Am I going to die?
You already have.
Who are you?
Inga.
konna hazu janainda atama kakae
こんなはずじゃないんだ 頭抱え
This can't be happening; I clasp my head in my hands
houwa shita sekai kara nigedashitakute mogaiteiru
飽和した世界から 逃げ出したくてもがいている
As I struggle with my desire to escape from this saturated world.
sarasara suna no you ni toki ga sugiru
さらさら 砂のように時が過ぎる
Time goes flowing past with the rustling roar of sand.
kawaribae no shinai genjou
代わり映えのしない現状
Things never get any better.
yume no nai asu wo mitsume
夢のない明日を見つめ
I'm gazing on toward a dreamless tomorrow.
mayotte bakari no kinou sayonara shitai
迷ってばかりの昨日 さよならしたい
I want to bid farewell to my days of constantly feeling lost.
aragau you ni te wo nobashitemiru
抗うように 手を伸ばしてみる
I try stretching out my hand in resistance.
nanbyakumankai naite umarekawaru yo
何百万回 泣いて 生まれ変わるよ
We'll cry millions upon millions of tears, then be reborn.
akai me no mama de yukou egaita mirai he
赤い目のままで行こう 描いた未来へ
Let's keep going, with red in our eyes, toward the future we drew for ourselves.
koko made oide te wo narashiteru
ここまでおいで 手を鳴らしてる
Come over to me; I'm clapping my hands.
kimi ha doko no dare?
君はどこの誰
Who are you? Where are you coming from?
yami ni me wo korashite
闇に目を凝らして
I strain my eyes in the darkness.
nanimo mienu wakannai sore demo yuku yo
何も見えぬ わかんない それでも行くよ
I can't see a thing, and nothing makes sense, but I'll go anyway.
hikari ga sasu kimi ga matsu basho he
光が射す 君が待つ場所へ
To the place where you're waiting, lit by a beacon of light.
Episode 1
「Murderer at the Ball」
Inspired by Sakaguchi Ango's 「Meiji-era Ango Detective Stories "Murder Case at the Ball"」
I really wanna call this off.
Don't say that. This is a party for the Kanou group!
Kaishou Rinroku's daughter, Housekeeper
Kaishou Rie
Kaishou Rinroku's daughter, Housekeeper
Kaishou Rie
It's such a pain to have to wear a 19th-century party dress.
This skirt's like this, and the corset's like this!
You're very well read...
Kaishou Family Maid
I sure am-
Kaishou Family Maid (Head maid)
Kaishou Family Maid
...in manga.
Kaishou Family Maid (Head maid)
Well...
There's no need to worry.
Since it's a costume party, President Kanou sent this dress for you.
The design is rather plain, though.
Geez, you're too forceful.
With this, you won't need to feel embarrassed as the Master's representative.
His representative?!
That President Kanou... They were saying on TV that he's going to be arrested today or tomorrow.
They say whatever they want on TV.
Anyway...
I am not at all okay with going to that party alone.
Ah, that looks great on you, Rie.
Father!
It must have been a pain to put on.
President of Japan Justice Network System Holdings
Kaishou Rinroku
President of Japan Justice Network System Holdings
Kaishou Rinroku
Back then,
TL Note: The Rokumeikan is a building constructed under the Meiji government for the purpose of housing foreign dignitaries.
in order to encourage equal trade relations with foreign countries,
a party was held in the Rokumeikan.
Kanou is intending this as an opportunity to start anew in forging international relations.
I appreciate you taking care of my role.
Wait a sec-
Master, Koyama-san of the Public Prosecutor's Office...
Public Prosecutor's Office Joint Coordinating Dept., Public Prosecutor
Koyama Izumi
Public Prosecutor's Office Joint Coordinating Dept., Public Prosecutor
Koyama Izumi
Izumi-san?
President Kaishou.
If you don't show your face at Kanou's party today-
Excuse me-
Kanou-san is my friend.
As an outside advisor to us prosecutors, you can infiltrate this party.
Excuse me-
This is a chance for you to ask him questions directly-
I have accepted the role of acting as Kaishou Rinroku's representative this evening.
You're just trying to cause trouble.
This elevator is reserved; you'll have to take a different one!
We're lucky. There's plenty of room!
I wanna push it!
Hit the top floor.
Got it!
You two...
What business do you have at tonight's party?
Invitation
An invitation?
Detective
Yuuki Shinjuurou
Invitation
Detective
Invitation
Yuuki Shinjuurou
Doesn't look like you were the one who sent these out.
Of course not, why would I-
Um, Koyama-san. Who are these people?
Don't mind them. They'll dirty your clothes if you get any closer.
Huh?! I'm clean, Izumi-chan!
Assistant Detective
Inga
Assistant Detective
Inga
Don't act so friendly with me.
This is President Kaishou's-
You're Rinroku's daughter, huh?
How dare you call the President by name!
Nowadays, the only thing an owner of a shady net business does is monopolise money and technology...
...and act as an advisor to every ministry and agency.
What the heck?
You dressed as Napoleon too, Kanda-san?
My wife said there's no alternative.
Congressional Member of the Liberal Citizen's Party
So international banks are prospering even now.
Ono Ittou
Congressional Member of the Liberal Citizen's Party
Ono Ittou
That's not so!
Representative of the Japanese branch of the International Currency Bank
Kanda Masahiko
Representative of the Japanese branch of the International Currency Bank
Kanda Masahiko
I owe everything to you.
That said, how is Kanou-san's...
The prosecution...
The newly appointed Joint Coordinating Dept. intend to arrest him no matter what.
If that happens, we too will-
President of Kanou Group General Trading Company
Kanou Nobuzane
President of Kanou Group General Trading Company
Kanou Nobuzane
Faithful wife Head of Group Planning
Kanou Atsuko
Faithful wife Head of Group Planning
Kanou Atsuko
Kanou-san, thank you for inviting me toni-
Kanou-kun!
The police would have to be running wild to think of arresting you!
At tonight's party, I'll dispel all suspicion of you!
I'm sorry to cause you both so much trouble.
As his wife, you must be having a hard time, too.
It's too bad that there was no choice but to host it in your own home.
I'm just too afraid to leave here.
Well then, shall we?
The 「No matter how many times we're stepped on, Japan will always rise」 Party.
I've come as Kaishou Rinroku's representative.
My name is Rie.
Thank you so much for coming.
Thank you kindly.
Kaishou-sensei's-
Well, well,
I've never had the chance to meet with Kaishou-san,
but allow me to introduce myself!
So Kaishou-sensei actually exists...
The chairman is here?
Chairman Kaishou!
Kaishou-san!
Is he here?!
Sensei!
Stay back!
It's fine.
Nice to meet you, everyone.
If you're here at the party,
it means that Chairman Kaishou supports President Kanou,
and that he trusts in his innocence.
Ah, that's right.
Hey, hey, President Kanou!
Thank you so much for inviting me tonight.
W-Who are you?
This very individual...
...shines light upon a world gripped with desire...
...and is known to the people as The Last Great Detective,
Yuuki Shinjuurou!
Yuuki? It feels like I've heard that name somewhere.
He's the one who always shows up at crime scenes and criticises President Kaishou's brilliant deductions!
Ah, I remember the newspapers calling him "The Defeated Detective".
So why are you here?
Who knows?
But the fact that I was called here means that a crime is going to occur.
A major crime.
First they go after Kanou, then they try to get close to Chairman Kaishou.
They have no honour.
Pardon me, Milady!
That's Yuuki Shinjuurou?
The Defeated Detective.
There is no one who loves his country more than Kanou Nobuzane!
These recent accusations are nothing more than the state bending to the complaints of foreign countries.
Kanou-kun, I will give it my all to defend you!
Thank you.
Moving along, I would like to hear a word from Kanda Masahiko...
...of the Japanese International Currency Bank.
Ono passes on reconstruction work to Kanou,
and Kanda lends financial aid to foreign countries.
But amidst this triangle, there's money disappearing.
Good evening to you all. Next, President Kanou will-
What do you people want?
Mr. Detective isn't with you?
You can't possibly think you were helping me out with that stunt back there.
I hate that "Defeated Detective"!
Is there a room above this one?
President Kanou's home consists of this one floor.
How did you know?
Who are you?
Metro Police Department SP
Terada Ryouko
Metro Police Department SP
Terada Ryouko
Milady.
There was no need to go through the trouble of having an SP guard me.
SP?
If anything were to happen to Milady, it would be a disaster.
My regards.
Come, let us toast.
What might you be toasting to?
That the charges brought on by you prosecutors will be dismissed, of course.
Milady!
Are you all right?
I'm sorry.
The alcohol must have gone right to your head.
Milady, how do you feel?
I'm fine now, Madam.
At this time, I, Kanou Nobuzane, have something I want to say to everyone concerning the suspicions raised against me.
Is he trying to claim innocence before the entire crowd?
What terrible taste.
Madam?
I seems that something has happened!
I'm Hayami of the Metropolitan Police.
National Police Agency Director of the Security Bureau
Hayami Seigen
An investigation squad will arrive shortly, so do not dist-
National Police Agency Director of the Security Bureau
Hayami Seigen
The Joint Coordinating Dept. is allowed the right to our own investigation.
The criminal is within this hall.
We need to search for the person who killed Kanou Nobuzane-
Rather than "who", the real question may be "why".
Darling!
Representative Kanda, Congressman Ono!
What do you want?
Where were the two of you when the lights went out?
What are you saying all of a sudden?
Are you trying to imitate Chairman Kaishou?
"The man who's lead so many cases to a resolution"-
Before the lights went out, there was someone in a Napoleon outfit close to the stage.
Many others have corroborated this.
Which of us are you saying is the culprit, then?
Perhaps even both of you.
What?!
Kanou-san has been suspected of embezzling the support funds of foreign countries,
and both Ono-sensei and Kanda-san were involved in this.
If Kanou-san had been arrested,
you would both be in a bit of trouble.
That's ridiculous!
When the lights went out, I was talking with Kanda-kun.
I can also guarantee Ono-sensei's innocence!
You two strategically chose a costume that would stand out,
expecting that you could ensure one another's alibi.
Yes.
Understood.
Mr. Defeated Detective.
There won't be a need for you.
Your father also likes to play something close to a detective, but...
My father is nothing like you!
He merely offers advice for the sake of this country's future!
Sorry, Rie.
Could you move aside for a bit?
Everyone, this is Chairman Kaishou.
I'm Kaishou Rinroku.
I was a friend of Kanou-san.
I won't be able to come to the scene, but I can offer my opinion.
The wisdom of Chairman Kaishou has contributed to the solving of innumerable cases.
He is a special advisor to the Joint Coordinating Dept.
Father! The culprits are Ono-sensei and Representative Kanda!
That's not possible.
Father?!
They are wearing the same outfit, but they stand out far too much.
But there hasn't been any mention of other suspicious people near the stage.
Oh, but they were there.
They were certainly there, but they soon escaped the hold of everyone's consciousness.
They're still there, in fact.
I see... the SP.
The security guards!
These days, whenever a gathering is held with important people, there are security guards and SP deployed there.
But since they're expected, no one pays attention to them.
You're saying that an SP murdered Kanou?
I see... That's what happened.
Madam?
Kanou... My husband wasn't stealing support funds at all!
He was asked to conceal some of the funds by a government official.
He intended to reveal this tonight.
But prior to that, some dog of the government went and-
That's ridiculous!
The residents' elevator...
She pretended to leave the hall along with us, then turned right back,
and when the lights went out, she...
She would have been informed about the evening's schedule as well.
This is too cruel! How could you...
You're mistaken, Madam!
Just how am I mistaken?
Shinjuurou...
I'm at my limit.
Be patient.
Inga!
The police... yes, the police...
No, even higher than that.
You paired up with them to kill Kanou, didn't you?!
That's not true!
Yes it is!
It isn't true.
It most definitely isn't.
Why is only her coat removed?
If the police or the prosecutors had used this woman to assassinate Kanou Nobuzane...
Which they certainly did!
...why is she dead?
This is quite a luxurious space for just the two of you.
If the police are suspected of assassinating Kanou,
then it invalidates the suspicion that an SP was the culprit.
That's why you're saying suicide is out of the question, right?
But if she was intending revenge on Kanou, it's possible that she may have killed herself afterwards.
If that were the case, she could have just shot him out in the open.
Why a knife?
Well...
With these, anyone with a dark suit would look like an SP.
Someone impersonated an SP?
Without a doubt, the person in question had control over when the lights went out.
They caught the female SP off guard,
shot her to death, impersonated her,
and headed back to the hall.
She then approached Mr. Kanou naturally.
There were only two people who were outside the hall at that time.
I-It wasn't me!
Mrs. Kanou...?
Don't say things like that.
My husband was just murdered!
How could you suspect me?
What reason would I have to kill him?
Yes, I too would love to hear your reason.
Another one.
Who the heck is that?
She's my... boss, I suppose.
My name is Inga, little princess.
Answer me just one thing.
What?
Well...
Got it!
All right now.
Tell me,
was your husband a criminal in your eyes?
The man you loved?
Or... what?
There's no purpose in me answering that.
Tell me.
What was your husband to you?
What?
A hero.
He had no choice but to be a hero.
What... just happened?
She can ask one question,
which people have no choice but to answer.
What do you mean by a hero?
Have you already forgotten?
Until recently, we were at war.
In response to our full-scale troop deployment,
terrorist groups launched multiple attacks against us.
I know. There was a war,
No Trespassing
but it's over now.
It's merely in an unsettled state.
During the war, Kanou dedicated funding to fighting terror in this country and was praised for it!
But after the war,
all anyone would say was that he was stealing it for himself!
Even though the victims of terrorism are treated as heroes...
Even though those of us who survived are just trying to get on with our lives...
I couldn't allow that man, who lived for his country, to be arrested.
He...
He had to die as a hero!
That's why you stabbed him,
after killing the SP and impersonating her.
But what about evidence?
The SP's jacket had been taken off.
It's likely that she borrowed the jacket from the SP before she returned to the hall.
She then failed to put it back on the SP.
But the bottom half...
I hear that that kind of dress can be changed into and out of quickly.
Yes.
Then under all that fluff, you'd be able to wear pants, wouldn't you?
They're probably on even now.
Those shoes...
If the police had killed him, Kanou wouldn't have been a criminal,
he would have been the victim of government conspiracy.
You went so far as to kill an innocent SP for that purpose?
More people than that died in the war, didn't they?
During the war, we secured supplies from all over the world for this country,
and now, when we earn money, it's evil?
The war is at fault!
It's because of the war that we're falling apart.
It's too much.
Humans fall to corruption.
So too do saints and heroes.
There's no stopping it.
That in itself is salvation.
Phone call. It's for you.
It seems that you were just a step ahead of me yet again.
Are you sure you didn't know from the very beginning?
But unfortunately, as usual, the female SP is going to be presented as the criminal.
That's it: "Kanou's wife noticed this and shot the SP before the police could do it."!
I wonder if that's a good enough story.
"Kanou-san's embezzlement of goods was a false charge, someone's conspiracy"!
That keeps his honour intact as well.
A beautiful outcome, huh?
I hope it suits your fancy.
Huh? Where did that woman go?
Huh? Ah...
She said she was tired and went home.
I see.
Um... I'm sorry!
I hadn't known.
My father's reasoning was off the mark the whole time,
and you've been the one who was right.
But my father and Koyama-san never let that...
I always lose. I'm the "Defeated Detective" after all.
But I'm sure his wife really believed that Kanou-san was a hero.
A hero who fought hard to protect his family and company amidst this chaotic world.
Such a beautiful lie must exist...
...um...
To end something beautiful in a beautiful way, huh?
Yes.
That's not something we can really relate to,
since we're constantly in the process of falling.
awai asa moya ni sasayaku inori
淡い朝もやに ささやく祈り
Wandering hazily on a pale morning, hearing a whispered prayer,
yuganda keshiki wo kimi to nazotteyuku
歪んだ景色を 君となぞってゆく
You and I trace a twisted scenery.
hontou wo motome uso demo ii kara nante ne
“本当”を求め、「“嘘”でもいいから」なんてね
We're seeking the (truth). "We don't even care if it's a lie."
misukashiau you ni
見透かしあう様に
As if we can see right through it,
tadotteku
たどってく
We follow it along.
looking for, kotoba koete
Looking for 言葉越えて
Looking for, going beyond words,
ochiteiku hane no you ni
おちていく 羽のように
Like a falling feather.
looking for, mitsukete
Looking for ミツケテ
Looking for, find it,
koko de yorisou you ni
ここで よりそうように
So we can come closer together.
looking for, tokihodoite
Looking for 解きほどいて
Looking for, unravel it,
chigire kumo no you ni
ちぎれる 雲のように
Tear it apart, like a cloud.
looking for, mitsukete
Looking for ミツケテ
Looking for, find it,
koko de yorisou you ni
ここで よりそうように
So we can come closer together.
I hear that the next episode is based on Sakaguchi Ango's 「Meiji-era Ango Detective Stories "Les Misérables"」.
Let's give it a read.
Um, what's a "sketchy rickshaw man"?
"Pourboire"?
An "English Twist"?
Wait a second, Shinjurou!
This story is completely different!
It's saying the bad guy is xxxxx,
but we haven't had an xxxxx show up at all!
Preview of Next Episode
Episode 2
「Heartless Song」
Inspired by Sakaguchi Ango's 「Meiji-era Ango Detective Stories "Les Misérables"」
UN-GO, Episode 2:
Heartless Song!
Wait, what's a "gilly"?!