May 18, 2021. 22:19. Rome.
"I..." Shock takes a small step back, but whatever she was about to say never makes it out.
For a moment, the only thing filling the silence is the distant noise of Rome around us. Police sirens echo somewhere several blocks away while Camorra soldiers continue moving between the buildings behind us, but nobody here seems willing to interrupt her.
Shock stares at Dante like she's still waiting for him to reveal this is some elaborate joke.
Eventually, she lets out a breath.
"I need some time to think about this." She rubs the back of her neck, managing the faintest smile. "Can't believe I'm getting 'fired' by my own flesh and blood..."
Dante laughs quietly. "Hah... you've earned the choice. Take as much time as you need."
Shock nods, but she doesn't immediately say anything else.
Can't say I blame her.
I won't claim that I know her full story, but from what I can tell, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that Shock wasn't exactly given a choice about working overtime and being constantly "on call" for the Camorra. She's made it pretty obvious that being born into some gigantic Italian crime family wasn't exactly her first career choice.
But there's a pretty massive difference between wanting a break and suddenly being told you can actually leave with no obligations or strings attached.
And Shock can apparently just... go.
But go where?
Judging by the look on her face, I don't think she knows either.
What would she even do if she stopped working for the Camorra anyways?
Dante seems to understand that question is going to take considerably longer than tonight to answer, because he doesn't press her any further. Instead, his attention shifts back toward the rest of us.
"As for my offer... I don't expect an answer immediately."
There's a moment of silence before anyone speaks.
Right, almost forgot.
I raise my hand. "I'll stay."
Everyone looks toward me.
Dante raises an eyebrow. "That was quick."
I shrug, pretending as if my decision was casual and nonchalant.
"Might as well make some more eddies while I'm here."
In reality, my second reason for coming here, my Jinguji photoshoot in Milan, was still coming up on the fourth of August.
Having a few more connections in Italy probably wouldn't hurt—even with the mafia.
Dante gives me an amused look. "Naturally. We can discuss compensation before the operation begins."
"Actually..." A small grin forms across my face. "I was thinking about something else too."
His expression immediately becomes more cautious. "What?"
"Let's just call it future favours."
Tetra glances toward me. "Oh no."
"Oh, shut up." I wave him off with a laugh before looking back toward Dante. "It's nothing crazy. You'll pay me for the job like normal, but I want a couple favours I can call in later."
"What kind of favours?"
"I'll let you know when the job's done."
Dante stares at me for several seconds. "So you want me to agree to something without knowing what I'm agreeing to."
"Basically."
"That sounds remarkably dangerous."
"Do you trust me?" I put a hand on my hip, raising an eyebrow while staring him down.
Dante's eyes narrow slightly. He goes silent, suspicion and theories already forming in his head.
Ultimately, though, he relents with a sigh. "Unfortunately, I do. You've done a lot for us already."
I grin. "Then we're good."
Wissen quietly chuckles beside him.
Dante nods. "Provided whatever you eventually ask of me doesn't bankrupt the Camorra."
"It won't."
"I'll remember you said that."
"Write it down if you're worried."
"I might."
Mister speaks before I can negotiate anything else out of him. "I'll accept as well."
Unlike me, he doesn't need even a second to think about it.
"Beyond helping you recover the weapon, continuing our work provides an opportunity to expand my contacts throughout Italy." Mister pauses before adding, "And I would like to continue learning Italian."
Dante smiles faintly. "That would certainly make my life easier."
Shock looks between them before slowly raising a hand. "Okayyyy... I guess I'm staying too."
Dante turns toward her. "You're certain?"
"For this job? Yeah." She shifts her weight slightly. "Don't get me wrong, I'm still thinking about the whole freedom thing. That's..." She exhales. "...a lot." Her eyes briefly lower before she looks back toward her brother. "But I'm not disappearing tonight. I wanna see where this goes first."
Dante gives her a small nod. "Then that's enough."
Shock smiles before her attention shifts toward Mister. "And, um..."
Mister tilts his head.
She points toward him. "I guess… you kinda proved me wrong too."
"Regarding?"
Shock rolls her eyes. "Don't make me spell it out, girl."
"I merely wanted clarification."
"Mhmm. Sure." Her smile grows slightly. "I wasn't totally convinced you'd keep your shit together once everything went sideways. Especially after the gala."
Mister says nothing.
"Nothing against you, I was just uncertain. But then you helped Dante hold half the family together while everything was burning down, dealt with the underbosses, handled the cops, and somehow didn't lose your mind doing it." Shock gives him a small, almost playful smile. "So... guess you proved me wrong."
Mister regards her for a moment before inclining his head. "I'll take that as a compliment."
"It is one."
Well, shit.
Whatever tension is still left between them can stay buried for now.
"I'm in too," Remi announces.
I look toward him. "You didn't even think about it."
"The fuck do I gotta think about?" He spreads his arms. "More eddies, the same fuckin' railgun, corpo bullshit, secret terrorist dudes, probably more shit to shoot? At this point, I gotta see how this ends."
"That's your reasoning?"
"Yup. It's for the plot."
"...Fair enough."
Tetra sighs, although he's smiling when he does it. "I suppose that leaves me."
"You're staying?" I ask.
"Yeah. It's not like I got much to do in Vancouver anyways." He nods, laughing a little as his eyes move across the rest of us. "Besides, if all of you are staying, somebody has to make sure everyone actually gets home alive."
Remi immediately points toward himself. "Bro, I got that covered."
Tetra looks at him. "That's exactly why I'm staying."
Shock bursts out laughing. "Heyyyyy!"
With that, I guess it's settled.
Every one of us is staying.
Well… almost everyone.
Everyone's eyes eventually drift toward Wissen.
He hasn't said anything throughout the entire conversation.
Instead, the old man stands beside one of the cars with his hands folded behind his back, quietly watching all of us with an expression I can't quite read.
Then his eyes meet mine, the corners of his mouth slowly curling upward. It's subtle, but I recognize that look immediately.
Oh, don't you start.
Wissen's smile grows just slightly, like he knows exactly what I'm thinking and finds the entire thing amusing.
I narrow my eyes at him. Smug asshole.
He says absolutely nothing, instead turning to Dante. "Well, then."
There's a change in his tone, something about it that immediately gets my attention.
"With Rome secure, Giovanni no longer opposing you, the remaining underbosses recognizing your authority, and the Cosa Nostra pushed back toward Sicily..." Wissen pauses. "I'd say my work here is finished."
A faint, warm smile spreads across Dante's face. He nods in understanding and gratitude. "I figured it was time. Thank you."
Remi looks genuinely surprised. "Yo, WHAT? Nahhh, you're dipping already? I thought you were here till the end."
"No." Wissen shakes his head. "Remember, Remi. I came here to make sure Dante completed his ascension, and that's what you were all paid for. This is no longer part of what I promised."
Shock turns toward him too. "Soooo you're just gonna vanish on us?"
"Haha. I wouldn't describe it quite so dramatically."
"That's literally what you're doing!" Shock pouts.
Mister looks toward Wissen. "What do you intend to do next?"
"A few matters require my attention elsewhere," Wissen says. "That doesn't mean I'm disappearing permanently. Should I need any of you again, I'll be in contact."
"Such as?" I ask.
Wissen looks toward me, and the faint smile on his face turns just a little more playful. "You'll know when the time comes."
His eyes linger on mine for another second, long enough for me to catch the meaning behind them.
Yeah. We're definitely talking again.
"That's not an answer."
Wissen smirks. "It's the answer you're getting."
I squint at him anyway. "Right..."
Tetra steps forward slightly. "What about Ras?"
Wissen's expression becomes more serious. "My people are still searching. Leaving Rome doesn't change that, and if I find anything useful, you'll be the first to know."
Tetra studies him for a second before nodding. "Alright. Thank you."
Wissen inclines his head.
"As for the rest of you..." He looks across our little group one by one. "You've all performed considerably better than I expected when this operation began. Italy asked far more of you than any of us anticipated, yet you're all still standing."
His eyes linger briefly on Remi before he breaks into a playful smirk. "Somehow."
"AY, FUCK YOU TOO!"
Wissen laughs.
Then he looks toward Dante, amusement fading into something quieter.
"You don't need me anymore."
Dante remains silent for a moment before a faint smile crosses his face. "Thank you, Wissen."
The old man gives him a small nod. "You're welcome."
There's something strangely final about the exchange that I can't quite put my finger on. Even though it'll be the last I see of Wissen for a while, I have a feeling this is more of a goodbye between old friends, Dante and Wissen.
And I think the next time I see Wissen, it'll somehow be on more serious terms.
Wissen turns away. "Now it's time for me to wrap up my own loose ends as well."
"What loose ends?" Shock asks.
He continues walking. "Goodbye, Shock."
"HEY!"
I laugh as she throws her hands into the air. "See?! Now you know how it feels!"
"Shut uppppp!"
Before Wissen gets more than a few steps away, headlights appear at the far end of the street.
At first, I barely pay attention, but then I notice how many there are.
My smile slowly disappears.
One armoured vehicle turns onto the street, followed by another, then another. None carry Camorra markings, and the people inside definitely aren't dressed like ordinary mafia soldiers.
The soldiers stepping out are covered in heavy armour, carrying military-grade weapons with enough visible chrome between them to make the whole group look like a private army.
One guy emerging from the lead vehicle has so much metal replacing his body that he could probably qualify as a tank.
"Chooms… what the fuck?" Remi blinks twice before pointing toward the convoy. "Why does it look like he's preparing for WAR?!"
Nobody says anything as another vehicle pulls in behind the first.
Wissen stops beside the lead vehicle before glancing back toward us.
"Unlike Vancouver or Italy, some of my remaining business is considerably less receptive to polite conversation." His eyes flick toward the soldiers assembling around him. "So I thought it wiser to bring a little more muscle."
I stare at him. Wow. What an exit.
Wissen gives us one final nod before climbing into the vehicle. "Until next time."
The door shuts behind him, and the convoy begins pulling away, disappearing down the Roman street almost as quickly as it arrived.
"Bro just aura farmed last second and left." Remi watches the last vehicle vanish around the corner. "Coolest shit I've ever seen."
"Of course that's your takeaway," Tetra mutters.
I keep staring after the convoy for another second. To think he had those guys on speed dial.
Dante clears his throat behind us. "Now that everyone's decided to stay..."
I turn back toward him. "Yeah?"
"Gear up".
Remi immediately grins. "Aight. Let's rock."
"I'll prepare the details and your compensation before we leave," Dante continues. "Thankfully, Giovanni was able to acquire enough intelligence to point us toward an active Neo-Tanwir cell in central Italy. If his information is accurate, it's most likely connected to the group responsible for stealing the railgun."
"So we're leaving Rome?" Mister asks.
"Yes, albeit temporarily."
Shock slips her hands into her pockets. "How temporary?"
"That depends on what we find."
"Wonderful." I adjust the rifle against my back.
Ten days fighting the Cosa Nostra across Rome, and now we're immediately chasing Neo-Tanwir into the middle of fucking Italy.
At least I'm getting paid.
Dante looks between all of us. "Get whatever rest you can tonight. I'll brief everyone once I've further verified Giovanni's intelligence."
…
May 20, 2021. 15:02. Central Italy.
We didn't have to wait very long.
After spending the better part of two days verifying the intelligence, Dante finally gets something concrete: an active Neo-Tanwir cell operating out of an abandoned industrial complex somewhere in central Italy.
Truth be told, I expected this to take way longer.
Another week of chasing anonymous messages, kicking down doors, interrogating people, or even driving across half the country looking for breadcrumbs would've been my guess.
Instead, Dante's people outside Rome apparently know what they're doing. Between the Camorra's scouts and informants, Shock and Mister verifying everything remotely, and Ghost continuing to send whatever he uncovers, they narrow the search down surprisingly fast.
Ghost still doesn't want anything to do with rejoining the family, but apparently that doesn't mean he's done helping it either.
I guess having Neo-Tanwir crash your assassination attempt and kill the Don gives you a pretty good reason to hold a grudge.
Which is how I end up standing in the middle of nowhere with the rest of the crew, under the afternoon sun, staring at what might be one of the most depressing industrial complexes I've ever seen.
Well, "staring" might be generous.
We're still more than a kilometre out, tucked behind the remains of an old roadside service yard overlooking the surrounding fields.
Dante deliberately had us leave the vehicles farther back before approaching on foot, keeping us off the main access roads and well outside what Shock estimated to be the facility's immediate surveillance perimeter.
From here, most of what I can see clearly comes through the magnified scope mounted on my rifle, although even without it, my eyes pick out more than they probably should at this distance.
The place itself sits several kilometres outside the nearest town, surrounded by overgrown fields, cracked access roads, and enough abandoned infrastructure that nobody would have much reason to come out here anymore.
Several large warehouses dominate the property, their faded concrete walls covered in years of grime while rusted pipes and old loading equipment stretch between buildings that probably haven't officially operated in years.
At least, "officially".
I bring my rifle up and peer through the scope, immediately picking out several sets of fresh tyre marks along the access road, recently boarded-up windows, sections of the perimeter fence that look suspiciously well maintained, and security cameras mounted above the entrances that are way newer than everything they're attached to.
Verrryyy subtle.
Shock had already mapped most of the visible cameras before we got anywhere near the place, while Dante's scouts spent the morning identifying blind spots and watching traffic from a distance. We still don't know what kind of sensors Neo-Tanwir might have hidden inside the perimeter, which is exactly why nobody's stupid enough to just walk up to the front gate.
Nobody knows exactly how long Neo-Tanwir has been using the place. Maybe they bought it through a shell company, bribed whoever owned it, or simply moved in because nobody cared enough to notice.
Whatever the answer, this obviously isn't their main headquarters.
From what Dante's people observed over the past day, traffic comes and goes without anything resembling the manpower you'd expect from a major base. It's more likely a logistics and staging point, probably one of several scattered throughout Europe for moving personnel, weapons, stolen technology, and whatever else Neo-Tanwir doesn't want sitting in one place for too long.
There's a chance our stupid fucking railgun passed through here.
Thankfully, Dante kept the operation simple. Really, it just boils down to gathering whatever intelligence we can from whoever's inside, hopefully recovering the railgun if it's still here, and eliminating enough resistance that whatever remains of their Italian operation won't be using this place again.
Easy enough on paper, especially considering Dante brought all of us, along with Rafael and a smaller Camorra strike team.
I plant my feet firmly against the ground, gently digging my boots into the gravel and hearing it crunch beneath them. For the past few days, I've been wearing almost nothing but Kevlar and armour, strapped up with a full loadout of gear that Dante has thankfully kept supplied from start to finish.
Nearby, the rest of the crew stays low with Dante behind the abandoned structures and overgrown vegetation concealing our approach. Rafael's men are spread even farther out along secondary roads and concealed positions surrounding the area, partly to provide reinforcements once the shooting starts and partly to make sure nobody escapes the facility without someone noticing.
For now, we're staying outside the surveillance perimeter and watching.
That's when Shock's voice comes through my earpiece.
"Uhhhh... heyyyyyy..." she starts, only to trail off as her attention shifts elsewhere. "Rafael, puoi controllare una cosa per noi?"
I glance toward her. "That doesn't sound good."
Shock's fingernails and eyes glow as she stares off into space, her expression tightening while she continues walking alongside us.
"Because it's not. I've got movement coming toward us."
Rafael immediately reaches for his radio. "I nostri uomini?"
"Nope," Shock answers, shaking her head. "Non sono i nostri."
Dante looks over. "Polizia?"
"Neanche loro."
Rafael speaks rapidly into his radio in Italian, checking with the Camorra teams positioned along the surrounding roads. A response comes back almost immediately, followed by several more, and his expression hardens.
"Un convoglio si avvicina da est," he reports.
"How many?" Dante asks.
"Several vehicles. Armoured."
Mister looks toward the road. "That seems rather deliberate."
Before anyone can respond, I hear the engines. Not one or two either, but enough that the distant rumble immediately catches my attention.
I turn toward the opposite access road just as the sound grows loud enough for everyone else to notice.
Tetra follows my gaze, his expression shifting in surprise. "You've gotta be kidding me."
Mister reaches beneath his coat, one hand settling near his pistol. "Apparently, we aren't the only ones interested in this location."
I slide my rifle from my shoulder and bring it into a low-ready position, keeping the barrel pointed toward the ground while watching the approaching road through narrowed eyes. My finger rests alongside the trigger guard as I search the convoy for any sign that whoever's coming intends to start shooting.
"Nobody fire unless I give the order," Dante says immediately. "We don't know who they are yet."
The first vehicle comes around the bend less than thirty seconds later.
Black, armoured, expensive as hell, and definitely not Camorra.
Then I see the insignia—Arasaka's.
"Oh, for fuck's sake."
Several vehicles roll toward the facility before slowing near our position, their formation tight enough that this clearly isn't some corporate inspection team that took a wrong turn. Doors open almost simultaneously, and a small tactical detachment steps out wearing Arasaka combat gear.
Nobody on our side lowers their weapons.
Neither do they.
Then another door opens and a familiar implanted man in a tailored black suit steps onto the road.
Tetra's eyes widen. "No way."
Michelangelo takes one look at us, and for once, even he seems genuinely caught off guard. His crimson eyes sweep across the entire group before eventually settling on Dante.
For several seconds, both groups simply stare at each other before Michelangelo finally sighs.
"You all have an awful habit of getting wrapped up in Arasaka operations."
"Shiiiit, Big M." Remi spreads his arms. "Maybe Arasaka has an awful habit of getting wrapped up in our operations."
Shock immediately grins. "How'd that saying go again? Once is an accident, twice is a coincidence, but three times is a pattern." She tilts her head toward Michelangelo. "At this point, I'd think you really like us~."
Michelangelo's expression doesn't change. "That, or you really enjoy associating with terrorists."
"Heyyy, that's uncalled for!"
His attention briefly shifts toward Remi before returning to Shock and Dante, switching effortlessly into Italian.
"Le vostre squadre d'assalto includono normalmente persone che puzzano d'erba?"
Shock glances toward Remi before answering in Italian without missing a beat. "È un caso isolato. Non rappresenta il resto dell'organizzazione."
Remi looks between them, completely lost.
"...What are we talking about?" He points between Shock and Michelangelo. "Mind translating for the non-Italians, chooms?"
I let out a long sigh. "...They're talking about you."
Remi blinks. "...Me?"
"They're saying you smell like weed, dumbass."
His eyes widen. "IT'S NOT THAAAT BAD, BRO!"
I stare at him for a solid second. "Firstly, it is. Secondly, quiet down."
"Man, fuck all y'all."
Tetra laughs under his breath, gently calming Remi while Michelangelo's attention moves across the rest of us. Eventually, his gaze stops on the empty space where a certain old fixer would normally be standing.
"I see Wissen is no longer with you."
"Nope," I answer. "He's got his own shit to deal with."
"In that case, who's acting commander of your squad?" Michelangelo looks toward the industrial complex. "What was your plan of attack?"
Mister answers before the rest of us get the chance.
"At present, we're operating under contract with Dante, so for the purposes of this operation, he has overall command." He gestures toward the complex. "The specifics of our approach are his to explain."
Michelangelo's eyes shift toward Dante.
Dante steps forward, remaining composed. "Our intelligence identifies this facility as an active Neo-Tanwir logistics site. We intended to confirm their presence, gather intelligence, recover the stolen railgun if it's here, and eliminate their remaining operations in Italy."
Michelangelo studies him for a moment before responding.
"Then our objectives overlap."
Dante glances toward the Arasaka soldiers assembling behind him. "I assume you didn't arrive here by coincidence."
"No. We've been tracking the same network since Rome. This facility appeared in our intelligence shortly after the gala."
Of course it did.
I look between both groups, with Camorra soldiers on one side and Arasaka tactical operatives on the other.
And somewhere inside those warehouses are probably a bunch of Neo-Tanwir who have absolutely no idea what's about to knock on their front door.
Michelangelo looks back toward the compound. "For the moment, cooperation would be more efficient than interfering with one another."
Dante doesn't exactly look thrilled about the idea, but after everything that happened at the gala, he doesn't take long to decide.
"Agreed. Until the facility is secure."
"Acceptable."
Remi leans slightly toward me and lowers his voice. "Are we seriously doing a mafia-corpo team-up right now?"
I keep my eyes on Michelangelo. "Apparently."
"That's kinda sick."
"Please never say that again."
Around us, both strike teams begin preparing for the breach.