Showa 6, September 18.
When the willow trees were in bloom in the outskirts of Fengtian,
the South Manchurian Railway was bombed in a Kwangtung Army plot.
The Kwangtung Army blamed the Chinese and began military operations.
It was the beginning of the Manchurian Incident.
In just over 6 months, the Kwangtung Army commandeered all Manchurian railways.
Showa 7.
May, 1932 AD.
The formation of Manchukuo was declared.
This hastily formed country needed to quickly establish itself as a nation.
To create an air of legitimacy, the Kwangtung Army appointed a man born with the sovereignty to rule.
The last emperor of the Qing Dynasty.
Aisin-Gioro Pu Yi.
However, at this point in time,
the international community was still debating whether to recognize Manchuria as an independent nation.
The League of Nations formed a committee to resolve the dispute between Japan and China,
and sent the multinational committee, headed by England's Earl Lytton, to investigate the actual state of Manchukuo.
Many Westerners don't care to mind their manners.
Yes, Sir.
What of that matter?
What matter do you speak of, sir?
How many times do I need to tell you?!
I want to meet her.
I want to meet Japan's prophet...
It's chilly.
It's already May, too.
I miss Shanghai's spring.
We're in the North.
Complaining won't change anything.
Well, I guess the Kwangtung Army and the government are really being put on ice.
If Lytton's investigation goes poorly, it'll turn into a huge international problem.
China wants things to proceed peacefully as well.
Of course.
If rumors spread that bandits or rebels were behind the kidnappings,
Japan could use public order as a pretext to justify its intervention.
As the birthplace of the Qing,
not even Chinese people were allowed to enter this place. Now people from various nations are gathered here,
and are striving to become independent as an ideal nation.
This thought is not disgraceful.
A crossroad of languages and a shortcut to paradise, huh?
That's unexpectedly naive.
What?
The military wanted this land as a buffer between Russia and Japan,
and the government wanted this land to alleviate the soaring food prices caused by the depression.
That's what their true intentions are.
I feel sorry for people who can only see things with such cynicism.
I'm more afraid of straightforward people who lose sight of their goals.
Once you stray, it's difficult to get back on track.
There it is.
The engine room is trashed.
I guess they weren't even able to give chase.
There's a more fundamental problem.
The soldiers stationed for guard duty and the attendants were all found unconscious.
Only the five members from Lytton's investigative committee were kidnapped.
It seems it wasn't done by your run-of-the-mill thief or bandit.
It's just as Mr. Sakurai predicted.
There's no doubt.
Takachiho Isao is responsible for this.
W-Where am I?
Are you awake?
Who are you?
Where am I?
Take a look and see for yourself.
We are in the middle of the Desert of Death, the Taklamakan Desert.
There are no villages within some ten kilometers around.
Why am I here?
Where are the others?
Don't worry.
They are in safe hands.
I have no intention of harming anyone.
Including you, Sir Lytton.
But, there's something that I want to show you.
Just for you.
Something to show me?
You'll see.
What on Earth is happening?
Any structure within a 500 meter radius will be blown up in a blink of an eye.
Would you believe me if I told you that this explosion was induced by a man-made bomb?
That was not the only bomb we have,
and we do have the means to detonate it in any city.
Why...
Why did you show that to me?
There are several requests for you.
Don't tell anyone about what you just saw.
However, please tell the leader of your country about it.
And also tell your leader,
that we wish for the liberation of the countries colonized by your country.
Harbin
It's very heavy.
Five people at $200,000 a piece.
Is it really in here?
All I did was receive it from Mr. Sakurai.
I don't know what's inside.
Two black teas.
We received this too.
23:00.
The bell tower of Sofiyska Cathedral.
Yeah...
It was mailed to the house of a commissioned officer in the Kwangtung Army.
Since they're demanding a ransom,
maybe they're a criminal syndicate like the Green Gang.
They may be trying to make it look like that.
No, we're probably over-thinking things a bit.
If the plot Takachiho Isao is planning requires a large sum of money...
Aoi.
There's someone on top of the bell.
What?
If you don't want to fall, start talking!
Where's the investigative committee?!
What?
T-That's what I want to know.
Talk!
Now you show up?
Is he Takachiho's subordinate?
No.
He thought I was the kidnapper.
He probably got a hold of the same information.
He's a KMT clerk who was stationed here.
Where's the trunk?
The trunk?
It's around here...
It's gone!
Why?
There was no one else...
As I thought.
What?
We chased after Takachiho's subordinate but lost sight of him.
It was the man we met in Shanghai.
Then the trunk...
He came here and stole it in an instant.
He left us a present as a courtesy.
The location of the investigative committee.
Sir Lytton says he doesn't remember a thing about his kidnapping.
It seems he was unconscious the entire time.
Doesn't he at least remember the face of the man who kidnapped him?
Ask him that.
They're all useless.
The other four are the same.
Either they really don't remember anything,
or maybe it's something they don't want to tell.
How are you feeling?
Stop treating me like a patient and release me already.
There is nothing wrong with me.
I think you should take it easy, Sir.
And, if you would...
excuse me...
I would like to take your pulse.
I don't doubt what Yukina was saying,
but it sounds to me like the new type of bomb is a fabrication.
It'll probably be published in Chemische Berichte.
It vaporizes everything 500m in every direction with one blast.
It's an unthinkable weapon.
In the end, it's just a journal.
It was only until recently that he believed your powers were the work of demons.
Please don't be so serious.
I just don't think we should call it a fabrication from the get-go.
Besides they got $1,000,000 from us,
and probably another $1,000,000 from the KMT.
If you assume they'll use it to fund development...
You speak as if it doesn't concern you.
However...
because Takachiho Isao has similar powers as ours,
he used his powers to show us an illusion of a new type of bomb.
Isn't that also a plausible possibility?
Well, you could view it like that.
He does have the power to do that.
Whether he actually possesses that new type of bomb or whether it was an illusion,
discussing it here won't bring us to a conclusion.
Our job is to investigate it further.
Since Takachiho Isao has made an aggressive move,
from now on we will obstruct his goals by any means possible.
We may even need to sacrifice our lives.
If Yukina wishes, I will allow her to part ways with us.
Although we'll have to completely erase her memories of the past few years.
Do you remember them?
One of them is Professor Kajikawa from the Imperial University.
Takachiho Isao made contact with him once before.
There was that one incident where a German Violinist was acting as a spy.
The Kwangtung Army's covert ops also continued with its investigation.
But, Professor Kajikawa has been passed on for quite some time.
Another man appeared in connection to him.
He's a physicist named Ichinose.
It seems he would often ask Kajikawa about chemistry.
There is evidence that he frequently visited Manchuria and made contact with Takachiho.
Follow this lead for now.
Very well.
If you intend to do so, I'll leave it in your hands.
Ichinose, I don't understand the specific details.
Then I will proceed.
It seems Sir Lytton was not the only one who saw the explosion.
I showed all five of them at the same time.
Each from a different location.
They all think they were the only one who saw it.
Even if you try to silence them, how likely are they to speak about it with each other?
Not a chance.
Even an idiot would realize that the bomb would be advantageous for their own country.
They aren't going to tell the League of Nations.
A prophet?
I know we've been talking about unbelievable things lately,
but since the ancient Himiko-era,
the ruling government would say they've been bestowed with words from the heavens.
If you think about it that way, it doesn't sound like complete absurdity, right?
But, you're saying that such an existence is still controlling Japan's politics from the shadows.
How did Pu Yi know about the prophet?
The relationship between China and Japan has been long and deep.
It wouldn't be unusual for the nobility to speak of it amongst themselves.
I'm surprised the government allowed an audience.
He's been in a good mood lately.
He's beginning to realize he's just a puppet being marched around.
Just when I thought we could finally concentrate on Takachiho Isao...
We owe the higher-ups $1,000,000.
That again...
Fortunately, it seems their trust in us hasn't been harmed too badly given the scope of our failure.
Of course, the KMT will also dispatch escort personnel,
but we're also going to send one person.
Then I'll go.
No.
Kazura, you will take that duty.
The prophet will arrive in Dalian Harbor tomorrow.
But a job of this type...
Don't worry. I have a job for you.
One related to Takachiho.
About the scientist, Ichinose.
After arriving in Fengtian, we found out that he regularly stays at the Yamato Hotel under the alias Suzumura.
Head to Fengtian tomorrow and keep an eye on him.
The shops here are the same as in Japan.
They even sell train lunches.
Sorry.
Here.
Thank you.
You open it like this, right?
Please use this.
Thank you.
Ramune is a strange drink.
It's not that funny.
I'm sorry. It just reminded me of something.
Well...
I think girls who are a little careless are cute.
Cute?
Yeah. Don't get the wrong idea.
I was talking in general.
It sounds like you think little of women.
What is it?
Did I say something to upset you?
In the end I was just a pawn used to draw my brother out.
You heard what Mr. Sakurai was saying.
He said that because he was actually concerned about you.
Well... I don't know that man's true intentions either.
But you originally came here to find your brother, right?
You already know he's here.
You have no reason to pursue this any further, right?
Next time we meet him he'll be our enemy.
Snow.
At this time of the year?
That's not snow.
It's Youka flowers.
Youka?
Youka and willow branches...
The white fuzz that falls of the willow tree is often mentioned in Chinese poetry.
Since ancient times, the beauty is short-lived.
The gate closes.
Spring arrives.
The youka falls.
The words of the short-lived beauty.
The gate closes.
Spring arrives.
The youka falls.
Is an imperial family member here?
No.
It's probably the prophet.
The prophet?
They're on their way from Dalian to Changchun.
Kazura is here.
Kazura?
You're right.
Too bad. They're departing.
I wanted to annoy him a little.
What's wrong?
Shizune...
It can't be.
She's...
I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to read your mind.
But... I sensed your sorrow...
You're right.
It can't be.
She can't be alive.
Call her.
You need to make sure.
Call her.
She won't be able to hear me.
I'll make your voice reach her.
Shizune.
Sorry!
Episode 08
In the Frozen Lands
Is the sound ringing throughout the land the pulse of hope?
Or, is it the pulse quivering in apprehension?
The long awaited meeting causes the lively pulse to begin trembling.
Their usual facade is long gone.
The occasional smile no longer holds the same meaning.
Even so, they couldn't panic.
Next time: The New Capital.
Next Episode
"The New Capital"