NOBORIBETSU
Never expected our masseur to be a spy.
This skin belonged to a daring man.
Ariko wants to tell you something about the tattoo's pattern.
They look very similar to the tattoos on my grandmother's hands.
Maybe they're somehow connected to Ainu ciphers.
Oh?
EN - KOTO - SHOU RO - KO - KYOU
Are these all the tattooed skins you have?
That's right.
Before I forget, Ariko,
I'm surprised you were able to dig it out of the avalanche.
I happened to get lucky.
I spotted his feet sticking out of the snow.
Had luck not been on our side, this one could have already decomposed
or been eaten by wild animals.
A single lost tattoo could mean that the treasures may never be found.
The thought sends shivers down my spine.
So, Ariko,
does it look like the Ainu tattoo?
The tattoo patterns vary by region.
I thought it had something to do with the tattooed skins,
but I have no help to offer.
How unfortunate. Still, I appreciate your insight.
Ariko, it's the same moon.
What about the moon?
We found each other in the aftermath of the Battle of Mukden
and spent the night together.
In the pitch-black night, only the moon's gleaming light was visible.
At least the moon hasn't changed.
THE NEXT NIGHT
Watch your step, Sir Koito.
Tonight is the new moon.
Where did he go?
This way!
Do you have them?
Yeah, I grabbed them all!
EPISODE 42 - A SWEET LIE
I found footprints!
Don't let them get away!
There's a tall cliff to the right.
A round rock to the left.
We'll face a dead end if we keep going this way.
Let's find another way.
Watch out for fallen trees.
You reek of blood. Will you last until we pass the mountain?
Yes.
A FEW HOURS EARLIER
That knife-- Why is it here?
Lieutenant Tsurumi retrieved the victims' belongings
after the tragedy in Tomakomai.
Nopperabou killed seven Ainu.
We know that your old man was among the murdered men.
What a shame.
You've forgotten about the moon we saw from the trenches.
This tattooed skin you brought isn't Anji Toni's.
Toshizou Hijikata was unaware
that we have a copy of Toni's tattoo.
He convinced you to betray us, didn't he?
Perhaps he said something about carrying out your father's will.
There's no going back now.
You've chosen to follow a disastrous path.
He's still alive.
Ariko Ipopte.
I'll tell you the difference between me and Toshizou.
For Toshizou's plans to succeed,
he needs the Ainus' trust and cooperation.
In other words, even if you betray him, he can't punish you harshly.
But with me, it's entirely different.
I do not discriminate between Japanese and Ainu.
I punish them all equally.
Ikaripopo, your mother.
Yayuhuyka, your older brother.
Your sister, Rerasuya, who married and moved to Hidaka.
Your nephews, Isoninpa and Tumasinu.
Private First Class Ariko.
Take these skins to Toshizou Hijikata.
Infiltrate their forces.
You're a mole, so it should be easy, right?
Brilliant. Now that that's settled…
It'd be better if you looked like you had to run for your life.
Usami, do it.
Yes, it's my pleasure.
Brace yourself, Ariko.
Better run, Ariko.
Those pursuers won't know about our little talk.
Ready, go.
Come on. I just need one short break.
I'm a blind old man, you know!
We need to cover more ground.
We need another day's march without sleep, or they'll catch up.
Finally.
They got you good.
-I'm wiped. -They found us stealing the skins.
And the spoils?
We have Sekiya's tattoo, the one Ariko took as Anji Toni's fake,
and five skins Lieutenant Tsurumi collected.
Six skins in total.
Is that all?
As far as I know.
Could he have a secret set?
I heard the lieutenant always wears one under his clothes.
I stole them while he was bathing. I'm certain I grabbed all of them.
Our collection…
Yes, we need Ariko to gain trust, but was it worth parting with the skins?
Why not just the paper copies?
It's important that they're human skins.
Paper copies can be easily faked.
That skin Ariko brought.
It's probably genuine, though not Anji Toni's.
I have its copy right here.
I copied it down myself, so I know it's a perfect match.
But to anyone else,
it's nothing but a shady copy.
The skins look authentic because they're human leather.
That's why it was worth fashioning the fake tattooed skins with Edogai.
Edogai?
Ariko left with the fakes made with genuine human leather.
Fakes? That's incredible.
Toshizou Hijikata may decipher the code before we do.
When that happens, the fakes will be a sure obstacle in their path.
Can we trust that Ainu?
Proceed with caution.
I'm sorry to say this,
but we expected Lieutenant Tsurumi to come to the conclusion
that it wasn't Anji Toni's skin.
I watched Saichi Sugimoto get captured by Lieutenant Tsurumi
after he got shot in Abashiri.
Meaning, Tsurumi acquired a copy of Anji Toni's skin at that time.
Ariko reached our hideout alive.
He was either sent here as their spy,
or Lieutenant Tsurumi meant for Ariko to bring those skins.
Either way, these five skins are most likely fake.
But this is all going according to plan.
These five skins and the one we found in the taxidermist's house--
It's the same number of skins as the stuffed humans we saw.
The tattooed skins appear authentic because they're made of human leather.
It would be catastrophic to mix the fakes with the real ones.
It was right to collect all the fakes before they spread across Hokkaido.
These skins are flawless but fraudulent. I'm almost certain of it.
The 7th Division's scheme to send Ariko among us
has left us in a great position.
We need to keep close tabs on Asirpa, our key to the code.
We must depart for Karafuto!
Ryu is chosen as the leader of the pack.
Now he's an isho-seta!
Look at our little Ryu. The headdress looks good on him!
ENONOKA'S VILLAGE
THE LEAD DOG OF HENKE'S SLEIGH
Smart dogs chosen to lead sleighs get preferential treatment.
They get to sleep inside the house with the owner.
Ryu's treated better here than anywhere else.
He's found his place.
Thanks for everything.
Thanks Ryu.
That sleigh is headed to Odomari.
He'll give us a ride.
This is where we say goodbye to Henke and Enonoka.
What a responsible little girl.
Enonoka.
We'll wait for you. Go and say what you need to.
This isn't goodbye. I'll wait for you to come back.
Hold on to the hohciri after you cut it off.
Don't forget me.
I won't. I promise.
Time to go! Hop on, everyone!
I'll be back, Enonoka.
Bye, old man! Take care, everyone!
Cikapasi!
Wait for me, Enonoka! I'll promise I'll--
Stop the sleigh. Someone fell off.
Cikapasi, are you hurt?
Hurry up and get over here!
We'll leave you behind!
What's with him?
Hold on for a second.
Tanigaki nispa.
Cikapasi, you stay here.
Go and build your own family.
Okay.
Inkarmat doesn't have anyone to rely on, just like me.
Tanigaki nispa, you have to become her family.
Take this rifle.
The man who saved me gave it to me.
Hunt animals with this rifle. Repay Henke for taking care of you.
But don't use it until you're a little bigger.
I won't be around to prop you up.
Use it when you're big enough to stand on your own.
Stand on my own…
You mean erection, Tanigaki nispa.
Right. Erection, Cikapasi.
Make sure to take Asirpa back. You need to make Huci smile!
Don't worry. I will!
Bye, Cikapasi!
Take care!
ODOMARI
Lieutenant Tsurumi will arrive tomorrow.
You look distressed.
I have something to ask you before he arrives.
Yes.
In Ako, do you know what Ogata said to me before his escape?
Barchonok.
He then said…
The next time you see Lieutenant Tsurumi,
ask him about the Manchuria Railway.
The South Manchuria Railway Company.
The rights for the Manchuria Railway operation after the Russo-Japanese War.
In reality, it's the expansion of Japan's territory disguised as business.
Within the Imperial Army,
one man strongly opposed the acquisition, saying it's bound to fail.
It was the former lieutenant general of the 7th Division, Koujirou Hanazawa.
With Lieutenant General Hanazawa's suicide,
the Manchurian Railway project was pushed through.
After he returned from Russo-Japanese war, Lieutenant Tsurumi said this:
"My comrades still lay beneath Manchuria's cold ground.
If Manchuria becomes de facto Japan,
then their bones lie under Japanese soil."
Did Lieutenant Tsurumi play a part in Lieutenant General Hanazawa's death?
Hyakunosuke Ogata held a grudge against the central government.
That's why he sided with Lieutenant Tsurumi's rebellion.
But what if Ogata learned the truth somehow,
and that's why he betrayed the 7th?
And why did Ogata tell me about the railway?
He'll say anything to thwart us.
Why do you take him seriously all of a sudden?
Barchonok.
Ogata must have been one of the conspirators who kidnapped me.
MACHIAI INN
I haven't met Lieutenant Tsurumi yet.
I wonder what he's like.
There's nothing to be worried about.
What will Lieutenant Tsurumi do if he finds the gold?
If that happens, then at least no one will come after you.
No. What will happen to my people?
They want Hokkaido's independence. They wouldn't make enemies with the Ainu.
The Ainu would be a great labor force for them.
We'll make our terms clear so that we get our way.
No one can solve the code but you.
We have the upper hand.
Ogata? Those masked men were Russian.
You saw their bodies.
Were you among the masked men, Tsukishima?
Keep calm, Lieutenant Koito.
You played me and my father!
Once my father was indebted to you, you were free to use his torpedo ships!
Ogata told me about the Manchuria Railway
to show that my father and I are nothing but pawns in Lieutenant Tsurumi's hands,
just like he and his father were!
That's the truth, isn't it?
That's just crazy speculation.
I'm through with you. I'll ask him myself!
I'll lay the truth down to my father!
But weren't you saved at the end?
What?
So Ogata sniffed out The Manchurian Railways and Hanazawa.
Here I thought he was going to offer up Lieutenant Tsurumi to the government.
What more does he want?
Wasn't he satisfied with taking his own father's life?
Ogata killed his father?
I'm also one of his victims.
My story was quite elaborate.
That man was probably actually from Sado.
But I realized that after the war.
A soldier in the 2nd in Niigata would not end up in that makeshift hospital.
The 2nd Division was stationed
in a mountainous region 60 kilometers away from us.
The lieutenant even told me the truth after nine long years.
He makes sure you wilt first, then pours on his affection.
He told me all the efforts that went into saving me.
He built an obedient army who would toss their lives aside
and gladly do his dirty work.
But it doesn't matter now.
My life has never meant much.
I won't get upset over someone taking advantage of me.
With the gold at his disposal, he will use Hokkaido's natural resources
and build a military-based economy.
Next, he will overthrow the government and establish his military regime.
The 7th rises to power.
Ultimately, Manchuria, our comrades' graveyard, will be annexed.
Isn't that amusing?
Is that Lieutenant Tsurumi's ultimate goal?
I don't know his true intentions.
He's a natural when it comes to telling sweet lies and saving others.
But if Lieutenant Tsurumi needs to annex Manchuria
and overthrow the government to achieve his goal,
not to mention compensating his followers,
there's nothing I can do.
Tsukishima, why are you with him?
It's people like him who leave their name in history.
I'll watch Lieutenant Tsurumi's show from the front seats
until the curtain call.
You might not want to tell anyone about what I've told you today.
If things come down to it, he won't hesitate to kill you.
And I will be the one doing his bidding.
Lieutenant Tsurumi-- He's absolutely brilliant!
Does this mean he staged our first encounter in Kagoshima?
He even set up a kidnapping heist!
All the effort, just to have me in his corner!
Oh, I can't wait!
I want to see Lieutenant Tsurumi!
I wanna see him right this minute!
Oh? Didn't get any sleep?
Hello, Sugimoto the Immortal.
You're gonna hand Asirpa over to the soldiers
and wag your tail at Lieutenant Tsurumi, right?
It's not like that.
Should've joined him in Otaru if you were gonna turn to him anyway.
He used to be a lone wolf who didn't bend to anyone.
Oh, you're a softy now.
Things have changed!
Lieutenant Tsurumi won't bother Asirpa once the gold is theirs!
Unlike Toshizou Hijikata's plan, Ainu won't have to fight!
This is what's best for Asirpa!
Asirpa! Asirpa!
Weren't you gonna give money to that one widow you liked?
We settled on a price.
It's enough to cover her treatment.
And what's my cut?
I'm hoping to get more than a couple of coins, you know!
You stingy rat!
So, what? You're gonna show Asirpa the right path to follow?
She's not your girlfriend, wife or daughter.
I hate controlling men.
Shut up and scram!
You want to believe that you have something to protect.
You're washed up and too scared to take risks!
You didn't see how Karafuto changed Asirpa.
She saw new things and matured.
She's not the same girl you met in Otaru.
You found her, but you're not on the same page as her.
Kiroranke didn't lie to her.
He brought her all this way to Karafuto
because he wanted Asirpa to know what's happening to the Ainu!
All things considered,
if Asirpa wants to make the fate of every Ainu her problem, just let her!
Put your trust in her as your equal,
and you'll be unstoppable, like before!
And don't tell me you actually think
that Tsurumi cares about the Ainu.
What do you mean?
Oops. I ripped a big one.
Land ho!
Next episode: "Escape from Karafuto."