The Legend of the Fishermen of Sicily

Chapter 122 Just remember, that's a big shot we absolutely cannot mess with.

"Leo got the title of Silverfin Hunter?" Sandro immediately sat up in bed.

"Yes." Antonino went to help his father.

"Just to inform you of this?" Sandro stood up with his son's help. "There must be something else to say, right?"

Sandro was unwell, and his energy and mood were not good.

Worried that outsiders might see his father's condition and speculate unfoundedly, Antonino always made sure to ask about the situation carefully before making any phone calls to Sandro.

If it's a normal greeting, he'll handle it himself.

If you need to discuss something with your father, he will relay the message.

If the other party has a special status and cannot handle the situation alone, they will make up some excuse, saying that their father had to go out temporarily, and then call back a few days later when Sandro has recovered a bit.

Sandro knew his son Antonino's style very well; he would never knock on his door while he was sleeping unless absolutely necessary.

And recently, Antonino has been handling all the phone calls at home.

What kind of call is this that makes me have to go downstairs to answer it?

As Antonino helped his father downstairs, he explained what he knew: "It was Angrester from Messina. He said that Messina had produced a new Silverfin Hunter today, and the whole city was buzzing with it. As soon as he found out what was going on, he called us. I spoke with him for a bit and learned that it was Leo who got the Silverfin Hunter title, but his tone was a little strange. He even said he wanted to congratulate you personally... I wasn't sure what was going on, so I woke you up."

As they spoke, the father and son had already reached the phone.

Sandro took a few sips of the warm water that Antonino had prepared beforehand, moistening his throat to mask the hoarseness from not speaking for a long time.

Then he picked up the phone and raised his voice: "Anglist, my good friend, what brings you here?"

Sandro listened attentively to the person on the other end of the line, and after two seconds, a smile gradually appeared on his face: "That's right, Leo is a fisherman from Marzamemi. I saw through his abilities a long time ago."

Five seconds later, Sandro's somewhat haggard face regained a rosy hue: "So it was an exception. I knew it! I heard that the Cumanso family hadn't let outsiders onto the runway for a long time. So that's how it is... Haha, yes, he wasn't gone for very long this time. Good, good, I'll definitely ask about the details when I get back so you can tell your friends."

The person on the other end of the phone kept talking nonstop, and the more Sandro listened, the wider his smile grew.

Without knowing what the other person said, Sandro's smile suddenly vanished, replaced by shock and disbelief.

He interrupted the other person, anxiously confirming, "Did he really say that?"

Before the news of the Cumanso family awarding the title of "Silverfin Hunter" again after more than a decade reached Marzamemi, hundreds of kilometers away, it had already been circulating in Messina for several rounds.

Fishing is the mainstay and lifeblood of Messina, and the locals are very concerned about what happens at sea every day.

From the moment the Silverfin docked, news spread like wildfire throughout Messina. Everyone knew that the Cumanso family had made an exception and awarded the title of Silverfin Hunter, but the specifics of how and why this exception was made were the subject of much speculation... and the rumors grew increasingly outlandish.

Some say that this silverfin hunter is so skilled that swordfish always flee in terror whenever he strikes, and that his spears and harpoons never miss their mark. The Kumanso family bestowed the title upon him because of his unerring accuracy.

Some say that this silverfin hunter had boundless courage; he bravely jumped into the sea to fight a crazed swordfish and won a great victory. The Cumanso family made an exception and awarded him the title because of his outstanding performance in this matter.

Some say that this silverfin hunter possesses a harpoon that resembles a trident, and whenever he holds this trident in his hand, he transforms into Poseidon of the sea—possessing immense strength and power, capable of cleaving the waves and slaying dragons and fish.

Unfortunately... this Silverfin Hunter left Messina City early on, and few people had the chance to witness his heroic figure.

"Gati! Gati! Come quick!"

A dozen or so heads peeked out from the blacksmith shop next to Cumanso's house.

This old town area, located right next to the port, is mostly inhabited by local fishermen or residents who make a living from the sea.

The blacksmith shop mainly makes fishing gear, and it's also a place where fishermen gather and exchange ideas.

That afternoon, they heard so much and so many different things that they wanted to ask the head of the Kumanso family who this Silverfin Hunter really was.

Gatti swung the rope as he walked in: "What do you want? Speak quickly if you have something to say, don't delay my practice."

A young fisherman asked, "Who exactly is that Silverfin Hunter? Why did you make an exception and award him this prize?"

Gatti said with great enthusiasm, "Leo's harpoon and spear throws are always accurate. He can easily intercept swordfish charging at high speed from ten meters away. Today, he jumped off a 30-meter-high observation platform and plunged into the water, killing a 400-pound female fish with his spear and harpoon combined, and he was completely unharmed!"

After a second of silence, a series of complaints erupted in the blacksmith's shop.

"How can you say something even more outrageous than the rumors circulating outside?"

"If you don't want to tell me, then don't... There's no need to make up a story."

"Have you been rereading Greek mythology lately?"

"That's how those outrageous rumors spread!"

Gatti jumped up in anger: "I'm not lying to you, it's true, everything I said is true! Leo is the reincarnation of Poseidon, and the trident was reincarnated with him!"

The group of adults, not wanting to argue with a child, started exchanging pleasantries: "Is that guy called Leo?"

"Do you know a fisherman named Leo?"

"There are so many people named Leo in all of Sicily, does anyone know which one it is?"

Gatti gestured beside him: "Leo always carries a big black box with him, it's this long and this wide, I've touched it, it's incredibly heavy!"

Nobody knows Tirion, but if you mention that big black box... the blacksmith shop immediately erupted in chaos.

"Oh, it's him?"

"It's that man!"

"It's him! It's him! He said the other day he came to hunt swordfish! You guys didn't believe him!"

Some were newcomers, and others didn't spend every day at the blacksmith's shop, so they didn't understand what these riddle-makers were talking about. They anxiously asked, "Who is it? Which man? Can you please be clear?"

Several familiar faces in the blacksmith shop exchanged glances.

The oldest of them said cautiously, "Don't ask too many questions. Just remember, if you ever see someone carrying a big black box on the sea off Sicily... be sure to show him the utmost respect. I swear, that's definitely not a big shot we can afford to mess with!"

The newlyweds looked at each other in bewilderment.

"maritime..

'

"Black box".

""

"An important person?"

Although I don't quite understand how these strange words are connected together.

But listening to advice is always the right thing to do.

They not only have to remember it themselves, but also have to tell the people around them!

Bianchi had already gotten into Enzo's car, ready to leave for Syracuse, when he was suddenly called home, told that Sandro needed to see him.

On the way, Bianchi was prepared to be scolded.

Even Enzo noticed that he's been neglecting his duties lately, so his father must have noticed too, especially since he's leaving Marzamemi for Syracuse today.

Bianchi still exercises and practices his basic skills every day, but he doesn't train all day long, nor does he obsessively fixate on a particular point like a madman. Instead, he spends more of his day thinking.

Bianchi guessed that his father must have called him back to talk about the long voyage season, to tell him to calm down, prepare well, and not get distracted.

Because the other brothers are all making hard preparations for this, except for the eldest brother Antonino who is not going out on the ship this year (Angie: You guys are fine, don't worry about me).

Back home, Antonino took Bianchi to his father's study.

His father was strict with him from a young age, but his older brother was always very good to him.

In the past, if he was about to be scolded, Antonino would always secretly give him a few words of advice, such as what his father might say, whether his father was angry, and he would also teach him how to get through the situation peacefully.

However, Antonino, who led the way today, didn't say anything, but had a faint smile on his lips. Before opening the study door, he seemed to urge Bianchi to go in quickly.

Bianchi noticed something was wrong and became even more cautious when entering the study.

Seeing Sandro wiping the collection in the display case, he called out "Father" and waited obediently at the door, not daring to make any more noise.

Sandro remained silent, his back to Bianchi as he polished his collection.

Bianchi watched quietly for a while and felt that his father's white hair seemed to have increased again.

It must be because Angie has been making me angry over the past year or two (Angie: I really thank you, you remembered me again at this time).

"Leo earned the title of Silverfin Hunter in Messina," Sandro finally broke the silence.

Bianchi felt a surge of excitement at first.

Did Leo earn the Silverfin Hunter title?

How did he do that?

The Cumanso family absolutely forbids anyone from walking the runway!

Countless questions came flooding in... but these doubts were quickly suppressed by the fear in his heart.

Before Leo, Bianchi went to Messina for three consecutive years but failed to even secure a spotter position.

Leo got the title on his first try... It seems his father called him back this time to reprimand his incompetence.

Thinking of this, Bi Anqi lowered his head even further.

Sandro turned around, holding a photo frame, a smile on his face: "I heard from my friends in Messina that this kid tells everyone that this honor belongs to three people: Aurelio, who helped him by harpooning, and you, who competed with him for the qualification to go to Messina... Leo said that without the two of you, he would not have had the opportunity to come to Messina, let alone have the opportunity to receive this honor."

In just a short while, several of Messina's friends had called, all mentioning Bianchi's name in their calls.

Sandro placed the photo in his hand on the desk.

That picture shows him in his youth, full of vigor and ambition.

"Finally, a second name has emerged from the Mariani family: Malzamemi."