It's you...
Episode 1
Excuse me, my good samurai?
Who are you?
Pardon the intrusion. My name is Usui Yuen.
Is it all right if I ask your name?
I am Kurima Raizo, a retainer to the daimyo of Satsuma.
What do you want?
I happen to run an odd jobs service in the area...
Odd jobs?
Yes.
Merchants of all trades, operating at your service...
The simplest way to think of it would be a group of all-purpose laborers.
And what does this man of all trades want with me?
There have been rumors of a very stern-looking samurai passing his days here recently,
like the legendary Musashibo himself.
The locals have grown concerned, and hired me to look into the matter.
Why would an individual refined enough to identify himself when asked
be sleeping here, under a bridge, instead of at an inn?
I take it you have cause to avoid prying eyes?
I killed a man.
That certainly sounds dangerous.
You don't seem surprised.
If anything, that raises more questions.
This place is far too haphazard to hide away in, especially for an oath-breaker.
I was ordered to take this life, and had no grounds to defy the order.
It is my duty to dispose of traitors who pose a threat to the clan.
That makes even less sense, then.
If it was a lawful act committed within your duty, why avoid people under a bridge?
You could return home with your head held high, no?
It was... someone I knew.
Someone who was important to me.
Even if I didn't have a choice, I can't face those who knew him.
That explains it.
So, in spite of a job well done, you find yourself unable to return.
I imagine this sort of thing happens when you're a samurai.
Still, you're unlikely to think of a way to resolve things while lurking down here.
You're... right, I suppose.
You know, it's strange.
Just talking with someone makes it clear how foolish it was to fret so much on my own.
Consider it one of the many services I offer.
I appreciate your advice.
Have a safe journey.
You can let the people know that you've disposed of Benkei.
Greetings, Kurima-dono!
Are they here to escort me?
That's odd, for Matsumine-sama.
I must say, it's a splendid thing you've done!
To slay all of your father-in-law's men single-handedly...
Regardless of our relationship,
the moment he sullied his hands in the opium trade,
it simply needed to be done.
What a display of loyalty!
Matsumine-sama will be thrilled.
Now, you need only perform one last duty...
What?
Still haven't caught on?
I must say, your stupidity truly astounds.
Maybe there'd have been some other use for you if this was the warring states...
Why would you do this?
You can ask Hirata-dono about it when you see him in the afterlife.
I'm sure he'll be happy to give you an earful.
Jump for it.
If you don't wanna die, then shut up and jump!
Has he gone mad?
I wouldn't worry. Either way, he couldn't have survived.
We'll report as much to Matsumine-sama, then.
Just had to dawdle a bit first, huh?
If you die, it's not on me.
Come on!
The samurai's awake.
Did you save me?
As I said, we handle all manner of tasks.
Though, as a day job, I also produce maki-e gold-lacquered works, as you can see.
What, exactly, are you people?
In a business like this, you learn certain things about the Nagasaki underworld.
Things someone like you wouldn't know, at least.
To begin with,
it is true that someone from the Satsuma clan has been
making secret deals with English merchants for opium.
Hirata Genshin-dono had been investigating around Nagasaki
in order to discover the truth.
That's...
Different from what you were told?
Which would indicate that whoever told you otherwise,
and ordered you to kill Hirata-dono, is the mastermind behind the opium deal.
The chief financial officer of Satsuma, Matsumine Jonoshin.
Hirata-dono seemed to have been on the verge of having the evidence he needed.
I can only imagine how vexed he must have felt.
Why did you save me?
Would you rather have died?
I was tricked, like a fool, and killed my fiancée's honorable father!
How can you expect me to live with this shame?!
And Matsumine maintains his position, coming out of this unharmed.
That doesn't bother you?
Oh, he's ready now.
There's not much you can do with those injuries.
The truth is, Hirata-dono acquired our services before his passing...
and, in the event of his untimely death,
wanted to ensure that we would fulfill his mission.
The layout of Matsumine Jonoshin's estate,
Merchants of all trades, at your service
a path for infiltrating Satsuma,
guidance through the Tsurumaru Castle town...
This job requires a collaborator familiar with local affairs.
Would you be willing to help us, Kurima Raizo-dono?
Hup!
Yui...
I know that this won't make amends for what I've done,
but I...
You mean to tell me...
Right?
Mourning
Losing her father and her groom at once like that...
And now Yui's all by herself?
She is. And she looked absolutely terrible during the funeral.
The poor dear!
I know you're concerned, but if she learns you're alive at this point...
I know.
As things stand, I couldn't face her anyway.
These are the storehouses. The stables are here.
The service entrance isn't guarded heavily,
but it's farther away from the main building...
Don't mind them. Please continue.
Anyway, the main entrance is heavily guarded,
but once you're inside, there are blind spots you can use.
Tatami Room
Well
H e a r t h
Altar
A small group can sneak in, taking them by surprise.
That might be the trick to finishing before causing too much of a commotion.
This seems like the kind of place that would have a secret exit.
No. Not a concern.
Matsumine trusts his guards completely.
Fair enough.
All the better, really.
We'll finish things tonight.
Kurima-san, you should wait here.
If you were to act recklessly with those injuries,
it would serve only to warn Matsumine.
Do you understand?
The Hirata matter's already become the talk of the castle.
Slain by a deranged son-in-law!
And now, Matsumine-sama is secure.
Soon, all of Nagasaki will be his...
All made possible by Kurima Raizo himself!
It was a fine job he did.
I wasn't sure why you involved the Hirata girl's fiancé, whose only skill was with a sword,
but I had no idea you'd thought so far ahead!
I'm used to dealing with these bull-headed warrior types.
The trick is not to restrain them, but to allow them to cause of bit of a ruckus.
Well said, Matsumine-sama.
"Send a bull to slay your enemies," in effect.
He and Hirata must be absolutely stewing in the afterlife!
I must say,
I've heard talk of how Westerners intend to bring the Qing to heel via this opium.
Will the same happen to Nagasaki?
Even if that does happen, it'll suit us fine.
Whoever rules Nagasaki, even if it's the English, will require a local governor.
Incredible! You've thought that far ahead, Matsumine-sama?!
Please, allow me.
Oh, I'm ever so sorry!
Hey, we're out of sake!
Why isn't there more yet?
Unbelievable...
Let me go and check.
Well, this wasn't part of the plan.
Hey! Is anyone there?
Even the lights are out...
Who goes there?!
Summon the men! Now!
Y-You rogue!
D-Damn you!
Before the eyes of holy Saint Mary, full of grace,
for your sins and your misdeeds,
repent.
Didn't he say there were no secret passages?
I suppose this means Kurima-san outfoxed us.
Matsumine Jonoshin.
If you intend to explain yourself, I'm listening.
So be it.
Good grief...
I bet this was his plan from the beginning.
You mean we smoked the old man out of his hole for his sake?
So it would seem.
Come on, man, this guy just snatched our target!
How are we gonna explain that to the Chapel?
The bell still needs to be rung once the job's done, regardless of how it's done, right?
That it does.
Nio.
Right.
Yui!
I'm such a fool...
I didn't realize what Matsumine was doing, and I killed your father.
But...
I can still make up for it!
I've avenged your father.
Maybe now...
Yui!
Yui! Where are you?
Yui?!
Yui?
Please, Yui...
I have so much to atone for...
Yui!
Episode 1
Next time, Episode 2