Driving the mid-sized motorcycle, Erica had been maintaining a certain distance in their pursuit of Doni's light van, persisting for the past hour and a half or so.
But as soon as they arrived in the outskirts of Florence, she quickly decelerated and stopped her vehicle by the side of the road.
The light van they had been following soon departed into the distance. Since it stood to reason that Erica could not have made such an elementary blunder, Godou asked with certainty:
"Another tracking team is taking over here?"
"Yes, indeed. In fact, we are not the only ones tailing Sir Salvatore. Two other teams had also departed Casentino and are currently tracking him as well. Furthermore, I was supposed to pass the job along to other members of the [Copper Black Cross] near Florence in the first place."
"Just as I figured."
When experts in this area undertook tailing operations, it was natural to split into multiple teams.
Godou had heard about these arrangements before. Members of the Italian faction had apparently made flawless plans in this regard. Nevertheless, the blonde female knight frowned.
"Actually, using magic would be the best method of tracking... But because Sir Salvatore's senses are rather sharp, using magic would probably risk getting discovered by him instead."
As a side note, Godou was told that Doni had left his usual cellphone in his room before setting off.
Hence, it was not possible to confirm his location using various means such as call records or GPS. Eschewing gadgets like phones despite living in the modern era, he probably intended to go off the grid, out of contact.
"Next, we'll see if the organization picking up Sir Salvatore has any means of getting past our side—"
"Those guys are Doni's subordinates?"
"I doubt it. All the staff under his name have been commanded by his butler, Sir Andrea, to withdraw from the region of Tuscany. There shouldn't be anyone in that faction who's foolish enough to defy the strict order of the King's Butler."
"Then that means the idiot has summoned secret subordinates that even Andrea-san doesn't know..."
"That's probably right if you look at it that way."
Starting the motorcycle again, Erica drove towards the city of Florence.
Soon, she discovered an appropriate church and parked the motorcycle in the adjoining car park, not for the sake of sightseeing but to visit a nearby restaurant.
Finally, they had a chance to sit down and start enjoying a late lunch.
"Where does that guy Doni want to go?"
"He presumably intends to leave Tuscany. Going along that road which follows the Arno River, he will reach Pisa."
The Arno River.
Godou remembered Erica mentioning before that it was a great river that crossed Tuscany from east to west.
In addition, he had also heard of the other name.
"Pisa is the city that's known for the Leaning Tower of Pisa, right?"
"Yes. There's also the Univeristy of Pisa where Galileo Galilei studied as well as an airport. Rushing from Pisa, a thirty-minute drive is all it takes to reach Livorno—a harbor city facing the Ligurian Sea."
"A port at an airport, huh."
In other words, a gateway to sea and air travel.
Sitting in the restaurant, listening to Erica's deductions at the table, Godou remarked quietly.
As a side note, they were discussing while having various food including chickpeas salad, cylindrical pasta mixed with lamb sauce, bistecca, Florentine mixed stew, unsalted bread unique to Tuscany, etc.
Just as they were almost done eating and having an after-meal coffee...
Erica's cellphone sounded briefly to indicate receiving a message. Glancing at the LCD screen, the communication device's owner shrugged lightly.
"Some unfortunate news. The tracking teams' valiant efforts have ended in failure with the target apparently lost. The people Sir Salvatore called over seem to be quite experienced in this kind of job."
The report presumably arrived via the text message. Erica sighed.
"Since Sir Salvatore is chasing after shadow of the 'King of the End,' his destinations are limited. However, it's still quite difficult to narrow down a particular location without any clues. What should we do?"
Seeing Erica in deep thought, Godou suddenly remembered.
Before setting off for ancient Gaul, Godou had found out about Doni's unexpected connections. That man really did have old acquaintances whom he could trust to carry out secret tasks—
This time, it was Godou's turn to take out his cellphone.
Using this tool which he had put aside and ignored throughout his time traveling journey, Godou tried dialing a number, a task he had not done for quite some time.
On the fifth ring, the international call connected.
'It's been quite a while, Honored Uncle. I've already heard news of your return from Madame Aisha's cave. It's wonderful that you are safe and sound.'
"Well, many things did happen."
The receiver of the call was the young master and leading subordinate in Hong Kong's Lu family.
He trained in martial arts under the instruction of Kusanagi Godou's "sworn elder sister" Luo Cuilian as her one and only direct disciple. Consequently, he revered Godou as his master's younger brother, considered an uncle by oriental social hierarchy...
"How's life lately? Things going well?"
'Yeah, thanks to you, Honored Uncle, my days are going smoothly. The only task I have remaining for today is to get a good night's rest.'
"Huh? It should be roughly ten o'clock over there for you, right? Isn't it a bit early for bed?"
Italy was separated from Japan by a time difference of eight hours. The clock hands on Godou's side were currently pointing at two in the afternoon, which meant that the time over in Japan could hardly be called late night. Godou was quite surprised.
For a fourteen-year-old youth's bedtime, wasn't it a bit too early?
'If there's nothing special to do, I will sleep as early as possible. That's because I have to do morning training before dawn every morning.'
"That's getting up a bit... No, quite early."
'Although people are always surprised to find out, this is the truth indeed.'
A young leader from a criminal organization based in Hong Kong. If one were to judge purely from a description of this kind of character, the impression given would be someone who often stayed up late and indulged in night life instead. And taking it a step further, Lu Yinghua also lived in Shinjuku's Kabukichou, one of Japan's top entertainment and red-light districts.
However, Lu Yinghua explained in a calm tone of voice:
'Included in Luo Cuilian's martial arts is an exercise involving "the cultivation of internal skills while worshiping the rising sun of dawn." Starting from the age of three, every morning, I was forced—no, asked—to train in this, so I ended up acquiring this habit unwittingly, that of rising from bed as early as eighty-year-old geezers.'
"Ah... So Nee-san is the cause as well."
'She described it as absorbing the cleanest and purest solar energies so as to augment internal skills.'
Another confession reminiscent of the harsh childhood he had endured.
Internal skills. Godou currently knew this was what the Japanese called kikou and known to westerners as breathing exercise or spirit cultivation.
Having started his training by Luo Cuilian's side under her tutelage from early childhood, Lu Yinghua had consequently acquired various negative assets such as misogyny, a sadistic attitude towards beautiful female fighters, as well as professional cooking skills despite his young age of fourteen...
"By the way, you met my younger sister Shizuka earlier, right?"
'So you have heard, Honored Uncle? Yeah, I ran into her by chance a few days ago in Shinjuku.'
"...She didn't cause you any trouble, did she?"
Sensing slight anxiety in the prideful surrogate nephew's tone of voice, Godou asked
as a test just in case. In response, Lu Yinghua answered with a slight sigh.
'No trouble worth mentioning. However, well, she truly does have a capacity for boldness as befits her position as Honored Uncle's sister—That's basically what I felt keenly.'
"How should I say this? I'm really sorry."
'It's nothing, don't worry about it. She really didn't cause me any trouble at all. Also—"
"Also?"
'I've been inspired slightly to resolve myself to escape the next time I see her.'
"I see. If you ever notice her trying to say anything, don't think and just run away immediately. Even as her elder brother, I believe that's the wisest choice."
'Understood. Also, is there anything you'd like me to do for you, Honored Uncle?'
As expected of Yinghua. He instantly figured out that the main subject had not been broached yet.
"Actually, something a bit troublesome has come up over here in Italy."
Godou briefly summarized Salvatore Doni's worrying movements, finally adding:
"So last time, you mentioned it, right? You've got friends in Chinatown over here who does dirty work for that idiot Doni. I have a feeling that those people are involved in this incident too."
This was something that he had heard Yinghua mention before the trip to ancient Gaul.
'I do remember such a conversation. Well then, I'll go get some information from those people.'
"You don't need to do that. Just tell me how to contact those people. We can handle that side of things."
Hearing Godou's response, Lu Yinghua laughed malevolently.
'Haha. Indeed, it'll be faster and easier if your side does it, Honored Uncle. I understand the particulars now.'
After hanging up, several minutes passed.
Godou's cellphone then received a message. Naturally, the sender was Lu Yinghua. Godou showed the address, telephone number and other information on the LCD screen to Erica.
Hence, the blonde beauty known as the Diavolo Rosso smiled malevolently in a manner as befitted her title.
"So it's my turn next, eh? Fufu, leave it to me. Given the mighty name of Kusanagi Godou and the eloquent tongue of Erica Blandelli, ten minutes are enough for this sort of thing."
In actual fact, eight minutes was sufficient.
Calling herself the delegate of Japan's Campione and successfully contacting the shady organization called the [King's Company] and based in the Chinatown of the ancient capital, Rome, Erica quickly obtained the necessary information from the company's representative through verbal means.
Using the names of Godou and the [Copper Black Cross] as threats, she also placated the other party with sweet words at the same time.
Still the same as always, what an outstanding negotiator she was.
"Since we've clarified Sir Salvatore's approximate destination, let's try some fancy tricks, shall we?"
"Fancy tricks?"
"Yes. Let's play a slight trick so that we can catch up to Sir Salvatore."
Godou's cellphone was currently placed on the table in the restaurant. Pointing at his cellphone, Erica suggested in a delighted tone of voice:
"Hey Godou, I have someone else I'd like to contact."
Hence, several hours passed. The sun was almost setting completely. Night was just about to start.
Godou and Erica's location had shifted away from the region of Tuscany in central Italy to somewhere else all of a sudden. Taking a flight from Pisa's Aeroporto Galileo Galilei, the two of them had flown for roughly an hour in the southwestern direction, crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach the island of Sardinia—Italy's westernmost autonomous region.
Even as an island, Sardinia was only slightly larger than Shikoku, the smallest and least populous of Japan's four main islands.
Whether for Godou or Erica, this island was where everything had started.
Exiting the airport at the island's regional capital, Cagliari, Godou and Erica followed the guides (Caucasian men with scary-looking faces who were clearly not "reputable" people despite their neat-looking black suits) who were waiting for them. The pair was then led to be seated in a white BMW.
Their destination was a luxury hotel in the city of Cagliari.
Then they arrived before two men who were chatting cheerfully at a restaurant inside the hotel.
Godou recognized both men.
One was a blond and handsome man with a frivolous face, Salvatore Doni.
The other was an obese old man. He was dressed gallantly in a high-class custom-tailored suit, puffing on a thick cigar, displaying dignified solemnity as befitted the mafia—
His public identity was the boss of the Sicilian mafia that made their stronghold on the island of Sicily.
Secretly, he was the commander-in-chief of the magic association [Panormus]. Walter Zamparini.
"Ohoh, Kusanagi Godou! Sir Salvatore and I are waiting for you together!"
"Jeez... Godou, you're such a bad man too."
Zamparini's eyes shone while he was welcoming Godou. On the other hand, Doni shrugged.
"I can't believe you ordered this old guy to capture my friends at the airport. You even asked him to pass along that whatever 'wait for me until I catch up' message."
"It's your fault for leaving without your cellphone."
After giving Doni a terrifying glare, Godou continued:
"Oh well, even if you kept your phone, you can still cut off contact by switching the power off."
"Hahahaha, not like it matters. Even if I'm out of touch for a month or two, Andrea can get along fine on his own."
"That's the kind of 'so-what' attitude from the man who fled from Andrea-san's side."
At this moment, the hotel attendant walked over to the table and pulled out a chair for Erica.
The blonde beauty sat down swiftly and naturally.
Godou took his seat in the remaining chair. Thus, dinner was ready to start.
As a side note, Erica had already changed and was now wearing a short, red, one-piece dress with a black cardigan of lace.
"Uncle Zamparini, I'm so sorry for causing you trouble."
"Don't worry, Blandelli. I wouldn't want to miss this rare chance to meet Kusanagi Godou again after so long either. I must thank Sir Salvatore for being so understanding and willing to accompany these old bones of mine for a chat."
Old Man Zamparini smiled proudly and took a puff of his cigar.
The Campione of Swords had made his way to Sardinia with assistance from the [King's Company].
After learning of this fact, Erica had advised Godou to contact Zamparini. Godou proceeded to do so and made his request: "I hope you can catch Doni's contingent at the Cagliari airport, prevent them from leaving and pass to Salvatore Doni my intention to have a chat between Campiones tonight."
Added as a final note was permission to resort to violence if necessary.
Hence, this immensely wealthy old man and Sicilian mafia boss had taken his Cessna private jet, spending merely an hour to hurry from Sicily over to Sardinia. Then arriving at the airport before Doni's group, he had fulfilled Godou's request magnificently.
Naturally, the same request had been made of the magi in Sardinia.
Nevertheless, few possessed the courage capable of opposing Doni, who stood as Italy's Devil King, to force the idiot into "having a chat nearby."
Hence, that was why Erica had named Zamparini of Sicily as the candidate.
She had nominated the most broadminded man of influence who lived relatively close to Sardinia.
In the past, this old man had also provided support during the battle against the divine king, Melqart. Although he had Godou backing him, it was no less of an accomplishment for him to have fulfilled Godou's expectations splendidly—
"Oh well, since Godou already found out my destination, I knew someone was going to catch up eventually."
"You really came to this island to see her—Lucretia-san?"
Godou brought up a nostalgic name.
"Completely correct. I heard from somewhere before that she's the person in Italy who knows the most details about the 'King of the End' and the war gods of the past and present, east and west."
Despite being a fool to the core, every now and then when dealing with important matters, Doni would display competence that one must not overlook.
Doni winked while exhibiting this familiar special skill.
"The war god we met in ancient Gaul is still sleeping somewhere on the Earth, right? It should be quite fun to wake up him up for a bit, or at least some hints could be found. That's what I'm thinking."
"You can't wake up that kind of dangerous god, not even for a bit, okay!?"
Scolding Doni for his idiotic nonsense, Godou then muttered:
"Besides, even England's Gascoigne spent many years and still couldn't figure out the guy's true identity. An investigation of your level will surely fail, right?"
"How will I know if I don't try...? Oh yeah, would you like a drink?"
"The legal drinking age in Japan is twenty."
"But look, isn't Erica Blandelli drinking right now?"
"W-When did you start..."
"I'm already sixteen, Godou, which is an age allowed to drink in Italy. Hey Godou, doing as the Romans do is only polite, isn't it?"
"In that case, let us prepare some drinks for Your Highness. —You there, bring us everything."
Apart from Godou, the other three were chatting amiably with a wine glass in one hand each.
Furthermore, Zamparini had summoned the bartender, pointed at the first page of the wine list—a selection filled solely with expensive wines—and recklessly ordered "bring us everything."
Seeing that, Godou instantly cried out:
"How can I finish this much!? No wait, I wasn't planning on drinking a single drop in the first place!"
"Don't be so rigid and conservative. Let us drink to our hearts' content tonight!"
Calmly ignoring the Campione's refusal, Zamparini even laughed boldly and cheerfully.
He was an old man with outstanding courage indeed. In excellent spirits, Zamparini downed his glass of red wine in one breath.
Campione 16 Page 18
