ACROBATIC SHOW FEMALE KNIFE THROWER
Stop doing that and pour me a drink!
- That's right! - Yeah!
How long are you gonna keep throwing those?
Come here and drink with us!
Nobody throws knives anymore anyway!
You've got a pretty face.
Take your clothes off and sing for us!
Damn right!
Show us your beautiful fair skin. Pretty please!
CIVILIZATION AND ENLIGHTENMENT
Bravo!
That's impressive!
- I want a big one. - Me too.
I can't deal with this without good food.
Can you raise my pay?
The customers don't like it, so stop your whining.
Iroha.
Why don't you sell those knives instead, or start selling your body?
I don't mind paying for it.
What? What's that face for?
Huh?
Have you forgotten who took you in?
I'm talking to you.
So you were alive.
I'm glad.
I didn't expect you to be a traveling entertainer.
It was hard to find you.
I'm surprised you didn't get angry.
The old Iroha would've slashed them all to death.
I'm used to it.
What about you, Sansuke?
Well.
I'm pulling a rickshaw every day to feed my wife and daughter.
I see. You have a family now.
Yes.
And you? What did you do after you left the mountain?
Many things.
I moved from place to place, hiding from Gentosai.
And the others?
Fugoro and Shichiya were killed by Gentosai.
He's been searching for the surviving Kyohachi-ryu.
Iroha.
If we don't do something, both of us will be killed.
I already found Shikura and Jinroku and convinced them.
They're in the army now.
What are you trying to do?
We'll use this to draw Gentosai out and kill him ourselves.
Unless all of us attack together, we won't be able to kill him.
Iroha.
This is our fate.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
And now, to discover the true identity of Kodoku,
it's time for the great strategist Kyojin--
Just get to the point.
We're running two experiments.
For the first one,
we'll hand over a participant with a wooden tag to the police.
Once detained, they'll be held there until the end of the game.
They're basically out of the game.
Normally, you can't kill someone who's in jail.
So the question is whether Kodoku would still make a move?
Correct.
Whether they would defy authority to silence someone,
or at least stop short of interfering with the police...
This will show us how far the Kodoku organizer is willing to go.
And for the second one,
we'll find out where the dead bodies disappear to.
- Disappear? - Yes.
Dozens of people are killing each other along the Tokaido Road.
Surely there should be a dead body or two lying there on the side of the road.
However...
We haven't seen any dead bodies that were killed in battle.
Exactly.
You know that the Kodoku are monitoring the participants?
Well, they won't follow us inside.
But the Kodoku are watching us.
So they're the ones who dispose of the dead bodies?
Yes. They must be taking them somewhere.
Which means?
They have manpower and hiding spots
to dispose of bodies across different locations without getting caught.
Excellent answer.
If we can find where the dead bodies are taken,
maybe we can figure out who is behind this game.
So? I'm quite a strategist, right?
So? Where do we start?
First, we hunt for a candidate to hand over to the police.
Why would the zaibatsu procure over 100 rifles
and make the shizoku kill each other?
Since the Meiji era started,
they've made a fortune through government work.
What do they possibly gain from doing something like this?
Using money as bait to force the shizoku to kill each other...
Couldn't it be that their slaughter is the very goal itself?
A grudge against the shizoku.
They have long been tormented by the shizoku's unreasonable extortion.
According to the zaibatsu,
the four in question have been on leave since a week ago.
No one knows their whereabouts, and they're not at their homes.
Find them immediately.
Yes, sir.
Lord Okubo, if I may,
taking action against the zaibatsu could affect our nation's economy--
Shinpei.
If they're the ones pulling the strings behind this,
it will be considered high treason.
We must deal with this at once.
- Kawaji. - Yes, sir?
I want you to bring them here.
I will locate their whereabouts as soon as possible.
- I'll start analyzing the telegrams. - Yes.
KUWANA-JUKU
Come, come!
Grilled clams, Kuwana's specialty!
Come and get your grilled clams!
We've got horse mackerels, clams, bigfin reef squid, and delicious sake too!
You must be tired from traveling.
Would you like to take a short break here?
Thank you very much.
Customers coming in!
Welcome! A group of four coming in!
Please go ahead! We have a table in the back!
Miss, fetch us some tea and skewers.
Tea and four plates of skewers!
Okay, one bowl of mixed rice!
One flying squid!
Look at that guy.
He's not even hiding his wooden tag. That's some confidence.
They're participants too.
I saw them at Tenryuji Temple.
Which one should we go for?
Don't mess me around!
I'm sorry!
Useless, clumsy idiot!
I'm really sorry! I'm sorry!
Shut it!
I'm sorry...
Let's go with whoever leaves first.
That won't be necessary.
Who are you?
So there was one more than I thought.
"One more"? Hmm?
What exactly do you mean?
Huh?
Most participants pass by this teahouse.
So I took the liberty of setting a trap.
Isn't it a violation of the rules to tell non-participants about this?
It's not a violation if I hire them without giving them the details.
So much for a strategist.
This is nothing.
As for the girls...
Do as you please with them.
Okay, carry on.
YOKKAICHI-JUKU
Yokkaichi's known for Banko ceramics!
Come take a look!
Lower-intermediate.
A beginner.
Pre-intermediate.
Hey, you.
You're a participant, aren't you?
Have you seen a guy with a girl in tow?
No.
Goddammit.
After years of waiting, this is what I get?
A bow, huh?
What's fun about shooting arrows here and there from so far away?
It's no different from a gun.
This tool is used to make offerings to the gods.
It does not compare.
To hell with the gods.
What a joke.
My dear!
Oh no! Open your eyes, please!
You monster... Please! Wake up...
If gods were real... the world would be different.
Good.
Let's play.
Die, you bastard!
Girls! Go for the girls!
If you take their wooden tags, I'll triple the pay!
Move!
Look who's caught now?
What the hell's going on?
This isn't what we were told!
You can't leave. I'm paying you!
Hey!
Go! Hurry the hell up!
Come on, go!
Die!
Someone! Go get the police!
Out of the way!
It's an offering to the gods.
That's enough.
Do I know you from somewhere?
The police are on their way here.
Yeah?
So what?
Those on the organizer's side have high expectations for you two.
Having you eliminated will spoil the game.
You think I'll get caught?
I can go ahead and cut you down here.
Be my guest.
If you think you can win against this many rifles.
I've lost interest.
The times have changed.
There's no place left for the samurai to live.
You went through hell after the war, didn't you?
Bukotsu Kanjiya?
It's none of your damn business.
All right, then. Which one is it gonna be?
What are you going to make us do?
We're going to give one of you to the police with your wooden tag.
What?
What? Wait a second...
If you do that--
Kodoku will kill you, or the police will protect you.
One or the other.
What?
And the one who isn't given to the police?
We grab his wooden tag, and he drops out right here.
Hand me over to the police!
I-I'll go!
What?
I'm the one who's going. You keep your mouth shut!
Well, I'm afraid you're dropping out here, young man.
Please. I'll do anything!
Just accept it. You've killed plenty already too.
I haven't killed anyone at all!
Even at Tenryuji Temple, I just picked up a tag someone dropped.
I'm sure... No lies, please.
I'm not lying!
This man threatened me.
He told me he'd at least keep me alive.
Stop lying!
I come from a poor family.
I joined because I wanted to help my father's business.
But then...
It was a killing game...
and I just couldn't do it.
I'm begging you.
Please... Please spare my life!
You heard what he said.
I guess you win.
But you're gonna lend me a hand in return, okay?
Thank you.
Thank you!
What?
Wait a minute.
I can help you out too--
Shujiro, you guys go and check where the dead bodies are being taken.
Okay.
Oh, and you, Iroha.
Here.
What's this?
It's a smoke ball.
I don't need this.
Just keep it with you.
I'll call the police here.
Use the commotion to shake off the Kodoku watchers first.
All right!
Let's get this mission underway.
Come in.
The analysis results came out.
Just as you suspected, they're communicating by telegram.
DOMESTIC TELEGRAM RECORD
Since May 5th, the day of the reported incident at Tenryuji Temple,
telegram correspondence has drastically increased.
NUMBER OF TELEGRAMS MAY 5TH: 156
What else?
We can't figure out the content
since they're corresponding in code.
However,
we did find out where these telegrams originated.
Where?
- Show him the map. - Yes, sir.
The southern foot of Mount Fuji.
The map suggests there's nothing there.
MOUNT FUJI SHIZUOKA TELEGRAPH OFFICE
The zaibatsu's stronghold.
Kawaji. Head there immediately.
"Clash between shizoku in Yokkaichi City on Tokaido Road..."
Gentlemen.
What is it?
The government is taking action.
What?
I wouldn't worry about it.
There is no way they can reach us here.
We have a guardian angel on our side, after all.
Oh, yes. You're right about that.
Well said.
Thank you for earlier.
How old were you when you started training, Iroha?
All of the Kyohachi-ryu were abandoned as children.
We don't know our real ages.
Were there any other girls?
No.
I was young
and the weakest of them all.
You were the weakest?
It was a long time ago.
What should I do to be as strong as you?
You don't have to...
and there's no need.
No matter how skilled you get at using a sword...
it won't bring you happiness.
He's here.
Ow! That hurts.
No need to be so rough!
H-Hello, sir.
He's the suspect for the teahouse murders.
You've got it wrong.
We'll hold him in jail.
Yes, sir.
- Let's go! - Ow, ow!
I can't wait to see what happens.
- No! - Silence!
POLICE BRANCH OFFICE
You stay quiet in here. We'll interrogate you later.
Hey! Wait.
Please.
What about a guard?
Shouldn't you have one?
What? You're scared of ghosts?
That's not it.
Hey, wait! Wait!
Wait! Don't leave me alone!
Let's go.
108
We're from the Police Bureau. Your chief knows we're coming.
Seems like they took the bait.
- Huh? - What's your name, young man?
I'm Shinnosuke Sayama.
Shinnosuke, hold these for me.
Huh?
Wait!
The time is 2:17 p.m. Number 108, Shujiro Saga.
We're here to examine the suspect who was just detained.
Sir, he's in the detention cell in the basement.
Let me show you the way.
Hello, sir.
Hello.
I'll join them for the examination.
Yes, sir.
Isn't this place...
At 2:17 p.m. by Kuwana-juku, number 108, Shujiro Saga was eliminated.
MITSUI BANK RECORD OF ALL TRANSACTIONS
MITSUI BANK OPENING LOAN AND DEPOSIT LEDGER
MITSUI BANK GUIDELINES FOR ESTIMATING WRITE-OFFS
MITSUI BANK INTERNAL RULES
This place is...
MITSUI BANK
A bank.
That guy...
Are you here to interrogate me?
Listen to me.
I didn't kill anybody. I can explain everything.
Some crazy people ordered us to kill each other.
They threatened to kill us if we escaped.
Put me under police protection.
Please. Keep the Kodoku away from me...
What's going on?
Wait! No, wait--
So 108's body is in here?
Yes, sir.
Seems that a rat has slipped inside.
Who's there?
I'm Takayama of the Police Bureau's Fourth Division.
I don't recall any subordinates with that name.
Oh, you're from the Police Bureau too...
You're not fooling anyone.
Kyojin Tsuge.
Do you really think you can escape?
Come now.
Don't waste time and show yourself.
Kokushu Saga.
Hanjiro Nakamura.
Please, call me Sakura now.
I saw how Ando was cut down at Tenryuji Temple.
I suspected it was you.
I've been secretly rooting for you.
I thought you died that day.
Life is unpredictable, isn't it?
I...
I have always looked up to you.
Just tell me one thing.
What is it that you are trying to achieve?
I cannot answer that.
When two old friends reunite, they either share drinks together...
or they kill each other.
It's one or the other.
Our analysis shows that the location they were sending the coded telegrams to
was the Nihonbashi Telegraph Office.
So we tracked the individual who picked up the telegrams...
and found out where they went.
Where?
The final destination...
was the Home Ministry's Police Bureau.
Gentlemen. Apologies for keeping you waiting.
We've been waiting for you, sir.
It took you rather long, Organizer.
Indeed.
Home Minister.
I cannot be sure if I should say this...
What is it?
Can we really trust Kawaji?
Once again, I would like to thank you all for agreeing to this game.
It's all for the good of this country.
If it's money you need, don't hesitate.
Thank you very much.
Eradicating the specters is a huge project for our nation.
A great cause that we cannot afford to fail.
Let us be the ones to fulfill this duty, shall we?
For the future of this country.
70 REMAINING
Subtitle translation by: Daisy Savage