level_act45side_03_beg

<i>The rain falls like tears, and I am but a single drop within this endless sea.</i>

<i>In this lonely night, I am no longer lost.</i>

<i>I do not fear being afraid.</i>

Prisoner 48038, step forward.

Sir! Your orders?

Did you forget anything when going over your personal effects?

No, sir, I made sure to check everything!

Head straight down the corridor to the little window at the end and sign your name. You're free to go after that.

Y-Yes, thank you, sir!

The sound of heavy jogging echoes down the corridor.

The heavy footsteps of boots gradually drew nearer, echoing down the hallway.

Umiri.

Here.

Get lost. I don't want to see you again this year.

Umiri picks up her bass guitar case in one deft motion and strolls leisurely out of the prison.

Siracusa is much the same as ever, welcoming her return with an interminable drizzle.

Put our boys and girls in every shop on this street and the next ones over. Everyone keeps an eye out. We are NOT letting her run away!

Got it!

Just got news from North Street, boss! She's heading this way!

Keep your eyes on her! Don't let her run off!

I... I don't think she's trying to hide, boss.

...Get everyone back here, pronto!

In the narrow alleyway, a gang of ghoulish thugs surrounds the girl with the bass guitar case.

We meet again... Umiri.

Heh, and here I was wondering why a pro like you never got taken in by any famiglie.

See, after ours fell on hard times, I asked around, and that's how I learned you made your career out of being a traitor.

You've gone through a dozen names bouncing around every famiglia out there.

Our contracts never said we couldn't do work for others.

And like I said long ago: I only take my reward and fulfill the duties that match it.

Is that why you sold our secrets to our enemies?!

...I don't know what you're talking about.

Don't play dumb, you goddamn traitor! Ever since you showed up, our people have been getting screwed left and right!

All thanks to me and the don being stupid enough to trust you. We even invited you to join us!

Francis, I don't remember what I've done to offend you all—

Hmph. What, you owe so many people you can't even remember?!

The don's dead, everyone's dead! We had hundreds of people, and now it's just our dozen left!

...What do you mean?

We busted our asses moving from Columbia to this stupid place, but you had to go and get everyone killed!

I...

No more talk. There's enough of us here to teach her a very painful lesson today!

I don't want to have to fight with you...

Umiri tries to stay the impending clash through words, but the gang shows no signs of relenting as they approach her—

She is forced to put her case down.

Alright... let's get her!

I wouldn't go any further, now, bambina.

Something just started up over there. You're not safe alone. Go the long way round, quick.

...Thank you for the warning.

The girl pays the passerby's advice no heed. She continues on in the exact direction she was warned against.

The rain patters against the ground, washing Siracusa's every stain away.

The girl steps into the alley. It is clean and tidy, so utterly spotless as to seem newly built.

Siracusa's cleaners are consummate professionals.

Not the slightest stench of blood hangs in the humid air.

Umiri... where are you?

You... You looking for Umiri?

The billiards room of a casino. Nobody would expect someone to live here.

A few cardboard boxes are assembled into a makeshift bed. The most basic of toiletries fill a bag nabbed for free from a fast food joint.

The billiards table is covered in envelopes, envelopes containing Umiri's payment.

She opens them up one after the other, tossing the golden coins within onto the table. Soon, the pile of coins stamped with 'Famiglia' and 'Ordine' has become a miniature mountain.

And there the coins are left, out in the open, without the slightest protection. She wouldn't care the slightest bit if they went missing.

...Hmm?

Umiri checks over the envelope in her hand once more. There is nothing in it.

She flips it over. On its front is the insignia of a famiglia, along with the sender's address.

She's here, boss.

The guys in the prison didn't give you any trouble, did they?

They're all old friends. Besides, they know who my employer is. They wouldn't want to stick their hands in the fire.

But I imagine you didn't summon me just to ask that, did you, sir?

Kheheh. Just concerned for a business partner, that's all.

Sir, when did we become partners?

When you signed your contract with me, you wouldn't even use your famiglia's name.

Well, if you want to become 'partners', and I know you do, then let me lay my cards out—

Umiri, I'd like to have you for a long-term job.

What kind of job requires us to meet face-to-face?

I'm thinking... of inviting you into the famiglia.

What... did you say?

There's nobody inside.

Why did you insist on coming along? You're obviously afraid of her.

You're not a mafioso, you wouldn't get it! I gotta... I gotta get revenge, for everyone's sake!

What exactly happened between you and Umiri that you find so unforgivable?

If you ever got betrayed the way we did, you wouldn't forgive her either...

Our famiglia was mostly ordinary folk running away from the Columbian frontier. We didn't have much of a network or resources, so we've always been looked down upon by the local mafia.

Fast forward a couple of years, and one day, the boss decides to spend a fortune hiring someone.

And that was Umiri?

Yep. Once we hired her, it was peace and quiet for a long, long time.

Those were the good days. Didn't have to worry about anyone raiding our place, or looking for trouble at our door...

But when we invited her to actually join the famiglia, she declined. Then the next day, she vanished. Just, gone.

And right as we started getting suspicious, a bunch of goons stormed in to stab us in the gut. No idea who sent them.

I still can't bear to look back at what happened that day... It was too much, too much!

And you're under the impression Umiri sold you out?

Well, who else could it be?! You're crazy if you think it's a coincidence!

...I'm not willing to believe that Umiri would betray someone like this.

The Umiri I know is much like you've described. Strong and capable, a reassuring presence.

And always eager to uphold her duty as part of a group.

I mean, but facts are facts...

Did you see any trace of her amongst the people in that raid?

...I did not.

Then do you remember what the raiders themselves looked like?

Can't forget for the rest of my life.

Sakiko takes a deep breath, moving her hand to the self-defense weapon in her pocket.

What if... someone was deliberately trying to break you apart?

What if... someone was keeping a close eye on Umiri this entire time?

...What're you trying to say?

Before Francis can react, the cabinet doors all around them are thrown wide open.

Within each is a burly mobster, and all together, they raise their weapons at the pair in the center of the room.

No funny moves.