Cut that out!
You can speak Mandarin?
I was waiting for you.
I'm rather busy tonight, you see.
So you realized I was following you.
Well actually, I was the one looking for you.
I already knew what you're up to.
Who are you?
A Japanese army spy?
I guess you could say that.
I know you're Liu Zong Wu's man.
I've had my eyes on you for quite a while.
No.
I seem to be mistaken.
You were just contracted to secure military arms, huh?
In other words, your just one of Liu's business partners.
I'm investigating the abduction of Kaburagi Enterprise's chairman.
Since you've got nothing to do with it, I'll let you go.
So don't follow me anymore.
Shut up! I know already!
Your motive is to annihilate us-
Wait, I think you've got the wrong idea.
Cut the crap!
I'm sorry.
It's difficult to restrain myself when I'm on the flow.
W-What do you want?!
You've sparked my interest again.
Why don't we have a little talk,
to find out how this whole misunderstanding was caused?
Okay.
Shanghai
1931 (Showa 6)
Shanghai
Foreign-ruled lands are expanding in the form of concessions.
With money pouring in from the great Western powers, the overcrowded city developed rapidly.
Corporations.
Soldiers.
Artists.
Criminals.
Refugees.
Revolutionaries.
And spies.
People of different backgrounds from various nations mix and mingle in this city.
Blissful dreams and nightmares paint this moment of China.
This is Shanghai.
Flowers! Please come buy some flowers!
This city could also be called, "The City of Sin."
I can't see him from here.
Four police officers just entered through the west gate.
How unnecessary of them.
What about him?
Aoi still isn't here yet?
One man down.
They're coming out.
Did you see Chairman Kaburagi?
Only from behind.
We'll follow them!
Can you see them?
Straight ahead.
To the Suzhou Harbor.
Wait!
Don't rush it!
Watch out!
Are you okay?
Yeah.
Aoi?
Cunning fellows...
You bastard!
Get the hostage!
Are you hur-
They got us.
It's not Chairman Kaburagi.
A decoy?
And I was almost out of time.
You...
Why didn't you follow the plan?
Well I figured they could also escape through the river.
You were acting on mere impulse?
Think before you act.
I acted because I thought about the situation.
My instincts weren't too far-fetched, but...
I guess they were still one step ahead of the game.
Hey, you.
Why didn't you use it?
It was kinda close back there.
I use it when I need it.
Nothing more.
I heard you made quite a scene, Kazura.
I did not expect the police to raid where he was being held.
It simply shows that there's a lack of trust...
between the higher-ups and us.
And... amongst you guys as well, I suppose.
Well, moving on. Yukina, did you learn anything from the three decoys?
Judging from the information I gathered from them...
it appears that Chairman Kaburagi was transported to the Liu Zong Wu Army base.
To their base?
Ever since they scattered in the battle last month, the KMT doesn't know where their headquarters is.
Do we know where they are gathering?
It's not very clear whether it's their headquarters or not,
but they seem to be gathering at a decrepit fortress on the banks of the Hu Xi River east of Nanjing.
Those three are just grunts.
I doubt they know the details.
We'll take care of the three you've apprehended.
We scouted the area on a plane before noon.
Natsume's eyes confirmed that the chairman was there.
You see, they sent us a notary to inform us about a change in the ransom.
A change?
Then what about their demand for Japanese military weapons?
They've canceled that demand.
This time, they want cash.
Well, there's nothing odd about demanding cash,
but why did they change their minds all of a sudden?
Their objective behind abducting Chairman Kaburagi was to quickly acquire armaments that are effective against the KMT.
The Liu Zong Wu Army are only armed with cheap, leftover weapons from the Mexican Revolution,
so they don't have a fighting chance against the KMT and their latest German weapons.
So they got tired of waiting for the military authorities to approve the weapons transfer?
But they should not have the time to buy weapons.
Liu does not have any means of quickly trading weapons with Europe or America.
You're right.
That's how it is.
So that's how it is.
The Liu Zong Wu Army have demanded the ransom not from Kaburagi Enterprise, but from the Japanese government.
Could they be...
This is going to be a pain...
A pain?
It'll all be over when you rescue Chairman Kaburagi.
And one more thing...
The officer who was shot last night passed away this morning.
I hope you won't follow after him.
If I lose my men during their first job,
it's going to be tough to continue with the business.
How many soldiers do they have?
About two thousand.
So an entire regiment...
Some of them are probably hiding in the neighboring towns.
Natsume, what does this line mean?
It's an underground escape route.
It's old, but it's supported with rocks and hasn't caved in.
You should've said that sooner.
We can use that.
No.
The building at the fortress-side exit is being used as a barracks.
And it's too far from where Kaburagi is being held.
There's a way we could make it work.
Where did that sound come from?
No idea.
Did it come from the forest?
I can't see clearly.
It shouldn't be able to reach here.
It's probably some hunters, we shouldn't give it much thought.
They are not shooting at us.
Outside is pretty dark.
It's a moonlit night, your eyes will get used to it soon.
Yeah, I see it.
There's a story I remember whenever I'm in the air looking down at everything below.
Especially when I'm flying over a city at night.
Something from Saint-Exupéry?
No, "The Stalker in the Attic."
Edogawa Ranpo?
That attic must've been fairly high.
You read Ranpo, too?
I hate it.
It's interesting, isn't it?
Don't you think that attic is similar to our powers?
What do you mean?
Because that man was able to peek at other residents of the apartments from the attic,
he felt superior to the other residents and becomes ecstatic.
Yeah.
Why are people so delighted about not being equal to others?
Only when you compete equally does victory have any meaning.
Wait a minute. Is that why you don't use your power?
Are you serious?
I won't let it put my friend's lives at risk.
I'll use it if I need to.
However, they are not as convenient as you think.
Lend me your eyes.
He took the most ripened watermelon out of the batch, so I knew at once that he was a professional like me.
So I was at the watermelon field that night, waiting for him.
Oh? What happened then?
I haven't come up with the rest yet.
Does it make you curious?
Take a left at the next corner.
Then it's the building on the right hand corner.
Yeah...
He's on the second level of that building.
I'm done.
How's that?
You're quite good.
Is the guest behaving?
Yeah.
What sort of meal does he get, anyway?
You don't wanna know.
It'll make you jealous.
Chairman Kaburagi, correct?
We are from the special agency.
We've come to pick you up,
but you seem to be having quite the time here.
Yeah...
Surprisingly, they've been pretty kind to me.
That settles it then.
You made a deal with Liu, didn't you?
He threatened me! I didn't have a choice!
You told him to buy weapons with the ransom money he'll get from the government.
If the military authorities won't give them any weapons, what else can they do?
That's not all you've done.
You went as far as doing the weapons trade through your own company, didn't you?
Taking advantage of the situation to do business?
Someone isn't pleased about you stealing his business partner.
It is clear to just about everyone that this military faction will not last long.
If you give them new weapons, you will only prolong unnecessary battles.
What are you doing?
I'm going to have you sleep for a while.
What were those footsteps?
There's someone?
What's wrong?
I don't know.
He suddenly fainted.
Is he ill?
We're taking him to the medic.
The real meal server is coming.
Can you do something about it?
He's behind too many walls.
It was only a matter of time,
but I wish they found out a bit later.
Keep your mouth shut.
Don't go that way.
Take the route to the west.
Stop.
Wait.
Not yet.
Damn...
I accidentally used it.
I might run out of time when I need it the most.
Your over-reliance on your ability is hindering your control of it.
Let's just hurry.
Quickly, form up!
The last platoon is leaving.
No one's inside anymore.
Wanna go?
If we wait a little more, that platoon will also leave.
Watch out!
People are closing in from the south.
Several...
Six.
I have about two minutes left.
Okay, let's go.
Yukina?
I heard you.
Let's begin.
Natsume.
A fire!
G-Get to your posts!
Ninety seconds.
Eighty-nine.
Eighty-eight.
Eighty-seven.
Hey!
There they are!
You could hit the hostage!
Don't shoot, seize them!
Sixty seconds left.
Thirty seconds now.
Behind you!
I'm out of time?!
You're out of time.
You're a tad late on that.
Yukina, where's the tunnel?
What happened?
They're being bombarded.
Enemy attack! Enemy attack!
Aren't they...
The KMT flag!
The KMT?
The KMT were on the Liu Army's tail as well?
Who knows?
Are you both okay?
Anyone hurt?
No.
How's the tunnel?
Well...
The bombardment caused the entrance to cave in, so it's unusable now.
What?
Damn it.
Kazura.
It's time for you to use your ability.
I don't know why you're so reluctant,
but just relax your shoulders.
The past, or some useless pride doesn't matter to us right now.
Am I wrong?
But...
You need it right now.
Okay.
Yukina, I need a target to focus on.
Okay, I'll give you some light.
I'll be right back.
Miss?
I'm fine.
Wh-What is it?
We're going.
Woohoo!
That was like an acrobatic flight!
Keep it down.
It isn't as convenient as you think.
You finally used it.
I used it because I had to.
Nothing more.
You leaked the information about the Liu Party to the KMT, didn't you?
Liu's presence was a nuisance to the KMT as well.
They are much easier to conquer if you attack them from both the inside and the outside.
How kind of you to share such information,
considering that the KMT has a questionable relationship with Japan.
I haven't gone against national policy.
The prosperity and the stability of East Asia is quite ideal.
Your real objective wasn't to exterminate anyone who knew of us, I hope?
You're quite sharp.
You don't let me down.
Your abilities themselves are a military secret.
Even if every one of the witnesses doesn't die, it's much better to keep their number to a minimum.
Keep it deep in your chest.
That was a helpless case.
Although they were nothing but a militia,
soldiers could die at any given moment.
Of course, that includes us both, don't you think?
Though thanks to your efforts, I could display your usefulness to the higher-ups.
All three parties benefited from this.
The Liu Zong Wu case was an important first step,
For the higher-ups, the KMT, and to us, the Sakurai Agency, as well.
No, we also have another reward.
I took it from Chairman Kaburagi's coat pocket.
It seems to be a list of weapons Liu ordered from the Kaburagi Enterprise.
I see.
This will come in handy.
But what made you relinquish this to me?
It pisses me off that Kaburagi was selling weapons to both sides of the battle...
Even more than you.
I'll try not to make you hate me even more.
This place is full of shrewd old men.
I'll admit... this is indeed the Devil's City.
Episode 01
Rescue
The played melody passes the fragments of time into the hearts and scatters them there.
The Violinist who fell under the suspicion of spying.
The Finger that plays the reverberating sound of harmony and
the finger that sounds out the darkness of confusion and falsehood.
An abundance of power and the like, weren't needed,
just words of praise for the music.
Next Episode
"Rondo of Reminiscence"
Next episode:
Rondo of reminiscence.