Arthur walked slowly behind Enzo, navigating narrow, winding corridors until they arrived at the front of an old mansion. From the outside, it looked like an ordinary house, but as soon as they stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted instantly. The air inside was heavy—thick with history buried in silence. The walls were lined with black-and-white photographs frozen in time, some of them classic oil paintings depicting the faces of the once-powerful Morenzo family.
Arthur stopped in front of one of the most striking portraits. It showed a handsome young man in a black suit, his hair neatly combed, and his gaze sharp as though piercing through dimensions. The man looked strangely familiar to Arthur, as if he were staring at a reflection of himself. He felt his body tremble, his mind struggling to connect the dots that had long been floating.
"Don Michael Morenzo," Enzo's voice came softly, as if giving Arthur space to digest the truth that had just been revealed. "Your father. The true ruler of the West Blue, before it all came crashing down."
Arthur stared at the photo longer, as if trying to learn more about the man he had never met, yet felt an unbreakable connection to. "This... is my father?" his voice rasped.
Enzo nodded slowly, then continued, "He wasn't just a mafia boss, Arthur. He was an unrivaled legend. Your father led the Morenzo family with an iron fist, maintaining the balance of power throughout the West Blue. But it all ended when he refused an offer from the Donquixote family."
Arthur looked at Enzo, confused. "What offer?"
"Human trafficking," Enzo said in a low tone. "The Donquixote family wanted to control a child trafficking network from the West Blue to the North Blue. And Don Michael, though a mafia leader, had principles that could not be shaken. He refused to cooperate. That decision ended everything."
"Why would he refuse it?" Arthur asked, though his heart already sensed the direction this story was heading.
"Because he couldn't bear the thought of his children—especially you—becoming part of that vile trade," Enzo replied, his expression full of regret. "He stood against them. And that's why the Donquixote family withdrew all support. In an instant, the five other great families—Capone, Barzini, Cosa Nostra, Forelli, and Leone—became enemies of the Morenzo family."
Arthur fell silent, absorbing every word he had just heard. It all felt like a nightmare he had never imagined. "So... they attacked? The Morenzo family fell?"
Enzo nodded, sadness lingering in his eyes. "The attack came swiftly, Young Master. The five great families struck simultaneously, destroying our network and all the power we held. But... what they did afterward was even worse."
Enzo stepped toward the wall on the right, heading to a large wooden table filled with old documents. He picked up an old photo album and flipped to a page, showing it to Arthur. It held more discarded photos of the Morenzo family, many of them lost to enemies, and among them was a picture of Arthur's mother, Celia, her face full of strength even though she appeared much younger.
"Your mother... Celia. She was no ordinary woman, Arthur," Enzo continued quietly. "She was your father's Consigliere. His most trusted ally and also the most dangerous. She kept this family standing after your father... was gone."
Arthur clutched the photo tightly, his mother's calm, strong face soothing the pain haunting him. "Mother... wasn't a prostitute?" Arthur asked, his voice cracking.
"No," Enzo replied firmly. "Your mother was a shadow assassin. She controlled the weapons, took down our enemies one by one—without anyone knowing. All of it was to protect you. To keep the Morenzo bloodline alive."
The air grew heavier as Arthur took in those words. He felt the weight of something massive settle on his shoulders. The woman he had always seen as fragile had been someone powerful and brave. "Then... how did she die? If she was that strong?"
Enzo exhaled deeply, his gaze distant, as though recalling a past shrouded in darkness. "Because the great families knew she was the only one who could protect you. They struck in the cruelest way—killing her so they could find you. They want the Morenzo blood, Arthur. They want to erase this bloodline from existence."
Arthur bit his lip. Everything he thought he knew about his parents shattered in an instant. "And now? What should I do?"
Enzo stared deeply into Arthur, as if seeing a future that could no longer be avoided. "That is your choice, Young Master. The world remembers the name Morenzo, and your blood cannot be erased so easily. But the world also doesn't care what you choose. That's why we're here—to ensure this legacy isn't lost."
Arthur lowered his head, thinking hard. He knew there was no turning back. The path he chose now would change everything. Slowly, he lifted his head and looked at Enzo.
"I... I need to know more. About them. About who's still out there," he said with more resolve in his voice.
Enzo gave a faint smile. "You're finally ready, Young Master."
Meanwhile, aboard the Grand Fortuna, Juno stared toward the roof of the harbor building, feeling an ominous chill. "We're being watched," she said softly to Bastien and Ravi. "Ever since Arthur left, something's felt off."
Bastien tightened his grip on his revolver. "We're not the only ones looking for answers. Someone out there wants to make sure Arthur never comes back."