act38side

Tsk, tsk.

We got here too late. They finished their fight and now there's no one alive to talk to.

You stopped our duel just to watch a boring shootout?

Woman and wolf stand on the barrenlands as the sun rises, with a yellow cab parked not far from them.

The cab's hood bears a deep depression from a prior intimate meeting with a boulder. Tire tracks twist and turn in its wake peppered with strewn up dirt, narrating the car's journey here...

Several bodies lie around the car. The wind carries the stench of blood far away, inciting low growls from wild beasts in the distance.

Zaaro, there are two things you ought to understand.

One: I am not a toy for your entertainment. Two: As <i>my</i> toy for <i>my</i> entertainment, I've realized an immortal Signore dei Lupi is just so boring...

Compared to you, isn't a famiglia shoot out happening in the middle of the wastes much more interesting?

Haha, the car can still move even after all that?

Where was its original destination?

Let's see... a spot circled on the map—'Nuova Volsinii', and some entry documents in the glove box to boot... Looks like we're all set!

A familiar name.

Hey, Zaaro. Help me drag these corpses aside so I can reverse the car.

You want to...

Siracusa has graced us with an invitation.

Don't tell me you'd refuse? I didn't think a Signore dei Lupi would be so rude.

I told you, I will walk with you until the victor is decided.

Then help me out!

(The Taxi Driver)

<p=2>October 25th, 1100 9:00 P.M.</>

Salve.

Um, y-you don't have to be so formal, Signor Capone.

Relax. I just didn't wanna spook you with this scary mug of mine. After all, it wasn't easy to secure this meet-up with you.

I thought a lot about your proposal. If city hall staff discover I privately transferred my citizen points to you, will they...

Just pick a few documents from your pile of certs, write a little explanation, and change the name on 'em. Simple.

I'll earn fifty points, while you get... a lotta dough.

We ain't violatin' no laws here. If city hall got a problem, it just means the New Urban Management Act needs more revisions. I bet you know this better than me.

When you put it like that...

Identity registration's awful unfair, ain't it?

I turned over a new leaf, paid so much guarantee money the past six months and did so much community service all thanks to my criminal record. All that work, and I still haven't earned even half of the 120 points I need...

But you? A 'clean resume', and 'experience in law-adjacent tech industries'... You're pretty new here, but the points you converted from all that's already enough to become a citizen three times over!

It'd be a waste to keep 'em for yourself.

A-Alright.

I applied for an appointment next week to get my documents authenticated. I'll get these revisions done before that—

Easy, pal.

Huh? Aren't you the one wanting to become a citizen ASAP?

What I mean is, have <i>you</i> ever thought of puttin' off your citizenship application?

Wh-What do you mean?

Lots of us guys in the city could use a lot more points, but there ain't many guys like you who can get 'em so easy. So...

I'm happy to play middleman.

Nuova Volsinii introduced the New Urban Management Act to deter people like you—S-Sorry...

I mean, aren't we contradicting the city's founding principles by doing this?

C'mon, pal. Relax, relaaax. I was just thinkin' out loud, is all. Don't mind me.

But noodle on it a bit. Why'd you come here? A stable income? A better life?

You think you'll get that after you become a legal citizen of Nuova Volsinii and work an entry-level job at a law firm?

(Claps)

Are you going to stay here and watch them all night, Lappland?

Why the rush? How can we start our night shift before getting some food? Want a slice of this freshly baked polenta?

On second thought, let's not waste it.

You're in a good mood... Just because you witnessed that strange deal happen?

Zaaro, how long have we been here in Nuova Volsinii?

More than two months.

And how many places have we been, in that span of time? How many customers have we ferried?

Isn't it uncomfortable, seeing everyone in the city act so prim and proper?

The city hall staff and court judges are itching to slap their laws on their foreheads, ready to fight against Siracusa's old customs and rules at any moment...

While the famiglie are trying their best to prove how much they like and have adapted to this new set of game rules.

I've never seen Siracusans this restrained, this uncomfortable, like everyone has a mask sewn onto their faces.

It'll be Carnevale soon. Are they even in the mood to enjoy the so-called 'carnival'?

I'm thankful for our two friends here worrying over their citizen points for showing me Siracusa remains the same, and it's in every Siracusan's nature to turn every new territory into a swamp.

Haha, <i>now</i> I'm looking forward to Carnevale.

Hey, are you even listening?

I smelled their scent.

Your compatriots, the other Signori dei Lupi?

No plans to catch up with them?

A Signore dei Lupi who has left the game should no longer interfere.

Don't look so defeated, Zaaro. You did lose, but it doesn't mean you can't derive any more fun from it.

Think about it, what else can you do?

Free yourself. We returned to this swamp for a leisurely swim.

Hah...

And you? When are you planning to say hello to your past?

Carissimo padre mio, you mean?

I already said addio... though I <i>did</i> prepare a gift for him this time.

The cab driver stops talking, and lifts her legs onto the dashboard to rest in a more comfortable position.

Through the car window ahead is a wall sporting a huge billboard advertising a winery. A sullen-looking man with his tightly-knit brows brandishes a wine glass towards the camera, with the following invitation—

'Saluzzo Vino is looking for a senior legal advisor! Several other positions also open, apply to join us today!'

Don Alberto, we got all the information here. Please have a look.

Mm.

We have a total of thirteen wineries in this city. Six of them are undergoing a qualification audit and cannot operate for the time being.

Two of them on the city's outer plates are about to welcome their first harvest, and the warehouse, lab, and bottling line are ready...

But there's no way we can handle this many ripened grapes in this short period of time with half our wineries not operating.

The root of our problem lies with city hall's attitude towards us, those stronzi are obviously targeting us on purpose—

These files are meant for our friend here. He has the means of solving such problems.

Alberto looks across the table, where a red-headed Lupo has been sitting for a while.

The wine is finally decanted, and he takes a sip, calmly returning Alberto's gaze.

Merge and restructure all Saluzzo properties in this city into new entities, including both the operating ones and those undergoing an audit...

Then, hire non-stakeholder employees to manage on-site operations. This is feasible under the New Urban Management Act.

Simply put, I will transfer these properties to you.

Famiglia Bellone does not have large-scale businesses, so the procedure should be relatively simple. Yet you've been rejected more than ten times now.

Whenever it involves a 'Bellone' or 'Saluzzo', the government and court—or should I say, Leontuzzo and Lavinia—always tend to react in a more defensive manner.

It sounds like I have no reason to refuse this arrangement.

Demetri, what I value more is that you understand Leontuzzo better than anyone else, as well as the rules he has set—

You are the best fit for this position.

I want to see if city hall will still brazenly clamp down on us even after we tie our companies together in total compliance with the New Urban Management Act.

Don't you agree, our new Don Bellone?

Don't treat me like your puppet, Alberto.

I admit Bellone's company registration has met many bumps on the road, and your invitation was timely.

You get rid of some troubles, while I gain the rights to legally enter the city. We're just business partners getting what we want.

Even though the Bellones are not what they used to be in Siracusa anymore; even though this new city doesn't have famiglie anymore, you need to know this—

My choice to work for Saluzzo Vino does not in any way mean the Bellones will be at the Saluzzos' beck and call.