The Rise of Gambino (Manga Chapter)/Synopsis

## An old newspaper

In October 2008, an old newspaper from New Years Day, 2000 is unearthed. It features the last article written by journalist Gregory Donovinh for GAIA9 News before his retirement. The article, titled *"Johnny Gambino: Man of the Century"*, is the first one-on-one interview with Johnny K. Gambino chronicling his rise to success.

### The interview

Gregory is invited inside of the newly-built Gambino Mansion where he's escorted by Bucho through a maze of ornate halls decked with lavish furnishings, casually passing by metal doors secured by armed G-Corp guards, before making his way to Gambino's study where the interview begins.

The questioning starts with Gregory asking about Gambino's origins. Gambino reveals that he'd originally lived in poverty as a boy, dressed in rags and begging on the streets of Barton Town. Eventually he'd had a vision of his purpose in life: a resort where he could provide leisure and entertainment for weary Gaians who in turn would pay handsomely for the experience. Toward that goal, he worked harder and smarter, finding a "worthless coconut jungle" of an island off the coast of Gaia and reclaiming it by hand to form Isle de Gambino. The Isle's success made Gambino into a millionaire, later expanding to billionaire with the opening of the Gold Mountain Casino.

The interview then segues onto the subject of Gambino's technological endeavors with G-Corp. Gambino admits that the company's success was largely due to Edmund, Chief of Research at G-Corp, who he'd initially met during Edmund's tenure as a low-level scientist at Durem Reclamation Facility. He'd discovered that he was a genius with chemistry and electronics, which he was able to utilize upon hiring him to make the company very rich. However despite their close friendship, their business relationship had recently ended due to ethical disputes and Edmund had decided to retire to Durem. In response, Gambino had hired a group of LabTechs to take over at the research facility built within the mansion, claiming that their experiments would change the world forever.

Finally, Gregory asks about the young heir to the Gambino fortune, Gino Gambino. Gambino admits to pushing his son to meet crushing standards of success, but that his legacy will be siring "history's greatest man" as a result. He expects Gino to surpass his own accomplishments tenfold, saying that the young boy had already learned to read earlier than he had and was burning through Edmund's old chemistry books (or at least pretending to).

The interview ends with Gambino advising all Gaians to work hard, noting that they could go from nothing to building an empire like himself. As for as his future exploits, Gregory feels that Gambino's story is only just beginning.

## In other news

The old newspaper features four other happenings within the world of Gaia at the time.

### "Ornery Hog Menaces Barton"

This short article shares a recent attack by a bog-dwelling hog, which the Barton Regulars are struggling to contain. Leon, Commander of the Regulars, promises that the hog will be brought to justice, dead or alive.

### "Barton Library Bans Enchanted Books"

Barton Library's Head Librarian, Doris Baudelaire, dismisses allegations of censorship, claiming that the banning of enchanted books was to protect both readers and library property from demons and tormented spirits trapped within the books and not to limit free speech.

### "Gambino's Banking Gambit"

This is the first of two articles adding context to Gambino's interview. Upon establishing the Bank of Gambino in Isle de Gambino, Gambino had offered an ambitious promotion for the first month of its opening: all small business loans would be accepted without prejudice against the borrower's credit history or ability to repay. However, despite projections that Gambino would stand to lose billions, the venture actually proved successful as many young entrepreneurs, some barely out of their teens, began opening a slew of fashion boutiques, salons, and tattoo parlors, revitalizing Gaia's stagnant fashion industry. Some of these young visionaries included Moira who opened the Durem Depot and Liam who opened Crate & Apparel.

### "Lost Love"

The second article delves into the fate of Gambino's late wife, Rosalie Gambino. The woman, shrouded in mystery, was once wed to Vladimir Von Helson, Gambino's chief business rival and polar opposite. One day, Gaia's social elite are taken by surprise when they receive mailed invitations to Gambino and Rosalie's wedding. The tabloids have a field day trying to uncover any details on the sudden proposal but all involved refuse to comment. The short-lived love story takes a tragic turn when Roslie goes missing after the couple's first child Gino is born. An investigation was launched which placed her last whereabouts heading into the dark forest north of Durem, but the investigation eventually went cold and the case was closed with her presumed dead.

Gregory notes that Gambino had made it very clear that he would not answer any questions regarding his wife or her disappearance prior to the interview before mentioning that her portrait hangs prominently in Gambino's study.