Milan — Offices of Il Messaggero, two days later
The words were ready.
Luca and Vera had spent the night building the skeleton of the article. The headline was sharp. The subhead, almost a warning:
"Corruption, Speed, and Silence: The Dirty Tracks of Italian Racing"
The dossier was solid — dates, names, photos, bank transfers. And more: cross-checked testimonies connecting federation officials to businessmen and mafia intermediaries. Vera typed with fury. Luca edited with surgical calm. Every paragraph was a fuse waiting to burn.
By morning, they secured a meeting with the editor-in-chief of Il Messaggero. The paper still held some reputation — at least among those who hadn't sold their silence.
The editor received them with mechanical courtesy. A heavyset man with ashtray eyes who looked like he'd aged in smoke.
"This is serious," he said after reading the first lines.
"Exactly why it needs to be published," Vera shot back.
He didn't reply right away. Instead, he stood, locked the office door, and returned to his seat. He looked directly at Luca.
"Two years ago, we received something similar. From another journalist. Alessio Bardi."
Luca froze.
"He… tried?"
"He did. Brought me a notebook. Had names, details. But that same week… he died. And the notebook vanished. From my drawer. Like it never existed."
Silence.
"And now?" Luca asked.
"Now you have more than he did. But less time. I can publish it, yes. But I need to prepare the staff. Because when this drops… someone will fall. And they'll try to take others down with them."
Vera leaned in.
"Then publish it."
The editor exhaled hard.
"Give me two days."
Outside, in the hallway, Luca paused. His mind was spinning.
Alessio had tried. He had spoken. No one listened.
But now… they had a chance to be heard.
He looked at Vera. She gave him a tired, defiant smile.
"So… are we making history or disappearing trying?"
Luca didn't hesitate.
"Both."
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If you're ready to see Luca and Vera push their truth into headlines, drop a Power Stone — and help them shout through the silence.
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