Military Academy
1925 (Taisho Year 14)
Military Academy
Just as all of you fight out of stubbornness and pride,
we adults are also unable to stop fighting.
Do you know why that is?
You, do you know why?
Because humans have a longing for battle.
Exactly.
As long as humans desire conflict, war will never disappear from this earth.
Does this mean that war will never end?
There is a way.
The mastermind behind the Manchurian Incident and staff officer of the Kwantung Army, Ishihara Kanji.
From the beginning, he conveyed his ideology. Develop the latest weapons of war and use their overwhelming power
to bring a swift end to battle. The winner would become the supreme ruler of the final war.
This is the theory of the final world war.
Xinjing
Well now, you certainly look like a beggar.
Just how long do you plan on sitting there?
Hmm?
Well then, it seems like you are telling the truth.
Or, perhaps you just don't care enough to make up a lie.
If the prophet left you that long ago, why didn't you hurry back?
You didn't feel up for some sightseeing in Xinjing?
Anyway, you have really caused me some trouble.
I suppose I have to think of what your punishment will be.
Do as you like.
Let's keep the fact that you took the prophet out between us.
You are still a very important piece in all of this.
I've already decided your next job.
I need you to get to Dalian as soon as possible.
Dalian?
I am sure you are aware that Germany is exporting arms to the KMT.
Even after the foundation of Manchuria, they continue to use the Dalian ports.
The Kwantung Army would like to save face and stop them, unfortunately they don't have any evidence.
In three days, three cargo ships that have passed through Germany will arrive.
The first thing to do would be to investigate those.
Not just the contents of the cargo, but also anyone who seems suspicious.
If you can find evidence before the special Kwantung force does, that could be insurance for us.
Since you guys keep doing whatever you want, I have to think of little things like this.
I hope you appreciate the things I go through.
If the boats won't be there for another three days, why am I leaving tomorrow?
There is a Japanese hotel on the outskirts of Dalian. Yukina is resting there.
Resting?
She took a serious shock when she read Takachiho Isao's mind.
What did she see?
You'll see that for yourself.
And you can use the rest of the time to cool your head.
Along with Kazura.
This is your grandfather's precious notebook.
He wrote in it about his heart and soul as a soldier.
I give you this book so that you may live and protect this glorious country.
If you ever have doubts in your heart, please read this book.
I congratulate you on your graduation.
It's open.
I have caused you so much trouble.
Why are you apologizing?
No matter how many times you apologize, you don't stop and it makes those you apologize to look foolish.
Whatever.
Dalian
Excuse me.
Those two have arrived.
I have to show them right away.
You shouldn't force yourself yet.
I'm okay.
Really, I'm fine.
My brother showed-
I am going to show you what Takachiho Isao showed me.
Put your hand on top of mine.
Wait.
I'm sorry.
Just let us know when you're ready.
I'm such a coward.
Did you borrow that from the hotel?
Well, I guess we can use it to kill some time.
It's tough having enough time to think.
Yukina feels the same.
More importantly, what happened?
It was my fault. Don't be angry.
It's just as you saw, I wasn't myself.
I didn't have the capacity to care about Yukina.
What's this?
You're using earthworms as bait?
You borrowed these from the hotel as well?
No, I bought those.
They're no good?
These guys don't do well in salt water.
Oh really? I only know about river fishing.
Natsume, you're great at looking out for us.
You should know that being a lookout is one of my specialties.
No, that's not what I mean.
You're such a big guy.
That's just how I was born.
That's not what I'm trying to say.
And you weren't born like that,
have you ever seen a baby as big as you are?
Well, I guess that's true.
Yukina.
Do you want to go check out the night scenery?
This way.
Wow...
It's beautiful.
It doesn't quite match up to the night view of Shanghai, but Dalian isn't so bad.
Those white ones, they're from the Dalian Grand Plaza's gas lamps.
And those red ones, they're the lanterns on Naniwa street.
The shining yellow lights are from the acetylene lights in the Dalian open shopping area.
The lights from the ships are nice as well.
I want to show this to Natsume and Kazura.
Natsume invited Kazura, but I don't know if he will come.
I just came to get a bit of fresh air.
Hey Natsume, what is that blue flashing light over there?
Unfortunately, I can't see it.
Ah, the new moon?
Yeah, but I actually prefer the nights I can't use my ability.
It's like a falling star.
Thank you.
For looking out for me.
If you're going to thank someone...
Thank you.
I'm not afraid anymore.
That is the image Takachiho Isao showed me.
Hell.
Is this what would happen if the new bomb exploded?
Couldn't this just be Takachiho's own personal vision of hell?
Imagination can't be that clear and vivid.
Then what?
Are you saying he really saw this?
Either way, this is no time to just stand around.
The cargo on these ships don't have anything particularly different from what's on the list.
There are still two more ships that came through Germany.
Another ship has arrived.
Once they start unloading it, I'll be begin searching it.
No one is acting strange at all.
Understood. I'll contact you again in 10 minutes.
Hold on.
Who are you?
Go away.
He doesn't have a gun.
Now you tell me,
where did you move that amount of ores?
Ores?
How come you don't know? You must be one of them!
We've got plenty of time to talk.
Let's go.
You could have used your powers to get out of that easily,
but just as the rumors say, you don't use them so easily.
Iha Kazura-kun
Takachiho Isao!
I assume they were American or British intelligence.
It seems they mistook you as one of my subordinates.
Then what are you doing here?
I just wanted to have a chance to talk with you.
Kazura?
Kazura, is anything strange happening?
Can you hear me, Kazura?
You seem to be doing fine. There is nothing to worry about.
Onii-sama!
I am going to borrow Iha-kun for a little bit.
Alright?
Onii-sama?
Onii-sama!
He said he will let him go in 12 hours?
He also designated a location.
Damn it all.
You said you just wanted to talk, yet you've blindfolded me.
Is this how you treat your guests?
I apologize.
I would like to keep the location I am taking you to a secret.
Plus, you need to be able to see in order to teleport somewhere right?
I would like you to refrain from disappearing before we even get there.
What's this?
This is the production that I assume you imagined yourself.
The spies from back there must have noticed that we were importing raw materials from Czechoslovakia.
Raw materials?
Ore.
Where should I start?
This is Ichinose-kun.
He is a young and brilliant physicist.
He has designed everything in this facility.
I take it you already know about the new bomb.
You should have received the images I gave my sister.
Are you saying this wasn't some illusion that you showed her?
Even a TNT bomb couldn't have that much power.
Such a tremendous bomb can't exist right?
Well, you see.
Science is an interesting thing.
Once we make a breakthrough, we can see farther and farther ahead.
A single word from the future can do that.
A word from the future?
Even if we spend all day talking, it might be difficult to understand.
Why don't we talk somewhere else?
It's not like we're at a restaurant having a drink.
I see,
so you have obtained the information from the Lytton Commission report.
I would have expected nothing less.
This is Ichinose-kun's playground.
He has a childlike fascination with everything, no matter what it is.
What we are making now may be no more then a toy to him.
This is Edison's first kinetoscope. Take a look.
News from the Paris Peace Conference. It's only been about 10 years.
There, they signed the Treaty of Versailles,
where they sung praises of the self determination of peoples,
but in the end, they didn't end the colonial rule.
At the end of the first European War, even with the huge sacrifices they undertook,
they would only recognize white society as the order of the world.
After all, East is East and West is West.
You just said First European War.
Indeed.
Are you saying you think there will be a second?
There will be.
No, rather, what I think is that most of the world will become a battlefield, a second World War.
There is only one way.
To make an overwhelmingly powerful weapon.
Such a mighty weapon could kill tens of thousands in an instant, and bring war to a quick end.
And that would be the last war.
The last war.
Oh, could it be that you know of Ishihara-san as well?
No, I just heard a lecture from him at the academy.
At the academy? At your age, that puts it around the end of the Taisho era, right?
[The Taisho era lasted from 1912 to 1926.]
I see he had been talking about the new weapon to end war for quite some time.
Have you ever met Ishihara-san before?
More or less as an acquaintance.
At the General Staff Headquarters.
He surely is a genius.
Of course, geniuses often appear to be nothing more than idiots to some.
That man has his limits, too.
But, if it wasn't for him, the Manchurian Incident wouldn't have happened so smoothly.
For better or for worse.
For better or for worse?
No matter the reason, to use such a poor plan to get their hands on Manchuria was a failure.
All it will leave behind is evil.
Sooner or later, the Lytton Commission will also report on it.
Japan won't obtain what it has been after.
This is what you were talking about.
East is East and West is West.
Did you know that this is from Kipling's poem?
Actually, it was used as an idiom.
Oh East is East, and West is West,
and never the twain shall meet,
And the rest of the poem goes like this:
But there is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor Birth,
When two strong men stand face to face, tho' they come from the ends of the earth!
Wouldn't you want to become like one of those men?
Well then, it's about time.
I wonder if he will really come?
You know better than anyone if he is a man of his word.
He is no longer the man I knew.
This could very well be a trap.
Even if things go badly, we can't back down.
We can't let him escape.
He's here.
What happens from here on is up to you.
Sorry for keeping you waiting.
What did you do to Kazura?
All we did was talk.
Is that true Kazura?
Yeah.
Now then, I have returned him.
Run!!
What are you doing?
Get the hell out of there!
Kazura!
You're in my way, move!
What are you doing? Kazura!
And that would be the last war.
But there is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor Birth,
When two strong men stand face to face, tho' they come from the ends of the earth!
Wouldn't you want to become like one of those men?
Kazura!
Why?
Why, Kazura?!
Episode 10
East is East
If you follow someone lost in a maze,
You will become lost, too.
Both the followed and follower will be searching for the road.
What the fleeing bird is carrying is darkness itself.
And those who obtain that, what will they think?
And what is about to happen?
Next time: Covert Investigation.
Next Episode
"Covert Investigation"