vigil

Tsk, tsk. The courtroom sure is lively today.

Today's trial will be open to the general public, and broadcasted live. Far too many people will be joining in on the fun.

Heh, this is the first time I've seen jurors representing so many different famiglie arrive in such an orderly fashion. This almost seems more like a press conference than a trial.

After all, the man on trial today is none other than Leontuzzo Bellone.

Signora Sicilia gave the order that 'the famiglie are not to interfere with the new city' but didn't elaborate on her plans beyond that. Everybody's scratching their heads.

Finally, the court representing Signora Sicilia's will is about to make its move, so of course it has everyone's undivided attention.

But, the woman adjudicating the trial is that Judge Lavinia, and everybody knows she's tied up with the Bellones.

There's no Bellones anymore, they're stricken from the books. What kind of connections could she have?

If you ask me, she's taking the initiative to convict Leontuzzo, exactly because she wants to show everybody she's done with the Bellones.

And besides, Signora Sicilia's made it pretty clear what she's up to here. She's gonna make an example of him.

She's playing her cards well.

Who knows.

Anyways, since Bernardo was the mastermind behind everything, his son's obviously involved. Today's trial should give us the closure we're looking for.

Fair enough.

Look, the judge is here.

Order in the court.

Presumably, many of you are perplexed about today's hearing.

That is to be expected, because while you may know the man on trial today, you do not know the contents of the case.

I ask that you all remain patient.

I trust that nobody has forgotten that day, one week ago.

So much happened. Minister Rubio's broadcast, and the ensuing chaos that engulfed the city.

Many people died during that turmoil, and many others had their lives turned upside-down.

Fortunately, it was all eventually smoothed over.

Many people know now that Bernardo Bellone, the man who instigated this chaos, lost his life to it as well.

Yet his objectives, as well as his motives, remain mysterious.

During that incident, another man played an important role. He is none other than Bernardo Bellone's son, Leontuzzo Bellone.

Bring him forward.

Order, order.

For some of you, this may be your first time seeing me. For others, you might've known me for a long time.

But first, allow me to introduce myself. I am Leontuzzo Bellone, and I am just an ordinary civilian now.

Ordinary civilian? Aren't you the heir to Famiglia Bellone?

I was. But now, I do not belong to any famiglia.

I know you all have many questions, and I will answer them one by one. First and foremost, however, I must explain what my father did, and how it came to this.

All of this most likely began with the death of Carracci, Ministero dei Lavori Pubblici.

Leontuzzo, standing at the center of the courtroom under the watchful eyes of the entire crowd, shows no signs of nerves at all.

He methodically lays out the backdrop to this entire incident, starting from the assassination.

The other famiglie seem to have already received the news about the ownership of the new city.

I know. 'The famiglie are not to interfere with the new city.'

That she's willing to hold down the other famiglie is proof she wasn't lying when we talked.

But as far as I know, she neither said who would manage the new nomadic city, nor did she explain her rationale.

That's how Grey Hall has always worked.

Signora Sicilia doesn't need to explain everything. Her orders are absolute.

But, we need her explanation.

Right now, everything about the new city is shrouded in uncertainty, and we owe the people an explanation.

That's right, which also brings us to our first dilemma.

Everything happened so suddenly. Am I supposed to get up on stage and announce to everyone, 'hey, we're going to build a city without famiglie?'

That would only scare everyone away.

If the only ones who end up there are you, me, Cellinia, and Rubio's followers, we've already failed at the very first step.

I'm guessing Signora Sicilia wants to see how we handle this.

Looks like you have something in mind.

I do.

I want you to arrest me, Lavinia.

Come again?

My father's actions, no matter his motivations and intentions, put us in this mess.

Someone must be held accountable, in the eyes of the people.

But...

Besides, I'm doing the same thing, aren't I?

The assassination of Carracci, the alliance with the Saluzzos, the assassination of Donna Rossati, and finally, the separation of the secondary core area.

Though some of these events were not secret, when people learned that Bernardo was the driving force behind them, a commotion still broke out in the courtroom.

Leontuzzo lays out his father's plan as objectively as possible using the information he has.

Finally, after an hour-long exposition, the story comes to an end.

I know that many of you are here on behalf of various famiglie, and I assume you've all heard a number of rumors.

That one rumor is correct.

Everything was my father's doing, and the reason why he did it was––

'For a Siracusa without famiglie.'

How is it possible that the don of a famiglia would want to tear down the entire system?

Good question. Even I, his own son, was shocked when I found out.

This idea took root in my father's heart decades ago. And it only just now bore fruit.

Leontuzzo, drop the act already. Your father's dead, but you're still here. That's why you're trying to clear your name with all this nonsense.

After all, we know exactly who the new city belongs to.

I can handle accusations from some famiglie associates or soldiers, if that makes you happy.

If he was the mastermind behind all this, then why did he end up dead?

Il Signore dei Lupi.

Leontuzzo almost blurts the words, but finally suppresses them within his heart.

Because, everything about that existence is utterly absurd.

My father believed that if famiglie should not exist, then he should be eliminated too.

So, after setting everything in motion, he chose to commit suicide.

Pretty damned good joke there, kid!

You're telling me he was such a selfless saint? He really did all this for the common Siracusan?

The exact opposite, actually.

My father was solipsistic, if anything. Everything he did was for the sake of the painting in his memory he called Siracusa.

Which is why he failed.

Alright... I get it now.

Hah, no wonder. That's why Bernardo's dead, and you're still alive.

I dunno what kind of stunt you pulled, but you somehow stopped your papa, and then went to Signora Sicilia and took credit for it.

That's how you got yourself the right to manage the new city. And now, you're up here spinning a magical tale for us, trying to win some sympathy for yourself.

Isn't that right, you patricide?

Leontuzzo lets out a deep sigh, but in the end, looks away without refuting the accusation.

Deep down, he cannot deny it.

Look at that, see the guilt on his face!

I have a question.

Even if we did believe all that garbage, Your Honor, what does it have to do with the trial?

It's not like you want us passing judgment on a dead man and handing down a sentence for his crimes?

Because Leontuzzo is not here as a witness to tell you about his father or opine about his actions.

The case being heard today concerns the ownership of the new city.

Leontuzzo arbitrarily determined what is to come in this new city, and in Siracusa as a whole.

Leontuzzo, please explain to us why Signora Sicilia chose you.

I was both my father's accomplice in everything that happened, as well as the one who stopped him.

I became the latter after I learned the truth.

I believe that my father was misguided, and that his actions would not bring a new era to Siracusa.