[suspenseful music]
[bandits chuckling]
Wh-wh-who are you guys?
[Bandit] Hey, Mitsugoshi lady. [women gasping]
Your company is making just too much money.
Tea leaves, cocoa and coffee...
A hundred million zeni would be chump change
for this cart alone.
Your business has been growing like crazy,
and my boss thinks it's time for that to stop.
[girls screaming]
What's the name of your boss?
You've heard of Garter.
He controls all the buying and selling in Midgar
and you dames went and made him mad.
[Nu] Oh no, Mr. Garter?
But everyone knows he's a respectable gentleman
who serves as the president of the Major Corporate Alliance.
[Chi] And a faithful follower of the Divine Teachings
who's made many donations to the Church.
[Omega] He's certainly not the type
to hire a bunch of ruffians like you
to interfere with honest business people.
[Bandit] [chuckles] Then I guess you learned something, didn't you?
Even righteous people have a hidden dark side.
Garter only made it as big as he did
by employing people like us to achieve his ambitions.
I don't believe...
I don't believe it makes a difference
to tell us what we already know. [Bandit] Huh?
[Alpha] I will admit there is value in testimony
from an involved party.
[dramatic orchestral music]
[bandits gasping]
[Nu] Every person alive has a hidden dark side.
Righteous or wicked.
Exceptional or ordinary.
Whether a man, or a woman.
[Bandit] Women, all in black.
No! You can't be...
[Alpha] Unsheathe the sword of judgment.
[schwing]
[bandits groaning] [blood splattering]
[fast violin music]
[Alpha] It's true. Night IS best when it's quiet.
I believe we have reduced their legitimate ranks
considerably with this operation. So then now...
Ah, yes, the underworld players connected to the Cult
should start to show themselves.
The war is about to begin. [music ends]
[OPENING THEME]
[Po] It's here! It's here! It's finally here!
All eyes will be focused right here on me.
Now that we have donned the latest in fashion
from the Comme Ca du Mitsugoshi,
the eyes of every girl on the street will be...
[Both] Laser focused!
First they'll hit on us, and then the smooching will begin.
Guaranteed.
[smooching]
Comme Ca du Mitsugoshi... [smooching continues]
Anything related to design probably came from Eta.
First Gamma, then Beta and Epsilon...
Man, every single one of them is just running wild.
[Cid] Uh, Looks like something's peeling off your shirt.
What? [panicks]
The Comme Ca du Mitsugoshi logo!
Without that, these clothes are just cheap knockoffs.
[Skel] On the other hand, if we stick these in our other clothes
then they'll be Comme Ca du Mitsugoshi.
Huh?
This brand is lame.
It's the logo of the place
we bought these from.
Does this mean mine is too?
Now that I look at this up close,
it does seem kind of off.
The real one is more, you know, intricate or something.
It's no wonder these clothes were so cheap.
[Kagenou] Come to think of it, [Po] What are we going to do?
all of my outfits were curated by Alpha and the girls.
Everything I'm wearing is like a knockoff from my past life.
I saw people walking around the capital wearing suits
and thought that was just the culture here.
But it looks like that was all Alpha's doing too.
I guess they're using my knowledge
from my past life to increase their market share
as far as they can make it go.
And I bet the people they're stealing business from
are not too happy about it.
The people they're stealing business from,
those people aren't happy.
They're not happy!
But that all ends today, my friends.
Where are you going?
Dropping a deuce?
No, I'm going to reclaim what's mine.
Every bit of it.
What's that all about?
No idea. Doesn't he know that summer's already over?
[clothes rustling]
[Kagenou] As of today, I am a Super Elite Secret Agent!
[Not-Cid] Starting tonight, the world will know my name.
[wind whistling]
[train clacking]
Welcome...
[bells chime]
[dramatic music begins]
...my dear shadow.
I have forsaken that name.
Of course, how silly of me,
Mr. John Smith, right?
It is truly heartening to have you so kindly join our ranks.
[John] It is a profitable arrangement for myself. That is all.
[Yukime] But don't you find it depressing to maintain
a relationship based solely on profit?
[John] Don't you?
[Yukime] My, how unfriendly.
[train whistle]
The other day, Garter arranged
for an impromptu meeting of the Major Corporate Alliance.
Something about strengthening their measures
against Mitsugoshi.
I suspect the fall of Mitsugoshi [dramatic music]
may come sooner than we had anticipated.
[John] I see.
[Yukime] However, our plan remains unchanged.
While Mitsugoshi and the Major Corporate Alliance
work to destroy each other...
We covertly take everything.
[Yukime] We will need you to take action for us, Mr. Smith,
but do be careful. [dramatic music continues]
Behind the Major Corporate Alliance, you will find HIM.
The underworld swordsman
who rose above Garter and took control of the MCA
before anyone knew what was happening.
Gettan, the Sword Devil.
I know the man well.
He is a dangerous cur
who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
But he's mine.
I swear I'll...
[dramatic music intensifies]
[train brakes squealing]
[brakes hiss]
I look forward to seeing it.
In the battle for control
over the market in the royal capital,
at the end of the conflict where money is bought with blood,
who will remain standing?
I will destroy it all. Then build it up again.
The moment you've all been waiting for!
The Gartner Corporation, friend to every family's budget,
starts our big Autumn Sale RIIIGHT NOW!
Listen up. The battle we're about to face
is where blood is wiped away with-
Outta my way! [slapping]
My target is 50% off.
Move! [slapping]
[Shop Guys] Step right up and have a look.
Garter's not the only one.
We have bargain prices on everything.
Check out the selection at this hidden gem,
Highway Robert's.
[Kagenou] Major sales all across the shopping district.
[Shop Guy] We won't let Mitsugoshi get us down!
[Kagenou] So basically, Alpha and the girls have gone too far.
They're selling exclusive products
you can only find at THEIR stores.
Not only have they made enemies of the big corporations
but local distributors have it out for them too.
Now that they've earned the loathing
of the entire rest of the industry...
Yeah, Yukime was right.
The future of Mitsugoshi
is pretty much devoid of all hope.
I will destroy it all, then build it up again.
[Kagenou] They will crush Mitsugoshi, and I will crush them.
I will use the massive amounts of capital that remain
to move to a brand new market and start up a new corporation.
I'll invite Alpha and the girls to come on as upper management.
Then I just change the name, and Mitsugoshi will be reborn.
Once it's all over, then they'll understand.
They'll know that this was the best choice.
[Shop Guy] Okay, out of 5,000 zeni?
"You break it, you buy it," really? I can't believe it.
This is why people like Mitsugoshi so much better.
Well, what did you expect?
That's 1,750 zeni and change.
[Cid] Huh? Is it me or does that bill look wrong?
What do you mean? Wrong how?
I don't remember that being the design.
Oh, wait a sec. I know what this is.
It's the new bill that the Major Corporate Alliance just put out.
[Shop Guy] That's why everything's on sale today.
To commemorate the release of the new bill.
So what bills were we using before these?
Here look at this one from the Mitsugoshi Bank.
Cid] Mitsugoshi...
Before we were only able to use them
at official Mitsugoshi storefronts.
But now we can use them anywhere, all over the city.
[Kagenou] Those punks have their own bank now too? [Po] I tried to use one with a
[Po] traveling merchant over the summer break and well...
[Kagenou] Now that I think of it,
I do remember babbling on about some random facts
I saw on an MHK documentary
about banks and credit creation.
But what if there ends up being polarity in the market?
If that's the case find a different provider for a different price.
[Kagenou] My memories of it were fuzzy. [girls continue discussion]
I couldn't trust my knowledge anymore,
so I ended that conversation.
But those girls took that MHK information and ran with it.
Not only did they establish their own bank,
they even managed to issue their own paper currency,
and they've even inspired copies-
I mean respectful homages. [Skel and Po chatting]
[Kagenou] Copies? [Po] [singing offkey]
The Mitsugoshi banknote uses multicolor printing
and a carefully placed watermark.
But this copycat version has cruder printing
and a simpler design.
That means...
[Skel] Let's go!
[Cid] When I was a child, I had a dream.
[Both] Huh?
I had a one thousand yen bill left from my New Year's money,
and I thought maybe I could make more of them
with the copy machine at the corner store.
[Skel] The what now?
[Po] Who cares? Give me my money back.
[Kagenou] I gave up on the idea after the old man at the counter
yelled his head off at me.
[Skel] What is this about?
[Po] Cid, my money.
But now he can't stop me.
I'm a Super Elite Secret Agent,
and dreams CAN come true. [runs]
[Skel] Wait Cid! [Po] Come back!
[Kagenou] Come on brain, remember!
I'm counting on you MHK!
[Skel] Ciiiid!
[Po] Cid, my money!
[bell chiming]
[train clacking]
[John] This single gold coin
multiplies into several times of what it was.
In actuality, it is the fleeting illusion we call credit.
Are you per chance talking about paper money?
[John] Scraps of paper
considered to be no different than currency,
are not really currency at all.
They are no more than claim checks
for coins that have been left in the care of the bank.
For example, if you put 10,000 zeni in the bank,
in exchange you are given a bank note for 10,000 zeni
which you can use to purchase goods and services.
But this is where something strange occurs.
You have 10,000 zeni in the bank and 10,000 zeni in a bank note.
At some point your zeni has doubled to 20,000.
If the 10,000 zeni in the bank remains dormant in its vault,
there is no problem.
Because even if the money had in fact doubled,
as long as only the original 10,000 zeni circulates
through the market, there is no contradiction.
But the bank has used the 10,000 zeni deposited
as collateral to lend out even more money.
The robust economy of the capital
stemmed from the business developments of Mitsugoshi.
Seeing a good opportunity,
the merchant's wish to borrow some capital,
and the bank met the demand by supplying paper money.
Is that correct?
[John] No one wants to walk around
with heavy coins in their pockets.
Use of paper money spread like wildfire
further obscuring the currency's true value.
The 10,000 zeni in the vault
multiplied to several times what it was,
circulated through the capital,
and Mitsugoshi gained exponential profits
by reaping the rewards of the interest.
This is the true value of credit creation.
"Credit creation"?
What a fitting expression that is.
Through these means a simple scrap of paper
not even worth a copper coin is given more value than gold.
The leader of Mitsugoshi Bank
must be an extraordinary con artist.
What might this person be like, I wonder?
If I ever have the chance, I would love to have a chat.
[John] But really, is a simple piece of paper
truly worth the credit people give it?
Compare the two. Do you notice anything?
You mean a watermark on one but not the other?
And I might add that the Major Corporate Alliance bill
has a rougher design.
Rougher printing, rougher edges.
Do you know what this means?
It would be easy to make a fake?
[John] [chuckles]
We create fake money
and we'll make a fortune in counterfeit bills.
[train clacking]
[Yukime] Excuse me, Mr. Smith.
As you are no doubt aware,
the Major Corporate Alliance bills are still only
in circulation in the Royal Capital.
If we forged them,
the authorities would immediately trace them
to the source. [Johm] Huh?
[Yukime] If done on a small scale,
I'm sure it could be accomplished without discovery,
but the amount would be hardly more than a child's allowance.
How do you propose that we do this, hmm? [John stands suddenly]
[gasps]
J...
[John] Is that really... [Yukime] Oh...
Is that really what you think?
[gasps]
[John] This is the true value of credit creation.
You can't mean...
If we did make and circulate
a large quantity of counterfeit bills [John startles]
in a short period of time...
we would be discovered.
And rumors of the bills would reach the ears
of the general public almost immediately.
At that point, the citizens would harbor doubts
about the contents of their own wallets.
The credit given to that paper would be lost. [John startles]
The discovery of the counterfeiting
was part of the plan.
No, the discovery WAS the plan.
When the people start to doubt the value of the paper,
they will make a run on the bank to exchange it for gold.
If we stay one step ahead of the game,
then we can monopolize the profits.
That's what you've been planning all along.
[train clacking]
[John] Is that really...
Yukime gasps]
...what you think?
[heavy panicked breathing] [dramatic music]
Yes, it is what I think.
[John] That is exactly right.
[Yukime] This plan... is utterly flawless.
[train whistles] [breaks squeal]
[John] That is exactly right.
[steam hissing]
[sighing]
In the end, he was testing my sincerity.
If I had given into the pressure
and rattled off some thoughtless babblings,
then I...
John Smith, [bell chiming]
the man formerly known as Shadow.
[blade slicing]
[carriage rattling]
[body thudding]
[carriage rattling]
[Kagenou] John Smith, the mysterious man secretly scheming
while Mitsugoshi and the Major Corporate Alliance
battle it out.
He hides his identity [insistent barking]
and carries out his mission alone.
I am the man who betrays his organization
in order to save it,
the Super Elite Secret Agent.
What could be cooler than that? [Delta] Give me more, boss!
[heavy panting]
[Kagenou] What does she think she's doing?
Oh, gimme more boss!
Gimme some more!
[playful music]
[aggressive sniffing]
You smell like foxes.
Yeah, I was hanging out with-
rather, I mean I was out hunting foxes.
Hunting?! Delta wants to hunt.
[Cid] Sorry, the fox is already hunted.
And would you get off me already?
[Delta] No, hunt!
[Cid] What are you doing in the capital, anyway?
Delta woke up early this morning,
ate lots and lots of meat,
and came to the capital for the first time in forever.
[Cid] Yeah, but why did you come to the capital?
'Cause Delta likes to go hunting.
[Cid] And why were you hunting?
Delta did so much hunting.
Wanna hunt with me, boss?
[Cid] Why were you hunting?
[Delta] Lady Alpha told me to.
Wanna hunt with me, boss?
[Cid] So Alpha told you to do it, huh?
[Delta] Uh-huh, wanna hunt with me, boss?
[Cid] Now that you're here, what have you been hunting?
[Delta] Bandits! You like hunting bandits too, boss?
Yeah, I do like hunting bandits, you're right about that.
Hunt with me.
I don't think I can right now.
You hunt!
Hold your horses!
Anyway, didn't you come to the capital
for a specific reason?
Reason?
[Cid] Didn't Alpha want to see you?
Oh, right, Lady Alpha.
[Cid] Did you forget? [Delta] Yeah, I forgot.
[Delta] She's gonna be so mad at me.
[Cid] You better hurry and see her.
[Delta] Ah! But we're supposed to go hunt bandits.
Looking at Delta reminds me of John,
the pet I had in my past life.
[sighs]
[Gettan] Another failure.
[Garter] Yes, sir. Their private soldiers
are more powerful than we anticipated.
[Gettan] So it seems the would-be bandits are useless.
In that case, I'll send the Clovers after them.
Send the Clovers?
Those are the elite assassins
you handpicked yourself, Mr. Gettan.
With them on the job,
Mitsugoshi's secrets are as good as ours.
[hooves clopping]
[crashing and splashing]
[soldiers screaming] [Delta laughing manaically]
[flesh ripping]
[Kagenou] Delta is fundamentally incapable
of following the command "stay."
Her brand of hunting is a one-sided massacre.
It makes gathering treasure easier but,
I totally miss out on the element
of enjoying the battle myself.
[Bandit] Stop! Wait a minute!
You're Sara aren't you?
It's me! You know me!
Me! You know, it's me, Zabra.
You remember, don't you, Sara?
Hmm? [sniffing]
You smell a lot like my dad.
Yes, that's right. Like Dad!
I'm your big brother, Zabra.
But how is it that you're even alive and standing here?
I heard you got possessed and Dad hunted you.
Delta is the very best at hide and seek.
Delta? Is that what you call yourself now?
Anyway, Sara, you can let me go, right?
I'm working for the Great Gettan now.
You know him, the legendary man. [flesh squelching]
I don't want a weak brother.
He's your brother. You sure you wanted to do that?
Weakling brings shame to the family, boss.
Oh, okay.
Delta's daddy is the chief of our clan.
He has lots of lovers
and over a thousand children to care for.
Hmm, then I guess one less won't hurt him.
If we need to make more, we make more.
Because that is the Law of the Clan.
Kagenou] That's a therianthrope for you.
They do things a bit different.
You do find the occasional intelligent therianthrope,
but there's the reason most people assume
they're a bunch of might-makes-right types.
Maybe sometime I should visit the therianthrope clan.
[Delta] Haha! I just had a great idea!
YOU can be our chief, boss. [Shadow] What?
If you beat my dad, you'll be the chief.
Then you can have lots of babies
and we'll be the strongest clan ever.
That's not happening.
Yes, it is!
I'll get a hundred women for you,
and Delta will have a hundred babies.
[Shadow] No way. Not a chance.
This hunt is over. We're going home.
[Delta yelling]
[Gettan] Zabra has been defeated, you say.
[Garter] Yes sir, one of our underground hideouts was attacked
and we found his body inside.
And sir, I'm afraid that these last few months
our numbers have been reduced to practically nothing.
If this keeps up, it will affect the personnel
we have running our public enterprises.
We have invested a rather large amount of capital
in establishing our bank,
and the amount of money we spent bribing the legislators
so we could print our money is nothing to be sneezed at.
Perhaps we should step back and reevaluate?
[Gettan] Garter... [Garter] Sir?
[Gettan] You are in a position to control all commerce in the city. [tense music]
Surely, you have not forgotten who it was
who put you in that position.
[Garter] No sir! No, of course I haven't!
[Gettan] All you need to do is follow orders.
My orders.
[Garter gasps]
[Gettan] It doesn't matter.
Zabra was the weakest of the Clovers.
Summon the three Clovers that are left.
Strengthen our offense against Mitsugoshi
and take all of their trade secrets.
[Garter] Y-yes, sir.
[door opening and closing]
Mitsugoshi is tougher than I thought.
Now I see why the Cult labeled them as a threat.
[bells chiming]
[ENDING THEME]