Future Coming

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.

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?

......

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?

......

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?

......

......

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.

Even if dragging all the famiglie into a war would somehow see them erase each other in the end, it does not necessarily mean that the people would choose a new way of life.

But beyond that, I saw a real opportunity in all this.

So, at the end of everything, I went to Signora Sicilia and asked to borrow a city from Siracusa.

'A city without famiglie.'

Another joke? Why would Signora Sicilia ever agree to that?

Because it wasn't actually a request. It was a challenge to Siracusa.

In Signora Sicilia's eyes, my father's methods violated her order, and she couldn't tolerate that.

But the method I chose... Though I don't want to put it this way, was something she found permissible. Otherwise, I wouldn't even be standing here speaking to all of you.

Alright. If what you say is true, then Signora Sicilia's order does make more sense...

Or I guess, this is the only explanation for why Signora Sicilia would've decided that.

If this really is true, Leontuzzo, then everything you're doing today is just for show.

Call this a trial? You might be standing here, this is all just announcing you as owner of the new city. Isn't that right?

No, this city does not belong to me.

The new city will have everything you'd expect it to, with one exception—famiglie.

You really think you can keep them out?

What a stupid question. It's just as if I asked you, has the boundary between famiglie and ordinary civilians ever been respected?

Famiglie are only willing to abide by Signora Sicilia's rules because she's strong enough to dominate them.

And this gentleman's agreement among famiglie only exists because they don't have what it takes to wipe each other out.

Of course you'll come to the city. I know that, obviously.

But this time, you'll see what it is you've always underestimated.

Of course, I will welcome any famiglie looking to bring change as partners in the new city.

I don't think there's any difference between 'a city without famiglie' and 'Siracusa without famiglie.' They're both crazy.

Do you say that because it's unrealistic, or because it's hard?

Because it's unrealistic, of course.

My father was definitely misguided, but I don't think either of these ideas are unrealistic.

You're just too used to letting your eyes decide what is and is not realistic.

The famiglia are deeply ingrained into this land. You can't hope to uproot them. Nobody can.

But famiglie can be changed, and they can become more civilized.

Even if they can't be wiped out, they should be changed into something else. And as long as that something else is what we want, then that's fine too.

And you really think you can make that work?

I might fail, but don't you think it's worth a shot?

......

The only thing you've won for yourself is a handout from Signora Sicilia.

The famiglia system still exists. Though it may appear shaky right now, it is by no means so easy to topple.

No matter if this business today is serious or just for show, it's only possible because you have Signora Sicilia's permission.

Is there actually any point to all of this?

Unfortunately, if things don't pan out the way I want them to, then I'm afraid we'll simply be replaced like a tablecloth.

Plus, I've never considered my success inevitable. That day, I was honestly ready to die.

But that doesn't mean I won't take an opportunity that presents itself, handout or not.

Maybe in some other place, given the same set of circumstances, someone in my position could've been a better person and turned down the handout.

But in Siracusa, at this very moment, if this is the only way to move things forward, then that is the pill I will swallow.

Would Ministro Rubio have done what he did, if there was another option?

......

Are you aware of the consequences?

No.

What we're doing is unprecedented. How am I supposed to guess what the consequences will be?

But, this is what I believe.

Lavinia, I owe an answer not only to all of Volsinii, but to you and everyone around you. Right?

......

After that day, we didn't get a chance to talk things through, and only had a vague idea of what the other was thinking.

Are we really walking down the same path?

Is the new city that I want the same as the one you want?

We don't really know how the other thinks, do we?

...I trust you.

If you trust me, that's all the more reason to pass judgment on me.

Not just for your sake, but for all the officials who've rallied around you because of Rubio.

Otherwise, what reason would they have to trust me, a man who was mafia royalty?

This isn't a burden you have to carry alone.

I ought to shoulder the responsibility with you.

No... I've finally come to understand the words you said to me, Lavinia.

Our world views are fundamentally different.

As the former heir to a famiglia, there's no way I can empathize with your perspectives and experiences.

What I have to suffer now... is just dealing with whatever's left over after unloading that identity.

Also, from a utilitarian perspective, the people trust you, and this is a real chance for you to lock in that image.

If you put it like that, I'm afraid a lot of people will see this trial as nothing more than a show.

Let them think that then. It doesn't matter.

Even if they do think it's a show, sometimes, the willingness to put on a show is already a gesture in its own right. Don't you think?

......

Anyway, Lavinia, that's what I think.

We haven't accomplished anything big just yet.

One day, we'll end up mistrusting each other.

One day, when we come to our senses, we might realize that we've been misguided all along.

But...

Leontuzzo Bellone, what is it that makes you stand here so resolutely?

You were born into a famiglia, yet now, you've become the famiglie's worst enemy. Why?

Why, huh... I ask myself the same question a lot.

Is it my idea of chasing efficiency?

Was I raised on ideals of justice?

Is it because of the actions of an admirable government official?

Is it a conclusion from a minor observation of changes in the famiglie?

Maybe all of the above.

If we put all these reasons together, we might be able to come up with an answer––

The time has come.

Maybe Carracci avoided assassination and became a successful Ministero dei Lavori Pubblici, working hard towards a similar goal.

Maybe Ministro Rubio chose to show restraint and continued to occupy his position, secretly winning people over with his lofty ideals and striving to bring change to Siracusa.

This wasn't some elaborate plan I've been hatching my whole life. It suddenly dawned on me at some point, and I only made it this far on luck.

If I die, there'll be someone who comes after me, and another man after that.

And none of this is a testament to how hard I work or how unique I am. It just means that––

The time has come for Siracusa to change.

All the jurors present, all the civilians watching, and all the people tuning in through various media.

Until now, my heart has been filled with uneasiness.

I borrowed this city from Signora Sicilia, but never saw it as something that belonged to me.

I borrowed this city from Signora Sicilia so we could work together to build something completely new, for all of you to work towards a Siracusa free from the famiglie.

Because I made that decision on everyone's behalf, I must also face everyone's judgment.

But, if you'll let me make a single grand statement–

At this moment, Siracusa doesn't have the right to judge me.

And so, I can only be judged... by all of you.

You will receive this right, just as if you had won the power to build an entirely new city.

Maybe one day, at one point in the future, the power to determine Siracusa's future will also lie in your hands.

This new city welcomes all of those dissatisfied living under the yoke of the famiglie and those who have their doubts, including doubts about me.

That's all I wanted to say.