Giotto looked at Saya with sheer disbelief.
She isn't lying, he thought. The girl before him was telling the truth.
But could it really be him? Was he the one who sent this girl to such a terrifying era, amidst such a daunting situation?
"…And why would I send you here?" he asked. "What does my future self want you to do?"
"I am not entirely sure of the objective," she replied. "Only that my task poses absolutely no ill will toward Vongola."
Her pulse remained steady. Though he found it hard to accept, he had to; the Dying Will Flame was not something easily bestowed, and each person's flame possessed a unique signature. Even if they were remarkably similar, there were always distinct differences.
His future self must have had a reason for sending her here. The question was... what? It surely involved her abilities. What would the presence of a girl bearing all seven elements bring to his era?
"Back at the auction house... did you sense my presence? Did you know I was behind that mask?"
Saya shook her head. "No. But strangely, I felt that I should trust you, even though I had no idea who you were, Mr. Giotto."
No lies here either. The young man gave a gentle smile, lifted her hand, and kissed the back of it.
"Welcome to Vongola, Leyla Starfield. And... how is my future self faring?"
"Well," Saya pondered before answering. "He is very elegant... but he looks deeply sorrowful."
Should I tell him he's only a consciousness within a ring? Senior Rinji warned me not to mess with the timeline, the girl thought to herself.
Her pulse beat normally, making Giotto smile. Yet, he sensed a slight flutter of excitement in her heartbeat, piquing his curiosity about her once more.
I'll let her rest at the Vongola mansion for now and ask her more later, he decided, despite the lingering questions. What could his future self be so sad about?
"Then let us return to the Vongola Family," Giotto said, handing her a cloak to hide her hands. As for her old clothes, after she explained the potential risks of altering the past, he decided to take them back to the mansion to be burned.
The three of them traveled back by carriage. Along the way, Giotto spotted a man with long red hair and a flame tattoo on the right side of his face, and a boy with short green hair through the window.
"The wind is incredibly strong," G grumbled. "Is a storm coming?"
"I told you I'm not becoming a mafia member! Let me go! I don't want to die!" the green-haired boy wailed. One of his eyes was closed, and a black lightning-shaped birthmark marked his right cheek. He was sobbing loudly after being tied up by his own father and servants and tossed to the red-haired man. G sighed, hoisting the boy onto the back of his horse. "If you don't let me go, I'll sue!"
"Shut it. Your father ordered Giotto and me to train you, you coward. Go ahead and sue the Mayor—but don't forget he's also the judge of this city," G muttered, lighting a cigarette. He glanced to his left and saw Giotto giving him a small wave.
G steered his horse alongside Giotto's carriage, while the green-haired boy continued to shriek, ignoring the stares of the townspeople.
"Hey, Giotto. Sorry, Lampo's dad had him 'gift-wrapped' like this when I arrived," the red-haired man said. "He told me to just throw him on the horse and bring him over."
"I hate everyone!" Lampo barked, making Giotto knit his brows. G, anticipated this and had an excuse ready.
"Lampo's father told you: 'I always trust and believe in Vongola,'" G whispered before losing patience with Lampo's shouting. He stuffed half a loaf of bread into the boy's mouth to silence him. Kevin watched from the back with wide eyes, so Giotto quickly covered the child's eyes.
"Mr. Giotto, why are you covering my eyes?"
"Is that Kevin?" The golden-haired man nodded, slowing the carriage so Lampo's face would be out of sight. He cleared his throat. "Kevin? I'm G, a friend of Giotto's." He wiped his hand on his trousers before offering it to the boy.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. G. I'm Kevin, six years old. I'm the son of Mr. Anis, a friend of Mr. Giotto," the boy replied, shaking G's hand.
"Good to meet you, Kevin." G gave a wide grin, hoping to distract the boy from Lampo. However, as the boy greeted him, G caught sight of another figure inside.
A woman?
"Giotto, who is that?" G asked. Giotto shifted aside so Saya could greet him. She leaned forward, making G raise an eyebrow.
"Hello, I'm Leyla Starfield. Pleased to meet you, Mr. G," Saya said with a small smile, though her face still throbbed from the slap earlier.
Giotto nudged Saya back inside and whispered to G, "She was kidnapped and nearly sold as a slave."
"...Dammit... again?" G muttered, irritated. Slave trading was becoming more rampant. Pirates often raided merchant ships and sold the passengers at auctions. "Ugetsu is checking if there are other foreigners. If there are, we'll bring them in and send them home immediately."
G asked G to step into the carriage, sensing they needed to talk privately. They stopped at a hotel on the outskirts. G dismounted and untied Lampo before they all entered the carriage.
"S...She's gorgeous," Lampo blurted out upon seeing Saya. G was also momentarily stunned before stepping in. Giotto sat Kevin on his lap, while Lampo and G sat beside Saya. Lampo couldn't take his eyes off her.
"Leyla, right?" G confirmed. She nodded. "Alright, Giotto. What do you need?"
"Leyla," Giotto said, and Saya offered her hands to G. Red Storm Flames began to flicker from both palms. G's face twisted in confusion.
"What is this?" the red-haired man asked. "Is she mafia?"
"No," Giotto replied. "She's... ill."
"Ill?" G repeated, bewildered. Giotto said no more, but G could sense through Giotto's intuition that this was no ordinary sickness.
"Are you okay?" Lampo asked. "Who hurt you?"
"She was mistreated by slave traders. We saved her just in time," Giotto explained, watching Lampo's reaction. The boy looked shaken.
"Lampo... My name is Lampo, Leyla," the boy introduced himself shyly. Giotto looked pleased. "I'm the son of Francesco, the Mayor. And... my father has the blood of the Holy Roman Empire."
This kid... he needs inspiration to train properly, G thought, already planning how to whip Lampo into shape.
"My greetings, Prince," Saya said with a small bow. "Forgive my unrefined appearance."
"J-Just call me Lampo, Leyla," he stuttered. "I only have the lineage; I'm not a real prince."
"I see. Then I shall call you Lampo," Saya smiled softly, though she winced in pain and almost reached for her face.
"D-Does it hurt? I'll have my father send over some medicine. He has the best stuff!"
Giotto cleared his throat. "Lampo... G has work to do."
G looked at Saya's hands. "What should I do?"
"Just ignite the flame on your ring and touch my hands, Mr. G."
G nodded, igniting his ring—a large hexagonal red gem. He grasped her hands, and Saya felt her Storm Flames wither away. Outside, the howling wind suddenly died down.
"Thank you so much, Mr. G." She smiled as the stinging pain vanished.
"Giotto," G muttered under his breath.
"I am hosting Leyla as an honored guest. She helped Kevin," the golden-haired man explained. "She might stay with us for a while."
"We should probably buy some women's clothing," Giotto noted. "Aside from Princess Irina, we usually only host men."
"In that case, let's stop at a tailor shop first," G suggested with a smile. "Welcome to Vongola, Leyla Starfield."
...
...
They arrived at a tailor shop. Giotto instructed Lampo to look after Saya, while he and G kept a close watch.
"Don't be afraid," Lampo whispered, trying to look protective despite his nervous expression. He reached for her hand and pulled a bit too hard, nearly making her trip.
"Lampo," Giotto said firmly. "Did you ask if she wanted your protection? Why are you pulling her like that?"
"Aren't we in a hurry?" the boy snapped back, but Giotto's cold stare silenced him.
"Lampo... where are the gentlemanly manners the royals taught you?"
"I know, I know," Lampo grumbled. He turned to Saya and bowed politely. "My lady, may I have the honor of protecting you until we reach the mansion?"
Saya gave him a sweet smile. "I would be honored, Lampo."
The boy's heart raced. His hands trembled slightly as he helped her down from the carriage with newfound grace, hiding a bashful grin.
Inside, they were greeted by Aisha, the shop owner.
"Welcome! Oh, everyone come quickly! Mr. Giotto and Mr. G are here! And Lord Lampo too!" she cheered. Giotto ordered seven outfits for both Saya and Kevin.
"Pick whatever you like," Giotto told her. "Charge it to the Vongola mansion, Aisha."
"For Vongola, I always give my best," Aisha winked. Giotto kissed the back of her hand in gratitude.
...
...
After shopping, they explored the market.
"You're as charming as ever, Giotto," G teased. Walking together, they looked like a large family rather than a mafia group.
"I'm just being a gentleman, G," Giotto replied. "I help people in need. That is all."
They were greeted by a vendor named Marcello, who gave them fresh apples and a bag of coins. He then whispered a warning.
"Rumors are spreading that Lord Giotto is dead. A group calling themselves 'Scorpio' is shaking down vendors for protection money."
"Scorpio, huh?" G muttered. Giotto turned to Saya and Kevin.
"Forgive me, but G, Lampo, and I have business. I'll send you both back to the mansion in the carriage. The driver is a friend of Vongola; you can trust him."
"I'll protect Angel Sister!" Kevin declared. Lampo wanted to go too, but G grabbed his collar.
"You're coming with us, Lampo."
After seeing Saya and Kevin off, the three tracked the Scorpio gang to an alley where they were counting stolen money. Giotto stepped forward.
"Good evening, gentlemen. Might I ask what you are doing?"
"Counting money," a man sneered. "Who are you to ask? You think you're Giotto?"
"Yes. I am Giotto of the Vongola Family. This is my territory. I ask again: what are you doing here?"
"Collecting tax," the man replied, pulling a gun. He ignited a Storm Flame on his ring and fired.
Zip! An arrow whistled through the air, piercing the bullet in mid-flight. G stepped forward with his bow, dragging a crying Lampo behind him.
"G, can you and Lampo handle this quietly?" Giotto asked.
"Easily," G replied, drawing his bow. A red light flared as the battle ended swiftly and silently, just as Giotto requested.