01x05 - Specters

[bunniefuu]

Specters.

They cling to their decaying privilege...

and their swords.

They are too arrogant...

to accept defeat.

They steal from the powerless.

They mourn their lost dignity.

Raise the cry of victory!

The fools dare to rebel.

Smoke signal confirmed.
It's a victory for our allies.

Open fire.

Sir?

Fire.

Our units are still behind enemy lines...

Fire now!

Commence firing!

Aim!

Fire!

Stop! Stop it!

It's over!

Stop!

Those fools...

are the least fit for the new age.

Such specters...

must be eradicated.

Gentlemen, apologies
for keeping you waiting.

You've given us
such an amazing opportunity.

We're the ones who
should be thanking you.

Indeed.

Have you heard
of our family motto, Organizer?

No, I'm afraid I haven't.

"Never lend money to the shizoku."

No one has suffered more
from their lawlessness than we have.

Every time we lend them money,
they walk away with it.

I don't know how we've survived.

Number 159, Tekkan Ikeuchi,
fell at Kuwana-juku.

Reportedly, he was k*lled
by number 66, Bukotsu Kanjiya.

Bukotsu the Savage Slasher again?

- He's a beast, through and through.
- Absolutely.

But he only cares about k*lling,
not about making progress.

Hardly worth betting on.

He's nowhere near being
the first through Chiryu-juku.

Exactly.

- He can't die without entertaining us.
- I couldn't agree more.

The real fun of Kodoku is just beginning.

We've prepared plenty of entertainment
from start to finish.

So let us savor the downfall of those
pathetic specters together, gentlemen.

MITSUI BANK

Do you despise g*ns?

They are what buried us samurai
as the dead.

No one is to blame for our fall.

The times have merely changed.

The times...

Lower your g*ns.

He can't focus.

Move aside!

- What is it? What happened?
- I heard a g*nsh*t!

Stop right there.

Stop! Stop!

Wait! Hey!

Head to the front!
Don't let him get away!

Time to move!

Wait!

Hey!

Wait! Come on!

Even if you keep
pushing forward like this,

there's no happiness
waiting for any of you.

What's that supposed to mean?

You don't need
to understand what it means!

This is the end of the road for you,

Kokushu Saga!

Shu-nii!

Come on!

We shall meet again in Tokyo.

Enter.

We have news
from Superintendent General Kawaji.

Apparently, they found nothing
at the foot of Mount Fuji.

It was empty.

Thank you.

Lord Okubo, regarding what Maejima
mentioned before...

Concerning Kawaji?

Yes.

Kawaji is an honorable man.

- But still...
- To maintain order in this country,

Kawaji traveled
as far as Europe on a study tour

and established the
Police Bureau himself.

I do not believe that
man would betray us.

Those documents...

May I borrow them?

Can you crack it?

I don't know.

But I can try.

I want to do whatever I can.

Handle them carefully.

We have no idea
where the enemy might be hiding.

Thank you, sir.

The one who k*lled Akayama
and attacked me wasn't a fake.

He was a real police officer.

Which means whoever's running Kodoku

is connected to the Police Bureau.
Or perhaps...

Someone inside the Police Bureau.

That's what I'm thinking.

So the Police Bureau and Mitsui Bank.

It might not just be the bank.

What do you mean?

The zaibatsu that runs the bank
could be connected too.

When you look at it that way,
it all starts to come together.

The Police Bureau
monitors the participants

and disposes of any dead bodies.

The enormous costs needed for that
are covered by the zaibatsu.

But one thing doesn't make sense.

Jinbe Ando, who died first
at Tenryuji Temple,

was from Kyoto Prefectural
Police Department's Fourth Division.

That's right. Even the police station
Kyojin snuck into...

So it's only the central Police Bureau
that is involved.

Wait, but why would the police...

I have no clue.
But I can tell you one thing for sure.

Kodoku isn't just a simple game

where the survivor walks away
with 100,000 yen.

Even after reaching Tokyo,
something is bound to happen.

If one of us
wants to be the last one standing,

there's a chance
we may end up k*lling each other.

Even if you're the last one left,

there's no guarantee you'll return alive.

How could they?

But even so,

I'll keep moving forward.

With the little miss in tow?

Maybe this is as far
as you can go with her.

I'm going.

Futaba...

Stay quiet.

Are you forgetting the one trump card
only you can play,

Kokushu Saga?

During the w*r, you were connected
to some big names in the government.

How would you know that?

That's our only shot
against the zaibatsu and the police.

If you really care about her,
you might want to think this through.

I'll be back by noon tomorrow.

Take care of Futaba while I'm gone.

Got it.

That kind of swing won't help you.

Even still. I want to become stronger.

I don't want...

to drag everyone down anymore.

Strength isn't just about the sword.

You're weak right now.

You're a girl.

Still a child.

But that's just for now.

You have to discover
a strength that is unique to you.

NARUMI TELEGRAPH OFFICE

How can I help you?

I'd like to send a telegram.

Yes, of course.

Please write the recipient's name
and the message here.

SPECIAL EXERCISE BY THE POLICE BUREAU

Come in.

- Sorry to interrupt, sir.
- What is it?

We've received a suspicious telegram
addressed to the Home Minister.

Kokushu Saga...

I'm going to the telegraph room.

I'll do it myself. Everyone out, please.

Yes, sir.

We've received a response.

What does it say?

It says, "Details, please."

Who's the sender?

It's from Hisoka Maejima.

How is that possible?

He's the closest aide
to the Home Minister!

Would you mind stepping out?

It's better you don't know.

Oh, right.

Critical incident at Tenryuji Temple.
Has it been confirmed?

Report of shizoku gathering received.
Are you one of them?

I am one of them.

There is a child
present among the shizoku.

Requesting assistance.

Still investigating.
Requesting full details.

Rule four.

You must not speak
of this game to anyone.

Provide protection,
and details will follow.

Police involvement is suspected.
Any information?

Matter of national importance.
Details follow after protection.

Meet in Okazaki in three days.
Protection to follow there.

Understood.

Apologies for startling you.

Could you send this one too?

Of course.

Thank you.

TO: SHINO SAGA
FROM: SHUJIRO SAGA

Wait for me. Take care.

I will return without fail.

Kokushu Saga seems to be
one of the participants.

Kokushu, you say?

Yes, sir.

So he's alive.

He's requesting protection for a child.

Any other details?

When I questioned him
about police involvement,

he wouldn't give a clear answer.

But he called it
a matter of national importance.

There's more.

The Police Bureau
is mobilizing over 150 police officers

and conducting exercises in secret.

The Police Bureau is proceeding with
something without informing us.

There is no doubt.

Kawaji is the head of the Police Bureau.

No one else
could maintain ties to the zaibatsu

and exercise this much freedom
in controlling the police.

Lord Okubo.

I...

I will not give up.

Once Kawaji returns,
I will speak with him myself.

In the meantime, speed up
deciphering the coded telegrams.

Without evidence,
he'll talk his way out of it.

Understood. I'll be on my way
to meet Kokushu myself.

Make sure to stay alert.

Yes, sir.

FIREARMS - EQUIPMENT
WESTERN POLICE SYSTEM

FORMATION OF A MODERN STATE POLICE

TRAINING IS NECESSARY FOR EMERGENCIES

Ru... Ru... Ru... Ke...

One...

Eleven...

Eleven...

Sorry for the wait.

All right then, let's move.

We're probably the last ones left.

Most of the participants
have probably passed Chiryu by now.

Better catch up,
or there won't be any wooden tags left.

Right. Let's move.

SEKI

CHIRYU

CHIRYU-JUKU
REQUIRED POINTS: 5

We've been expecting you all.

Saga, Katsuki, Kinugasa,
your wooden tags, sir and ladies, please.

Tsuge, Sayama, this way, please sirs.

Shujiro Saga, eight points.

Futaba Katsuki, seven points.

And Iroha Kinugasa, eight points.

You are all cleared to pass Chiryu-juku.

Kyojin Tsuge, seven points.

You are cleared to pass Chiryu-juku.

This blue tag counts for five points.

Please hand over
five points' worth of tags.

Sayama, your wooden tags, please.

No...

Futaba, let's go.

Shujiro!

- If we give him some of ours...
- Why bring him further?

He won't make it out alive.

No! Please, help him!

We're barely able to survive ourselves.

He's a fully grown man.
He made the decision to come here.

It's his life, and he should take
full responsibility for it.

Futaba.

Thank you.

I don't know what's going to happen.

I might be k*lled as well.

But...

If I turn my back on a life
that's right in front of me,

then even if I survive,

I won't be able to hold my head high

in front of my mother.

All you're doing is prolonging a life
that is already doomed.

Sayama doesn't have what it takes

to be one of the nine
who might have a chance to survive.

He might find another way to stay alive.

That's irrelevant.

Oh, well. I guess she wins.

Shinnosuke Sayama, five points.
You are cleared to pass Chiryu-juku.

Thank you, Futaba.

Thank you!

Thank you!

May your journey go well.

Shujiro...

I'm sorry.

I wouldn't have made it this far
without you, and yet...

No,

you're right, Futaba.

We can't save everyone.

But if I turn my back
on someone I can help,

I'd be too ashamed to face my wife.

Oh, and Futaba, nice work.

Yes.

Tsurubami let it slip.

If we make it into the final nine,
we might have a chance to survive.

You're right. He did say that.

I'm sure the nine who make it to Tokyo
will be made to do something.

But that doesn't necessarily mean
only one of them will make it out alive.

Still...

Why would the Kodoku
tell us something like that?

They're not exactly on our side,
but maybe they feel sorry for us.

Well, not us.

You, Futaba.

Who knows? You might be the one
who holds the key to Kodoku, Futaba.

I've finally found a bit of hope.

And it's thanks to you, Futaba.

So? What was that about a samurai?

I saw a samurai with a sword.

He had a girl with him.

Kokushu,

you won't get away this time.

All right, I guess
this is where we split.

Huh?

After the mess we made
at the police station,

Shinnosuke and I might be
on the wanted list by now.

What?

We'll split up for now

and go in two groups
until the dust settles.

- Will you two be okay alone?
- Who do you think I am?

You watch your backs too.

We'll find you later.

Come on, Shinnosuke!

Wait. Hold on, Kyojin!

We should get going too.

EUROPEAN CIPHER MANUAL

To maintain order in this country,

Kawaji traveled
as far as Europe on a study tour

and established the
Police Bureau himself.

N, K...

W, D, A, C...

L...

I...

Good evening, Shinpei.

Mochizuki...

What brings someone from the
Police Bureau to the Home Ministry?

Still working at this time of night?

You shouldn't have underestimated us.

Did you think we'd leave
the Home Ministry's elite unwatched?

What are you really after?

That's not for you to know.

Almost made it.

Too bad.

REPORT TO KAWAJI
SAKURA AND SHUJIRO FACE-TO-FACE

TO TOSHIYOSHI KAWAJI

Looks like there won't be
any more developments today.

Suppose it's about
time to take some rest?

Yes. Everyone, please rest well
in your bedrooms.

I believe the results
from Chiryu will be in by tomorrow.

Well then, see you all tomorrow.

The Yoshida twins really are pathetic.

- Okubo's secretary has been taken care of.
- Good.

Still, things are getting a little hectic
at the central government.

Maejima suddenly changed his schedule
and is heading for Okazaki.

Evidence suggests he exchanged telegrams
from Tokyo with a Kodoku participant.

Who did he contact?

Number 108, Shujiro Saga.

Pardon me.

Gentlemen, we have a bit of a situation.

Okubo may have learned that you
and the Police Bureau are involved.

What do you mean?

If that's true, we could be...

Please rest assured.
It's all going as expected.

I have a plan.

How on earth did the central government
find out who we are?

It seems one of the participants leaked
information to Maejima via telegram.

What? Isn't that against the rules?

Number 108, Shujiro Saga.

Kokushu the Manslayer...
Is he disqualified?

He won't be disqualified for that.

But Organizer...

Easy now. Let's all stay calm.

According to reports,

some rather intriguing participants
are starting to join Shujiro Saga.

How about we let

the specters fight each other

to the death in Kodoku?

A festival...

Got a moment to chat, Gion Sansuke?

Who are you?

Oh, who knows?

I've got no intention of fighting you,
Shikura Adashino.

You guys are looking
for your siblings in Kodoku, right?

Shujiro Saga and Iroha Kinugasa...

Oh, and Jinroku
was there too if I'm not mistaken.

What do you want from us?

I wonder...

Would you be interested
if your siblings were in serious trouble?

Excuse me, which way is Chiryu-juku?

- Pardon me?
- I think I got lost.

Tell us the details.