In Siracusa, the mafia reigns supreme. The law they uphold is nothing more than the brutal law of the jungle.
They revere strength, worship power, and follow only those who possess it. Power is truth, and they gather around that truth, forming bonds—becoming one, becoming a family.
This is the culture of Siracusa.
Enjoying the respectful service of the mafia escort, Felix cast a glance at the young man holding an umbrella for him—half his body exposed to the rain. He said nothing.
He may not be stronger than these men, but his status alone was enough to make the mafia humble before him.
In Siracusa, where strength and power are everything, even identity is a form of power.
Walking over the red carpet and into the Saluzzo family's estate, Felix entered a grand hall within the mansion, where numerous family members in black suits moved about, busy with their duties.
Back when he was a player, Felix had never joined any mafia family. He'd only heard from other roleplaying players who had—those who liked immersing themselves in that life—that working for the mafia was, in fact, quite dull. Their tasks involved managing relations with other families, collecting protection fees, and defending those under their protection.
All of it could be summed up in one sentence: Anyone who causes trouble gets beaten.
Felix disarmed himself and handed over his four pistols to a stone-faced attendant, who carefully wrapped them in a pure white cloth and silently followed behind.
He was soon ushered into the presence of the Saluzzo family's patriarch—Alberto Saluzzo. With his sharp silver hair and an air of calm authority, Alberto exuded a quiet charisma—the perfect image of a family head.
As Felix looked at him, the system information appeared:
[Lv?] [Head of the Saluzzo Family] Alberto Saluzzo
Alberto gestured politely for Felix to take a seat, then sat down himself. One attendant stepped forward to pour tea, while another placed Felix's wrapped weapons on the low table. Both men then stepped aside in silence. At Alberto's small gesture, they exited the room without a word.
Alberto exhaled softly.
"As the leading family of Florence, I, Alberto Saluzzo, offer my sincerest apologies for the danger the messenger encountered in our city. It was a failure on our part—a moment of carelessness that allowed those rats to slip in and assault a guest under the Saluzzo family's protection."
On the surface, his apology was flawless.
This man held a significant role in Ark's main storyline. Or more accurately—players remembered him because of his "good daughter."
For that reason alone, many players affectionately referred to him as… father-in-law.
Felix asked casually, "Who were the ones that attacked me?"
"We're interrogating them as we speak," Alberto replied with a thin, sharp smile. The cruelty in his voice was veiled, but unmistakable. "Our best guess is that they're remnants from a rival family—the same one that tried to challenge the Saluzzo family's rule in Florence a year ago. We expelled them from the city, but it seems their loyal dogs still lurk, hoping to overthrow us through assassination."
After hearing this, Felix simply nodded.
This, too, was part of Siracusa's age-old tradition.
"How long do you plan to stay in Florence, Messenger? If there's anything the Saluzzo family can assist with, please don't hesitate to ask."
Having wrapped up the heavy matters, Alberto shifted the tone of the conversation to something lighter. As for the Laterano angels who had left the Walking Earth, he held no authority over them—but the Saluzzo family still needed to preserve its reputation. A messenger from Laterano being ambushed the moment he arrived in the city, and by enemies of the Saluzzo family no less? If word of this spread… what face would the Saluzzo family have left?
If a nation—or in this case, a family—couldn't even protect its own guests, then its people would lose faith.
As head of the family, Alberto had no choice but to stabilize Felix. Every decision he made, every word he spoke, was for the sake of his family.
"I have some news to pass on in Siracusa," Felix replied, vaguely. He deliberately avoided giving the impression that he planned to stay in Florence long-term. "But I'll be active around Florence for the time being."
Seeing that Alberto remained silent, he suddenly added something surprising.
"I have a business deal I'd like to discuss with the Saluzzo family."
Alberto's eyes lit up as he straightened his posture. "Please, tell me more, Messenger."
"Just call me Pioneer."
Felix smiled. When venturing out into the world, one didn't always need to use their real name. Having a codename made things easier—especially when dealing with NPCs, even if it didn't work on other players.
And the name Pioneer suited him well. He was familiar with the customs and intricacies of different regions, breaking new ground and exploring the unknown. He traveled across the world, helping people solve their problems.
In the game, players could only earn titles through achievements, with labels like [Newbie], [Smart], or [Mentor]—titles often generic and lacking uniqueness.
[You have selected the title: Pioneer. Title progress: 0.02%]
Felix blinked in surprise. The system feedback was just like that of a player's. Players could designate their own titles, but to make them permanent, they needed the NPCs to remember them.
For instance, if a player wanted to be called "Captain," they had to build rapport with NPCs and complete camp quests until everyone began to associate them with that title.
It was a slow process.
But one day, everyone would chant your name—that was the goal.
In the later stages of the game, countless strange and unique titles would appear, each earned through long hours of dedication.
When Felix finally completed the title quest, other players would see his profile as:
[Lv23] [Pioneer] Felix Shawn Lanshem
Alberto, unfamiliar with the doctrines of Laterano and unaware of the title's significance, simply nodded. He took the codename at face value and gestured for Felix to continue.
Felix nodded and said, "I'm a gunsmith by trade, and crafting pistols is my hobby. During my stay in Florence, I've grown concerned about the city's public security. After that unprovoked assassination attempt, I believe incidents like that should never happen again. The people of Florence deserve to live in peace in this beautiful mobile city... If I can help the Saluzzo family better maintain control over Florence, I'd like to propose a pistol business."
Alberto Saluzzo's eyes widened slightly, though he kept a calm expression. Internally, he was stunned.
His first reaction was sheer elation. The mafia, even now, still relied on iron rods and crossbows—some family bosses joked that it was like fighting with cavemen's tools. If the Saluzzo family were equipped with handguns, dealing with rival families would be no different than disciplining unruly children.
It wasn't that guns were unheard of in the underworld—some families had managed to acquire them from the black market. But the quality was abysmal. These crude weapons often malfunctioned under Originium power, jamming or even exploding, turning the user into a walking cautionary tale.
His second thought: this "Pioneer" sitting in front of him was either a saint or a fool. He had come all this way, offering a gun deal in the name of public safety... But then Alberto reconsidered. Sanktas were known across the land for their sense of duty and selfless dedication. Maybe this wasn't so unusual after all.
Laterano-made pistols were notoriously rare. On the open market, even a standard handgun could fetch six figures. As for rapid-fire weapons—there were rumors of a few Laterano hand cannons being sold, but a true semi-automatic model had never been seen. It was estimated such a weapon could easily command a seven-figure price tag, assuming it could even be properly operated via Originium tech.
The Sankta race's innate affinity for firearms was unparalleled, and even among their own kind, not everyone could wield high-performance, rapid-fire weapons. For those of other races, using such weapons effectively was nearly impossible.
Saint or fool, this Pioneer was offering a dream come true.
Alberto's gaze shifted, sharp as a wolf's, but after a moment, he softened into a gentlemanly smile. He extended his hand carefully and said, "On behalf of the Saluzzo family, I convey our deepest goodwill to Mr. Pioneer. From this day forward, you are an honored guest of our family. I gladly accept your proposal."
Felix removed his gloves and shook Alberto's hand.
The Silver Wolf grinned inwardly. Now that the deal was sealed, he already had a rough estimate in mind of how much family capital he was willing to invest. If the opportunity arose, he intended to buy out every last one of Felix's goods.
The transaction would proceed on an agreed-upon date. The two sides had now established a foundation of trust. After a casual chat about family matters, Alberto was thoroughly pleased with their new benefactor. Once the inspection and pricing date was set for a few days later, Felix had no further reason to linger.
Alberto noticed it as well and took the initiative to offer Felix a ride.
The family members lined up silently on both sides. From Alberto's demeanor toward Felix, they seemed to understand something unspoken. Each nodded respectfully toward Felix in acknowledgment.
A patriarch who intended to uphold the family legacy needed both ambition and strength. That was the impression Alberto left on Felix.
As they stepped outside, the sounds of fighting in the courtyard made Alberto frown slightly. Felix glanced over and saw two Lupo girls, around fifteen or sixteen years old, sparring with a group of younger boys from the family.
It wasn't a fair fight—two against ten.
Judging from their stances, the girls were clearly pushing the boys back step by step. Yet Felix could tell the boys didn't dare to fight back seriously. Despite similar skill levels, they had already lost in spirit.
The silver-haired Lupo girl was grinning wildly as she swung her sword with reckless vigor. Her partner, a dark blue-haired Lupo, moved with poise and control. She wielded dual blades, her techniques precise and measured—a stark contrast to the silver-haired girl's chaotic flair.
At this moment, the notion of a warm father-daughter reunion felt far-fetched.
"Lappland, Cellinia, we have a guest," said Silver Wolf evenly, casting a glance at the boys retreating under pressure. They immediately froze, then saluted their patriarch respectfully.
Lappland clicked her tongue in annoyance, clearly not interested in saving face for her father. She strode toward Felix in just a few steps and gave him a bold once-over. "A guest? An angel, huh? Doesn't look that much older than me."
Cellinia, by contrast, was far more composed. She sheathed her blades and nodded politely in greeting.
Alberto gave his daughter a light knock on the head, causing her to yelp in protest. With a warm smile, he turned to Felix and said, "My daughters can be a handful. I hope you don't mind, Mr. Pioneer."
"Young and full of energy—it's a wonderful thing," Felix replied with a chuckle, indulging in small talk with the middle-aged man. "Mr. Alberto, your daughters' swordsmanship is impressive. They must have studied under a master."
Alberto's lips curved in satisfaction, though he responded modestly, "They've been learning swordsmanship from me since they were little."
"A fine teacher produces fine students. Mr. Alberto, your skill must be exceptional. If I ever get the chance, I'd love to learn from you," Felix said with a warm smile, offering polite applause.
Flattery, when sincere and sparing, was always welcome—and the Sankta, known for their blunt honesty, rarely handed it out. Alberto found the praise particularly pleasing.
Lappland rolled her eyes. "Dad can't beat me anymore. Hey, angel guy, if you want to learn swordsmanship, I'll teach you—ow, ow, ow!"
Alberto gently cupped her face in one hand, still smiling serenely, while waving to Felix with the other. "Master Pioneer, until next time."
Felix had genuinely hoped to witness a father-daughter duel, but it was clear that such a scene wasn't going to unfold today. With a polite nod, he turned and took his leave.
Cellinia watched him go. She blinked, a faint curiosity in her eyes. She couldn't help but feel that the "Pioneer" Uncle Alberto had mentioned had looked at her a few too many times. Why was that?
Meanwhile, Felix strolled through the streets of Florence under the night sky. Around him, the atmosphere was relaxed and cheerful—residents had pulled out tables and chairs onto the street. White-collar workers, now off duty, sat along the roadside, slurping noodles, eating pizza, and chatting animatedly with one another. It was a warm, bustling scene of everyday life.
Eventually, he located a temporary buyer for his weapons. Felix let out a quiet breath of relief. His objective was accomplished. After all, the profits from trading with the small settlements in the forest couldn't compare to what he could earn from a deal with a local powerhouse. The Saluzzo family was both the local tyrant and the gatekeeper. Who else was there to sell to? He couldn't go around robbing poor settlements, could he?
Even if the assassination hadn't occurred today, Felix would have found another way to attract the attention of the Saluzzo family and initiate this transaction. If word got out that a Sankta pioneer was helping bolster Florence's security system for the good of the city, it would only reflect well on him.
But that didn't mean Felix would let down his guard in dealing with the Saluzzo family. Alberto was the head of a mafia family—every move he made would always be calculated to benefit the family's interests. If a greater benefit emerged tomorrow, the same man who welcomed Felix as an honored guest today might not hesitate to have him eliminated.
Felix had no intention of touching the vast and dangerous "cake" that was Florence, the mobile city. What he needed right now was simple—money.
With money, he could buy more advanced blueprints, more parts, more books. He could continue improving his craft through experience and raise his level even further…
Still, today had brought an unexpected surprise.
Cellinia Texas.
One of the wives mentioned by the players.
And among those players… was Felix.
So Celinina—she was the wife Felix had once spoken of.