Chapter 259

After that, Nana came out after meeting with the Doctor and Kal'tsit, so she didn't need to say goodbye to them anymore. She simply checked her luggage and then checked her personal equipment.

This wasn't an urgent chase for life, nor was it about saving a lot of people... The chosen route was a Catastrophes -free route that even a small civilian off-road vehicle could handle. In a relaxed and happy atmosphere, like a vacation, Nana said goodbye to the mournful-faced Huang, left a letter in PRTS explaining the situation to the others, and then Medic, wearing an old Rhodes Island uniform, stepped on the gas and drove towards Siracusa.

PS: Waaaaaaah!

It's quite a coincidence that the illustration was also placed among the Siracusa illustrations.

8th Spring of Siracusa: 291 What? You're also looking for Vulpo?

Siracusa is located in the south-central part of Ursus, southwest of Lungmen and Kazdel.

As time progressed to 1097, the off-road vehicle sped along the usual messenger's safe route, winter turned to spring, and raindrops pattered on the roof, creating a rhythmic concert. The long rainy season brought Nana and her team to Siracusa.

Unlike the arid west side near Leithanien, the humid mountains to the east of Siracusa nurture lush forests. The forests are shrouded in mist and mud, making it difficult for caravans to pass and causing great hardship for forestry workers.

As an outsider, Nana also experienced the frustration of her wheels getting stuck in the mud on the forest trails several times... Fortunately, with a local like Su Sulo who was used to it, and Typhon, Sarkaz 'bodyguard' whose normal strength was much greater than Nana's, the journey wasn't too painful.

But... that's just a tentative step.

As someone who has always lived in the city, Su Sulo was familiar with the transportation conditions in the city-states surrounding Siracusa, but long-distance travel was not something she did 'frequently'.

Most of the information she had about how to rescue vehicles that had sunk into the mud was hearsay from patients in the past. In addition, she spent most of her time living on Rhodes Island, a Landship, so her adaptability was probably not as high as Nana's Folinic... Maybe Typhon is the one who is most comfortable in the wild among the four of them this time.

"Well, at least we've arrived..."

Seeing the convoy already queuing up and occasionally moving forward to pass through the checkpoint, Nana put the map of Siracusa aside.

Nana, who was suddenly a little dazed, would naturally check on her. After shaking her head and telling the passenger in the front seat that she was fine, Nana remembered her manager's praise for Madame Sicily, the creator of Syracuse.

[Terra a vast and boundless land, but few in modern times can be called outstanding figures. Lady Sicilia is one of them, and one of the pinnacles among them.]

Given that she was described in this way by the ICA's 'Eternal Constant', the 'Angel's' informant and caretaker, Nana naturally held the creator of the current order in Siracusa in high regard... and had a considerable investigation and understanding of his life.

Listening to Nana's casual chatter to pass the time, Su Sulo, a local of Siracusa, tilted her head in confusion:

"Oh? As ordinary people like me, we don't know much about that person... After all, the lives of families and ordinary people basically don't intersect."

Nana rarely refuted Su Sulo's optimistic attitude, but in order to make Typhon's mind, which had never been Pollution by similar knowledge, understand what needed to be careful about in Siracusa, Nana had to explain the origins of Siracusa.

More than sixty years ago, in 1039, Siracusa, which had gained independence from Leithanien, was facing Leithanien's purge. Everyone across the land believed that Siracusa, still a loosely organized family constantly embroiled in internal strife, would inevitably be devoured by the Witch King like beans. At that time, the Lady Sicilia brought 'Guns and Order' to Siracusa from Laterano.

For the twelve families that ruled Siracusa at the time, this was absolute violence that came out of nowhere.

Not only did she unify Siracusa in a very short time, but she also led Siracusa through the conflict with Leithanien until the Twin Empresses' Rebellion, allowing the weak and vulnerable Siracusa to barely survive in the face of the powerful nation created by the Witch King.

This was like a blessing from fate, or a reward for perseverance. The Lady Sicilia, who wielded absolute violence, brought a new rule to Siracusa that continues to this day: the 'Guns and Order' that her manager never forgot... Nana had reason to suspect that her training in using Firearms Arts from the moment she opened her eyes was partly due to her manager's admiration, but that didn't matter.

Under the order known as the 'Gray Hall', the families ended the pre-Sicilian era of indiscriminate killing. Lady Sicilia established a court and set two bottom lines for the families: one is 'family feuds must not be ruthless', and the other is 'no war between the twelve families of the Gray Hall '.

In the words of the agent, this was a stroke of genius, preventing Siracusa from self-destructing again in the civil war, and at the same time, dragging the people of Siracusa, who were under the reign of terror, into the modern 'civilized' era of Terra.

The reason why Nana started her story from sixty years, spanning two generations, is because this is the origin of the dramatic changes that have taken place in Siracusa today.

"Although I haven't been to Siracusa for a long time, I can see that the streets of Siracusa have changed dramatically from the chaotic state I knew in the past... All the government checkpoints, the military and police maintaining order in the city, including the receptionists who charged us when we entered the city, used to be under the jurisdiction of [the family]."

"In other words, Su Sulo, it was pure luck that you were able to join Rhodes Island as a commoner. If you had been born a few years earlier, it's hard to say whether you would have become a doctor now... Even if you had still managed to get the opportunity to study through various means, you would probably just be working for the family."

"And what does it mean to work for a family... To put it simply, it's the feeling of disappearing the next day and no one caring... Although Siracusa has improved somewhat under the intervention of Guns and Order, it's only improved somewhat."

"So don't be fooled by Kal'tsit's description of 'tourism,' that's just how she describes me. You all need to be vigilant and not forget our objective... why was Little Lisa sent to Rhodes Island?"

Su Sulo simply shrugged at Nana's statement, while Typhon, accustomed to the survival-of-the-fittest rules of the wilderness, nodded in understanding.

Only Folinic, sitting in the back seat, was surprised by Nana's words and hugged her arm. Her attention had been focused on Ursus she considered the most miserable place in all of Terra. She never expected that compared to that cesspool, there was a family with hidden talents.

Meanwhile, Typhon, who was also trained by Nana as a sniper operator, is already paying attention to his primary duties:

"So, in this... Siracusa under the new order, what should we be aware of?"

"This is certainly the line between 'family' and 'commoner'."

It wasn't Nana, who was driving, who gave the explanation, but Su Sulo was twitching her ears in the passenger seat:

"While I don't have much of an impression of the terrifying pre-Sicilian era that Nana described... if we're talking about precautions to take here now, then of course it's best to avoid getting involved with the family."

"As long as we don't go anywhere related to the family, we'll be fine?"

"This..."

"That's impossible."

Nana cruelly shattered Su Sulo 'Su Sulo lingering stereotypes of himself as an ordinary citizen of Siracusa, a stereotype ingrained by sixty years of Guns and Order:

"Although there has been some improvement... the families still control their respective territories, and the Lady Sicilia order merely adds a barrier called 'government' between the families and ordinary people..."

"... Teacher, didn't you say that Lady Sicilia was a very capable person? Why does it say here that what she did was actually useless?"

As they made their way along the road in the light rain, Nana searched for an inn where the four of them could stay, explaining to Typhon as they went: [The text abruptly shifts to a seemingly unrelated topic:]... neighbor...

"No, although it's only a small change, it has actually created a crack in the millennia-long family rule of Siracusa."

"... Is it because ordinary people can also work in the government?"

Su Sulo, true to her high IQ as a medical school graduate, immediately grasped the key, but this did not dispel the girls' doubts: I

"But for families, it doesn't seem like news that they frequently purge government departments and replace entire systems with bloodshed," I said.

"But even so, the family can no longer eliminate the government's presence, and their henchmen can no longer run rampant as they did in the old days; they must now abide by laws and regulations... all of this is based on the absolute violence wielded by Lady Sicilia."

"For Siracusa, the underlying logic of its social operation underwent a fundamental change over sixty years of transformation. Even though the family remained at the top, controlling everything, those with power—government officials, judges, and other ordinary citizens—began to exert a counterbalance over the family. Private..."

"So don't think of [families] as high and mighty as they were a thousand years ago. Nowadays, families can be restrained by the government and lured by interests. As long as they don't cause trouble, the other party has to act according to the law... So although there is danger, it's not high. As long as we properly integrate into the local rules, this job is just picking up a child, like a trip."

He recounts history, emphasizes key points, and finally offers solace to the crowd by embodying the violence of Rhodes Island himself.

Nana felt that although her emotions were becoming increasingly personal and her pretense was becoming more pronounced, she was also becoming more and more like a proper team leader thanks to these clearly defined feelings.

No... I am, in fact, the legitimate leader of the Trauma Team.

Lost in a jumble of thoughts, the mud-covered SUV, bearing the logo of Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals, finally found a hotel that appeared to be of modest quality.

Although Nana had just recounted so much of Siracusa's history, looking at the town's peaceful and serene atmosphere, Folinic still found it hard to connect this place with a place like Ursus, where human life was treated lightly and the government was tyrannical.

However, this is precisely the most direct manifestation of 'Guns and Order'.

"Hello, we need two double rooms... okay, one suite. Also, where can we get our car washed?"

While Su Sulo was having her booking requirements corrected by Nana, Folinic and Typhon strolled around the hotel, which wasn't very big, but the environment wasn't bad either.

Judging from the interior design, this store, which extensively uses floor-to-ceiling windows and features the revolving door design that was popular in Columbia a few years ago, should have been opened and renovated around 1990. After all, most Columbia stores now use automatic doors, and with technology becoming the mainstream pursuit, such small designs have become the so-called cutting edge of fashion.

Compared to Typhon, who could beam with happiness at the softness of the sofa in the hall, Folinic was a city dweller who had seen the Ursus Nobility go about their lives since she was a child, and she wouldn't be so content just playing on a sofa... With nothing else to do, she looked around anxiously, clearly somewhat uneasy because of Nana's description that "this place is just as bad as Ursus".

If Folinic continues like this, she'll definitely have dark circles under her eyes in less than three days... But as if heaven is also saving the naive girl, Folinic soon sees what the dark side of Siracusa is all about.

"Sicilians, get out of my way!!!"

It was a group of people dressed in suits, just like Nana sometimes was... but they didn't seem to have the same composure and elegance as their predecessors. As the group rushed past the hotel, they smashed the headlights of the cars parked in front of Rhodes Island.

This made Folinic, who already knew what kind of person her seniors in the department were, wonder, "Do you guys have a death wish?"

Looking back, however, Nana didn't seem angry about the damaged car.

The assassin had only glanced up briefly, and after noticing that Folinic wasn't involved, she acted as if nothing was amiss. Then, she and Su Sulo, who had ignored everything, began discussing which accommodation package to buy.

Typhon, however, remained steadfast in his duty. As the group passed by, the Sarkaz girl wielding the giant bow stood behind Folinic. The two watched the commotion dissipate, and then Typhon belatedly remarked:

"Were those guys... chasing after a girl?"

"... I didn't notice; I only looked after that group of people had already passed by."

Typhon wasn't surprised by Folinic's behavior, after all, Folinic had seemed absent-minded before. The giant archer began to describe it with great enthusiasm:

"It was a Vulpo girl dressed in red and white, skipping and hopping several meters... and just like that, she was gone in a flash."

"Vulpo?"

Listening to Typhon's description, Folinic subconsciously glanced at Vulpo, who was also from Su Sulo, then glanced around the inn lobby where no one seemed to be paying attention before lowering her voice and saying:

"Our mission target is also Vulpo... that person..."

Although he spoke very briefly, Typhon understood what Folinic wanted to ask.

But everyone's target was a blonde, nine-tailed child, around twelve years old, and about 1.4 meters tall. The guy who just ran past, regardless of his fur color and the number of tails, was already 1.6 meters tall... about the same height as Nana. She couldn't possibly be the mission target, so Typhon shook his head in denial.

However, before the two girls could relax and enjoy their 'trip', the man in a suit who had been reading the newspaper stood up... well, this was obviously a Lupo.

"Hey, you guys seemed to have mentioned something interesting just now... 'Vulpo as a target'? I'm very interested in that."

With his suit jacket open and black leather gloves, the Lupo man, whose appearance was strangely reminiscent of Nana's past 'work' attire, looked down at Typhon, who was protecting Folinic.

"Bodyguard? Your young lady and I have something to discuss... Sarkaz, you'd better have some self-awareness and stay to the side. Also, that Vulpo is one of your companions, right? Come here! Let me see your face!"

Typhon frowned as he watched the man with the stubble on his ear and the strange earring get so close he could smell the man's sweat. But then he looked at Nana who was walking towards him.

When this man rudely berated Su Sulo, who habitually buried her head in Siracusa and pretended not to exist, Nana's expression instantly vanished:

"The local gangs are so rude."

"Huh? I consider myself a very polite person when it comes to Sicilians..."

Despite saying that, watching Nana methodically put on the black leather gloves that looked strangely familiar from all the wear and tear, and as her fingers moved rhythmically, a uniquely shaped gold coin danced on her fingertips, the man who saw the coin's design suddenly broke out in a cold sweat and took two steps back.

"I'm... sorry... I was rude."

"Don't rush off."

This stopped the man who had just taken a step and frozen in place. Looking at the crowd in the hotel who didn't know what to do, Nana unbuttoned her Rhodes Island uniform jacket, revealing her combat uniform and the holster under her arm. The crowd that had been hesitant just now immediately returned to normal, and everyone selectively went blind to a part of their eyes.

Such things are indeed very common in Siracusa.

She took out the 'Silver Dancer,' a gun that was already known to everyone in Ursus. Nana slowly moved the muzzle across the man's brow, throat, and heart... finally subtly pointing it between his trembling legs.

"Your target seems to be a Vulpo? Tell me about it... I'm quite interested."

PS: Waaaaaaah!

I've collected so many pictures of Ray... It seems like the next chapter will also Ray... But Ray is handsome! So I didn't mention it.

The 8th Spring of Siracusa: 292 The So-Called Name of Sicily

"I...we are Sicilians ...to be our enemy is to be..."

"So, it means being Lady Sicilia?"

Seeing that the other party was still trying to resist, Nana couldn't help but tilt her head, as if to say, "Are you serious?"

If the other party had brought up a certain Grey Hall Family, Nana might have hesitated. But the other party insisted on using the 'Sicilians' as a topic. That Lady Sicilia was a key figure in Nana's past textbooks, and the 'Sicilians' just happened to be a group of people that Nana was most familiar with.

This name, which is almost as old as Siracusa, originally meant "Sicilian City," but unlike other city-states, Sicilian City was never ruled by a single family from the beginning.

Initially, a few small families formed a loose "Sicilian Union," and it was they who launched the first city-state war in Siracusa's history. Legend has it that they used a sickle to cut off the tails of the defeated, and the Siracusa proverb "to flee with one's tail gone" may have originated from this. The victory in the war fostered ambition, and after a coup, the Sicilian City and its glorious name were monopolized by one family, and the Sicilian Union became the Sicilian Family.

With the establishment of Guns and Order, or the Gray Hall, Lady Sicilia relinquished her position as head of the family, thus bringing the history of the Sicilian Family to an end.

At that time, all the small families in the city coveted the vacant name "Sicily," and they formed a union again, but failed to reach an agreement.

Some wanted to restore the rule of the Sicilian Union, while others only wanted to rely on Lady Sicilia's power. In the end, the latter gained nothing, while the former were expelled from Siracusa and disappeared without a trace.

Nowadays, the Sicilians " is merely a fig leaf for small families; any Siracusa gang that is small in size or ashamed to admit its origins can call itself Sicilians.

Of course, it would be even more legitimate if one were truly born in the Sicilian City.

Nana didn't care what kind of person was in front of her; after all, the so-called Sicilians could only be described as a rabble, whether in the context of Rhodes Island or Nana's other identities.

After Typhon finished the search, he simply took the short sword hanging on the other man's belt. Nana took the wallet, and although she didn't find any identification, she saw a row of slightly chipped, barely round Siracusa Florin Coin. Apart from these three gold coins, the rest were all copper coins and government bills, some in small change and some in large ones. Nana couldn't help but sigh:

"Although the Lady Sicilia gang wouldn't be so strapped for cash, it's surprising that this is indeed the currency issued by the Sicilian City... by the Sicilians."

They explored the rudimentary gold coins, noting that regardless of which city-state or family issued them, they all bore the two most significant words of Siracusa: 'family' and 'order'.

Signaling Typhon not to pinch the other so hard, Nana put away her weapon. But as the assassin's leather gloves rhythmically clenched into fists, the family members felt an increasingly oppressive, storm-like feeling approaching:

"Rhodes Island greets you, 'Sicilians.' Now let's return to the original question... Is your target a Vulpo?"

"Yes... yes..."

"Why? And... what's their background? Please don't make me ask questions before you answer; it's not good for maintaining a good relationship... After all, the groups that make up 'Sicilians' are numerous and varied... Whether it's a family or a company, getting acquainted is very important."

"Come on, say 'Hello,' and then answer my question."

Although Nana's tone became increasingly gentle, Typhon, who was gripping the family thug, hadn't held back... Lupo answered with a grimacing expression, like a beast being pinched by the scruff of its neck, looking truly pitiful.

"You...hello...we are... the Sicilians ...we are chasing a Vulpo the Infected ...her insurance premium is three weeks overdue...we...we are just...on official business..."