Morning.
Rain pattered steadily against the window frame, stirring up a damp scent. The air felt like fermented, bitter wine.
Carlotta didn't much care for rainy days, but she had to admit, in this kind of gloomy weather, no matter what actions were taken, all traces would be swept away by the rain.
She sat in an armchair deep within Giacomo's bedroom, a silver teaspoon held lightly between her fingers, slowly stirring the coffee in her cup.
The aroma wafted up, yet she seemed inattentive, merely waiting for an outcome long since decided.
This was the private domain of the Fasciaspina family head; in principle, it should be heavily guarded, difficult to approach.
But for Carlotta, for the Montelli family, whether or not to uproot the Fasciaspina family entirely was a matter of a single thought.
Outside the bedroom door, several Montelli personnel held firearms, their cold gazes fixed on the Fasciaspina family members kneeling on the floor.
They huddled in the shadows, bodies trembling uncontrollably with fear. The sound of the rain seemed to whisper from the sky itself, mourning this moment.
Ray stood silently beside Carlotta.
Today, he witnessed firsthand what the Montelli family's thunderous methods truly were.
Armed with sufficiently damning evidence, Carlotta had clearly lost all patience for further dealings with them.
When they first entered this territory, the still-unaware guards almost drew weapons against them.
However, Carlotta offered them an offer they couldn't refuse, she ordered a gun pressed to their foreheads: either open the door, or their heads would be opened.
And so, they advanced unimpeded, as if meeting no resistance.
In truth, they didn't need to alert anyone.
Because everyone was already under her control.
This was pure gangster style.
Though Ray knew the Montelli family operated legitimate businesses on the surface, he still sensed a hint of mafia-like sharpness and cold ruthlessness in this way of doing things.
"Good morning, Mr. Giacomo Fasciaspina."
"It seems you've had a pleasant night's sleep."
"Our visit today is rather abrupt. I hope Mr. Fasciaspina doesn't mind."
Carlotta's voice was soft. She set the coffee cup back on the tray, elegantly folding her hands on her lap, smiling as she regarded Giacomo, who had just been startled awake.
He froze at first, then abruptly sat up in bed, a look of sheer terror on his face as he stared at her.
Why was Carlotta here?
Could it be...
Had everything been exposed?
He forcibly suppressed the surging panic and shock, trying to force a strained smile onto his trembling face.
"Um... Miss Carlotta, there must be... some misunderstanding between us? Haven't we always collaborated very pleasantly before?"
"Misunderstanding?" Carlotta remained composed and graceful, her tone so steady it betrayed not a ripple of emotion. "Let's hope so. You didn't attend Ettore Montelli's funeral. Was it out of guilt or did you simply forget?"
That name was like a bullet, instantly shattering Giacomo's hard-won composure.
His face paled drastically, his words becoming incoherent.
"This... I... Miss Carlotta, please let me explain..."
Carlotta rested her cheek on one hand, watching him with a detached expression. "Is that so? Then I'll give you a chance. Explain slowly."
"I—"
This sudden leniency, however, left Giacomo speechless, his throat as if blocked, unable to utter a single word.
Ray stood quietly at her side, his gaze silently resting on the profile of the Second Young Miss.
He suddenly felt...
The Carlotta of this moment seemed quite different in style compared to her usual self.
Upon reflection, it made sense. After all, she was the blade of the Montelli family.
The blood on her hands naturally wouldn't be little.
"Can't say it?" Carlotta watched Giacomo frozen in place, her voice still calm yet carrying a cold, penetrating force. "I don't understand. The Fasciaspina family's rise itself relied on the support and favor of the Montelli. What benefit is there for you if the Montelli fall? Did you truly believe the Order and the Fisalia family would spare you?"
"Miss Carlotta, I... I..."
Giacomo clenched his fists, but his throat seemed seized by an iron clamp, unable to squeeze out a complete sentence.
As the head of a minor family, he understood better than anyone the vast chasm between the Fasciaspina and the Montelli.
Yet, precisely because of that, he craved even more to seize every opportunity to elevate his family into the upper echelons, even if it meant gambling everything.
It's just that this time,
He clearly bet on the wrong side.
"It seems you understand now. The Montelli never show mercy to betrayers." Carlotta slowly rose, her posture elegant as she moved toward the door. "However, if you are willing to surrender the entirety of the Fasciaspina family's assets, plus twenty chests of Gold Coins, as funding for our auction purchases... then perhaps there might still be room to salvage this betrayal and the mourning."
"The morning hours are precious. We won't disturb you further."
"Have a pleasant day, Mr. Fasciaspina."
"Then, we'll see you at the auction."
With these words, she had already led her people straight out, leaving only Giacomo sitting rigidly in the ensuing silence, as if she had never been there at all.
...
...
The rain continued to fall.
Ray held an umbrella, standing beside Carlotta.
The cool morning dew dampened his black formal attire.
"Second Young Miss, there's something I don't quite understand," Ray spoke softly.
"Hmm?" Carlotta stretched lazily, unconcerned. "Go on."
"You said earlier that the Montelli never forgive betrayers, yet you gave Giacomo a chance to make amends?"
"Oh, that." Carlotta let out a light laugh, her steps unhurried as she walked forward, Ray keeping pace beside her. "That was just to pressure him."
"Pressure him?"
"Because what I truly want has always been the entire Fasciaspina family. Did you think... he'd willingly hand it over?" She shrugged, though her tone grew colder. "He won't. He'll only be driven into a corner, and then, a cornered dog will jump over the wall."
"For instance, arranging an assassination attempt, or declaring all-out war on the Montelli... After all, from his perspective, if he offers my life as a token of loyalty, the Fisalia family might just shield him in his final moments."
"Uh, then why not nip the problem in the bud? I mean—"
Ray made a gun shape with his hand and gently pressed it against his head, the meaning was self-evident.
"Of course not," Carlotta chuckled, covering her mouth. "I've said before, we're not a gang. Everything the Montelli does must follow established rules. If we cross that line, the Order and the Fisalia family will have an excuse to act against us."
"Besides, the family could indeed make the Fasciaspinas vanish overnight but at what cost?"
"The price would be widespread rumors and gossip, a fatal blow to the family's businesses. Outsiders wouldn't care about our vendetta with Giacomo; they'd only believe the Montelli were bullying the weak and silencing opposition. Everyone would feel insecure, and Ragunna would only become more isolated."
"This is not the outcome we desire."
"Therefore, I must force Giacomo to make the first move."
"Only then can the family legitimately, completely erase the Fasciaspina name."
After listening, Ray nodded thoughtfully. "...I see."
"Alright, let's not dwell on this any longer," Carlotta suggested. "I'm suddenly a bit hungry. Let's go get something to eat."
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