Chapter 141 Chapter 141 Go to the land of abundant water and grass, wait...

In compliance with the king's order, Garibaldi halted his advance and surrendered his military command.

After the war, Prussia and Italy negotiated the return of Venice to Austria. To celebrate this, the Vongola and Simon families coordinated a "celebration." Though it was called a celebration, the atmosphere was clearly lackluster, absent-minded, and even eerily quiet, as if they were attending a neighbor's wedding. The three leaders, Giotto, Cozart, and Elio, barely showed up, not even drinking much. They simply exchanged silent glances before disappearing into the meeting room.

"The last time the three of us got together like this," Cozart said, trying to liven up the atmosphere, "was five years ago, right?"

"Yes," Giotto said cooperatively.

Only Elio remained silent. He folded his arms, leaned back in his chair, and stared at the stained glass window across from him, seemingly lost in thought. The night sky was illuminated by the dazzling fireworks of Florence. Giotto glanced at him, but he couldn't bring himself to say anything. He simply sighed and got straight to the point. "What's next?"

"Are you also thinking of quitting?" Cozart said.

Giotto smiled helplessly, "Cozat, why are you always one step ahead of me?"

"Don't blame me for thinking of you!" Cozart smiled and crossed his legs. "I'm planning to take Simon and everyone out to sea to see the New World. Don't miss me too much. I'll send you some inexpensive trinkets!"

"Going out to sea?" Giotto pondered. "That sounds good. But if all of you Simons want to go out to sea, several ships probably won't be enough to carry them, right?"

"Oh, actually, I'm not taking everyone with me," Cozart said. "I'm going to disband the army and only keep a small elite force of about fifty people with me in case of emergency. Having said that, I can't think of any other situation where they would be useful, but they strongly requested to come with me, and the Guardian also strongly requested that I keep some men, so I guess that's it."

"In that case," Giotto looked at him, "one ship would be enough."

Kozat nodded. "One ship is enough."

They stared at each other. Giotto's expression remained unchanged, but his voice trailed off. "When are we leaving?"

Cozart replied softly, "In a month."

Giotto nodded slowly. Then, his head dropped, silently burying itself in his hands. Cozart patted his shoulder, wanting to say something, but ultimately remained silent. As he stood up, Cozart glanced at Elio one last time. Elio looked back and nodded silently.

Cozart left the room.

With his departure, the light in the room vanished. Darkness gradually descended. Gatlin entered, lighting the candlesticks, moving from one end to the other. Behind him, Nakel lit another wall. Rambo and Elena entered with some cakes, their faces etched with worry. But when they saw Giotto's condition at the head of the table, they stopped talking.

No one knew when Arnold had come in. Gatlin, having finally lit the last candlestick, was almost startled to find him sitting alone. But when he turned back, he saw the room was already full. Spedo was clearly furious, his fingers drumming silently on his knees, but he occasionally glanced at Giotto, not rushing to speak. It wasn't until Ugetsu pulled his flute from his waist and played a quiet tune that Giotto shrugged and looked up blankly.

He was surprised to find all his companions there.

Gatlin, who had just finished lighting the last candlestick, was striding over from the end of the table. His expression wasn't very good either, and Giotto glanced at him unconsciously, his face a little bewildered. Gatlin walked all the way to him, but before he sat down (everyone had saved the seat next to Giotto for him), he casually pulled out a handkerchief and threw it in Giotto's face.

"Wipe it quickly," Gatlin said unhappily. He pulled out his chair and sat down with a creak.

At the head table, Giotto silently pressed the handkerchief across his face. For a moment, he might have wished there weren't so many people in the room. But then, his shoulders shrugged again, and then began to shake violently, startling Gatlin, who had just sat down. He even looked at Giotto with a bit of fear. Just as Gatlin reached out his hand, everyone heard Giotto's laughter from under the handkerchief.

Gatlin immediately withdrew his hand. Elio, who was sitting across from him, suppressed a smile and raised an eyebrow at him, earning a glare from Gatlin.

Everyone saw it, of course. Gradually, they all began to laugh. Just as Ugetsu finished playing that gentle tune, Giotto happened to unveil his handkerchief, looked up, and, smiling, led the applause. Amidst the applause, Ugetsu nodded gracefully. He and Giotto exchanged a smile.

"Where should I begin?" After the applause stopped, Giotto supported his head and spoke with a bit of distress, "I think you all know that Cozart is going to sea, right?"

Gatlin was about to speak when Spedo at the end of the long table snorted.

"That weakling!" Spedo sneered. "He abandons Italy just when she needs us!"

Elena covered his hand with worry. Under his fiancée's gaze, Spedo sighed and didn't say anything more harsh, simply holding her hand. Giotto couldn't help but feel relieved. But then, Elio spoke.

“If anything, Italy turned its back on him first,” Elio said. “It turned its back on us.”

Spedo glared at him. He wasn't the only one in the room, though. Everyone stared at Elio, whether they thought he shouldn't have said that, as Spedo did, or they silently agreed.

"How dare you say that?" Spedo demanded.

"Of course, we could say Italy betrayed Garibaldi," Elio shrugged. "But seriously, we all know who betrayed Garibaldi. Ultimately, the Vongola, Simon, and us Assassins all fought for this land and the people who live on it, didn't we?"

Giotto looked at him sharply, "Wait, Elio..."

"Not for the royal family and the government!"

There was silence. Giotto didn't have time to stop Elio from saying this. He also didn't have time to stop Spedo from continuing.

"This has nothing to do with the Royal Government, Elio!" Spedo accused. "What's wrong with you? Just because of this setback, you want to give up fighting for Italy? I never knew you were such a weakling! We still have Rome in the hands of France! The Vongola's influence now spreads across Europe and is even making inroads into the world. Who told you to care about the Royal Government?!"

Now it was Giotto's turn to look at Spedo in shock. Elio also frowned. "What are you talking about, Spedo?"

"I suggest we leave Florence's useless king alone," Spedo said with a forced smile. "After all, everyone knows he doesn't really hold the country in his hands. I used to think he could play his role well! However, I only need to give him a slight scratch, and then..."

The illusionist known as the Devil pulled his magic mirror from his pocket and twirled it between his fingers. Everyone knew what he was hinting at. He could inflict even the slightest wound on a person and rob them of their will, forcing them to his will. This was a common tactic of Spedo's, but in this context, it was truly alarming.

"Thank you, Damon," Giotto interrupted. "We won't do that."

"Yishi, just think about it. If it were me, I would never send out a retreat signal at that time..."

"When will it be your turn to be king?" Gatlin knocked on the table impatiently. "I've always said it's not possible!"

Elena also signaled with her eyes, "Damon."

Spedo, who had been about to retaliate, saw his fiancée's obvious disapproval and had to give up. He had just straightened his back, as if ready for a fight, but now he had to lean back in his chair and resort to his last resort—turning his head away, pouting at Elena, pretending to be wronged, pretending he wasn't on the same side as the others.

But in this matter, Arnold's desire may be stronger.

"I'm not interested in your dispute," Arnold said in a deep voice. "If this were a discussion about the King of Italy, I would be leaving now."

Gatlin immediately shot him a disapproving glare. Giotto, the only one who optimistically interpreted this as a sign of order, took the opportunity to redirect the conversation. "Let's discuss the future. As I mentioned earlier, once the Simon family leaves, the Vongola family will be unable to leave Italy."

Hearing the key words, Spedo immediately turned around and said, "We just happened to be taking over Simon's territory. I have to say, he left at the perfect time."

Giotto hesitated to speak, and Spedo, thinking he understood his intention during this silence, began to laugh.

"Italy still needs the Vongola," Giotto said sternly, "it's not yet a stable country. It's for this reason that I'm still here, and you're still here too. I want you to know that Cozart left not out of weakness, but out of wisdom. He wisely realized that the king no longer had room for us, and that matters like fighting were best left to the royal family and the government—"

"The royal government, which has been defeated time and again?" Spedo sneered. "The only battle they won this year was fought by our volunteers! Look at the regular army that was beaten to a pulp!"

"—In theory. That's why we're still here," Giotto said. "Do you remember Elio's philosophy as an assassin? I think the Vongola should do the same. Hide in the darkness and fight for a brighter tomorrow. Even if the truth is that we are maintaining order in Italy, we shouldn't make the royal family too wary of us. That wouldn't help our work at all."

After he finished speaking, the Guardians gradually expressed their agreement. "So we're going underground?" Lan Bao asked. "This is necessary to avoid offending the king's sensitive nerves," Yu Yue said. "If you insist," Spedo said.

Giotto looked around and was pleased to see that they all understood. But Elio hadn't said anything. When Giotto realized this, he was surprised to find that Elio had been watching him quietly.

"Elio?" Giotto asked. Although, when he asked this, Giotto already had a premonition.

"I'm sorry, Giotto," Elio said softly, "it has never been the Assassin's job to maintain order. We discussed this years ago."

Giotto was speechless for a moment.

“We said then that an assassin is a knife,” Elio whispered. “Thank you for always treating me like a human being.”

He lowered his voice so low that no one except Giotto could hear what he said. Gatlin, who was closest to him, saw tears welling up in Giotto's eyes again and couldn't help but look suspiciously, his eyes shifting between Elio and Giotto. But soon, he heard what Elio said next.

Everyone in the room heard what Elio said.

"As Giotto said, we will return to darkness, and so will the Brotherhood," Elio said. "Real darkness. I have returned the Assassins to the streets, to the people of Italy. From now on, please pretend that the Brotherhood no longer exists, as if it never existed in history."

Even Arnold had a look of shock on his face.

"No longer exists?" Lan Bao was unable to react for a moment. "But you... you have always existed? I will remember..."

"What do you mean?" Spedo asked in disbelief. "You—you are the Duke appointed by the King himself. How are you going to…"

"This," Elio shrugged. "I've already returned it to him. The medal and the title."

In late spring of 1861, Giotto Vongola and Elio were secretly summoned by the new King, Vittorio Emanuele II. In the presence of General Garibaldi and Prime Minister Cavour, the King rose from his throne in Turin and personally conferred upon them the title of Duke and the Order of the Annunciation. He also bestowed upon them property and land...

What a beautiful spring it was! At that time, everything in their eyes was full of hope and vitality.

What they didn't know, and couldn't have anticipated, in 1861 was that Cavour would soon die in June, having served as Prime Minister for just three months. His last words were, "A free country!"

Another key figure present, Giuseppe Garibaldi, known as the "Sword of Italian Unification," later experienced a life of displacement, including repeated arrests by Italian authorities and long periods of house arrest. However, Italy was always forced to release him amidst popular outcry. Throughout his life, Garibaldi tirelessly advocated for Italian unification, fought bravely, and contributed to the national liberation of many countries.

In 1882, Garibaldi died suddenly at the age of seventy. In his political will, he wrote, "Love freedom, love truth; hate lies, hate tyranny!"

One, two, and they just disappeared from the stage of history.

As for Elio Vongola, this mysterious figure who only briefly appeared in unofficial history was later dismissed as a historical error. Historians could find no evidence to prove that he participated in the Italian War of Independence, nor any evidence to prove his contribution or that the king had ever rewarded him.

Only unofficial records indicate that he briefly served as Duke of Caserta for five years. However, everyone knows that "Caserta" is a title that was passed down to the descendants of Ferdinand II. Therefore, this incident, as well as this "Declaration of Renunciation of Title" that was found out of nowhere, cannot be true:

To the Government of the Kingdom of Italy and the Ministry of Royal Affairs:

I hereby renounce forever the title and rank of "Duke of Caserta" and all the privileges connected with it. Enclosed are the titles, decorations, and certificates of investiture.

I have never been an enemy of Italians, not in the past, not now, and never will be. I am just no longer your friend, please know that.

Elio (Signed)

July 25, 1866, in Sicily.

One can imagine how furious Victor Emmanuel II was when this polite but arrogant statement arrived on the desk of the King of Italy. The next day, the Duke of Caserta received a telegram from the King demanding an explanation.

But of course the place was deserted.

The King was forced to send another telegram to the Vongola family, asking for Elio's whereabouts. Vongola I said, "He has gone to a land of abundant grass and water to serve the Supreme Authority."

The King was furious and demanded that he bring Elio back, dead or alive. Until then, Vongola would keep the Duke of Caserta's medal and title. After all, how could anyone refuse a king's gift?

Vongola I replied, "As you command."

King Vittorio Emanuele II died in 1878. During World War II, the House of Savoy perished along with the dictatorship.

Only the Vongola survives.

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The author has something to say: Oreo: If he asks, just say I'm dead.

Giotto (with a cold sweat): How can such a rumor be spread?

Still Giotto: Yes, he is dead, yes, obbedisco

(And the line “lush grass and water” is a reference to the Christmas special of “Yes, Minister.”)