Chapter Seventeen: The Old Godfather's Farewell-Life Is So Beautiful / Chapter Eighteen: Texas, the New "Godfather"-Promoting "The Godfather" in Lungmen

However... when Texas looked up, she discovered that Madam Sicily was still dressed as a man—not only that, but compared to the last time Texas had seen her, her makeup made her look far older.

Even if it was merely the effect of makeup, seeing Madam Sicily, whom she had not seen for some time, age so drastically... combined with the news that Si Ye had already "died," Texas could imagine just how tremendous a blow it had dealt Madam Sicily.

At that moment, Madam Sicily truly looked like a dying old woman. Her life, like that of any elderly person approaching the end, had become a flickering candle in the wind...

"—She says she doesn't get immersed in the role, but Madam Sicily is actually the one who's deepest in character."

After spending some tender time with Talulah, Chen Qi watched Texas and Madam Sicily in the distance. Seeing the two of them interact like a real father and son filled him with emotion.

Although he had always said before filming began that he hoped they could get along like a real family, the movie was now nearing its end... Looking at Madam Sicily and Texas, who truly seemed to have formed a familial bond, Chen Qi could not help feeling guilty about the scenes to come.

"...Are you worried?" Talulah noticed Chen Qi's sorrow. She took his hand to reassure him and asked softly.

"This day was bound to come sooner or later, wasn't it?"

Chen Qi gathered himself, shrugged indifferently, then spoke to FrostNova beside him.

"FrostNova, please tell Texas and Madam Sicily that we're taking the next two days off. Let them spend some proper time together."

"After that, we'll film the most important scene—the handover between the old and new Godfathers. It's time to begin."

The Old Godfather's Curtain Call: Life Is So Beautiful

One afternoon several days later, Texas received word that she would be acting opposite Madam Sicily. She sat in the manor with Madam Sicily, who looked thoroughly aged.

Their atmosphere was relaxed, as though they were not acting at all but simply chatting. Yet Texas clearly did not know much about this scene... nor did she know it would be Madam Sicily's final scene.

Texas stared fixedly into Madam Sicily's eyes. She looked even older... Rob Rata's makeup had made Madam Sicily appear entirely like an elderly person whose life was hanging by a thread. None of the majesty and presence she had possessed when filming first began remained. Madam Sicily was now merely an ordinary old woman—one passing her final wisdom on to the next generation.

"They want to deal with you first. He'll have someone you absolutely trust arrange a meeting, then kill you at the meeting."

Madam Sicily gave her child her final guidance. She took a small sip of wine, then abruptly changed the subject and began talking about ordinary matters.

"I like drinking more than I used to. I drink more and more."

"That's good for you, Dad." Texas answered every one of Madam Sicily's questions seriously. Whether Madam Sicily's aged appearance had touched her heart, or whether she truly respected her as a father, Texas sensed that Madam Sicily was not entirely lucid.

When people grew old enough, they began to ramble, change topics abruptly, and lose the ability to maintain a continuous train of thought... Madam Sicily was clearly in that state now.

"...Do you get along well with your wife and children?"

"I'm very happy." Texas smiled faintly. In the movie, several years had passed in the storyline, so Texas naturally had her own "children."

"That's good." Hearing Texas's reply, Madam Sicily showed genuine relief. Her thoughts jumped again as she said, "I hope you don't mind that I keep bringing up other people... I spent my whole life learning to be careful."

"Women and children can make mistakes, but men cannot."

"...How is your son?" Madam Sicily asked the same question again, as though her mind could no longer turn properly.

"He's very well." Texas smiled patiently. "He's smarter than I am. He could read comics when he was three."

"Reading comics..." A heartfelt smile bloomed across Madam Sicily's face. It was a luxury her generation had never been able to enjoy, and she was happy that her descendants could live such a good life.

But after that brief joy, Madam Sicily's thoughts jumped once more. Returning to the state of The Godfather, she ordered, "I want you to find someone from the telephone company and check every call coming in and out of here..."

"—I've already taken care of it, Dad. I've got it handled."

"...That's right. I forgot."

Her instruction was interrupted, yet there was not a trace of anger on Madam Sicily's face. She had completely accepted her own aging, as well as Texas's new position as The Godfather.

"...What happened, Dad?" Texas also sensed that something was wrong. She carefully touched Madam Sicily's hand. Madam Sicily's unusual rambling made Texas uneasy. "What's troubling you?"

"I... I can handle it. If I say I can, then I can."

"...That's good."

Madam Sicily looked at Texas before her. Though Texas was not a child she had raised herself, at that moment, Madam Sicily seemed to see her transformation and keen instincts.

After a long silence, Madam Sicily finally sat up slightly. The wisdom this movie was meant to convey had reached the moment when she felt it should be passed on.

"...I knew Sonny would become involved in the family business, and so would Fredo."

"Fredo... Mm..."

Mentioning that timid second daughter, Madam Sicily sounded as though she were speaking of her own disappointing child. But she no longer had the strength for anger. All that remained was a helpless sigh as she continued.

"But I never imagined that you would become involved... involved in this world where evil cannot be seen."

"I spent my whole life doing this, trying to take care of my family. I have no regrets about it."

"I refused to be a fool—letting those civilized bandits, those so-called important people, manipulate me from behind the scenes."

"I won't regret it. This is my fate. But I think..."

At this point, Madam Sicily's tone paused... Putting herself in the situation, she thought about what she would do if her family truly were in Columbia, without the power to dominate Syracuse, constrained by politicians' manipulation. How could she make the family stand firm again?

She thought for a long time. No matter how she considered it, there seemed to be only one path.

That was to become one of the "civilized bandits" herself, to become someone like those important people, someone bound to them by shared interests.

But that would undoubtedly be difficult, especially for a Syracuse family... Madam Sicily had been to Columbia before. She knew every part of it would be fraught with hardship.

She could no longer adapt to this era, but she had done her utmost to allow her family to endure through it. She had no regrets.

"...But I think that if one day, you can become the one manipulating things behind the scenes."

As she spoke, a faint gleam of longing and expectation surfaced in Madam Sicily's clouded eyes. Her voice became softly anticipatory.

"Senator Corleone... Governor Corleone... something like that."

"Become a true important person." Texas nodded quietly. Yet she understood all of it. This was also why she had always known that Syracuse had to change.

Columbia's civilization had already influenced this traditional land. In ten years, twenty years, Syracuse would inevitably undergo tremendous changes.

And when that time came, if the families could not change Syracuse's rules, then the rules would change Syracuse's families... It was inevitable.

It was only that the realization brought by those two outcomes would cost the blood of countless people... Texas did not want to see that.

"Mm." Madam Sicily understood. With a sigh, she murmured, "There isn't much time left, Mike. There isn't much time left..."

There was not much time left for them, not much time left for Syracuse and the families... They had to change. If they could not adapt to the era, Syracuse's families would only be abandoned by it.

"We'll do it, Dad." Texas looked firmly at Madam Sicily and reaffirmed it.

"We'll do it."

As Texas's words fell, Madam Sicily looked at the next generation before her, someone who made her genuinely proud. She gently cupped Texas's face and kissed her forehead.

"—Listen. No matter who suggests that you go meet Barzini."

"He is the traitor. Never forget that."

Having imparted the final plot and wisdom, Madam Sicily slowly rose, leaving Texas alone to reflect on their conversation.

At that moment, the handover between the old and new Godfathers had been completed. Madam Sicily was going to perform her final scene.

The camera shifted. Elsewhere, Madam Sicily was playing in the garden with Mike's son from the movie, amid a patch of unripe tomato plants.

Like an ordinary elderly woman, Madam Sicily chased after her grandson through the small fields. Her steps were not as nimble as a child's, but she still did her best to accompany him happily.

But soon, little by little, she could no longer walk properly. She began panting heavily, then started to sway unsteadily...

"Cough, cough... cough cough—"

A series of violent coughs sounded, as though she had coughed out her final breath...

Her aged body finally collapsed among the fields, falling at an angle where her grandson could not see her.

This was The Godfather's final "scheme"... She did not want her death to frighten her grandson.

Afternoon sunlight spilled across her body. Beneath her was soft earth, and the sound of her grandson playing still lingered by her ears...

"Life is so beautiful."

She left behind those words in an almost inaudible murmur. With a trace of reluctance, yet seemingly a satisfied smile, two tears slipped from Madam Sicily's eyes as she slowly closed them.

At that moment, under the sunlight, it was as though her soul could ascend to heaven.

Madam Sicily lay fallen for a long time without rising. Even after filming ended and everyone around her gradually left, no one disturbed her... It was not until the afternoon sunlight was about to fade that Chen Qi slowly approached Madam Sicily.

"...Madam Sicily?"

"...Don't disturb me, Director Chen Qi. If I could choose, I would hope today was the day I died."

Yet at Chen Qi's quiet call, Madam Sicily finally opened her eyes slightly. In that instant, it was as though she had broken free from the role. Her gaze regained its strength, and her voice became resolute once more as she said softly.

"No Mafia member can die peacefully of old age in their own bed. But if this were the end of my life, there could be no more perfect way to die than this."

"...That is why Bernardo wanted to fight me for the role of The Godfather. We both hoped we might have the chance to choose our own 'way of dying.'"

"—When that day comes, I will pray for you and absolve your sins, Sicily."

At that moment, Father Agniell's voice sounded beside Madam Sicily. He had watched Madam Sicily's performance from beginning to end, and only arrived now because he had recited all of Laterano's doctrine on atonement before the big screen, which had delayed him.

"...Director Chen Qi, can you arrange for this old fool to make a guest appearance as someone guaranteed to die? I would be very grateful."

The moment Madam Sicily heard the priest who had returned to Syracuse with her, bringing "guns and order," yet always opposed her, she immediately regained some energy and finally prepared to rise from the ground.

Yet after her insults, Madam Sicily took Father Agniell's outstretched hand without the slightest concern and stood up. Then she looked back at Chen Qi with a smile.

"Director Chen Qi, this movie will definitely succeed. In the name of Madam Sicily, I affirm your talent and excellence."

"I will make this movie spread throughout Syracuse—a greatest Mafia movie... a movie about life."

"Thank you for your affirmation, Madam Sicily." Having received Madam Sicily's recognition, Chen Qi finally relaxed completely. Though filming was not yet entirely finished, Chen Qi now knew that he had succeeded.

This movie would spread widely throughout Syracuse and become a timeless Syracuse classic.

"—Also, I have a small request, Director Chen Qi."

Madam Sicily suddenly remembered something and said to Chen Qi, "On the day the movie premieres, I would like to invite every member of my family to watch it."

"I know box office revenue is important to you directors. The Sicily family has seven hundred official members, so we'll book an entire screening."

"—How about this, Madam Sicily?" Chen Qi's eyes lit up slightly as he said to her.

"On the first day of release, I'll invite all Mafia members of the Twelve Families to watch this movie for free. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of evaluation everyone, as official Mafia members, gives it."

The Mafia would definitely love The Godfather. Let them flood the reviews with praise first, and then he could earn even more reputation points!

When all those "professionals" in the industry gave it positive reviews, they could wipe out a whole wave of haters and review bombers, making it easier for Chen Qi to spread The Godfather to other countries across this land.

First would be Lungmen! Chen Qi thought of everyone from Penguin Logistics being on the set. He felt it was time to expand their "external business" and give audiences in other countries across this land a little Mafia shock!

Texas's New "Godfather," The Godfather's Promotion in Lungmen

Madam Sicily's wrap signaled that most of The Godfather's plot had concluded. Now, the second-generation Godfather played by Texas would complete the handover, using the blood of revenge to complete her "baptism" in the movie's final half hour.

At The Godfather's funeral, everything unfolded exactly as Madam Sicily had said. In the end, Tessio chose to join forces with the other families because he could not trust Mike's abilities, and planned to kill him at a meeting—ultimately, Mike decided to strike first and eliminate every enemy before they could act against him.

During the occasion where Father Agniell personally appeared to baptize the child, Texas stood in the church, professing faith in the Lord and renouncing all demonic deeds, while arranging for every one of her trusted subordinates to carry out massacre after massacre on that very day.

At that moment, Texas became a true devil. While receiving the holiest baptism, she carried out the darkest slaughter.

At the end of the movie, she went to see Carlo as the new Godfather—this man, played by Lappland's father, had conspired with members of the other families in the movie and caused Sonny's death. She became the most terrifying devil to collect his life.

On the condition that Carlo would never touch the family business again, she finally made him confess the truth of his betrayal. Yet Carlo did not know that never touching the family business again meant he would never have the chance to touch it again.

In the car, Clemenza, played by Lappland, personally "strangled" the traitor to death. This traitor, who had wanted to save his own life by making Texas the godfather of his child, still could not escape the family's reckoning.

Thus, Texas finished purging all traitors within the family and all external enemies. She became the true next-generation Godfather, earning the awe and fear of every family member.

Finally, in the office that had once belonged to The Godfather, Lappland embraced Texas, kissed her hand, and personally addressed her as "Your Excellency Corleone"—with that, The Godfather officially came to an end.

"Congratulations! The Godfather has officially wrapped!"

"Bang!"

With the blast of celebratory cannons, every actor and extra who had participated in The Godfather, everyone from the Integrated Cultural Troupe, and even the respective heads of all Twelve Families gathered at a hotel in Volcini to celebrate the successful completion of this monumental work.

And the person hosting was none other than Madam Sicily, who had played The Godfather. She stood high above, while Chen Qi and Talulah stood on the lower steps as representatives of the crew. Closest to the steps were the lead actors, Si Ye, Chastisement, Texas, and the others.

The movie had wrapped, and everyone had removed their makeup and changed back into their own clothes. Madam Sicily, standing on the platform, smiled and then said calmly.

"I am very happy, and very fortunate, to have taken part in such a movie. For this role, Bernardo and I even had some disagreements. But now, I can say with certainty that my persistence was correct."

"This is a work every Syracuse citizen should watch. With Director Chen Qi's permission, every theater in Syracuse will be open free of charge to all Mafia members on the day of the premiere."

"Everyone, please have a drink first."