IS-10 Signore dei Lupi

Recon complete. No hostiles sighted.

The route map they gave us sure is nifty. We actually managed to get here first without any real obstacles along the way.

All the tech used in the new city's design comes from Columbia.

It has lots of functionality that none of the mafiosi ever understood.

For example, the road leading directly to the control tower will be blocked off after we pass through.

They've also managed to block other intersections with various methods.

Not to mention, what we saw along the way.

The conflicts between the famiglie have been spreading. At this point, even if any of them wanted to attack the control tower, another famiglia would get in the way.

Most importantly, they'd never expect us to take it from right under their noses.

That's right. However, it's too soon to rest on our laurels.

The Bellones, Rossatis, and Saluzzos. Those three famiglie will never give up the secondary core area. They will definitely make an appearance.

With me and Texas here, you've got nothing to worry about.

Sorry, I wasn't trying to get you dragged into this mess.

I chose to do this.

Same here! And in exchange, I'll need you to tell me where I can get the best pizza!

Deal.

......

You said the tech here comes from Columbia.

That's right. Famiglia Rossati laid most of the groundwork, so I'm a little concerned they'll have some way of breaking through.

If there's one place they have no choice but to pass through, where would that be?

......

Something's not right here.

You feel it too?

It has something to do with the other famiglie getting in the way, but...

While it's possible that big gate over there might've been activated accidentally...

We've been taking detours for a while now, and I'm pretty sure these blockades were set here on purpose.

In other words... someone's one step ahead of us?

Yes, and they also happen to be very familiar with the area.

And only the Rossatis fit that bill.

The only other possibility would be those who helped in the conversion of the secondary core area.

Let's not worry about who it could be for now.

How do we break through?

I can give it a try. One of my soldiers should know how.

We're wasting too much time.

And...

If someone really set this up on purpose, they'll definitely have a backup plan.

I know what you're going to say.

Even though we haven't had the most fun partnering here, we're about to the part where our agreement formally ends.

Guess so.

......

You know, in a sense, we're brothers in misfortune.

We have nothing in common.

Am I wrong though?

I can already tell that you're a guy with a smart look to him, but you're actually a complete idiot, loyal to a fault. Same as me.

Don't bother trying to talk yourself up like that. Nobody's buying it.

I'm not looking for excuses here. I know what I'm doing, and I don't regret it.

But if what you said is true and your boss was the one who set all of this in motion, you're probably gonna find yourself standing against your own fratelli.

Are you prepared to do what you've gotta do?

Will you really get what you're looking for?

How about you? Did you get what you were looking for?

No, I've got a guilty conscience, but there's nothing I can do about it.

Your Honor, I found the control tower technicians hiding in one of the rooms.

They want to talk to you.

Deal.

You're... a judge?!

Don't worry, I'm not here to hurt you.

I'm not here on behalf of any famiglia, or Signora Sicilia.

Then who are you here for?

Right now, no one.

Alright...

As long as you don't hurt us, we should be able to help you.

I want to ask you something first.

What?

Who told you to start the separation sequence of the secondary core area? Was it a mafioso from Famiglia Bellone?

He said he was the don of Famiglia Bellone, Bernardo.

It really was you... Bernardo.

Did you have to do this all for the sake of your so-called power?

He also asked me if I had ever imagined what Siracusa would look like without famiglie.

What did you say...?

Up ahead is the central facility that controls that gate, isn't it?

Yeah.

Then—

Life keeps bringing us together, doesn't it? Cellinia.

......

That's right. Only one of us can walk out of this alive.

Lavinia...? The judge?

Yeah.

We followed your instructions and not to break through right away. We took some detours and nabbed ourselves a government guy. That's what he told us.

She's already taken the control tower.

I have to admit, no famiglia would've thought such an insignificant judge could pull off something like that with just a few paper pushers.

But, even if she managed to stall those famiglie with her funny business, what good will it do, in the end?

Boss, bad news!

Out with it.

It's Lappland! She suddenly showed up at the estate and started chopping up our boys! She's making her way over to you!

......

Stop her.

You got it!

Lappland, you sure have gotten good at killing.

Back in the day, you would've taken a lot longer and picked up a few more scars on your way here.

You haven't changed at all. You don't even bat an eye at your own boys getting killed.

What's the point in crying over some incompetent associates?

What about an incompetent child? Oh, spiacente, I almost forgot that for you, there's no basically difference between an associate and your own child.

You know what I hate more than anything else, ragazza? Incompetent idiots who are also obedient.

I've been waiting a long time for you, ever since you came back home.

Waiting for you to bare your fangs at me.

And now, that time has finally come.

Tell me, figlia mia. All these years, what is it that has made you like this? What made you disobey me, rebel against me time and time again?

Speak up, so I can discipline you.

For the longest time, I've been thinking if I should try rubbing you out.

Oh?

Surely, killing your own father isn't something that would give you a moment's hesitation.

It's not the act that I'm conflicted over, more the meaning of it.

The meaning? A woman like you cares to go searching for meaning in things?

Meaning is pretty important to me. Like profit is to you.

Padre mio, do you know why I care so much about Texas?

You've never explained it to me.

From the moment I was born, I grew up a part of this famiglia.

You raised me with the most proper Siracusan education, and I met your expectations.

As a Siracusan, I am second to none.

And here I thought you never acknowledged who you were, ragazza.

When do you think I managed to wiggle out of your control?

Or I guess, not from your control, but from Siracusa. From the famiglia. From our blood. From the control of our rules.

I hated it, all of it. But in the end, I couldn't actually escape any of it.

All those things are like the strings of a marionette over my head.

No matter how much I rebelled, in the end, I'm still dancing in the palm of your hand.

There's no way out.

Only you would look at Siracusa and see an inescapable swamp.

And everybody—including you, padre—you're all scum, whether you realize it or not.

Of course, I didn't realize it, at that age.

The old me thought she was crazy enough, rebellious enough. But looking back, I was just in denial.

And you thought I'd grow out of it after a few years. Isn't that right?

That goes without saying.

I was well aware of your rebelliousness, but I never understood where it came from.

From you being so totally convinced that your way of life, and your actions, were completely right.

You never doubted for a second that I would eventually become you.

And that's... when she appeared.

At first, it was because there was someone out there, in far-off Columbia, who was better than me.

Cellinia Texas, the granddaughter of Salvadore.

Cold. Strong. Honorable and loyal.

After popping back over here, she quickly became the most famous Siracusan among all the famiglie.

Even though she was Columbian.

You're just as good as her.

Hah, of course.

But that's not the important part.

The important part is, she clearly was a Siracusan, thoroughly poisoned by the swamp of this city.

But in the end, she chose to turn her back on her blood, letting her entire famiglia get liquidated.

The blame for that rests only with Giuseppe. Where is Cellinia's sin in the righteous judgment of her kin?

Not like betrayal is particularly rare among wolves.

But she chose to turn her back. She chose to get out.

Can you imagine, padre?

That day, when I found out she wanted to leave Siracusa, to leave everything behind, I was so...

Exhilarated!

You figured it was an act of rebellion, and a successful one?

She didn't succeed. I knew from the beginning that the land itself wasn't going to let her go.

So, why are you standing here in front of me again, for her?

For her?

No, padre mio. No.

I'm here not because I learned anything in particular from her successes and failures.

But because she taught me that the choice exists in the first place.

I knew she would eventually return here. And I looked forward to seeing what she would do once she came back.

And she did absolutely nothing.

No. You don't understand.

She made up her mind.

Cellinia, what do you think you're doing?

You don't need to know. And you're not going to.

You ran away from Columbia before, and from Siracusa. You ran from it all.

And now, you have the stones to stand on this soil again.

Isn't that kind of ridiculous?

This land isn't a lost cause.

So, I'm not running away anymore. Simple as that.

You stopped running, so you came back.

But what about the people you left behind?

Go tell that to them!

Blame it all on me.

You decided you had to kill Giovanna, so you pinned the blame on me.

I'm not that shameless yet.

But, you will pay for it all the same.

You're gonna have to die, Cellinia.

Don't worry, death is where I belong.

Damn... you...

Now, it's my turn.

This used to keep me up at night.

But when I finally stood in front of you, face-to-face, I realized—

This was never such a difficult thing in the first place.

Turns out, it's not that I wanted to rebel against you, or kill you.

All I need to do is say goodbye. To you, my dear father, to this famiglia, to this swamp.

That's why I'm here.

You want to become an enemy to all of Siracusa.

No.

Siracusa became my enemy.

......

Goodbye forever, padre.

The next time I see you, I will kill you. My daughter. My pride. My traitor.

The only thing left is you, Texas.

Are you sure letting Cellinia go alone was the right call?

Don't sweat it.

She asked to go herself, so she must've had a reason for it.

You don't want to find out what that reason is?

Lemme give you a little tip. One of the prerequisites for being a good partner is to never ask your counterpart about stuff she doesn't wanna share!

You two have a great relationship.

You betcha!

What?

What is it?

You've got somebody coming up on you. He's moving really fast.

Just one?

Yeah, just one.

Black hair, dressed like a really flamboyant mob boss, holding two pistol-shaped wands.

...Leon?

Lavinia... I knew it'd be you.

Leontuzzo, why did you come here?

I'm looking for you. But you cut all communication with the famiglia, so I haven't been able to get through.

While I was looking around, I overheard wise guys from another famiglia talking about how someone had blocked off some passages in the secondary core area, which didn't sound like something any of us would do.

Which is why I came here.

That's right... You were with Carracci so long, you must've known this was the best place to break through.

But, I have nothing more to say to you, Leon.

Wait, Lavinia...

I'm here to—

Leon?! Lavinia, and the court guys too...

Alright, so you're the one who's been messing around with the secondary core area behind our backs.

......

Leon, where the hell did you go after that meeting? Don't tell me you've been with her this whole time.

......

No, I went looking for my father.

What?

Why didn't you tell me?!

Because when I was face-to-face with Alberto, when I heard the things that carwash worker had to say about me, I finally realized—

I've been wrong my entire life.

That's why...

That's your answer, huh?

Correct.

From now on, I am no longer Don Bellone.

Leon... you know what this means, don't you?

I do.

Do you?

No matter how grand the Don's ideals were, he still chose to abandon his famiglia!

And you, no matter how grand your ideals may be, you're gonna do the same?!

We're a famiglia, goddammit, Leontuzzo!

Look me in the eye and answer me!

We grew up together. We've been through so much together.

Does all of that mean nothing to you?!

My father saw the famiglia as nothing more than a match to light the fuse of a new era in Siracusa.

He was wrong in his ways, but...

In the end, I'll stand against all famiglie.

Since it's bound to happen sooner or later—

Let's not drag out the suffering, Demetri.

......

What... is this...?

Urgh... There's a voice... in my head...

It's freezing cold...

I remember this feeling...

Watch out, there's something off about that stuff!

...Il Signore dei Lupi.

Didn't the Signori dei Lupi agree not to meddle in the affairs of mortals?

I changed my mind. Bernardo ruined my plans!

I spent sixty-eight years grooming him.

And now he's killed himself just to deny my victory!

Wh-What did you say?

My father... killed himself?

The price for insulting the Signori dei Lupi is a heavy one.

He may dead, but I won't stop until his bloodline is ended.

Son of Bernardo, you will pay for the sins of your father!

The price is his bloodline and your life!

......

Price?

Did you say 'price?'

My father may have been wrong, but his dream was always about bringing change to the times.

He wanted a Siracusa without the famiglie, and spent his entire life planning it.

I thought his own family was a chip to him.

I thought he acted when he did because it was the right time.

But now I know.

He decided he was out of time. This was his only chance to get revenge on you and achieve his dream.

I taught him everything he knew! He repaid me with betrayal!

You wouldn't understand.

Signore dei Lupi on high, thinking everything under his control.

To father, even his own life was just another chip.

He was determined to make his dream come true, even if it meant paying the ultimate price.

But you're the one who will pay!

Ignorant whelp!

Welcome back, Texas!

Are you done over there?

Yeah.

Time to clean up the trouble over here.

The last Texas.

Do not forget who permitted you to break from Siracusa.

How dare you defy me?!

I kept my bargain with Bernardo. I owe you nothing.

Fool!

Bernardo killed himself?

Why?

The game is over, Lavinia.

So that's what you really meant...

A Siracusa without the famiglie. That was your true dream.

Why didn't you tell me?

Try to keep your head in the fight, Judgie.

Lappland—

Why didn't you tell me you were throwing a party, Texas?

You would've come anyway.

Yeah, you're right.

Get lost, cub without a pack. There's no place for you here.

Let me tell you some good news, Signore dei Lupi, Figlio dei Lupi, whatever you are.

Starting now, everything Siracusan is my enemy.

Even supernatural beings like you.

Idiot!

What about you, boss? If you were there, looking me in the eye, would you tell me without a doubt, that you choose your dreams, like Leon?

I mean... I don't know the answer anymore.

Stay focused, if you don't want to die.

You're—

The feeble Fang of Agnese.

Did you think yourself worthy to stand before me just because you caught a glimpse of the death of my Fang?

I promised Bernardo that I'd help his kin.

Agnese has raised a feeble Fang.

It's time to put an end to her part in this game.

You cannot destroy me, no matter what you do.

You cannot even harm me.

Humans built cities, trapped themselves within, and think themselves the masters of the lands beneath them.

Do not presume to have risen because you learned to use a few tools.

You have never conquered the wastes.

Ladies and gentleman.

You stand in the presence of the Emperor, Lungmen's superstar!

Boss?!

Lemme take this chance to remind you your vacation's almost up, Texas.

Why are you here?

You askin' me?

Sora and the girls ran off after you.

You know what the past month's been like for me?

I ain't been this bored in three thousand years!

I got nobody to party with!

......

Emperor—

Hold it, Zaaro.

You gonna say I got no business in Siracusa. It ain't my right to stick my flipper in here.

Honestly, I don't give a shit.

But, if I think on it, I'm gonna pass on some dumbass fight with you...

Beatin' you at your own game, that'd make me happier.

So—

Look, I brought the other Wolf Lords. They bored too.

Lemme give you the good news.

You're a loser.

In pretty much every way a man can be a loser.

Tell ya the truth, Zaaro?

Your whole thing, the way you talk about power, the way you play with it, gives me the heebie-jeebies.

The way you stew in your anger, lookin' to tear everything in your way to pieces...

That's what shows you still true to your nature.

But all you wolves, don't you get bored playin' a dumbass game like this for thousands of years?

You oughta come to Lungmen. I'll teach ya to play poker.

Or mahjong. Mahjong ain't bad.

Thanks, Boss.

Don't thank me.

Someone woulda done somethin', even if it wasn't me.

She just delegated the job. Didn't ya, sexy?

It's been a long time since anyone called me 'sexy.'

You're welcome to spend some time enjoying Siracusa, if you like.

Just call me Emperor.

Interesting name. You're not arrogant or ignorant, like the Signori dei Lupi, Siracusa welcomes you, Emperor.

I think Siracusa's gonna like me.

Signora Sicilia!

The games of the Signori dei Lupi are archaic and stupid.

Leontuzzo, son of Bernardo.

Rest assured, he'll never trouble you again.

...!

Pardon me, Signora Sicilia. I didn't expect to have the honor of your presence in this way.

You may already know what happened. You may already have made your decision.

But I hope you'll give me and Lavinia a chance.

A chance. What kind of chance?

A chance to talk.

Even if we're doomed to die, I hope you'll grant us an audience before that happens.

......

Ah.

Agenir always says I should listen to the youths more.

I think he overestimates his age.

Come with me, children. You have earned the chance.

May I have a moment first?

Hm?

I would like to take one last look at Bernardo.

Alright.

Exusiai! Texas!

You okay?!

We're fine.

...Yeah.

What are you doing here?

I was too worried. Giovanna's stable now, so I brought Croissant.

Looks like everything's more-or-less hunky-dory over here, though?

I guess so.

Whew... it still feels like something's missing, but I guess we can throw our party now?

Yeah.

You guys decide what kind of party you want.

Where are you going, Texas?

Toilet.

Toilet isn't that way.

I know.

Feel a weight off your shoulders? Like you just got over a hill?

There's still big trouble waiting, right there.

Ha. Shall we go?

We'll go.

By the way, Texas.

I got a letter from Signora Sicilia before you went back to Siracusa.

Cool.

Guess what it said?

No thanks.

Oh, you're no fun. Signora Sicilia invited me to join the Bocca di Lupo.

Bocca di Lupo...

Basically, become one of her wolves.

So I burned the letter.

I figured I was gonna get some Siracusans giving me trouble for a while.

Then you went back to Siracusa, all of a sudden.

Do you have any idea how surprised I was when I realized you were gone?

*sigh*...

So you've made up your mind?

Yes.

I'll stay and help Lavinia and Leontuzzo.

What about you?

I've made up my mind too.

I heard you made a hell of a scene with your own famiglia.

I just went to say goodbye to my father.

Texas... Do you really not get what I see in you?

Sometimes I think I do.

Sometimes I think I don't.

All I know is that you seem to have gotten over something.

Oh? Are you showing concern for me?

I just think you're kind of annoying.

At the end of the day, we have to do this.

I guess so.

Do you remember?

Seven years ago, you came to me, in front of the burning mansion, looking to get away from it all.

I got hell for it that day.

Seven years later, you came to me again, in a rainy park, to issue a silly challenge to Siracusa.

I'll kill you today.

That's my line.

You could call me your past, Texas.

I believed that no one could escape this swamp.

You escaped your past, once, and made up your mind to cut all ties with it, after returning to Siracusa.

You proved to everyone that you had what it took to escape the swamp.

You're staying here of your own accord, to help that young cub change the place.

You're giving me too much credit.

My dream has always been to live a simple life with a few good friends.

I'll defend it, if someone threatens to destroy it.

There's nothing complicated about it.

I never truly knew you, Cellinia.

I didn't realize how Siracusa exhausted you, or how you resented Columbia.

Now that I think about it, I was like my grandma.

She spent her entire life hoping that old Salvadore would change his mind.

But she never even asked, never tried to fight for it.

The same for me. I assumed the good times would last forever.

I was so proud, and arrogant.

You wouldn't mind me staying with you, and I would love to chat more with Sora.

But I don't deserve that. Not yet.

And so, let me close the curtains on Act 3 of La Morte di Texas, on Cellinia Texas's story.

You're free, Cellinia.

No one defines you.

So let me put it a different way.

You're my nightmare, Texas.

You always surprise me.

You're always a step ahead of me.

You made all the decisions that I couldn't.

And now I can finally say this, after finally taking that step, like you did.

You're right.

There's nothing complicated about it.

If I hated everything about Siracusa so much, I should've destroyed it.

In the end, you're the one who made me take this step.

That's why you said goodbye to your father, and why you're standing here in front of me.

You want to settle things with your past.

Yes. Just like you.

......

We didn't have to go at each other's throats like this.

But it happened.

We each decided, on our own, that to kill each other is the way to settle things.

The best way to say our goodbyes.

The one who survives will become stronger.

Ugh...

It's over.

Texas!

Stay back.

Ha. Alright.

Texas. So you were just Texas after all.

Of course I'm just Texas.

What about you?

Looks like I'm just Lappland.

Texas, am I your friend, or your enemy?

You're my friend, and my enemy.

Then go.

Let me do what a friend should.

......

I heard my friends talking about what you did.

Let me ask you one thing, child.

All the nations across these lands are seeking change, trying to move with the times.

But the impetus for change is an awareness of inadequacy, or a search for breakthrough.

Does Siracusa need that? Does Siracusa really need to change?

Do you think... that the famiglia is something that must exist?

Nothing is. But it existed for centuries before I was born.

We can't deny our history, or so easily destroy what already exists, can we?

That's why you chose to continue the famiglia system when you established Grey Hall, except now all the famiglie have to operate under your control.

I don't intend to deny it.

In fact, I think it was the correct decision, in its time.

But things are different now?

Correct.

The return of the Columbian famiglie brought advanced technology and philosophy.

The Columbians are exerting an increasing influence on famiglia-style rule, but many haven't realized it.

Some of what my father did was overly radical.

Our motivations are different, and so are our means.

But one thing is the same.

We both believe that—

Siracusa doesn't need the famiglie anymore.

What are you planning to do, then?

The simplest thing would be to kill you here, or die trying.

But that's the choice my father would have made.

As for me...

I would like to borrow a city.

An interesting proposal.

A new city needs new blood.

But you're on your own, child.

How am I supposed to believe that you can reach your goal?

Hm?

Cellinia. The last Texas.

Come here and let me get a good look at you.

I see your grandfather in you.

...Thank you.

Looks like Giovanna has given you the necklace that I gave her.

What is it you want?

If you want to go back to Lungmen, I guarantee that Siracusa will never disturb you again.

......

I want to ask you to spare Famiglia Rossati.

Oh? That's a surprise.

Wallach assassinated Giovanna, and tried to kill you many times.

Do you really want to spare him?

They're only trying to survive, in their own way.

You can keep the necklace. I never intended to do anything to them.

Or, you can trade it for the right to leave Siracusa forever.

......

Don't need that. I'm extending my vacation.

What about you, Lappland?

Lone wolf, Saluzzo's traitor.

Heh. I got a simple dream.

I wanna destroy Siracusa, just like them.

The difference is that I'm not as civilized.

And you, Judge Lavinia, instrument of my will?

Your will was once Siracusa itself.

But now, I'm going to change it.

You believe that I'm wrong?

I believe that no one can be right forever.

I won't live forever, but I have a few decades left.

Until the moment that my eyes close forever, Siracusa will continue to enjoy the peace that I bring.

What about you, child?

You stand on your father's shoulders, seeking to make the system better and fairer.

Do you think you chose the correct path?

If I gave you Siracusa, could you guarantee that she would walk a better path, and become a better country?

...I can't guarantee that.

But, just as you're willing to listen to me here today...

If someone else comes along, looking to change my ways...

I'm willing to sit down and hear him out.

You see, I don't hear any fighting. They're fine.

You're the only one who could be so at ease like this. That's the head of state there, you know?

Sorry for making you worry.

It's fine.

Huh? Where's Lappland?

She...

She's fulfilled her duty as a friend. Who knows what form she'll take, when she shows herself next time?

The only thing I can be sure is this.

We haven't seen the last of her.

My head hurts just thinkin' about it.

Never mind. Let's see how Giovanna's doing.

Yeah.

Giovanna, we're back!

The part that Giovanna was struggling with in Act 3 of La Morte di Texas...

Is this what you left for us?

You didn't have to leave.