Liberi Reader

...Mmm! Where am I...?

What're you mumblin' back there?!

......

Quiet down, if you don't want a shiner.

Once the boss is done with the Penguins, he'll decide what to do with you.

(I... these guys took me... is Texas still fighting the mafia with the rest of Penguin Logistics?)

(Shit... Why aren't I more useful... I'm an MDL Messenger...)

(...The car stopped.)

It's us. The boss got the Forte kid...

Wait, what're you doing?!

Mr. Capone's orders.

Capone? These are the boss's orders! Who does he think he is...?

Who do I think I am?

——!

Hello, MDL princeling.

This is our chance to be formally introduced.

...You shot your own man?

Punishing traitors ain't against the rules in Lungmen.

That's not what I meant... what are you going to do with me?

Make a trade.

It's pretty simple. Gambino's tough guy act is gonna destroy the Family for the sake of some so-called glory.

I don't want that. Lots of people don't want that. Who wants to die for no good reason?

So what?

So I'm gonna help you with Gambino.

I don't trust you.

...And I can help you deal with Penguin Logistics.

......

I ain't stupid. I been in Lungmen a long time. I made a lotta preparations.

Your father's an important man who owns over seventy percent of the private Messenger business in Lungmen.

And he's got some strategic cooperation with the highest levels of Lungmen's government.

No matter which way you look at it, Penguin Logistics is the biggest obstacle to your business success.

Our goal is to take over all channels of Penguin Logistics. Do us this favor, and we can talk business again.

My father and Mr. Emperor have a very close relationship. I'm sorry, but you've played this all wrong.

MDL is a very big company. Your father alone really has the final say?

I think you're underestimating us. It's true the Family has been through some tough times...

But in days gone by, our ancestors sat around the dark tables of Siracusa and proudly called themselves 'Sicilian.'

Power shifts, blood's spilled, and I'm all ears.

Honestly, what do the people around your dad think of Penguin Logistics? What about Lungmen?

And what do you think?

...You sure talk about family a lot for a man who just killed his own kin.

You think I'll take your deal?

His death was purely... business.

Yeah. Who knows if you pay in cash or bombs.

...I'm sorry, I thought you'd be a little more mature. But here you're gonna throw your life away for some little thing that ain't got nothin' to do with you.

——!

You're scared. You're supposed to be some big shot MDL executive, but you ain't nothin' but a spoiled little brat.

...Sorry. Young Minoans are famous for their boldness.

Looks like you ain't gonna change your mind.

If you'd lived, you'd see a lot more of this kind of thing. Too bad this is the end of the road for you.

(Grrr...! How is this rope so strong. I'm running out of time!)

If you die, MDL'll have no choice but to call in the LGD. Then they'll get mixed up and things'll get even crazier. Which is good for me.

But now we're done talkin.' Say good night, little prince.

Hey, excuse me. If you lay hands on Bison, I don't think we can call that punishing traitors anymore.

Why don't you just call it quits for today, hmm?

Who're you?!

Just a Messenger passing by.

...You look familiar. A Sankta with horns. You were makin' trouble for us earlier.

I'm honored.

None of my Penguin Logistics reports ever mentioned you. Who are you?

Um... do I have to answer that?

I'm just here looking for a lost package. Like a good Messenger would.

Mr. Capone, we got the place locked down. Everybody here's with you. She's on her own.

......

What? Are you going to move or what?

Doesn't matter to me. I'm ready anytime.

Hmph... a good Messenger.

Nah. The bolt's locked and loaded. We all got our own business to worry about.

Mr. Capone!

If you wanna die, you're welcome to it.

We do everything we gotta do to survive. Don't get it mixed up.

...And you don't have to talk so spooky. I'm really just an ordinary Messenger.

A Sankta with a horn says she's ordinary? Who's gonna believe that one?

I got no reason to fight you. Do what you want.

A minute ago you were ready to go stone cold killer, now you're just letting me go?

That's how the mafia works. It's got all kinds of little exceptions I don't much like.

But if the princeling ain't gonna cooperate, and I can't kill him, I'll just have to find another way.

......

We'll be seeing each other again tonight. Maybe.

Hopefully Gambino will have dealt with you by then. Or hey, the other way around works for me too.

...He really left.

You already got yourself out of the bindings, didn't you? Need a hand?

I'm fine. I can get myself up. Thanks for the help, Mostima.

Where's everybody else?

Um.

Heh. Your face says it all. It's been a rough one.

...Their pace... it's kind of hard to keep up with.

I warned you. So you have any idea where they might be?

Texas said 'to the ends of the earth.' And that we'd meet up in an hour?

Okay. Sure. I'll take you there.

The ends of the earth... what does that mean?

Um... The origin of the name has been lost to history, but now we can say it's one of the boss's assets. And it's like a base of operations for us.

People come from all over, at least people moving in the underground circles.

So it's like...?

It's a bar.

......

Mostima, ma'am, what are we doing...?

We're putting a sheet over ourselves and pretending to be one big ghost. It's the quickest and easiest costume.

No, what I mean is, why do we have to dress up one big ghost...?

So we can blend in with the Sauin atmosphere. People will think we're just going to a party or something.

That 'Mr. Capone' may not have gone far.

——!

Suddenly a black-horned Sankta wielding a staff comes out all aggressive and overbearing...

A control freak like him is going to play it very carefully, right?

Y- yeah.

Speaking of your staff... I just noticed it. Are you an Arts user, Mostima?

It's from a long time ago. I did actually get some serious training.

Pretty different from a certain lazy angel who sleeps all day.

Oh yeah...

So you've known Exusiai for a long time.

Haha. We should have been able to have a nice noisy chat during your fun welcome party.

But the occasional explosion and ambush is par for the course for Penguin Logistics.

Is that right...?

Something else?

I was just thinking about how even a Messenger like Mostima has times like this... what with all the mysterious rumors swirling around...

Are you disappointed?

No! Not at all! That was very impolite of me to say, I'm sorry!

I am a Penguin Logistics employee, after all. This great land is full of Messengers, in every nook and cranny. Adaptability is the first thing you should learn.

There sure are a lot of first things in this business...

I just remembered, from here, we make a left, and then a right, then we go around the third alley here and... Yep. Shortcut.

It's getting so late, but we only see more and more people coming out.

That's the magic of Sauin.

Pretty neat, huh? There's floats and stands and parties, and even some stinky sewer steam, just over the wall.

...pretty neat. Yeah.

We're on a tight schedule. We need to pick up the pace.

Is this a graveyard?

Yeah, only Lungmen would have a cemetery right in the center city like this.

Those people are all wearing funeral dress.

That kind of solemn mourning makes me think of my time in Laterano.

Laterano... what's that place like?

You're very curious, aren't you?

I guess so. I just always wanted to see some faraway places.

But somehow I never got the chance to get any international contracts... *sigh*.

Intercity networks are a lot more developed than they used to be. You should have a lot of chances to leave.

...and the farther away you go, the more meaningful the experience.

Is traveling from country to country very difficult?

Hm... If I had to choose, I'd say the biggest problem is the Catastrophes. If you run into one, then all of Terra turns against you.

There was this time that I left the Catastrophe Messenger's report at the transit station and I ran into one. I was a few hills away though.

The black clouds billowing around, the sky itself threatening you, it feels awful. Truly awful.

Catastrophes... if you're in a nomadic city, you shouldn't get hit.

There's a lot of other problems.

Cities move to avoid Catastrophes, sure, but that means the place you're trying to get can end up crawling away from you. Imagine that.

That sounds pretty frustrating.

So you better make friends with some Catastrophe Messengers. And don't oversleep when you've got a date with one.

...Hehe. Talking like this, it feels like we're coworkers, Mostima.

......

Oh, sorry, was that a bit much?

...Mostima?

...Hm? Oh. I was just thinking of something.

We have to go through the graveyard. Step lightly.

Okay.

...Yeah.

By the way, Mostima, back there you said you were looking for a lost package...

Didn't I tell you?

What?

Someone gave me a job with a big pile of cash, the job said 'take Bison to see the world.' Mmm. Real stylish job.

D- dad...!

And I'm testing you here. Your scores are up to me.

Huh?

...it's so late. Nobody's out.

Oh, sweet child, growing up in my house, eating my food, and then going away just like that. Oripathy this, Oripathy that. You were always lost in your own thoughts.

Uncle Tung's doing well. Business is good. He brought an apprentice with him the last two days.

You should be so lucky. Then you wouldn't make people worry. If you don't do good business, you have to...

Would you quiet down, mommy?

As hopeless as you? Light the candle already!

Where's my lighter... Oh, here it is.

*Sigh* As soon as the stupid boy learned to smoke, he disappeared. Come to think of it, I never gave him a light. Too bad.

Too many candles. I'll light you a cigarette.

You're really lighting a cigarette? Moron! Get a candle already!

Okay, okay, okay. Here.

Ah Faat...

Now now, no crying on Sauin. Let's go. It's late. Let's go home and have Little Tung make us some noodles.

Noodles at midnight?

...Thank you kids for coming here. It's hard to see at night. You've been a great help.

...No problem. It was on the way.

Oh. The wind.

It's kind of chilly.

A cool evening breeze, the sweet smell of candy, and the sparkling lights of the city, this is the best Lungmen has to offer.

Did you see that magnificent golden street? Like the midnight sun.

Yeah. Is that where we're going?

East Sunset Boulevard 1301. The door has some giant penguin graffiti sprayed on it. You can't miss it.

And I'm afraid you're on your own from here.

Penguin graffiti, got it... but where are you going, Mostima?

Well, I can't look after you forever, can I?

That's true... But you kind of suddenly disappeared last time too...

Sorry about that. Let's just say I have other business to attend to.

You do your best to get along with the other kids.

O- okay.

Good. See you around.

...Uncle Tung, what happened?

Ah Fil? I'm so glad you're okay. You hurry home as fast as you can!

Who was it? The man from the docks? The gang of kids?

No, neither. You don't have to get involved this time. It was no big deal. Just a little setback.

Uncle.

...The old folks went to sweep Ah Faat's tomb. Not that you'd know, but he was like a grandson to them.

I saw them coming back and I thought I'd make some food for them. I ran into those men while I was bringing it...

Who did it?

...All I know is they weren't from Lungmen. Don't you get involved!

Right. Okay.

Ah Fil! It wasn't easy to get everything cleared up with the Oni...

To clear up the misunderstandings with Inspector Hoshiguma. I got you a job, didn't I? Don't blow this!

I know. Just rest up, Uncle.

I'm going to find out what happened.

Ah FIl, damn it, come back here! Where are you going?!

...Aiya! Why don't you listen?

Young people have their ways about them. You must be so proud.

...Lin? What are you doing here? Here to witness my shame?

You're Lungmen's premier finball master. You don't need to take a risk like this. Why not tell them?

Is the Rat King so important? If the people can't enjoy the finest finballs, what then?

Rules are rules.

We made the rules.

...They're still rules.

But you were beaten for no good reason. I don't plan to stay in hiding.

Pfah. Who knows what you're scheming!

Right. Let me help you up. You've been a finball master for so many years, have your skills dulled?

I still have hands. I'll just need someone to watch. You'll do the honors?

All I want is to live my life in peace. If I take a beating, then I take a beating.

Hah hah. It's heartening to see such spirit in an old friend.

You're the one they're after. What's heartening?

This is heartening.

...Don't you get tired of this?

Very tired, but we all have our responsibilities to bear. We carry a city on our shoulders.

I...

Sell your finballs. Concern yourself with nothing else.

Can you walk? What would you say to a walk with me?

I'm fine. It's no big... Aaaaaagh! What are you doing?!

A flesh wound is still a wound. Same as you ever were, playing the tough guy.

...Let us speak no more of the past. This is the life you have chosen, and you have nothing to feel guilty for.

Your finballs are a part of Lungmen. A more important part than me.

You are already free.

Then why do I never see you taking care of my business?

...Let's talk about something else. How have you been lately?

I've heard Lungmen cuisine is getting popular in Columbia. I thought I'd see about moving out there to...

No.

......