CB-7 11:08P.M.

Boss, Penguin Logistics is on the move.

Of course. I just gave her a few skin deep cuts...

But I'm more worried about Capone.

Y- yeah, we haven't been able to reach him. Tried real hard an hour ago.

Where's the last place you got him? The slums?

Er, yeah.

That's too bad.

What do you mean?

Tell all the crews, we're going with the original plan to get Penguin Logistics...

But I'm thinkin'... unless something goes wrong, we'll get two or three crews dropping off the grid.

What do you mean... boss?

Couldn't be... Capone betrayed the Family?

I get where he's comin' from. All too well.

We grew up together. And dad had us deal with a traitor, with our own two hands. That was my first time takin' a life. Our first time takin' a life.

The Siracusa fiasco changed us. The only difference is he turned weak, and I chose the clear path.

He's gonna sell out the Family. Or I guess he wants to give the Family a new name.

So what should we do about it?

Penguin Logistics is turning out trickier than I thought. And we can't fight a war on too many fronts.

I'm thinkin' we deal with our traitor problem first.

I'm down at the intersection. Nothing special here.

Roger. Proceed as usual.

W- wait! What's the plan here?

Huh? You screwed up something?

No, I just wanna be sure. I really don't know Lungmen at all.

It's Sauin. When midnight rolls around, Lungmen kicks off a huge Carnival. The whole town turns out. That's when we rub out Penguin Logistics. Bada bing!

Now about the boss...

Don't ask too many questions. Just do what you're told. Chop-chop.

...it's what it is.

You ain't gonna kill me, are you?

Of course not. But you gotta take a nap for me like a good boy~

Texas, you copy?

It's the same over here. They all split off into little groups.

But their leader was in the fight himself, which means they've got someone else handing out dispatch orders.

We just have to cut off that head.

Hey~ Texas?

We're in the city center, but boy are there a lot of people out here.

Watch for the enemy. They're moving in small teams.

I know~ We'll make sure our friends on the street keep an eye out... Wait, boss? You want to get up on a float? Erm, wait for me...

Croissant, Bison, do you copy?

So you were talking about that someone else giving dispatch orders, we ran into a little surprise over here.

Bison, get down. Take cover behind that box over there. Don't get yerself seen.

Right. I'll call you back, Texas.

So where do we go from here?

I dunno. Since we cut off the boss... since we cut off Gambino Ricci, we really don't have a choice.

Sigh.

What's to sigh about? Mr. Capone did so much for us here in Lungmen, and what came of it?

Gambino hops on over from Siracusa and makes nothin' but trouble. Not a lick of good's come of him!

If we kept to Mr. Capone's plan from the start, we wouldn't be in this mess.

We've been over this with the Rat King. Why do we gotta kill anybody? This ain't Siracusa!

The boss, I mean the old boss, he's probably just blowin' off steam.

Well he needs to grow up.

(Sounds like trouble in paradise.)

(Sure does. This could be good for us, if we...)

Hey! Who's there?!

Huh? A gunshot?

It's that sniper again! We're exposed!

It's the Penguins! Don't let 'em get away!

...Do forgive me, Young Master. This is what the Master of the House has demanded of me.

But in taking action upon the Young Master, I have placed him in danger...

When this matter is concluded, I believe it may be time to retire to the countryside.

Sigh.

...Sounds like they're in trouble.

Exusiai, once you've marked out the gangsters' route, move to meet up with Croissant.

You got it~

Sora.

Whew... the bad guys are making a lot of moves, but it looks like they're splitting into two teams. Might be a trap...

It is not so complicated. The enemy is suffering from internal strife. This is an opportunity.

Aaaie! You scared me!

...Welcome back.

Why'd you have to hack into our private channel? Couldn't you just send us a normal message?

This was quicker.

Where are you now?

A depressing cafe. I suddenly remembered I was supposed to have today off, so I came out to enjoy the nightlife.

I've sent you Croissant and the new boy's coordinates. Lungmen's network speeds are remarkably satisfactory.

...understood. Once we've finished our respective missions, we'll move to assist them.

This is our chance to strike back.

Mr. Capone, the boss's hit on Penguin Logistics looks like it failed.

What's that meathead worth? I don't even wanna hear his name.

...Is that how we do it?

The Family needs a solid foundation. The name is the least important part.

Did you find the Rat King yet?

Not yet. He really don't leave any tracks around...

We gotta be patient. He's like a part of the city. He's Lungmen's shadow. It ain't like we got much time though.

But we gotta be careful. If the Rat King picks up on what we're doin', we could find ourselves fighting three sides at once.

It's the same for everyone. If we're locked into a tough spot, the best thing to do is stir up some chaos.

You got news of Gambino?

......

You deaf?

If you got somethin' to say to me, shouldn't you just say it to my face?

How did you get in here?

Not everybody's like you. Not everybody can just up and turn their back on an oath made before dad's grave.

Oath? That's just because we were walking the same path. But times have changed, Gambino.

You broke my heart, Capone. But I'll give you one last chance to explain yourself, as my brother.

Hmph. Seven years ago, when we buried the old boss, you sent me here, to Lungmen.

I came halfway across the world to set up a business that could support the Family, like a backstop.

But then you had to go and screw up in Siracusa. And what do you do? You hop on over here and take over everything I broke my back to build.

Come on, you ain't gettin' pissed off over some little shit like this. Or you'd've been dead a long time ago.

Say what you want. But today I learned the sharpest fangs in the Family's what's gonna turn around and kill it.

So you gonna pull out your fangs and snap a collar on yourself? Hah!

If you keep runnin' around Lungmen makin' noise like you do, sooner or later the powers that be are gonna get sick of it and wipe us out.

Your deep and heartfelt concern for the Family is moving me to tears, dear Capone.

The feeling's mutual.

You're rusty.

The scars you got in Siracusa are holding you back too.

Just give up. I don't wanna kill you.

No, you really do.

Heh. You know me too well.

Wh——

Well lookie here! I just wanted to bust through this wall and make a nice path... but it looks like I found quite a sight.

Sorry to bother ya. You two keep at it. We'll go around.

Hurry! Don't let them get away!

...I think we're out of options.

How about that. Our troublemakers came right to us. We'll just scoop you up and——

What is it this time?!

Heyy~ We're heere!

What a coincidence, running into everyone.

So, is it time for a final battle already? Seems a little early?

It's fine. The sooner we get this whole thing over with, the better.

Just throw them in the river, like the boss said.

This kind of chaos is just the way I like it.

Tonight's big winner is the one who walks out of here alive.

*Pant* *pant...*

Come on, Penguins!

Looks like you two get along great?

Grr!

What'd I ever do to you?! I'll clock you one!

Gah! Whose side are you on?!

It- it wasn't me! It was that angel!

Oopsie. I missed. Seems fine though.

Get 'em, while they're—— Agh! What are you choppin' at me for?!

Sorry, but I gotta stay loyal to the boss!

Me too!

Oh.

What are you doing on the ground? Get up and fight if you ain't dead!

Y- yessir!

You can't be so rough with your employees. Do they at least get hazard pay?

It's kind of hard to tell who's who. Just try to get everyone wearing black on the ground.

Hoo yeah this is a mess.

Sure is—— woah! Mostima?

But it looks like you're all doing okay.

When did you get here?

The boss called me.

Hey, it's that weird-lookin' Sankta.

Get outta here!

——

Somebody needs to calm down a bit.

What are you even fighting over here? Let's all take a step back.

She stopped the boss?!

No! It's that staff! Look out, boss! She's a caster!

...Looks like we were right not to take her head on... Hey, don't get near 'em!

I ain't never seen a Sankta like you before. Or wait? Are you a Sarkaz? What the hell are you?

I'm just an ordinary Messenger.

Cazzata!

Grrr——

Time for an intermission... or are you not going to listen to me?

Who do you think you are?!

How are you all doing? It's been a long time, hasn't it?

Hey! Eyes over here!

A couple years, I think? Maybe a couple months?

Gah!

When your days are as rich and full as ours, you kinda lose track of time.

It's been about four years and three months, Mostima.

Yeah, that's pretty long.

——

Don't give me that face. If you keep looking that gloomy I'll think you've gotten sick.

Isn't this a touching reunion?!

Touching or not, it's definitely not the time to be reminiscing.

Are you really going to do it here?

I'll do only what needs doing.

...Okay. Just go easy on them.

Don't worry.

And it looks like I've got another customer waiting.

——?

No matter how many times I see it, I'm always impressed how Mostima will wave her staff around all light and subtle, only to have some big amazing thing come out.

The mobsters're already scared stiff!

Phew. I guess I should plug a couple of them?

What's wrong? Are we done?

You may have some moves, but you can bet I'm not lettin' you stroll outta here.

You don't always have to play the big bad wolf. Just treat this as some after dinner exercise—— Hm.

Wh- what's going on? Did this fire just turn solid?

...seems like Yith is around here somewhere. We better wrap this up.

Who are you monologing at? Come at me!

You keep losing your temper. That's a really bad look for the head of a family. How are you going to keep control of the situation?

Grrr! This smug attitude of yours really pisses me off!

Arts! Take cover!

We'll take the Penguins. Don't wanna get in your way!

They're underestimating us. Show them what we can do.

You got it! Yeeeeeeehaw!

That's Mostima, the Messenger...

A Messenger... are Messengers really all like this?

...is that the wind?

...wind?

Texas! Run! Quick!

...Right!

Hey! What's with the earthquake?! What did that caster just do?

Honestly. Old people are so impatient.

You ain't gettin'——

Ack——

Hey! It's Arts! Let's get outta here!

A sandstorm? Here?

Things're gettin' kinda weird.

Texas! Over here!

What about Bison and Mostima? Nng!

The sandstorm cut them off. I'll get them!

Wait, Exusiai!

——

Every time Mostima's involved, she loses control like this.

Texas! Mostima! Where are you?!

Gah... there's sand in my eyes——

Don't panic.

Mostima!

Shield yourself from the sand and come with me.

...That's one old man we don't want to provoke within striking range.

The ground... I'm sinking...! It's quicksand! Run! Don't get swallowed up!

Boss! What do we do?!

Where are they? Where's Capone?!

They ran out under the cover of the sandstorm! We got a few of our guys in their crew...

Boss! This place is gonna collapse!

...Run. We'll get another shot.

Shit! What the hell happened?!

Another shot... hm...

Strange... I don't remember you having any shots left.