KAMIKAWA MARU
TOPPU RIVER - SARU RIVER
LAKE SHIKOTSU - THE PIRATE
What? These guys were searching for me?
EPISODE 48 - FIRE
From the way Boutarou the Pirate's talking,
sounds like he's already pinned down where the Ainu first hid the gold.
But he also said that finding it is a different matter.
And this rumor that the tattooed skins are useless--
What's your take on it?
We should press on with our search for the skins
instead of being swayed left and right by confusing rumors.
Anyway, let's play along with it for now and see what information we find.
Well, nearly at Ebetsu Port.
Too bad you're not interested in becoming my retainer.
Did you hear how much gold dust there is?
Twenty kan, right?
But according to an old Ainu man,
it's in deerskin bags about this big, and they're crammed full.
Each bag holds about 16 kan,
and there are over 1,200 bags.
Mountains of them.
What about it? Sounds dreamy, right?
What a shame we can't chase our dreams together.
He saw inside your knapsack!
Here we go!
Gondou!
Let go!
I need air.
Asirpa, can you swim?
-Only when my feet touch the bottom. -Better stay there!
Pici-kor-kamuy chep.
Yupe!
Sugimoto!
In those days, sturgeon migrated up the Ishikara River.
There is a theory that the name Ebetsu comes from the Ainu yupe o,
meaning "many sturgeon."
The ship's paddle wheel is broken. We won't be able to dock.
We're stuck here until another ship arrives.
Sorry, Captain…
This is your fault. You really messed up my boat.
Get the hell out of here!
Sugimoto, the platinum that Heita had…
Oh, that's right. Well, then…
We will cooperate with you.
We will?
Did you save me just because I know something you don't?
Changing plans after hearing Boss Wakayama's story?
No. We'll continue the search for skins.
So, you want help finding prisoners?
I told you already, don't expect them to help you solve the code.
The story that you heard from the boss
may be plausible,
but right now,
there are two forces with most of the skins in their clutches:
Hijikata's group and Tsurumi's group.
We can't ignore the fact that two sharp-witted men
are still searching for the skins.
Good point.
So you just need more hands to get hold of those skins?
Listen here, Sugimoto.
Sure you're not just taking pity on him after hearing his life story?
It's just a hunch,
but if this guy has identified where the buried treasure is,
it may be the only way
to turn the tables on Hijikata and Tsurumi and get the upper hand.
Maybe we should torture him for information.
But if we go down that route, he could just lie to us.
So we'll just have to cooperate.
I see…
But let's be honest: You're starting to like me, aren't you?
Sugimoto.
Fine, then.
I'll tell you what I know after you've got the skins.
For my own safety.
I hope we don't live to regret this, Sugimoto.
If we find the gold, I bet he'll hog it all for himself.
Isn't that you?
Look. Here comes Zukin-chan.
Let's head downriver to Sapporo.
What are you doing, Asirpa?
What's that?
I'm going to attach a kite to the mast.
Ainu carry around harpoon tips, then search for a pole to hang them from.
Is that the thing you used on the whale?
That's the one. Good memory.
And now you want a sturgeon?
Well, you like seasonal food, don't you?
Well, yeah.
So, what's the story with you two?
She's my guide in Hokkaido.
Oh, really?
But you got so mad earlier.
Stop! You might hurt Asirpa!
She seems extremely important to you.
Wow! So many eggs.
We ate pickled ones in Russia, but I didn't know one fish had so many.
You can basically eat all of the yupe meat raw
or eat these black eggs boiled together with other parts.
And of course, we'll eat the brains too.
I hope it'll be ready to eat soon.
But the skin's pretty tough. Give me a minute.
Sorry, Sugimoto. Be patient.
Quickly. Come on.
So, Asirpa, you like sturgeon brains?
I like the brain of any animal.
Just add salt, and it's so tasty.
So you want the person you love to love what you love?
Shut it.
Eat some black fish eggs.
Do you have any family?
Yes. My grandmother, Huci.
Only your grandma?
You and Sugimoto have been traveling together a while.
She must be worrying about you.
Shouldn't you go home? It's dangerous out here with us.
You're intent on staying together?
Yum! Even better than the pickled ones.
Goes well with vodka too.
It washes the fishy aftertaste down well.
I'm not here just because I want to stay with him.
It's not that.
I have something that I need to do. That's all.
Pici-kor-kamuy chep slices and black fish egg ohaw.
Here, Sugimoto. Try the brains.
Hinna, hinna, hinna!
What the heck?
OTARU
Harasho!
PHOTO STUDIO
SAPPORO
Superior Private Usami.
I understand that the killer may return to the scene of the crime,
but since we have no idea when that may be,
do we need to lie in ambush all day long?
Besides, there are two crime scenes.
Wouldn't it be better to question some prostitutes?
Usami!
No, not this way.
Over here? No. Here.
-Hey! -Be quiet!
Don't say a word!
Over here.
It feels better facing this way. It's the perfect spot.
This is a blind spot, hidden from the view of the buildings,
and it's in the shadows, secluded from the street.
The killer could get away unseen!
Whoops!
"Whoops"?
Where? Where did it squirt?
Usami! It's dirty under there.
Got ya.
I found it, Warrant Officer Kikuta. Come and have a look.
At what? Your semen? Yuck.
No, the killer's.
Just like I thought, he came back. Returned to the scene to pleasure himself.
Yes, yes. According to my deductions--
Don't touch that! You'll catch something.
The killer comes here every two days.
And the last time was two days ago.
So tonight's the night.
Oh, please…
Don't tell me you're a sperm detective now.
So what Lieutenant Tsurumi meant…
I'm sure Usami will prove useful in Sapporo.
…was this?
I'll recreate the situation again.
This time, I'll judge the height and distance
to determine the killer's age and stature.
You can really do that?
What the hell is this?
I've found the killer!
Whoops!
It just gets weirder!
Usami, over there!
Got ya!
Are you okay, Warrant Officer Kikuta?
It went in my eye!
Did he do this?
While running away from us?
Good evening.
Where are you going in such a hurry, Mr. Foreigner?
I have absolved you of your sins.
There. Much better.
Two murders in one night.
Perhaps it was a distraction to help him escape,
or perhaps he's just toying with us.
Or it has nothing to do with us,
and he's just got his own plan going on.
I wonder if he will return.
The two of us can't keep watch over four different crime scenes.
Perhaps that guy is creating more sacred spots for himself.
Sacred?
Too bad the killer got away.
But we saw his face clearly,
and the mark on his penis.
Let's go and see the other body. There's a bunch of nosy onlookers.
Maybe he'll show his face.
You go ahead first. I have something to take care of.
Private First Class Rikimatsu Ariko.
Don't turn around.
Did you really think I wouldn't recognize your familiar, bulky shape?
Lieutenant Tsurumi didn't tell me you were in Sapporo.
Are you with Toshizou Hijikata?
There's always someone around,
so I couldn't report to Lieutenant Tsurumi.
If anyone sees me, there'll be trouble.
I was with Shinpachi Nagakura earlier.
Hijikata's group already suspects me.
Same goes for Lieutenant Tsurumi.
Nobody trusts me.
Then why don't you join me?
What?
Listen up carefully.
I'm the only person who trusts you.
Forget your Ainu father's dying wishes.
Forget Lieutenant Tsurumi's threats to your family.
Both of them are headed for destruction.
Central wants Tsurumi to find the gold, but in the end, they'll get rid of him.
Are you a spy for the central government?
I am your child.
Newspapers! Newspapers!
Goldfish! Goldfish!
When a goldfish seller comes to town,
it feels like spring is on its way.
Goldfish!
Fireworks! Fireworks!
You look a bit bizarre as a wandering Zen priest. Too burly.
I can't hide my muscles.
We've got to make sure we don't stand out.
What exactly are you supposed to be?
Good point. It's a little bit obvious.
Seems like there's been a development.
That bastard killer sent a package to the newspaper.
There was a human kidney inside.
And the fourth victim was missing her right kidney.
Barbaric…
There was a letter too.
The handwriting was so messy, it was barely legible,
but I could just make out "prostitutes are criminals"
and "I will kill again."
Then it finally came to me:
This guy is copying Jack the Ripper.
Who?
Jack the Ripper was an infamous serial killer
who committed endless murders in London.
At the time, the whole of England was talking about it.
It even became a hot topic in Japan
after the case details were published in the newspapers in Meiji 21.
He killed them by removing their internal organs,
just the same as our guy.
And that's not all.
There was something that really rattled England.
HOKKAI TIMES
The killer would taunt the police
by sending letters to the newspapers, announcing his crimes ahead of time.
That was a completely new approach to crime.
The newspapers received hundreds of letters from mindless copycat criminals.
Prostitute killings ran rampant,
but there are only five cases officially attributed to Jack.
He made each kill almost every other month,
and he murdered the third and fourth victim on the same night.
The Sapporo murders seem to be an exact imitation.
Our killer is no lowly copycat.
It seems we have a worshipper of Jack the Ripper on our hands.
Another well-known twist to the London case
is that the killer simply vanished into thin air.
The last murder happened 40 days after the fourth.
It was his fifth and final victim.
In other words, if we don't catch him within 40 days,
there's a chance he may be lost forever.
I won't allow it!
That's really riled up Takuboku this time!
One of my favorite prostitutes has already fled to Tokyo!
You gotta catch this guy as quick as possible!
I've got to get her back to Sapporo!
What a total scumbag.
I'm also curious about a totally different case.
Hey, Sugimoto, did you read this article?
Another prostitute killing in Sapporo?
No, not that.
Children have been disappearing all over the place.
Three just went missing in Ebetsu.
The town we passed through…
A child snatcher…
-Maybe it's him. -You know who it is?
His name is Keiji Ueji.
He murdered several children and buried them in his garden.
He's a creepy guy with a face covered in tattoos.
-The candy man! -What?
OUTRAGE
Keiji Ueji
must be a tattooed prisoner.
Children have been disappearing all over Hokkaido.
Recent crimes have taken place
in Asahikawa, Utashinai,
Iwamizawa and Ebetsu.
He's slowly getting closer to Sapporo.
What's going to happen in Sapporo?
OKHOTSK COAST
I received a telegram from Warrant Officer Kikuta.
Two men stay behind to continue the search for Asirpa.
The rest of you are coming with me.
To Sapporo!
I am your dutiful son.
Spare any change?
Give it up, Ogata!
Next episode: "The Missing Kamuy."