friends are in trouble, I'll come to help.

I'm here, aren't I?

Freight Workers and.....wait, what? Sorry. The name you said was too long to jot down.

'Nuova Volsinii Freight Workers and Truckers Mutual Aid Association'...we need to study the workers' unions in Victoria and Columbia.

If we want to fight back against the famiglie' threats, we first need to unite amongst ourselves. There's strength in numbers.

The shipping industry is the lifeblood of every city. To date, the famiglie have established control of this industry in every other city in Siracusa.

We can't let that happen here.

In Nuova Volsinii, trucking is not controlled by gangsters. The shipping industry belongs to the drivers and every other upstanding citizen of Nuova Volsinii.

But, why me?

I used to be a truck driver for Sommer's grocery store, albeit a good one.

In Volsinii, there are only a few government employees who haven't accepted bribes from the famiglie—you could count them on two hands.

That's because...

I'm sorry, Eirene. I privately looked into your and Sommer's past. I know about that tragic incident, and I truly apologize.

I was thinking, if you simply hate the Famiglia that set fire to your supermarket, you could have easily accepted help from another family to carry out your revenge...

But you didn't do that.

It's just a little speculation on my part. Forgive me if I offend you.

Thank you... Judge Lavinia.

Eirene, regardless of whether you are the best choice to head the Truckers' Union, I believe you are a kind woman.

Please give this invitation some serious consideration, okay?

<p=2>November 6th, 1100 4:47 P.M.</>

Signorina Lavazza, please wait a moment. Judge Lavinia is still holding court. She will come see you when she is finished.

A—Alright. No rush.

Those documents you're holding, are they for Judge Lavinia? I'll give them to her.

No! At least, not yet. I'll give them to her in a little while.

As Eirene speaks, she tightens her grip on the notebook in her hand.

May I ask you, that case the judge is handling, is it some dispute between the corporations or that car crash that happened last night?

Neither.

Strictly speaking, it's not a trial, but an appeal that even Judge Lavinia might not be able to handle.

The main litigant is a Nuova Volsinii civilian, but it's a unique situation.

Judge Lavinia is the Supreme Justice of Nuova Volsinii. What kind of case would she not... can I go listen in?

Of course. You can sit and listen to the proceedings while you wait for the judge.

...I'll contact the Montelupe municipal government right away and ask them to help us catch the culprit.

In the meanwhile, we will apply for Nuova Volsinii to take jurisdiction of this case.

Do you think you'll be able to do it?

I'll do everything I can. This isn't the first change of venue request we've submitted this year.

But all your previous requests were denied, right?