Chapter Six: On the Set of an Iconic Scene-"You Won't Even Call Me Godfather?" / Chapter Seven: Straight to the Main Event? Penance's "Wedding Night Scene"?

"...Whether in Syracuse or Columbia, Syracusans could only rely on the protection of their own families." Texas spoke up to explain at that moment:

"Those who stand on the side of the law are destined to be opposed to the families. In the eyes of Syracusans, the law exists to wrap the families' 'business' in a civilized and legal outer layer."

"Therefore, anyone who gets involved with the law is destined to be rejected by the family."

"The gentleman inside is probably going to have his wish denied."

As Texas spoke, she unconsciously took out another Pocky and held it between her lips. She hesitated, yet could not summon even the slightest sympathy for the pitiful father inside...

As a Syracusan, he had placed his hopes in Columbia's laws to protect him and abandoned the protection of the family. Now that he had come seeking the family's help, it was obvious that the law's ruling had not gone his way.

But unfortunately, the family would not help a "traitor" who offered it no benefit. Texas knew that, which was why she found it regrettable.

Even Texas herself did not realize that, without noticing it, she had already become immersed in the story—drawn into a scene she had not even realized she was part of.

A Famous Scene's Filming Set—You Wouldn't Even Call Me Godfather

However, while Texas outside had already passed judgment on the petitioner within, what happened next seemed to truly confirm her words.

The father in the room finished making his plea. It was nothing more than begging the other party to teach the two thugs who had humiliated his daughter a lesson. Very soon, a somewhat slurred voice answered without a trace of emotion. It sounded raspy and weathered, yet strangely familiar to Texas.

"...I can't do it."

"We have known each other for many years, but this is the first time you have come to me for help. I can't even remember the last time you invited me to your home for coffee."

"Although my wife is the godmother of your only daughter—let's be honest. You never wanted my friendship. You were afraid of owing me a favor."

"But I understand." The Godfather's tone shifted inside the room, and he spoke with even greater indifference.

"You think Columbia is heaven. Your business is thriving, you are doing well, and you have police and courts protecting you. You don't need a friend like me."

"But now you come to me and say, 'Your Excellency Corleone, please give me justice'... You show me no respect. You do not regard me as a friend."

"You wouldn't even call me 'Godfather.'"

"And then, on the day of my daughter's wedding, you come to me and try to buy me into killing someone with money?"

The Godfather's voice fell, and his attitude had clearly been made known. At that moment, the Godfather's bearing emerged in full force. No one dared interrupt him. His voice was not loud, but every word landed with weight.

After a brief moment, however, the women outside broke free from that strange tension. Exusiai complained with some dissatisfaction.

"What's with this guy? So what if it has been a while since they last had coffee? If he likes coffee, I can treat him until he pukes! Why is he so cold and heartless?"

"—Because things like this happen often in Syracuse." Texas offered a different view. As a former member of a family, she was experienced in such matters, and she said calmly:

"Syracuse's order is maintained through the families' rules. Of course, not everyone knows or follows those rules. So when someone attacks a person under a family's protection, members of that family will come forward to resolve the problem."

"But there is a condition. That person must acknowledge that they are under the family's protection. That means that, when the time comes, they must repay the favor of that protection."

"That is why this family head refused him. What he wanted was the man's respect, friendship, and... acknowledgment. But this father clearly did not want any ties to the family."

"Clearly, this man is a very seasoned family head. He is truly practiced at this whole process."

"Then... is there no other way to make the family head change his mind?" Sora could not bear it. She noticed that Texas was eating Pocky faster and faster, as though she were smoking one cigarette after another, using it to suppress her emotions.

"...There is. You acknowledge that you are one of the people under his protection." After a period of silence, Texas nodded and continued.

"But being involved with a family is dangerous. It means stepping into darkness, and when the family needs you to help with your life in the future, you will have no right to refuse."

"...That is the Mafia's 'civilization.' Wearing the skin of civilization while doing a robber's work—a 'civilized robber.'"

At this point, even someone as composed as Texas, who had grown accustomed to all this, could not conceal her disgust. She did not accept such "civilization," nor could she accept laws incapable of protecting most people, forcing families to uphold the "rules" that kept a nation running.

Yet the father inside clearly did not understand these rules. He merely suppressed his fear and continued pleading.

"Please give me justice."

"That is not justice. Your daughter is still alive." The Godfather's tone had begun to carry a hint of impatience.

"—Then let those bastards taste the suffering my daughter endured!" The father gathered all his courage, but at the very end, he spoke the most mistaken words possible.

"How much should I pay you?"

"..."

In an instant, the atmosphere that had been relatively peaceful became dangerous the moment those words fell. Though there was no sound from within the room, the four women outside could smell the threat to life itself.

This was the sign that a family head had been insulted. In Syracuse, if a family head was insulted, there was only one outcome for the offender—death.

Texas was the first to react. Almost instinctively, she placed a hand on her sword, then slowly released it again, as though hesitating over whether she should intervene.

Exusiai, Croissant, and Sora did not think as much. Exusiai immediately raised her two submachine guns. Croissant set The Emperor down from her arms and gripped the handle of the hammer at her waist. Sora, the least capable in combat, quickly stepped back several paces, ready to save someone at any moment.

Everyone felt death could erupt in an instant. Yet after a strange silence, what they heard was the Godfather's utterly helpless voice from inside.

"Bonacera, Bonacera..."

"What have I ever done to make you disrespect me so much?"

The cold killing intent emanating from the Godfather vanished almost instantly, replaced by heartfelt persuasion. It was as though the man who had wanted to kill someone just moments ago had not been him at all. He merely said lightly:

"If you had come to me as a friend, the scum who insulted your daughter would be crying harder than you by the end of today."

"If an honest man like you had the misfortune of making enemies, then they would be my enemies too."

"...Then they would fear you."

"...Your friend?" The father named Bonacera spoke with a slight tremble. He did not answer immediately, but everyone could hear that his tone had completely yielded.

Sure enough, only moments later, the father seemed to have lost his soul entirely. In a trembling voice, he called out:

"...Godfather."

With a gentle kiss upon the hand, everything returned to calm. Then the Godfather, his voice filled with kingly authority, uttered only two words.

"...Good."

"One day—perhaps that day will never come—I will ask you to repay me."

"Until that day, consider this justice a wedding gift for my daughter."

"Thank you, Godfather." For the first time, Bonacera's voice held joy.

"You're welcome." The Godfather replied carelessly. At that moment, the four women outside knew someone was about to come out and immediately retreated elsewhere.

However, as the door opened, before everyone from Penguin Logistics could completely conceal themselves, a young voice suddenly shattered the heavy atmosphere—a voice utterly out of place amid the solemn tension.

"Cut! Good! That take is done! A single long take from Group One, and Madam Sicily did exceptionally well!"

As those words fell, the previously silent manor suddenly filled with countless sounds before the eyes of the Penguin Logistics crew.

Soon, figures emerged from who knew where. It was not just people—there were cameras, sound-recording equipment, and all manner of devices appearing as well, leaving the newly arrived Penguin Logistics group utterly bewildered.

"W-What is going on?" Croissant asked instinctively. At that moment, The Emperor, who had long been unable to hold it in, immediately snapped:

"Idiots, can't you tell? They're filming! Filming! Everything inside was acting!"

"What is wrong with you people? You can't see through something this obvious? They were wearing Feline-brand optical camouflage suits that blended into the environment, and they used matching equipment. How could you not notice?"

"Especially you, Exusiai! As a Sniper Operator, you couldn't see through such basic camouflage? Your salary is cut in half this month!"

"No, Boss!"

Yet amid Exusiai's wail, Texas was undoubtedly the most shocked of them all. She had never expected the dialogue she had considered so real and seamless just moments ago to be nothing more than part of a script.

What shocked Texas even more was the name she had heard... Madam Sicily? Had she... also become one of the actors in the film crew?

How was that possible?!

Texas could scarcely believe such a thing had happened. Yet as the door opened, Madam Sicily emerged in men's attire, already pulling off her wig. Walking out beside her was a familiar figure—Chen Qi.

"Ah, it seems my 'youngest son' has finally arrived?" Madam Sicily recognized Texas the instant she saw her, but her tone lacked its former authority and carried far more teasing instead.

"Madam Sicily..." Texas looked somewhat dazed. Soon, she noticed the two people behind Madam Sicily and called out instinctively:

"Leon... Bellone? The young master of the Bellone Family?"

"And Lavinia? The city-state judge, you two..."

"Are you Celinia Texas?" The Lupo youth called Leon nodded, greeting the last descendant of Texas, then said calmly:

"It seems our circumstances are the same. We are both 'the Godfather's sons' now."

"Correction, I can still be called a daughter." Lavinia answered with her eyes closed. After glancing at Texas, she continued.

"Also, remember to use codenames on set. I'm Si Ye. And you need to call me by my codename too—Chastisement."

"...I never expected Director Chen Qi to gather so many members of Mafia families, every one of them an influential figure."

After recovering slightly from her shock, Texas turned her gaze to the smiling Chen Qi. After a long moment, a faint smile unexpectedly appeared on her face, and she chuckled.

"...It seems I have no reason to refuse now?"

"This is an offer you can't refuse, Miss Texas." Chen Qi took up Texas's words and stepped forward to shake her hand, unable to hide the excitement in his voice.

"Welcome to our big family."

"A big family... Fine. At least it is much better than drawing a blade and killing people." Texas did not refuse. She nodded respectfully to Chen Qi. At this point, Texas had no choice but to admit that Chen Qi had "conquered" her.

A director had won the support of so many families, even Madam Sicily herself. And with a single script, he had united Syracuse's Twelve Families. Texas could not help but admire such talent.

In a sense, Chen Qi had achieved something none of the Twelve Families could accomplish. Being able to take part in such a widely recognized film, Texas felt, was her good fortune.

"Hahahahahaha! Even you have been conquered, Texas?"

"Then it looks like I have no choice but to join this big family and get involved too!"

At that moment, a somewhat crazed voice rang out above everyone's heads. The next instant, a white figure dropped down in a flash and landed in front of Chen Qi and Texas.

Lappland had finally appeared, and now she had made a decision—a decision more meaningful than turning Syracuse into a complete mess.

She, too, would take part in filming this movie and contribute her own "strength" to it.

Starting with a Major Scene? Si Ye's "Wedding Bed Scene"?

"Lappland?!"

Texas had not expected to encounter Lappland here. Though she had long gotten used to Lappland appearing wherever she went... she had never expected to run into her here, in the homeland neither of them wished to return to.

But Lappland appearing here was not a good sign. Knowing full well about Lappland's crazed ideas, Texas asked with some tension:

"Lappland, what are you doing here? Don't tell me you are planning to... launch a devastating massacre against the families here?"

"Hahahahaha! As expected of Texas, you really understand me." Lappland let out her trademark laugh. But then, under everyone's watchful eyes, she did not draw the two sun-crown-shaped swords hanging at her waist. Instead, she reined in her laughter and said:

"If this had been ten minutes ago, I might have had that thought. But now, after watching Director Chen Qi's scene just like you did, I have changed my mind."

"Especially now that you, Texas, intend to take part. I am even more determined! I want a place in this film too!"

"...You? You want to act in Director Chen Qi's film as well?"

Lappland's words left the previously tense Texas looking bewildered. Not only her—even Si Ye and Chastisement, who had believed Lappland might threaten Madam Sicily after seeing her appear, found it unbelievable.

They all knew Lappland's true identity. Originally the eldest daughter of the Saluzzo Family, she had ultimately become a traitor to the family. She also scorned Syracuse's "civilization," but her method of changing Syracuse was even more radical...

And now, she had actually proposed joining the production of The Godfather? It was difficult not to suspect she had some other motive.

However, Lappland did not care about anyone's reaction. She turned and walked straight toward Chen Qi, performing an elegant Syracusan salute before smiling.

"It has been a long time, Director Chen Qi. We met once in Lungmen. Do you remember? I left a deep impression on you. You have great potential to become an excellent director, and your screenwriting ability has earned my admiration even more."

"Today, I have to say, you have opened my eyes again. The rules of the families were portrayed so vividly in your movie. I enjoyed it very much, you know?"

Chen Qi: "...And then you gave our first movie one star?"

"Hahahahaha! You cannot blame me for that. My standards for judging movies are very high. Your film was not bad, but it is still far from meeting my standards." Lappland felt no guilt whatsoever over the matter, but her reason for giving it one star was something Chen Qi could not accept.

So her standard was simply whether the movie contained anything related to Texas? If that were the case, then there probably were not many films in this world that Lappland would rate highly.

"But this is not the time to discuss that." Lappland put away her smile and turned much more serious as she asked Chen Qi:

"Then, Director Chen Qi, I have one small request regarding the role I want to play. I wonder if you can accept it?"

So she had already assumed she would definitely be joining the crew? Chen Qi was helpless before Lappland's self-directed assumptions, but he had to admit that he did want her to join. He could only gesture for her to continue.

Lappland said, "When I entered the manor just now, I saw an interesting figure. He looked very familiar, and he gave me the urge to stab him in the back."

"So please grant this little wish of mine. Is there any role in this movie that can 'kill' that guy? Then I will play that role."

"You mean the head of the Saluzzo Family?" Chen Qi understood Lappland's meaning. Although he had used Lappland to persuade her father to join the cast, aside from the leads with more screen time, actors for the other roles could be changed at any time as long as someone of higher family standing could replace them.

After thinking it over, Chen Qi came up with an idea and answered Lappland's request.

"I originally planned to have the Saluzzo family head play Tessio, one of the Godfather's right-hand men. In the end, Tessio will be executed by the family for betraying the Godfather, but I was not planning to film that scene."