Palermo.
One of Siracusa's largest mobile cities, and also the main base of the Sicily family.
Furthermore, since Siracusa was not yet unified and the major Mafia families each controlled their own territory, Siracusa's former capital was no longer recognized by anyone. A new capital had yet to be determined, and it would likely take one of the factions unifying Siracusa for a new one to be born.
Today was a great day for the Sicily family.
They had finally reached an agreement with Raythean Industries.
At a high cost, even gifting half an Originium ore vein to Raythean Industries as part of the price, Raythean Industries had 'reluctantly' agreed to cooperate with the Sicily family and open a new branch office in Siracusa.
The sheer scale of Raythean Industries was immense. It was a company that even owned its own mobile city, with annual profits exceeding the entire GDP of Siracusa. A single company rivaling a nation—that was the scale of the world's number one arms company, showing just how transcendent Raythean Industries' status on Terra truly was.
Even the legendary head of the Sicily family, Lady Sicily, had to be polite when meeting Jessica's father.
Although the Sicily family controlled several ore veins and was flush with cash compared to the other ruling families, even controlling 40% of the Siracusa region, it was still a far cry from Raythean Industries' annual income.
And the reason Lady Sicily was so eager for Raythean Industries to open a branch in Siracusa was mainly because after its establishment, the sheer volume of Raythean's business would provide a steady stream of massive tax revenue for the Sicily family.
In this day and age, competition between families was nothing more than a competition of money. Families with more money had better equipment and more people.
With enough money, they could even use commercial warfare to directly cut off the economic lifelines of rival families.
These Mafia families had so many people, so many mouths to feed. As long as their economic lifelines could be cut, they could be defeated without firing a single shot.
This was Lady Sicily's plan.
Siracusa had now entered a rare period of stalemate. Since they couldn't wage war, they had to use commercial tactics. It would be best if they could make the other four major Mafia families their vassals without losing a single soldier.
To celebrate the arrival of the private shuttle carrying the project head from Raythean Industries for this occasion.
The entire mobile city of Palermo had rehearsed the celebration ceremony overnight, including a dress rehearsal for the ribbon-cutting. And to prevent any accidents, the entire city had been on high alert for several days in advance. Even entering and leaving the city required strict inspections.
It took Lucas Reeve and Lisa two days to drive to Palermo.
They were stopped just as they were about to enter the city. To avoid trouble, Lucas Reeve used his abilities to slip in.
"Wow... Mr. Reeve, are they preparing for a festival?"
After entering the city, Lisa looked around curiously. There were few pedestrians on the streets, and you couldn't even see a speck of trash. On both sides of the road, the Sicily family's flag was hung every few meters. Next to the Sicily flag was the large Raythean Industries logo.
On the main central banner, the Sicily family crest and the Raythean Industries' simple text logo were displayed side by side, with an 'X' symbol in between.
"Not exactly..."
Lucas Reeve explained as he drove.
"Raythean Industries is about to open a branch office in this mobile city."
After hearing Lucas Reeve's explanation, Lisa became even more confused. She tilted her little head, her large fox ears twitching up and down, her big eyes filled with puzzlement.
"Mr. Reeve, why would the Sicily family be so welcoming for a company opening a branch office in their territory?"
Lisa had grown up in the third-world nation of Siracusa and had never been to a superpower like Columbia. Naturally, she couldn't imagine how vast the gap between a superpower and a third-world country was. In her mind, the major ruling Mafia families were the most powerful forces in the world.
Sigh~ This little Lisa really needs to see more of the world. She can't just stay in this small place forever.
"Lisa, this world is very big. Siracusa is just a tiny little country in the grand scheme of Terra. And Sicily is just one of the ruling powers in that small country. As for Raythean Industries, don't be fooled by the fact that it's just a company. Raythean Industries' total annual revenue exceeds that of the entire country of Siracusa, let alone a single Sicily family."
"Moreover."
"Opening a branch office is a double-edged sword for Sicily."
"Think about it. With Raythean Industries opening a branch on Sicily's turf, a portion of all future sales revenue will go to Sicily as tax. The annual income from one company could potentially allow Sicily to take off. These days, while direct confrontations between Mafia families might be primitive axe-wielding brawls, it ultimately comes down to who has more money. The rich have better equipment and more people; the poor have fewer people and worse equipment."
"Of course, if this branch office becomes too deeply rooted in the future, it could in turn shake Sicily's rule."
Lucas Reeve explained in great detail.
Lisa was only twelve, after all.
Although she was much more mature than her peers, in terms of certain knowledge, she was still just a twelve-year-old girl.
"Oh~~~"
Lisa had a sudden realization.
"I get it!! So in the future! If I have more money than all these families, can I easily unify all of Siracusa? And then I can fulfill Mom's wish?"
"Uh... The logic is a bit crude, but... I guess that's basically it."
Along the way.
Lisa asked many questions about Raythean Industries. She had been well-protected by her mother all these years, living pretty much the life of an ordinary Siracusa middle schooler, unaware of the outside world and with no desire to know about it. But now that she needed to strengthen herself, she had viewed the five ruling families as her final bosses.
Suddenly, an entity even more powerful than the five ruling Mafia families appeared, making it easy for Lisa to yearn for it, even to fantasize. If she could be that powerful one day, wouldn't she be able to easily fulfill her mother's wish?
If that were the case.
She could live happily with her mom and dad again.
Lisa rested her chin on her hands, a smile gradually blooming on her face. She looked out the window at the city, lost in her daydreams.
To show its respect for Raythean Industries.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held directly in the central square of Palermo's city center. Many residents, even those with no affiliation, came to watch. In fact, Raythean Industries opening a branch also had benefits for many of the local people.
Raythean Industries was globally renowned for its good pay and benefits. Not only could it provide a large number of jobs, but even if the benefits weren't as good as at the head office, they would definitely be far better than Siracusa's other 'sweatshops'. Many well-educated young people had already prepared their resumes to apply.
It was believed.
That within a month.
A new mantra would probably spread among the people of Palermo, and even all of Siracusa.
"Study hard, and you'll have a bright future if you get a job at Raythean Industries when you grow up."
Therefore, the people also supported Raythean Industries opening a local branch with both hands and feet. Others who weren't skilled enough hoped that Raythean's arrival would put some pressure on the sweatshops to improve their benefits a little.
After all.
At the Raythean Industries headquarters in Columbia, the absolute minimum annual salary was 700,000 Lungmen Dollars.
What did 700,000 Lungmen Dollars mean? It dwarfed one hundred percent of the companies in Siracusa.
By the time Lucas Reeve arrived at the center of Palermo, the streets were already packed with onlookers. Lucas Reeve parked the car on the side of the road, and the two of them walked over. There were so many people that Lisa, with her height, couldn't see anything at all. She jumped up and down, but still couldn't see a thing.
Nearby, many children her age were happily perched on their fathers' shoulders.
Lisa paused, glanced at Lucas Reeve beside her, and turned her head away.
Lucas Reeve naturally noticed Lisa's expression and easily lifted the little girl onto his shoulders.
Lisa didn't refuse, but her face was red the entire time.
The ceremony was not complicated.
Lucas Reeve didn't recognize the Raythean Industries representative. Beside him was the legendary head of the Sicily family, Lady Sicily. After they cut the ribbon and shook hands together, cannons around the square fired, signaling the official start of the cooperation. This representative would also serve as the general manager of the Raythean Industries branch in Siracusa and would discuss subsequent recruitment matters with Lady Sicily.
"Um... Mr. Reeve, can you put me down now? It's a bit... embarrassing...."
Lisa said, her face bright red.
Lucas Reeve, however, didn't seem to mind and carefully lifted Lisa down from his shoulders. Just as Lucas Reeve was about to turn and leave, he suddenly... felt something poking him from behind.
Lucas Reeve's first reaction was that it was Lisa, but....
Lisa was only 1.37 meters tall. Even on her tiptoes, she couldn't poke his shoulder.
He slowly turned his head.
An unexpected figure was standing behind him.
"Fra... Franka!!!"
Looking at the voluptuous Vulpo girl behind him, Lucas Reeve wondered if his eyes were deceiving him.
How could Franka be in Siracusa? He must be seeing things.
He rubbed his eyes, and when he opened them again, another group of people had appeared beside Franka.
"???"
"Jessica!! You guys!!"
*Hiss!!*
Lucas Reeve was at a loss for words.
"What are you guys doing here?"
Lucas Reeve was a bit shocked because the whole crew was here this time.
Jessica, Franka, Liskarm, Ceobe, and Magallan...
"Hehehe! Lucas Reeve, aren't you shocked? Why are we here?"
Franka said, her eyes scanning Lucas Reeve up and down as if admiring a piece of art, her tone casual and teasing.
"Yo, aren't you a ghost? How do you have a physical body? To be honest, we saw you from behind earlier. At first, we were so shocked we thought we were mistaken. I didn't expect you to actually have a physical body in Siracusa?"
Franka still seemed unconvinced, poking Lucas Reeve's body. The very real, fleshy feel on her cheek left Franka with no doubt. This was real flesh!!
Lucas Reeve has a physical body?!!
It wasn't just Franka who was shocked; Jessica was the most shocked of all.
From the moment she saw Lucas Reeve, she could hardly believe her eyes.
Mr. Reeve... has a physical body?!!
So soon!
Didn't he say it would take years, even more than a decade?
It's only been a few months!
And...
If she hadn't wanted to come to Siracusa secretly to give Lucas Reeve a surprise, she probably would never have known!!
Since Mr. Reeve has a physical body, doesn't that mean I can openly introduce him to my parents?!!
There were too many people here...
Jessica was far from being as bold and carefree as Franka. Although she really wanted to touch Lucas Reeve's body, she held back.
"Mr. Reeve, how was it! Aren't you surprised!"
Jessica said with a smile, but her eyes never stopped scanning every inch of Lucas Reeve's body.
"It certainly is a bit..."
Lucas Reeve still hadn't fully processed it.
Meanwhile, Ceobe was constantly waving her hands and jumping up and down in front of Lucas Reeve. She seemed to have no interest in his new body.
"Is big brother Lucas Reeve playing with a new big sister outside again?"
Lucas Reeve: "?"
"Uh... Ceobe, Lisa is much younger than you...."
Although he said that, but... Ceobe's mental age was probably far less mature than Lisa's. Technically, Lisa could be called the big sister.
Beside them, Magallan also started teasing.
"You're crossing a line, Mr. Reeve. And what's the deal with your new body? Cloning technology?"
Lisa, standing next to Lucas Reeve, was also a bit dumbfounded.
She hadn't expected Mr. Reeve to suddenly have so many acquaintances. She felt a bit overwhelmed.
Right now, she felt like she was out shopping with her best friend. She thought it would be just the two of them, chatting casually, but who knew they would randomly run into her best friend's other best friends. In moments like this, things get a little awkward.
"You must be little cutie Lisa?"
Jessica lowered her head slightly to look at the somewhat timid little sister in a black combat suit standing beside Lucas Reeve.
It's true!!
Just like Mr. Reeve said!!
This little Lisa is so adorable!!
Ooh!
And a nine-tailed Vulpo, too. Senior Franka only has one tail~
"Mmm... Mmm!"
Suddenly, Lisa seemed to remember something. She looked back and forth at the cute Feline girl who was only a little taller than her and asked tentatively.
"Are you... Jessica, the teacher's wife? Mr. Reeve often talks about you."
Lisa's simple words instantly silenced the noisy square.
Lucas Reeve: "???"
Franka: "???"
Magallan covered her mouth, a gossip-loving expression on her face. Ceobe, on the other hand, found it perfectly normal and was already thinking about what to have for dinner.
As for Jessica, her face was now completely red, like a ripe apple about to burst.
Ahhh!! So embarrassing!! (>▽<)
Does Mr. Reeve really talk about me like that in front of little Lisa?!!
Mmm!!
On the surface, Jessica was shy, but inside, she was so happy she was about to explode.
At this moment, Lucas Reeve looked at Lisa with great confusion.
Conversely, Lisa was also a bit confused.
Isn't big sister Jessica the teacher's wife?
After all.
When Mr. Reeve used to chat, especially about Columbia, he would often mention Jessica. The frequency was completely unlike a normal friendship. And... the way big sister Jessica looked at Mr. Reeve just now!!
It must be like that!!
Ahem...
Lucas Reeve coughed, forcing a change of subject to break the current awkwardness.
"What are you guys doing here? Jessica, I had no idea."
Jessica explained, a little flustered.
"Well... we wanted to give Mr. Reeve a surprise. And we've been working so much for so many days, so we thought we'd take a trip out to have some fun. Also, Miss McRae happened to say she knew of a beautiful natural scenic spot in Siracusa that's absolutely safe."
Lucas Reeve's eye twitched uncontrollably.
"You guys... why would you believe Magallan?!"
Magallan: "Are you being polite?"
Oh... he said my name right. As expected of my only confidant. Please continue...