The First Act of *The Godfather*: Getting Into Character Without Realizing It

Mephisto said, "We have Madam Sicily's token, enough to prove all this."

"Besides, Director Chen Qi said that if you can appear in our film, he'll offer you a reason you won't be able to refuse."

Alberto asked, "...What is it?"

After seeing the necklace Mephisto had produced, Alberto confirmed that it was indeed Madam Sicily's token. Most of his earlier arrogance immediately faded. While that alone was not enough to make him agree to appear in the film, it undoubtedly gave him a new understanding of the influence Chen Qi's crew now possessed.

As for that reason he could not refuse... he was curious about what it could possibly be.

Yet after a moment of silence, Mephisto slowly spoke a single name, word by word:

"Lappland."

Sure enough, the instant Mephisto spoke that name, the entire scene fell silent. Seeing that the tactic had truly worked, Mephisto immediately continued.

"Director Chen Qi said he knows Lappland, and he knows where she is. He has invited Lappland's friend, Texas, to take part in our film. He believes that as long as Texas comes, Lappland will come too."

"She is your daughter, isn't she? I imagine you want to see her as well."

"—She is nothing more than a traitor to the family. From the moment she became a traitor, she ceased to have anything to do with this family."

Alberto snorted coldly at that, but the name had clearly shaken him deeply. After weighing it for a while, Alberto turned his back and said flatly,

"I will not appear in a film for that person. As the head of the family, I cannot act on impulse."

"—This time, I am merely investing in a film that is bound to succeed for the family's benefit, to bring us some insignificant profit. Understood?"

"I understand." Mephisto smiled faintly. Just as Director Chen Qi had said... this was a tsundere old father.

"I will relay your answer to Director Chen Qi."

"I'll remember this too. So your crew's public relations department is full of such capable people." Alberto sighed with feeling. He had never expected anyone to catch hold of his weakness one day, much less a child who looked barely into his teens.

"Child, you're an Infected, aren't you? How long have you been in your crew's public relations department?"

Mephisto replied, "Not long. Counting today, exactly half an hour. I'm just a temporary employee in the temporary public relations department."

"..."

Meanwhile, it was not only the Saluzzo Family. The Integrated Cultural Troupe had been sent by Chen Qi to invite members of the Twelve Families to take on roles, including quite a few people Chen Qi had specifically named.

At the Bellone Family, the family head Bernardo was also somewhat surprised by the visitors. He was someone who greatly loved art; Volcini's Milan Theater was one of his properties. Thus, when he first saw the role of "Vito Don Corleone" in the script for The Godfather, he was immediately moved.

This character was practically a reflection of his own life, as though it had been tailored specifically for him. Because of that, at the Grey Hall meeting, Bernardo had even become somewhat unhappy with Madam Sicily over who would play the leading role.

And now, members of Chen Qi's crew had visited the Bellone Family and presented their casting list, making the family head, who had been disappointed at losing the role he loved most, overjoyed once again.

"You mean my son, Si Ye, can have a role in this production? And an important supporting role at that?"

"Yes. The role of Sonny, the Godfather's eldest son. Our director believes no one but your son is suited for it."

FrostNova had brought Patriot here to negotiate with the Bellone Family. When the father and daughter first arrived, they had startled the Bellone guards so badly that dozens of guns were immediately aimed at them.

Fortunately, the news FrostNova and Patriot had brought delighted the family head. He had regretted being unable to star in what might one day become "Syracuse's greatest Mafia film," yet he had never expected his son to be selected.

"Not only your son. There is also the city-state judge supported by your family, Judge Lavinia, Chastisement. Director Chen Qi said she is very suitable for another major role, the consigliere Tom."

"Would the Bellone family head be willing to lend the two of them to our crew for filming? Of course, if you are worried, you may send your own people to protect them and supervise the filming progress."

Bernardo said, "Of course! I'll have them report to the crew immediately. Being able to take part in the greatest Mafia film is our honor!"

Very quickly, Chen Qi's casting among the Twelve Families was proceeding in full swing. In just one day, drawing on memories and experience from his previous life, Chen Qi had gathered nearly every influential figure in Syracuse to his crew, all for the sake of filming this masterpiece that would span worlds!

After a day had passed, the Penguin Logistics group Chen Qi and the others had been eagerly awaiting had also traveled all the way to Syracuse and arrived at Chen Qi's crew...

"Oh—so this is your hometown, Texas? It looks pretty nice!"

Texas said, "...My hometown is Columbia, Exusiai. This can only be considered the hometown of my former family."

The Penguin Logistics group had just disembarked from their landship and docked in the outskirts where the crew was located. Before Texas and the others could take in the changes around them, The Emperor impatiently strode toward the crew, saying as he went,

"What are you waiting for?! Hurry up and see that brat Chen Qi! I've been staring at that sheet music all day, and I already know how to sing it!"

"We can't let anyone else get ahead of us. Move!"

The Emperor felt like he had gone completely mad. The more he savored the song In the Name of the Father, the more he felt that whoever wrote it was an absolute genius. Before this, no one had imagined that a story could be conveyed through a song.

Especially after hearing Executioner mention that Chen Qi's upcoming The Godfather was about the Mafia, he became determined to sing the song himself!

Any film worthy of that song could not possibly be bad! Even if it was bad, he, The Emperor, could hold up the entire film with a single music video!

"Boss! Wait for us!"

Although The Emperor looked like a penguin, he ran faster than the four Penguin Logistics girls. After everyone had left, a silvery-white figure crawled out from the trunk of the landship parked nearby.

"Hehe, this is pretty interesting... I never thought Texas would return to Syracuse specifically for a film..."

"I'm not interested in that guy's movie, but if Texas is acting in it..."

As the silver-haired Lupo girl thought of this, a smile appeared at the corner of her lips. Having returned to Syracuse after so long, she had originally been eager to see a few "old friends," but this did not seem like the right time.

"No matter. I'll go take a look first. If it's a film starring Texas, then I'll reluctantly give that young director a five-star review. Hehe."

Just as she said that, after wandering around for a while, she suddenly spotted a surprisingly familiar figure—the head of the Saluzzo Family, who had been invited to appear in Chen Qi's film yesterday.

"...Why is he here? Hasn't he always had no interest in films or art?"

Lappland had not expected to run into her father here. Yet her father's presence only made Lappland's smile widen further.

Now, she had to take back what she had said at first. This film might turn out to be unexpectedly interesting.

Perhaps she should pay that director a visit too? See if he could arrange a role for her... preferably one where she could personally "kill" her father.

Lappland smiled as she quietly slipped into the crew. Now, she needed to follow Texas and the others to see just what was so magical about this film that it could attract so many powerful and influential figures from Syracuse.

The First Scene of The Godfather: Drawn In Before They Knew It

"Is this where The Godfather is being filmed? It's so luxurious! Director Chen Qi and the others can afford to rent such a huge place now?"

Led by Executioner, the Penguin Logistics group arrived at the location where Chen Qi and the others were currently filming. It was a rather large manor. The moment they arrived, they discovered many vehicles parked outside the gates and numerous well-dressed Lupo gathered within.

The manor full of Lupo made the Penguin Logistics girls, aside from Texas, feel rather out of place. Sora, the least capable fighter among them, shrank back and said timidly,

"So many people... Are they all Mafia members? What are they all gathered here for?"

"It looks like they're attending a wedding?" Texas, as someone who had once belonged to a family, quickly made her judgment of the situation before them and said evenly,

"From the decorations and what everyone is wearing, it is clearly the wedding of some family head's daughter. A very standard Syracusan wedding."

"Really? There aren't many white lace designs, but there are lots of floral decorations."

Texas's explanation made the Penguin Logistics group immediately understand the scene before them. Croissant, however, found it strange and could not help asking,

"But why would Director Chen Qi come here? This doesn't look like a place for filming."

"Perhaps Director Chen Qi was invited to attend the wedding." Texas did not find that strange at all. As a former family member, she knew very well that family weddings were, to a great extent, merely occasions for handling business under the name of a wedding. Aside from those truly enjoying the wedding, even more people used the opportunity to ask for favors.

"Syracusans will not refuse anyone's request on the day of their daughter's wedding—that is a Syracusan rule. Director Chen Qi either came as an invited guest, since quite a few family members I knew liked to have business dealings with people in the arts."

"Or... he came to ask some family for help with something. Unfortunately, I have been away from Syracuse for too long, so I do not know whose territory this is."

"Just as expected of Texas..."

Texas's words sent a chill through the Penguin Logistics group. Though the wedding scene looked harmonious, after hearing Texas explain it, they felt no real joy in the celebration. Instead, it seemed full of a veneer meant to wash away darkness...

"...Don't stay too long. Someone might recognize us. Let's find Director Chen Qi quickly." Texas spoke calmly and was the first to follow Executioner. The others promptly hurried after her.

As the nervous Sora cautiously trailed behind at the end, she heard a Mafia member in the distance muttering to himself.

"Twenty or thirty thousand in bills, all cash... enough to fill that tiny velvet money bag."

"If this were someone else's wedding... their luck would be pretty bad."

Yet those muttered words reached Sora's ears, and the Cautus girl instinctively turned her head. Only then did she see that the gloomy-looking Mafia man was staring greedily at the bag where the bride was collecting gift money.

In that instant, Sora felt she completely understood the ruthlessness and cruelty of the Mafia—if it really was as that man said, then if this had not been a Mafia family wedding, what kind of disaster would have happened?!

Sora did not dare imagine it. She could only lower her head and follow the others, failing to notice that the air beside her flickered with an unnatural blur the moment she passed by.

"This is it." Executioner led everyone to a room on the second floor of the manor. Along the way, the Penguin Logistics group had already sensed that this was probably the home of some unknown family head.

They had seen many children running around and playing, while on the other side several women were cooking food for the wedding. They looked happy and harmonious together, young and old alike, carrying the feeling of a true family.

When Executioner brought everyone to the door of this room, she naturally stepped aside. The cheerful Exusiai, without thinking much of it, moved to knock on the door, only for Texas to grab her hand.

"Shh. Someone inside is talking." Texas made a silencing gesture, signaling everyone not to speak, then said softly,

"This should be the office of this family's head. Someone inside is asking for help. Don't disturb them."

"Can I listen to what they're saying?" Exusiai, who had always been curious about the mysterious Mafia, asked quietly. As soon as she said it, Croissant and Sora wore identical expressions.

Texas said nothing, clearly giving her permission. The three girls carefully pressed their ears against the door. This time, even The Emperor, who Croissant was holding and who had been desperate to see Chen Qi, fell silent, as if he had seen through something.

Very soon, they heard voices coming from the room. It was the voice of someone seeking help.

Yet the very first sentence from the person inside made Texas, a former Mafia family member, immediately furrow her brow.

"I believe in Columbia."

"Columbia helped me build my fortune. I raised my daughter according to Columbian customs. I gave her freedom, but I also taught her never to disgrace the family."

"She got a boyfriend, not a Syracusan. She went to the movies with him and came home late. I did not object."

"—Is he really here to ask for help? It sounds more like a friend chatting about family matters." Exusiai could not help raising her head and whispering to the others after hearing the man inside.

"But this is Syracuse, isn't it? Why is he talking about Columbia?"

Texas said, "When Columbia first gained independence, many Syracusans went there to take part in frontier development. That is why traces of Syracusan families can be found in many parts of Columbia."

"I would guess that the gentleman inside was one of those pioneers. His Columbian has a very strong Syracusan accent."

Texas spoke quietly and with little concern. After all, she had been very young when her own family fell apart, and she had spent her childhood in Syracuse. Compared with Columbia, Syracuse actually felt more like home to her.

Thus, Texas secretly looked down somewhat on people like the man inside who had forgotten their homeland. She also knew that this gentleman would likely find it difficult to win the family head's support.

Still... Texas sensed something strange at this moment. Why had someone from Columbia traveled all the way back to Syracuse to ask a local family for help? Were there not many families in Columbia too?

Though she found it odd, Texas still said nothing and merely listened. Soon, the petitioner's voice came from inside again, now seemingly tinged with sorrow and anger.

"Two months ago, he and another boy took her for a drive. They tricked her into drinking whiskey and tried to take advantage of her."

"She fought back and kept her virtue."

"But they beat her like an animal."

By this point, the petitioner's voice trembled with rage. Outside the door, the four Penguin Logistics girls could all feel the father's long-suppressed fury.

"When I arrived at the hospital, her nose was already broken—her jaw was shattered, and it had to be wired shut."

"Because of the pain, she could not even cry..."

"But I cried. Why did I cry...? She was the apple of my eye. She was beautiful, but she would never be beautiful again..."

Soon, the sound of the father sobbing came from within the room, softening everyone's hearts outside. They could not help pressing their lips together.

"How awful... That girl is so pitiful."

Sora could not help speaking after hearing this. Croissant and Exusiai both nodded. The three kind-hearted girls could not imagine such a scene.

"If I ever see that bastard, I'll use my guns to make sure he can never be a man again!" Exusiai, who believed in Laterano's teachings, had a strong destructive streak, but among Penguin Logistics' lawless quartet, her sense of justice was still the strongest. She spoke indignantly.

"So this man came to ask this family head to step in and teach those two little punks a lesson?" Croissant roughly guessed why he had come.

"I'd definitely do something about it even if I wasn't paid!" Exusiai eagerly chimed in. Sora, however, vaguely felt it was not that simple. She instinctively turned toward the silent Texas and asked,

"Texas, do you think... will this family head help him?"

Texas said, "...I don't know. Normally, Syracusans do not refuse anyone's request on this day."

"That's good, then." Sora breathed a sigh of relief. Yet Texas could not bear to shatter her companions' hopes. She knew the man seeking help would very likely be thrown out—if this had been her former family, that was exactly what would have happened.

But there was still a sliver of hope... Texas could only pray that the gentleman inside would not say the wrong thing. Perhaps then, the unknown family head might generously help him because he did not understand the rules.

Soon, the voice inside sounded again. However, the father's next words immediately made Texas's prayer come to nothing.

"I... I called the police, like a law-abiding Columbian."

"The two boys were sent to court for trial."

"...There's no hope."

At that moment, even Texas could not help sighing in helplessness for the gentleman inside who did not understand the rules. Her words made the other three turn toward her and ask,

"No hope? Why?"