act38side

<p=2>November 6th, 1100 8:20 P.M.</>

I recommend the 'Red Tongue Sour'. They say it's made like how the Sami do.

Are you mad, Mane? Ordering cocktails at a winery? We'll be laughed out of here!

*ahem* Didn't we taste a similar looking one when we were in Columbia last month?

I just wanted to reminisce about our honeymoon a little, tesoro.

(Remember our undercover classes at the police academy. Sometimes we have to be conspicuous to cover the others.)

(The judge needs more time to clear bystanders from here.)

(...Are you sure you didn't pull that just because you wanted to drink it?)

I swear, tesoro!

Ssh..! Softer, Mane!

I thought his Nuova Volsinii would be much more lenient.

Signorina, why not have a drink on me? A cocktail, of course.

Let's just say it's a local custom.

(Mane, he's here...)

Signore, thank you for the generosity, but it's not your place to offer my—

I think there's been a misunderstanding. My offer was not directed at you, officer.

It's been a while, Lavinia.

Care for a drink? You've been standing in that dim corner for a long while.

I was just wondering how long it'd take before you'd pay and leave.

I don't have to worry about the bill here. The Saluzzos never treat their important guests poorly.

Besides, Alberto informed all of his wineries in advance. 'Feel free to taste the wines as you please', were his words.

I never knew you were on such cordial terms with the Saluzzos. What are you and Alberto doing together? Surely you can't be working as a bartender here?

Lavinia, I didn't come here to be interrogated.

I'm deeply concerned for Leon. That's the only reason for our meeting tonight.

'He's still in a coma', 'He's still in a critical condition'... what kind of answer are you expecting from me? Or should I say, what kind of answer are you afraid of?

The fact that you are here means his condition isn't that bad.

...I still can't meet him?

You don't have to ask a question you already know the answer to.

Leon is mi fratello. I just hope he's safe and sound.

A fratello to you? Or Bellone's traitor?

Lavinia, everyone who stayed in the Bellones has valid reasons for hating him.

I hate him too. I don't agree with his choice and how he does things today, but I wouldn't deal with him in such a despicable way.

That won't serve as valid testimony to clear you from suspicion.

Leon got into the accident right before he was supposed to meet you, and you were inside a restaurant near the scene. There is reason to suspect you.

Then, Your Honor, what will you do? Haul me into your court and slowly interrogate the truth from me? I know many of the 'customers' here today are in fact officers.

...I won't arrest you without decisive evidence. This is how the law operates, we won't act according to the 'rules' of the famiglie.

But my suspicion towards you remains.

I'll get to the bottom of this, no matter if you're innocent or not, no matter who was involved. I <i>will</i> get to the truth.

Demetri looks at Lavinia's determined eyes, and sighs.

You haven't changed at all, Lavinia. Still the same as your newbie judge days, daring question a famiglia don.

I never liked you that much, but... thank you for taking care of Leon for me.

Also, I still have to say: I'll also investigate Leon's accident... I want to know who the culprit is too.

Demetri fetches a nearby wine bottle and gently pulls the cork open.

The liquid swishes within. Only half remains.

Someone gifted me this bottle. I had planned to invite Leon to try it. He should have been the one sitting here...

Anyway, this glass is on me.

Can I really not see him, Lavinia?

He leans on the counter, waiting for her answer.

But the judge looks at the glass of red wine and says nothing.

Fine. No point for me to remain here.

Now would you guys excuse me?

Or are you planning to detain me under some special procedures for the famiglie under the New Urban Management Act?

There's no more famiglia here, Demetri.

...So I guess I'll go?

As you please.

As laid-back as ever, Venezia senior.

Do your men know their don is currently sitting in an ordinary restaurant right now, while they're waiting to welcome him at the port?

I just missed the food here. I didn't expect you'd be the first face to greet me.

Haha. Come, have a seat, my friend.

This restaurant isn't as ordinary as you think. I found the chef here from Sicilia. Makes the most authentic bolognese, you should try some.

The younger ones love talking about the future, which isn't a bad thing. However, some traditions shouldn't be abandoned, especially when it comes to Siracusan cuisine.

Anyone who tried innovating a new Saluzzo wine making method would surely be buried six feet under in the vineyard for fertilizer.

Hmph. That's right.

This bottle of noble rot wine is the first of our new collection. Take it as a welcome gift.

Hm... 1069. A good year.

I can find all of Saluzzo Vino's vintages and subsidiary brands on my rack, but it's been a long time since I've received a bottle from you personally...

We haven't been in contact much, Alberto.

Just a decade.

The Morettis ignored the Dodici Famiglie's ban on competing with the other famiglie to monopolize the Orignium trade, and recklessly tried to wipe us out...

Famiglia Venezia stepped in as a mediator back then, you are certainly worthy of our respect.

'Recklessly tried to wipe us out'—Maybe I'm just old and my memory's failing me...

But as I recall, it was the Morettis who vanished from Siracusa.

You swallowed all their Originium businesses, secured your seat in the Grey Hall, and that granted the Saluzzos the current status in Siracusa today.

I'm sure you've experienced more like this than I have.

Our sparse communication has been a boon to us. No one knows what Signora Sicilia would think of our meeting here.

Really?

She banned Carnevale herself, and yet it's come back from the dead... perhaps she is much more tolerant of Siracusa than we or everyone else in the Grey Hall could imagine.

Hmph.

A brand new city celebrating one of the oldest festivals. Surely no one would miss attending?

The young ones at city hall are simply doing this to declare that Siracusa will change inside-out... from here.

I just thought of the late Bernardo.

...A self-righteous fool.

Not very nice to badmouth a friend who's no longer here.

I saw trucks going in and out while the police directed traffic, and I couldn't even tell a single family member from the unmasked pedestrians...

Even the weather here is better than the other Siracusan cities.

To be honest, the famiglie might not disappear the way Bernardo wanted... but I was finding it hard to believe this was still a Siracusan city until you showed up.

The Venezias have integrated into the city well, senior.

From the city plate's construction work to the founding of the new government, your famiglia never showed up even once. Then Nuova Volsinii officially started operating, and the Venezias went quickly to work.

Anton was in charge of all that.

Your son-in-law is indeed quite capable.

Venezia Trucking has never flouted any of the New Urban Management Act rules, and even works with city hall to investigate illegal acts by the other famiglie.

The younger ones are always more eager to get with the times than we are.

But time is unable to sweep the famiglie's stain away. You know better than me what your vehicle company is doing under the table.

I suppose that's enough gossip for today. Alberto, I've been wondering when you'd finally start talking about the business at hand.

You knew what I was going to talk about?

Not many new stories in Siracusa these days.

No matter where you heard it from or whatever it is you're planning, this old man might not be able to do much.

Be it the city hall or Anton, be it a threat or offer to collaborate, I have nothing to do with it all.

Times have changed. I can't say if I like it or not, but I definitely can't stop progress. So I thought, why not leave it to the younger generation instead.

Not afraid they would screw up?