The next day, having joined the Savoys' motorcade, you and Lucia find yourself at the seaside sanctuary again.
Morning mist hangs like a delicate veil over the distant mountains and forests. Parked under the canopies, the black limousines bring wave after wave of family members to the venue.
With the sun slowly making its way up, the venue becomes crowded with family members before long.
The leaders of the Thirteen Families gather as the pipe organ hums softly. Some wear melancholic expressions as they sit quietly among their entourages, while others cluster and cheerfully discuss their families' recent affairs.
Above the sanctuary, gentle breezes occasionally sweep in from the sea, lifting countless flower petals that dance through the corridor of the sprawling red carpet, carrying their rich fragrance toward the distant fields.
At eleven o'clock sharp when the ceremonial pipes sound, the crowd falls silent, and the wedding officially begins.
The orchestra plays the wedding march. Accompanied by page boys and flower girls, Lucia and you enter the venue one after another, traverse the corridor between rows of seats, and ascend to the altar. There, under the towering peachwood arch, you stand facing each other.
Olivia herself serves as the wedding's officiant. She welcomes you both at the altar and, following ancient religious customs, guides you through the reading of your vows.
—[player name], I accept and bear witness to your vow.
With this ring, I vow before the world my devotion and love for you.
Gold does not tarnish, and jade remains whole, just like the promise that binds us.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—
Our love endures this day and all days, now and forevermore.
Amidst your profound vows, Catania's sun slowly climbs to the peak of the heavens. Brilliant golden cascades filter through the gaps between branches, bathing the sacred altar in light.
With the exchange of your rings, the wedding is now halfway complete. Everything so far has been coming along as smoothly as the rehearsal the night before.
Friends, raise your glasses with me. Let's toast to this eternal union!
...!!!
As the wedding climaxes, Olivia steps forward and invites everyone present to raise their glasses in celebration.
A sea of formally dressed family members fills the venue under the stage. Amidst clinking glasses and flowing wine, thunderous cheers erupt from the crowd.
...On this joyous day, as Dawne of the Thirteen Families and head of the Savoys, I have one more piece of good news to share!
Thanks to many brave and brilliant souls, Babylonia has approved the formation of the Catania Autonomy Council.
That means everything we've worked toward for decades has finally been recognized by the World Government.
She surveys the crowd, looking perfectly composed.
The Thirteen Families will transition into official governance, responsible for handling taxes and budgets. We'll no longer be living off the black market.
From this day forward, there will be no more families, only a council that serves the people.
...
With it, a wave of whispers ripples through the audience.
My father and yours built this all from scratch—a generation's worth of blood, deals, and glory. I know it's hard to let that go.
I'm sure all of you here have received the large checks I sent out. The amount is based on your investments in United Industries.
Even the lowest payout can keep a house running for three years—and that's just the down payment from the buyers in Babylonia.
You have my word that the final payment will cover every debt and give each of you a future of peace and luxury.
Lady Dawne's words ripple through the crowd. Some already knew this, while others heard it for the first time.
But regardless, the dissolution of the Thirteen Families has long been a foregone conclusion. What they didn't see coming, however, was the irrefutable deal that Lady Dawne is cutting them now...
All they need to do is abandon their family power and titles to obtain legitimate, enormous wealth.
Gradually, the murmurs in the hall die down as the crowd looks toward the woman on stage whose mere presence demands respect.
No need to say more, Lady Dawne.
You found a buyer so soon. You sold United Industries. And you made every one of us a rich man.
The Omar family has always been business-first. If you make us money, you earn our loyalty, whether you lead a family or a council.
Thank you for your support, Lord Omar.
Once you step into your new role, you won't forget about us old-timers behind the curtain... right?
Right then, someone steps forward from within the crowd, and you recognize him.
...Director?
Lord Horace, this new play has no backstage. We all stand in the light, together with the people of Catania.
Hohoho! Then you have my support, now and always.
The Visconti family stands with you, too!
Long live Lady Dawne!
Declarations of support echo throughout the hall, as more and more family leaders pledge their loyalty to Lady Dawne.
T-the Russells... we support you as well...
—Hold it right there!
Suddenly, a shout can be heard from the end of the hall.
The crowd turns around and sees a young man with a face contorted by anger.
Mr. Remus, I'm addressing the heads of the Thirteen Families. You're speaking out of turn.
She lowers her head, calmly looking down at the uninvited guest.
For decades, the Russells bled for the cause. We sacrificed everything for Catania and the families!
My mother and uncle died fighting the plague. I still have a Tijuana bullet lodged in my shoulder!
Remus strides down the red carpet, glaring at the family leaders with bitter resentment and fury.
We clawed our way up with our own hands, and now you're handing our land over to Babylonia trust fund brats?
If Lord Dawne were still alive, he'd never stand for this madness!
Remus's words land like a stone dropped into dark waters, sending ripples across.
With a furrowed brow, Olivia looks at him with cold indifference.
The old world is falling apart. The rising World Government won't tolerate the Thirteen Families much longer.
Our fathers' empires are collapsing under pressure. Selling them off is Catania's only way forward.
The Thirteen Families were wolves in the dark. But daylight is here, and if we don't clean the blood from our teeth, none of us walk away clean.
Lies and cowardice! This is betrayal!
Words lie. But the monthly balance sheets I send each of you, they don't.
It started as business, so let it end as business.
Then I'll just come out and say it!
Seeing no point in carrying on the discussion, Remus fires a shot up at the sky.
The hall immediately erupts into chaos.
Thirty years ago, Catania had over forty families of varying sizes.
Your father, Rodrigo Savoy, held a banquet, murdered every disloyal head, and crowned himself Lord Dawne. That's how the Thirteen Families were born.
If he could rewrite the rules with blood, we can too!
Several gunshots suddenly erupt from outside, and a sea of soldiers floods into the wedding venue from everywhere.
Those guys... Tijuana thugs, and the Nora family's mercs.
...Figured we'd run into each other again.
Listen up! One day as a lion is worth a hundred as a sheep! Anyone who betrays Catania is an enemy of mine!
Remus enunciates each word, causing some of the family leaders in the hall to question their stance.
Remus! This is Lady Dawne's godchild's wedding—to resort to violence here is to blaspheme against God and desecrate the sanctity of marriage!
God? How many guns does He have? I'd rather bleed out on this floor than bow to those Babylonia bastards!
Whoever kills Olivia and her precious godchild becomes King of Catania!
Remus suddenly pulls the trigger at the ceremonial stage. With it, gunshots flood the hall like crashing waves.
The crowd frantically searches for cover as people draw their weapons to return fire. Gunsmoke and flames become one as the sacred hall transforms into a battlefield for the Thirteen Families' civil war.
Damn right, Remus, Catania's always settled things with fists and bullets!
This is it. Make your name! Morlan boys, with me! We end Olivia and her godchild, right here!
Watch out, Commandant!
As you dodge the explosion of a grenade nearby, Lucia hurls herself this way and keeps your head covered.
Are you hurt?! Commandant, say something!
Got it!
Flames dance at her fingertips as Lucia grips her dual blades and looks at those surrounding the two of you with murderous eyes.
Everyone, stand back!
A gust of fierce wind howls across the battlefield. Countless peach blossoms drifting through the air turn into flames. Under the blazing sun, they are not unlike a great show of fireworks.
Commandant, there are way more hostiles than expected. Stay sharp and stay safe!
As the dust from the explosion settles, a hazy figure slowly emerges from within.
What we love reveals who we really are. But the power-hungry always wrap themselves in the cloak of justice.
Remus, if you truly love this land, then let go of your wealth and your pride. Give it back to the people it belongs to.
Olivia, I told you, the Russells never forget your "kindness".
Everything you took from me, I'm taking it back today.
He says through gritted teeth, his hand still tightly clutching the family crest on his shoulder.
That's fine. God is just. He gave you your chance to do honest business with me.
But since you turned that down...
Olivia removes her cloak, revealing her Construct arms.
Then my godchild and I will act as His hand, and deliver His judgment.
