My Directing Debut on the Ark: Success if I'm Not Banned

However... when Texas looked up, she noticed that Madam Sicily was still in male disguise. Not only that, but her makeup made her look even older than the last time Texas had seen her.

Even if it was just the effect of the makeup, seeing Madam Sicily, who looked so much older after a period of not seeing her... combined with the news that Si Ye was "dead," Texas could only imagine the immense blow it must have been to Madam Sicily.

At this moment, Madam Sicily truly looked like a frail old woman, her life already at its end, like a candle flickering in the wind...

"—You say you're not acting, but the one who's most immersed in the role is precisely Madam Sicily."

After spending some intimate time with Talulah, Chen Qi watched Texas and Madam Sicily from a distance. Seeing their current father-daughter-like interaction, he felt quite emotional.

Although he had said from before the shoot that he hoped they could interact like a real family, the movie was now nearing its end... Looking at Madam Sicily and Texas, who seemed to have truly found a family atmosphere, Chen Qi couldn't help but feel guilty about his upcoming scenes.

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

"Isn't there going to be a day sooner or later?"

Chen Qi also composed himself, shrugged indifferently, and then spoke to FrostNova beside him:

"FrostNova, please tell Texas and Madam Sicily that we'll be taking a break for the next two days so they can spend some time together."

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

Chapter 17: The Old Godfather's Farewell, Life is So Beautiful

A few days later, one afternoon, Texas received the news of her scene with Madam Sicily. Texas and Madam Sicily, who was showing her age, were sitting peacefully in the manor.

Their atmosphere was relaxed, as if they weren't acting but simply chatting. However, it was clear that Texas didn't know much about this scene... She also didn't know that this would be Madam Sicily's last scene.

Texas's eyes were fixed on Madam Sicily in front of her. She looked even older... Rob Rata's makeup made Madam Sicily appear completely like an old man, a candle flickering in the wind, completely devoid of the authority and presence she had at the start of the film. Now, Madam Sicily was just an ordinary old man—an old man passing on his final wisdom to the next generation.

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

Madam Sicily gave her child her final guidance, took a shallow sip of wine, and then changed the subject, starting to reminisce:

"I like drinking more than before, drinking more and more."

"That's good for your health, Dad." Texas answered each of Madam Sicily's questions earnestly. Whether it was the Madam's aging that touched her heart, or if she truly respected her as a "father," Texas felt that Madam Sicily was becoming confused.

When old people reach a certain age, they tend to ramble, jump between topics, and lose their train of thought... And Madam Sicily was clearly in that state now.

"...Are you getting along well with your wife and children?"

"Very happy." Texas smiled faintly. In the movie, several years had passed in the storyline, and Texas naturally had her own "children."

"That's good." Madam Sicily showed a look of genuine relief upon hearing Texas's answer. Her thoughts shifted again, and she said:

"I hope you don't mind me always bringing up other people... I spent my whole life learning to be cautious."

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

"...How is your son?" Madam Sicily asked the same question again, her mind seemingly unable to keep up.

"He's very good." Texas smiled patiently. "He's smarter than me. He could read comics at three years old."

"Reading comics..." A genuine smile spread across Madam Sicily's face. This was a luxury she couldn't have enjoyed in her era. She was happy that her descendants could enjoy such a good life.

After a moment of joy, Madam Sicily's thoughts shifted again, and she returned to her "Godfather" state, instructing: "I want you to find someone from the phone company and check every phone that enters and leaves here..."

"—I've already handled it, Dad. I've handled it."

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

Her instructions interrupted, Madam Sicily, as the Godfather, showed no anger on her face. She had completely accepted her old age and Texas's new position as "Godfather."

"...What happened, Dad?" At this moment, Texas also sensed something was wrong. She carefully touched Madam Sicily's hand. Her unusual chattiness made Texas notice something was amiss. "What's troubling you?"

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

"...That's good."

Madam Sicily looked at Texas in front of her. Although Texas wasn't a child she had watched grow up, at this moment, she seemed to see her transformation and sharp intuition.

After a long silence, Madam Sicily finally straightened her body slightly. She felt it was time to convey the ultimate wisdom of this film.

"...I know Sonny (Si Ye) will be involved in the family business, and Fredo (Giovanna)."

"Fredo... hmm..."

Speaking of her timid second daughter, Madam Sicily seemed to bring up her own child who couldn't live up to expectations, but she no longer had the energy to get angry, only a helpless sigh as she continued:

"But I never expected you to be involved... involved in this world of unseen sin."

"I've lived my whole life, worked hard to take care of my family, and I have no regrets about it."

"I refuse to be a fool—to be manipulated by those civilized bandits, those so-called big shots behind the scenes."

"I won't regret it; this is my fate. But I want..."

At this point, Madam Sicily's tone paused slightly... She put herself in the shoes of her family, if they truly had no power in Colombia and were controlled by politicians in Syracuse, how would she, being constrained by them, help the family regain its footing.

She thought for a long time, and after much consideration, it seemed there was only one path.

That was to become part of those "civilized bandits" herself, to become like those big shots, to be on the same line of interest as them.

But this was undoubtedly difficult, especially for a Syracuse family... Madam Sicily had also been to Colombia, and she knew that all of this was fraught with challenges.

She could no longer adapt to this era, but she had tried her best to ensure the family's continuation through the times, and she had a clear conscience.

"...But I want, if one day you can be the one manipulating things from behind the scenes."

Here, Madam Sicily's cloudy eyes showed a glimmer of longing and expectation, and her tone became a bit expectant as she murmured:

"The Corleone Senate... Governor Corleone... something like that."

"To be a real big shot." Texas nodded silently, but she knew all of this very well, and it was precisely because of this that she understood why Syracuse had to change.

Columbia's civilization had already influenced this traditional land, and in the next ten to twenty years, Syracuse would inevitably undergo drastic changes.

And by then, if the families could not change the rules of Syracuse, then the rules would change the families of Syracuse... This was inevitable.

It was just that, to achieve these two outcomes, how many people would have to shed blood for this realization... Texas didn't want to see that.

"Mmm." Madam Sicily understood, and with a sigh, she murmured to herself, "There isn't much time left, Mike, not much time left..."

Time was running out for them, for Syracuse, for the families... If they couldn't adapt to the times, the families of Syracuse would be abandoned by the times.

"We will do it, Dad." Texas gazed at Madam Sicily with certainty, reaffirming:

"We will do it."

As Texas finished speaking, Madam Sicily looked at the next generation, who made her genuinely proud. She gently lifted Texas's cheek and kissed her forehead.

"—Listen, whoever suggests you meet Bassani."

"He is the traitor, don't ever forget it."

After imparting the final plot points and wisdom, Madam Sicily slowly got up, leaving Texas alone to savor the conversation.

At this moment, the handover between the old and new Godfather was complete, and Madam Sicily was about to perform her final act.

The scene shifted. Elsewhere, Madam Sicily was playing with Mike's son in the movie in a garden, amidst a field of unripe tomatoes.

Madam Sicily acted like an ordinary elderly woman, chasing her grandson through the small field. Her steps were not as agile as a child's, but she still tried her best to happily accompany her grandson.

But soon, she began to struggle to walk, panting heavily, and then started to sway unsteadily...

"Cough... Cough cough—"

With a few violent coughs, it was as if she had expelled her last breath...

Her aged body finally collapsed in the field, at an angle her grandson couldn't see.

This was the Godfather's final "scheme"... She didn't want her death to frighten her grandson.

The afternoon sun cast its rays upon her body, the soft earth beneath her, and the sounds of her grandson playing still echoed in her ears...

"Life is so beautiful."

She uttered this almost as a whisper, with a hint of reluctance, yet also with a smile of contentment. Madam Sicily shed two tears and slowly closed her eyes.

At this moment, bathed in sunlight, it was as if her soul was ascending to heaven.

Madam Sicily lay there for a long time without getting up. By the time filming ended and everyone else had left, no one disturbed her... It wasn't until the afternoon sun was about to fade that Chen Qi's figure slowly approached Madam Sicily.

"...Madam Sicily?"

"...Don't disturb me, Director Chen Qi. If I had a choice, I would wish for today to be my last day."

However, at Chen Qi's gentle call, Madam Sicily finally opened her eyes slightly. In that moment, it was as if she had broken free from the role. Her eyes regained their strength, her voice regained its firmness, and she said softly:

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

"...This is also why Bernardo wanted to compete with me for the role of Godfather. We both hoped to have the chance to choose our own 'death'."

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

At this moment, Father Agniell's voice sounded beside Madam Sicily. He had watched her performance the entire time and had only arrived now because he had been reciting the doctrines of Laterano's atonement chapter in front of the big screen, which had delayed him.

"...Director Chen Qi, can you make a last-minute arrangement in the movie for this old man to have a cameo as a character who is destined to die? I would be very grateful."

Upon hearing the priest, who had returned to Syracuse with her and brought back "Guns and Order," but who always seemed to oppose her, Madam Sicily regained some of her spirit and finally prepared to get up from the ground.

However, after the scolding, Madam Sicily unhesitatingly took the hand extended by Father Agniell and stood up. Then, she turned her gaze back to Chen Qi, a smile on her face, and said:

"Director Chen Qi, this movie will definitely be a success. I, Madam Sicily, affirm your talent and excellence."

"I will make this movie spread throughout Syracuse, the greatest Mafia film... a film about life."

"Thank you for your affirmation, Madam Sicily." Chen Qi, having received Madam Sicily's approval, finally felt completely at ease. Although the movie wasn't completely finished, Chen Qi knew by now that he had succeeded.

This movie would be widely circulated in Syracuse, becoming a "timeless classic."

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

Suddenly, Madam Sicily remembered something and said to Chen Qi, "On the first day of the movie's release, I hope to invite all members of my family to watch this film."

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

"—How about this, Madam Sicily." Chen Qi's eyes lit up slightly upon hearing this, and he said to Madam Sicily:

"On the first day of the movie's release, I will invite all Mafia members from the Twelve Families to watch this film for free. I am very much looking forward to hearing their evaluation of this movie as official Mafia members."

The Mafia would surely love "The Godfather." If they could flood the comment sections with positive reviews, they would earn even more reputation points!

When industry "professionals" gave good reviews, it would help to eliminate a large number of trolls and those who left bad reviews, making it easier for Chen Qi to bring "The Godfather" to other countries in this land.

First and foremost, Lungmen! Chen Qi thought of everyone from Penguin Logistics being on set and felt it was time to expand "external business," to give the audiences of other countries in this land a little taste of the Mafia's impact!

Chapter 18: Texas's New "Godfather", "The Godfather" Premieres in Lungmen

Madam Sicily's wrap-up signaled that the majority of the plot for "The Godfather" had concluded. Now, Texas, who played the second-generation Godfather, would pass the torch. In the film's final half-hour, she would complete her "baptism" with the blood of revenge.

At the Godfather's funeral, everything unfolded as Madam Sicily had said. Tessio, unable to trust Michael's abilities, had allied with other families and plotted to kill him during the meeting. Ultimately, Michael decided to strike first, eliminating all enemies before they could act against him.

During the baptism ceremony officiated by Father Agniell, Texas stood in the church. While professing faith in God and abhorring all demonic acts, she had arranged for her most trusted confidantes to orchestrate a series of massacres that very day.

In this moment, Texas transformed into a true devil. Amidst the most sacred of baptisms, she carried out the darkest of slaughters.

And at the film's conclusion, in her new role as Godfather, she met with Carlo. Played by Lappland's father, Carlo had conspired with members of other families in the film, leading to Sonny's (Si Ye's) untimely death. Texas, now a terrifying demon, came to claim his life.

On the condition that Carlo would never touch the family business again, she finally forced him to confess his betrayal. However, Carlo was unaware that his promise to never touch the family business meant he would never be able to touch it again.

In the car, Clemenza, played by Lappland, personally "strangled" the traitor. This traitor, who had made Texas his godchild in an attempt to save his own life, ultimately could not escape the family's reckoning.

With this, Texas completed the elimination of all family traitors and external enemies. She had become the rightful next Godfather, earning the awe and fear of all family members.

Finally, in the office that once belonged to the Godfather, Lappland embraced Texas, kissed her hand, and addressed her as "Your Excellency Corleone." With this, "The Godfather" officially concluded.

"Congratulations, 'The Godfather' is officially wrapped!"

"Bang!"

As the celebratory cannons fired, at the Volcini City Hotel, all the actors and extras who had participated in "The Godfather," along with the entire Integrated Cultural Troupe and even the leaders of the Twelve Families, had gathered to celebrate the successful completion of this monumental masterpiece.

The host was none other than Madam Sicily, who had played the Godfather. She stood on a raised platform, with Chen Qi and Talulah representing the crew on a slightly lower step. Closest to the steps were the lead actors, Si Ye, Chastisement, Texas, and others.

With the film wrapped, everyone had removed their makeup and changed back into their own clothes. Madam Sicily, standing on the high platform, smiled faintly and said:

"I am very happy and fortunate to have been able to participate in such a film. For this role, Bernardo and I even had some disagreements, but now, I can confidently say that my persistence was the right choice."

"This is a work that every Syracusan should watch. With Director Chen Qi's permission, all theaters in Syracuse will offer free admission to all Mafia members on the premiere day."

"Everyone, please, have a drink."